Weekly Newsletter #5 | By Matt Beleskey
In hockey, just like in life, there are always "lanes" you’re told you’re supposed to stay in. There’s a way you’re "supposed" to play, a way you’re "supposed" to train, eat, dress, and even act. While there is definitely weight behind some of these standards, there is a hidden danger in following the crowd too closely: you risk becoming invisible.
I spent some time recently watching the OHL Cup in Toronto, and one thing struck me above everything else: hardly anyone actually stood out.
Don't get me wrong—the skill level was off the charts. There were incredible players on that ice. But unlike years ago, when you could easily spot the "skilled guy" because he was the only one who could handle the puck, now everyone has the ability to skate like the wind, shoot hard, and dangle.
The TikTok vs. The Tape
We live in an era of the 30-second highlight reel. On a TikTok or Instagram clip, those flashy moves look amazing. They get the likes and the views. But when you get into a room with "real" hockey people—the scouts, the coaches, the GMs—the conversation changes. They aren't looking for the player who can do what everyone else is doing.
They are looking for the player who is going to do something that stands out. Who is going to make the actual difference when the game is on the line?
If everyone is playing the same "style," then everyone becomes replaceable. The skill is the entry fee, but your individuality is what separates you from your competitor.
Lean Into "YOU"
I’ve seen it at every level: players get so caught up in trying to fit the mold of a "modern player" that they suppress the very traits that made them special in the first place.
If you are a gritty player with an engine that never stops, don't trade that in just to try and look "shifty" on a highlight reel. If you have a high hockey IQ and see plays before they happen, don't feel like you have to be the loudest person in the room or the flashiest skater on the ice to be noticed.
Being authentic means leaning into your unique strengths, even if they aren't the current "trend."
Own your role: If you’re a shut-down defender, be the absolute best, most annoying person to play against in the league.
Trust your instincts: Don't pass up a high-percentage play just to try a "fancy" one you saw online.
Be a leader in your own way: You don't have to be the loudest talker to have the most impact.
The Bottom Line
Authenticity is a competitive advantage. When you stop trying to play someone else's game and start mastering your own, you become a problem for the opposition. You become someone the scouts talk about because they haven't seen "that" specific mix of skills and heart in anyone else.
So, be authentic to yourself. Don’t just join the lane—create your own. Lean into YOU, because that is the only thing your competition can't replicate.
See you at the glass,
Matt Beleskey