Mistakes are going to happen.
They happen in hockey. They happen in life. There is no avoiding them.

What matters most isn’t that a mistake happened, it’s why it happened.

Did it happen because you weren’t prepared?
Did it happen because you lost focus for a moment?
Or did it happen because of something you couldn’t control?

Maybe the opposing player made a great play.
Maybe they had speed, size, or position that you couldn’t change in that moment.

This awareness is important. Growth comes from understanding the why, not from beating yourself up. The more you can reflect on what caused the mistake, what the outcome was, and what you can learn from it, the more you put yourself in a position to keep that mistake from happening again.

Mistakes are part of the process, but learning from them is the separator.

That leads directly into the next play mentality.

This is one of the most forgiving and powerful mindsets you can have. The next play is always the most important play. The next shift is always the most important shift. When you start to give extreme value and purpose to those moments, you naturally become more invested in giving your best.

And remember this…
When you give your best, your best is always enough.

It might not be the best you’ve ever played.
It might not be the best you’ll ever play.
But in that moment, your best is enough, and it always will be.

Lastly, continue to do the little things right.

Details matter. This ties everything together. Add purpose and intention to the small details: backchecking, forechecking, picking up your man, communicating, advancing the puck, recalling systems, and staying connected to the play.

When you pay close attention to the details you know are right, you give yourself the chance to play your best hockey. And if you don’t know, ask. Ask good questions. Be a good listener when you do.

When you understand that mistakes happen, take time to reflect on them, commit to the next play, and add intention to every shift, every practice, and every detail…you will continue to grow.

And that moment you’re in?
That’s the most important one.

Because it’s the next one.