Matt Carey

Coming from a player’s perspective, the off-season isn’t just about getting stronger—it’s about becoming a better athlete overall. The years I improved the most weren’t when I only trained hockey. They were the summers I mixed everything in. Basketball, golf, tennis—different movements, different timing, different reads. That variety forced my body to adapt in ways straight hockey training never did. I got quicker, more coordinated, and more reactive without even thinking about it. Even picking up something like cooking helped. Learning a new skill trains your focus, patience, and discipline—things that translate directly back to your game. A lot of this next generation is locked into just hockey year-round. And yeah, you still need to train—but if you never step outside that bubble, you miss out on developing as a complete athlete. The biggest jump in my game came when I stopped doing more hockey… and started doing more everything else.

Offense isn’t just skill — it’s how badly you want to win your 1-on-1s. It’s winning races, winning battles, and wanting the puck more than the defender. That mindset matters more than anything — it’s your puck, not theirs. Skill and speed can be trained. But compete level and hunger? That’s a choice. The best players don’t wait for plays — they take them.