What I’ve Learned About Leadership From Watching Youth Hockey
I didn’t expect to learn anything about leadership sitting in freezing rinks at 6 a.m. on a Saturday. But after watching hundreds of youth hockey practices and games (and drinking gallons of burnt coffee), I’ve realized something:
Youth hockey is a masterclass in leadership—if you’re paying attention.
Here are a few things I’ve picked up between faceoffs:
1. You can’t coast on talent.
Every team has one or two kids with raw skill. They skate circles around everyone—until they don’t. As the season progresses, the grinders catch up. The lesson? Talent opens the door. Hustle keeps you in the game. Same in business. I’ll take a consistent B+ performer who shows up every day over a moody A+ who only plays hard when they feel like it.
2. Everyone has a role. Even the quiet kid.
In hockey, not everyone scores. Some win faceoffs. Some block shots. Some just skate hard and wear the other team down. It’s the same in a consulting firm. Flashy presentations might win work, but follow-through and behind-the-scenes execution keep clients coming back. Great leaders notice the quiet contributions—and reward them.
3. You’re only as good as your last shift.
In youth hockey, kids forget the scoreboard five minutes after the game. What sticks is how they played. Did they hustle? Did they support teammates? Did they give it their all? Business isn’t so different. Reputation isn’t what you say—it’s how you show up, over and over, especially when no one’s watching.
4. Coaching matters more than you think.
I’ve seen kids transform under the right coach—not just skill-wise, but in confidence, attitude, and self-belief. The best coaches teach, encourage, and hold kids accountable without yelling. Leaders in business would do well to take notes.
5. It’s supposed to be fun.
Yes, hockey is competitive. But when it stops being fun, kids burn out. The same goes for work. Culture, camaraderie, and a little levity keep people engaged. As a leader, your job isn’t just to drive performance. It’s to create an environment where people want to keep showing up.
I didn’t set out to write a leadership manual based on youth hockey. But it turns out you can learn a lot when you’re standing in the cold with your hands wrapped around a coffee cup, watching kids chase a puck and slowly figure things out.
Just like the rest of us.