Yup....firm believer that the best hockey players have always been the best athletes...period.
meaning that, yes they play elite level hockey...during hockey season, and thats where all their focus should be as far as athletics goes.
Come the spring and summer though? ALWAYS play another sport. Preferably a team sport depending on age....baseball/fastball is a common one. Lacrosse as well. Golf is great for the whole hand/eye co-ordination thing as well as "thinking" the game, but doesnt spawn the same "team first" mentality all the better players usually have instilled. Yes a hockey school at some pont can be a good idea as well, but only for a week or so.
It also means the burnout factor is reduced dramatically. The social aspect is broadened when incorporating other sports as well although many of the same kids will be crossing over as well.
As said earlier...let kids be kids for god sakes and let them broaden horizons and not pidgeon hole them into one thing and one thing only...regardless of their passion for that one thing.
It would be like sending them to school and having them study only one subject all day. A ridiculous thought to even consider.
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