A hockey season doesn’t always end the way you want it to, especially with the challenges that come with a long season. However, some of the biggest challenges a hockey player may face during the season can include injuries, fatigue, team dynamics, and pressure to perform. And overcoming these challenges can require physical training, mental toughness, teamwork, and adaptability.

After having the chance to talk to one of the men’s Division 1 hockey players (Jake Huculak), I got to ask him a series of questions. One of them was, “What were some of the biggest challenges faced during the season, and how were they overcome?” Jake replied, “The biggest challenges faced this year was filling the void of leadership void that we had after the departure of 6-year veterans Jason Richer and Tyson Brouwer. I think our leadership group did a good job working as a unit to help make up for the loss of those two-character guys that helped start this program, and we got better as the year went on. Our coach also did an excellent job in recruiting a great group of freshmen to add to the character and identity of our team”.  Adaptability and teamwork were two major things this men’s hockey team had to do after losing some leadership. But after talking to Jake, he seemed very confident in what the team has accomplished throughout the season and moving into the next.

A hockey team’s performance can be influenced by a variety of factors and expectations, which can differ from player to player, resulting in either positive or negative results. But after talking with Jake, he was all about being positive when asking him, “How did the team’s performance compare to your expectations at the beginning of the season?” he responded with, “We had high expectations going into this year as a team primarily filled with juniors. It was our first year in a conference and our goal was to win our conference and qualify for the national tournament as we were able to achieve, which was a pretty special feeling”.

Hockey players can learn a great deal about themselves and their team throughout the season. On and off the ice, players may learn new skills and techniques, which for Jake, was learning about his role on the team and what he can bring to the table next season. When I asked Jake the question “What did you learn about yourself and the team throughout the season, both on and off the ice?” he answered, “This year we learned as a team how close we are to being one of the best teams in the nation. We had close battles with National Champions Minot State all year and were 0.1 seconds away from advancing to the final four at nationals. I also learned how special of a group we have here and how big of an opportunity there is to make something special happen next season. On a personal level, I developed a stronger understanding of my role within this group, and what I can bring to the table to help our team achieve success”.

Teams and players can build upon the successes and lessons from one season to the next by reflecting on their experiences and identifying areas for improvement. After having a solid season, it can be hard to look back on what to reflect on, but Jake looked at it differently when I asked him, “How do you plan to build upon the successes and lessons learned from this season into future seasons?” he said, “Obviously being close to advancing to the final four and coming up short really stings, but we as a group can use that game as motivation to put in the work this offseason, as well as reminding ourselves how close we are to making something really special happen here.”