A little sidebar here.... Had the pleasure of shaking "Knuckles" hand as he officiated my sons AAA game a couple years back. Hands the size of BigFoot, BTW! Anyhew, it's ironic that the message he delivered to BOTH benches before the game to the players and coaches was, YOU take care of playing the game,
I'll take care of the calls, and NOTHING TO THE HEAD! I don't think there was a call questioned the entire game.
Anyway, my point is that just a couple weeks back my youngest was playing in a T1EHL game and the opponents Assistant Coach on the bench (sidebar #2, he didn't really "Coach" but rather just opened the door for the D linechanges as these are 2001's) was just in the NHL a couple years back, and I believe he played 16+ years. So his son (a Forward) was anchoring a lower line and doing an adequate job. Certainly nothing special but he played an average game, did his job, and just played, well... average. Later that day, I took a call from a friend of mine and he expressed his frustration he's experiencing with his hometown assoc. He vented a while, we talked, and then we got to the point that I just watched this NHL'ers average kid play a game. Nothing special, certainly not a superstar, and as much as the kid performed "average" I guaranteed my buddy that he'll be in the NHL someday. Why? We'll aside from some help from Genetics, his Father knows the path, knows the correct decisions and what it takes to make it there and stay there, and that this kid will undoubtedly be directed continuously in the proper direction to get it done. Simple as that. Are kids given favorable treatment for Pedigree, probably. Are they given spots knowing that it may pay off in the future, certainly. But the biggest reason why I see Bloodlines making such a difference is that the constant direction and knowledge of knowing the right paths to choose is the biggest reason, combined with the understanding of the commitment it takes. Another reason is that they just "get it". Superstars now, may NOT be superstars later and vise-versa. Sometimes it's a waiting game, and there is NO crystal ball to determine who is going to do what later in life. You NEED to find the best program that you can, learn the program, and execute the program to even get close to success and longevity, in not just Hockey, but life. Even though this guy had an obvious edge in Hockey experience over the Head Coach of the team, he didnt' say a word on the bench, but rather just opened the D door even with the impending loss of the game coming. Why?, because he "get's it". He's NOT the Head Coach and these are KIDS following/learning a path who are at that time being directed by the HEAD Coach. Learning protocol is part of the growth of knowledge. So many Parents get wound up about this and that, and they really have no idea. You want to protect your kids and direct them the best you can, but when it comes right down to it, sometimes it's better to just be quiet, and the most successful people understand that. Help to point your kid in the best direction you can and then it's up to him/her. If you don't know that direction, ask someone who may have a better background of experience... like someone's who's already done it. I think a name can buy you some time, but you need to be able to do it in the end. Some are just directed down the right path quicker because of experience.
