[MissTeeks]

http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...355/story.html

“I’m coming in with a completely different mindset than last year,” says Joe Colborne.

“Just the change in my confidence level is huge. Being able to go out there and assert myself. Coming back heavier and stronger with a better lower body base than I‘ve ever had before.

“It’s amazing what confidence can do for you. The first half of the year was just kinda going out there and being happy that I was in an NHL lineup. The second half of the year it started to click and I said to myself ‘I want to do more.’

“It comes down to the attention to detail form the coaching staff. Over the year you start to develop the good habits they’re looking for. A bunch of us young guys started to generate bigger roles for ourselves.

“Just a huge growth year for quite a few of us.”

“Colby’s no different than a lot of our young players,” says Calgary Flames’ coach Bob Hartley. “As much as those guys were good last year, I want to be their partner. I want to make sure that I’m with them in good times and bad times so they know they’re part of today, but more importantly they’re part of tomorrow.

“My job is to keep raising the bar for those guys, but at the same time give them expectations they can feel good about.”

“Over the last 5-10 years,” he explains, “the hockey world has caught up with the latest in working out. The core is now the most important thing. I did Pilates three times a week this year, over and above the other exercises. It’s taken over the sporting world and with good reason. All the strength comes from the middle.

“The upper body is secondary. It’s nice to be walking around like Gio (Mark Giordano), looking like some body-builder. But you look at him and his core is stronger than anyone’s, too. He spends more time doing that. His legs are stronger.

“It’s not as if he’s just looking good in the dressing room.”

“Going up against a guy like Shea Weber, doesn’t matter how good you feel, you’re going to lose some battles. But knowing I’m going to make him work for everything, then when you get a mismatch with one of the smaller D-men knowing you can take advantage of it . . . that’s exciting for me.

“You take that and it lets the skill come out. If you’re winning battles you have the puck on your stick more.”

“Like (Sean Monahan) and quite a few of our young players, he’s put on a quite a few pounds of muscle,” says Hartley with delight. “Just looking at the game the other night, he’s much more confident going at the net.

“He’s going to play some PK for us, some power play. With Colby, he’s just starting. It’s just a matter of showing patience.

“Those big guys, it always takes a little longer.”