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Watching the NCAA Frozen Four National Championship game was enjoyable on many levels. I had the opportunity to play in a Frozen Four and the experience was nothing short of awesome. Watching BU and Western Michigan battle for the title, and ultimately seeing how the game unfolded in the third period reminded me that, especially in the playoffs, teams and players need something that no one can practice for or anticipate: puck luck.
Western Michigan Broncos seemed to have the "hockey gods" on their side last Saturday, as it seemed every bounce went their way. Whether that is truly a dice roll, or the result of a season's worth of hard work AND playmakers knowing how to be in the right position, is up for debate. Someone once said that "Luck is when preparation meets opportunity". And yet another person might said that "Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good." Whatever you attribute the puck luck to, after the game ended the Broncos were proud to hoist the championship trophy for the first time in their program's history.
The lesson here is that, especially in the biggest games when the odds may be stacked against you, to never, ever give up. Keep working hard, keep winning battles, keep doing all of the things your coaches have preached throughout the year. You never know when you are going to get a little ‘puck luck’ and if you do, it can completely change the momentum of the game.
A great coach once said that he’d rather be lucky than good during the playoffs. After being around the game long enough you realize that if you keep working hard, regardless of the circumstances, good fortune may eventually come. A little puck luck can go a long way in helping you come out on the winning side of the scoreboard, regardless of the expectations heading into the game.
Based in the Minneapolis area, Lance is a former NHL player with Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers, played collegiate hockey with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, is a foremost training professional with stickhandling and shooting both in-person and through onlinehockeytraining.com, and is the founder and former owner of Snipers Edge Hockey.
