PLAYERS SHOULD NOT BE BLINDED BY LOYALTY Don't be afraid to sometimes look after #1, yourself.

“He’s a 2004 that’s been with the team for two years, and they just cut him,” the frantic parent said before the start of last season. “He’s been to every off-season workout and even volunteered to help paint the dressing room.”

Yes, that’s going to happen from time to time. Loyalty is a one-way street in junior and college hockey these days. Heck, even the professional teams have a difficult time with the word when it comes down to crunch time.

As a professional advisor, one of the key components is to make sure every client has a viable Plan B and C, just in case things do change, as they often will do. Players should always strive to climb that next rung up the ladder of development, regardless of how much they love the community, culture, and spot on the second line.

Sometimes that level of comfort, and misplaced loyalty, could also be what limits opportunities.

A few years back we had a player that was all-everything when it came to high school sports. He was an excellent student as well as an athlete. This kid did it all.  After graduation, he elected to focus on his favorite sport, hockey. That was great news for that junior team in Canada because once the attention was focused, he became a valuable asset as both a player and leader.

The dream was to develop enough to get to the Air Force Academy and I still feel that could have become a reality if the invitation to the North American Hockey League Main Camp was accepted. You see, the young man was loyal to his coach and team in Canada and passed on the NAHL opportunity for the sure thing.

Despite another great season in Canada, Air Force passed on the player because he was not playing in one of the top three leagues at the time. This despite the young man being exactly the kind of person the Air Force screams that they always need.

I get loyalty. But players, and sometimes even coaches, must have someone willing to be on HIS team. Someone, aside from parents and friends, who’s going to lay out the reality of the situation, regardless of consequences.  

Players also must stay loyal to their own dreams and future, even if those goals are moving targets.

The 2004 at the beginning of this story still had options. When he woke up from the disappointment, and turned the slight into a motivator, there were teams in Canada still looking for skaters that would make a difference.

And he did. He begins school this fall at a very respectful NCAA Division III school.

Players, I get loyalty, just don’t forget to be loyal to yourself.