After 11 years in the pros, I thought I knew everything there was to know about the state of hockey. I’d seen the highest highs in Anaheim Boston and New york , felt the weight of the playoffs, and understood the business side of the "show." But honestly? I didn’t truly see where the game was at until this past winter, standing behind the glass in Barrie watching my 5-year-old son wrap up his first season with the Barrie Bulls Jr Cubs KSL program.
Watching those kids hit the ice for the first time—the pure, unadulterated joy of just sliding around—it hit me. We spend so much time talking about the "state of the game" at the NHL level, but the real state of hockey is written on the faces of those U5 and U7 kids in local barns across Ontario.
The Shift from "What" to "How"
As I re-enter the hockey world through skill and mental coaching, I’m seeing a major shift. For a long time, development was all about the what: What’s your shot speed? What’s your body fat % ? What’s your Wingate , your V02 max score ?
But as a retired player and a dad, I’m more interested in the how and the why.
The Skill Gap: The game is faster than ever, but are we teaching kids how to think the game, or just how to toe drag and edge work ?
The Mental Game: We put massive pressure on young athletes. I want to help them build the "mental callouses" I had to develop over 500+ NHL games—not to make them into robots, but to make sure they actually enjoy the process because honestly thats where the real value in youth sports lies.
Home Ice Advantage
Being back home in Barrie has been a full-circle moment. Seeing the Jr. Bulls program in action reminds me that while the professional game is a business, the grassroots game is a community. My son’s first year wasn’t just about him learning to cross over; it was about me remembering why I fell in love with this sport in the first place.
The state of hockey is changing. It’s more technical, it’s more expensive, and it’s more competitive than when I was a kid. But if we focus on the right things—skill, mindset, and keeping that "Cubs" level of fun alive as they get older—the future looks bright.
I’m excited to share my thoughts with you every week as I navigate this new chapter as a coach, a former pro, and most importantly, a hockey dad.
See you at the rink,
MB39
Founder, Key Athletic Performance