November 2024

As the regular season approaches and we begin to feel the excitement of a new season, it is very important that we focus on celebrating team and individual successes as a team. One of my favorite aspects of being a part of a team is when the team is successful, everyone is successful, and as a result, everyone is happy and enjoying the season. Well what happens when the team isn’t successful? What happens when the team isn’t winning? There are many ways to define success. Small victories are just as important and the big ones. We strive every day to make sure that our girls at the HS level recognize that getting better TODAY is a success. The desire to help your teammates get better by creating a competitive environment is a success. In addition to the individual accomplishments, we found success in celebrating small victories with the team and the individual player. The 2024-25 Spud Girls hockey players will have a lot of first this season and it will important that we recognize and celebrate each of these moments as a team. First win of the season, first winning streak, first goal for individual players, first shutout, first hat trick, etc… TEAMWORK is and will always be a Core Value for our high school program. Taking advantage of these moments and celebrating them as a team is important to creating a positive chemistry. And there is no substitute for a positive team chemistry. Helping our young athletes to understand that it takes a team to record a shutout, score a hat trick, and get a win will lead them on a path to succeed, not only as an athlete but in their adult life as well. Good luck to all MYHA and High School teams down the stretch and into the playoffs and make sure you are celebrating both TEAM and individual success.

“There’s nothing greater in the world than when somebody on the team does something good, and everybody gathers around to pat him on the back.” — Billy Martin

Ryan Kraft

MHS Girls Head Hockey Coach