To be a pro, you need to train like a pro.
You get out of the game what you put into it. Back in 2008 when I got overlooked in the OHL draft I did a lot of soul-searching. I exercised my humility, and looked in the mirror to understand what I could do better to change the fate of my career. In that process this idea dawned upon me that if I want to some day play in the NHL I should probably train like an NHL goalie. If I want to move to the next level, train and do what goalies were doing at the next level. That period was the start of a new beginning for me. I approached training through the lens of a professional. If I wanted to play at the next level I needed to train like guys at the next level. I needed to work and focus like the guys at the next level. The intensity, strength, flexibility, attention to detail, conditioning. complexity of drills, and execution. I needed to step everything up significantly, and that’s exactly what I did. It ended up being a blessing in disguise because that was the beginning of a road that put me on the path of becoming and elite goaltender. People are typically surprised when they don’t get the results they hoped for, when in reality they didn’t put in the work to earn those results. They didn’t personally do the necessary things to elevate their game enough to reach their goals. Start thinking like a pro, start approaching everyday you train much more seriously and methodically. Step your game up, and grow as a goaltender. To become a pro you need to train like a pro. Period.