Ryan Walker

🥍/hockey coach

[lova @CFC_lova]

Movie 🎥 📺📺📹
Ratings : 💯

[Topher Scott @HockeyThinkTank]

Thoughts on Team Canada at World Juniors:

There's been a lot of discourse today about Canada's performance after bowing out to Czechia again. I've read a lot about roster construction, team toughness, how players were used during the tournament, and other things related to the team's inability to get the job done.

These things may have been an issue, but reality is the problem runs way deeper.

Here is the biggest thing that people aren't talking about:

Canada has WAY fewer youth boys playing hockey than it did a decade ago.

Looking at Hockey Canada registration and membership data, it's mind-boggling to see the numbers.

And the numbers in the biggest provinces (Ontario and Quebec) are especially egregious.

So why is this happening? Hockey is Canada's sport. It shouldn't be like this.

It's what we hear every day from families all over North America:

Costs are too high. It's professionalized at too young of an age. The stress of the youth hockey experience is too much for kids and families.

Community programs have been replaced by for-profit entities leading to higher costs and more pressure. Development has been replaced by super teams and rogue/outlaw leagues outside of Hockey Canada even before kids are 8 years old. At the older ages, hockey academies have become what families believe is the only way their kids will make it - shelling out INSANE amounts of money to send their kids to do so.

Ontario just got rid of residency rules which will only lead to less accountability and more club-hopping than there already was in the nation's craziest and biggest youth hockey market.

The reason why Canada was the hockey superpower for so long is because it was part of the fabric of the country. There was such a pride and passion for the game and what the game meant to the flag. There was such a sense of playing the game for something bigger than yourself.

Now rather than playing for the love of the game, hockey in Canada is like a job for many of these kids in the environment they're being put in. It's less about pride and passion and more about the path to making it. When in all honesty, it's the pride and passion for the game that is the biggest consistency in the kids that do end up making it.

If Canada wants to restore its hockey dominance, it better take a long look in the mirror at the grassroots and what is going on in youth hockey. If you have tens of thousands of fewer boys playing the game, you should probably look at that first. The bigger your pool of athletes, the more elite athletes you can develop.

"As many as possible, for as long as possible, in the best environment possible". That has to be the guiding principle.

There's a lot of great people in Canada doing incredible things for the game, but the system itself is fundamentally broken. If Hockey Canada is serious about getting back to the top, it has to start at the bottom.

[Ryan Walker @ryanwalks1]

@JamesGronau After playing one of these teams today it makes total sense....

[Ryan Walker @ryanwalks1]

Again. Just gonna go back to how my first summer coaching for @FSSFUSACanada he stated Florida and/or Carolina would win the cup in the next 5 years. And everyone thought he was nuts.... Back to back now for Florida

Shoulda put money on it....

[John B Lintz @JBML06]

@CityofEdmonton @AmarjeetSohiYEG @sjlhamilton @MinersLacrosse

[Ryan Walker @ryanwalks1]

@yegwave If he can't win his own riding he shouldn't be mayor. Simple as that

[Ryan Walker @ryanwalks1]

@heavyoilcontry If you've been to downtown Edmonton recently this is not a suprise.... The homeless legit shit everywhere downtown

[Ryan Walker @ryanwalks1]

@JamesGronau 94 rangers 😂

[Ryan Walker @ryanwalks1]

What a butcher job on the Canadian anthem.... I really hope we kick the fuck out of the states now

[Ryan Walker @ryanwalks1]

@JamesGronau Fucking useless. Leave him at home for the olympics

[Ryan Walker @ryanwalks1]

@JamesGronau It's always funny to me when Canada loses a game or gets knocked out and tsn acts stunned.... The rest of the world has started to catch up to them

[Dana Dirks @danadirks48]

Hockey parents, if you are sitting at home and you have maybe had too many drinks, do not, I repeat DO NOT call the Asst GM of the hockey team your child is trying to be a part of and start acting like a fricking loon…. Not the way to do things. 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[Ryan Walker @ryanwalks1]

@JamesGronau Nice! Better than I shot this weekend lol

[Ryan Walker @ryanwalks1]

@JamesGronau First time getting under par? 😂

[Ryan Walker @ryanwalks1]

@JamesGronau No fucking way

[Ryan Walker @ryanwalks1]

@JamesGronau Haha nice

[Greg Berge @GregBerge]

Yes, coaches have favorites.

But not the favorites that many parents think.

Coaches want to win. They want players that do the things that help teams win. What are these things?

What are the favorites that coaches look for?

Here are the 7 Favorites that Coaches Play:

#1 Favorite: Players they can TRUST
Can we trust you? Can we count on you? These are the top questions that coaches and teammates demand. If you are not dependable or trustworthy, I don’t care how talented you are; you will struggle to play. Be trusted and be a “favorite.”

#2 Favorite: Players who make the RIGHT PLAYS
Coaches want playmakers. Do you make winning plays? You don’t have to score. There are many pieces to make a good team. If you make the right play at the right time, you will find playing time and be a “favorite.”

#3 Favorite: Players who fill a ROLE
The most talented players don’t always make the best team. Teams are like puzzles. The pieces have to fit. If you can fill a role that the team needs and be a “favorite.”

#4 Favorite: Players who help the TEAM WIN
Coaches want to WIN. If you can make plays that help the team WIN, you will play. What are winning plays in basketball? Getting Loose balls, rebounds, setting screens, drawing charges, playing defense, and more. Help the team WIN and be a “favorite."

#5 Favorite: Players who WORK HARD
Want to get noticed? Work harder than everyone. Coaches will reward consistent hard work. Hard work is contagious and can impact a team in winning ways.

#6 Favorite: Players who are COMMITTED
No Deposit - No Return. Coaches want commitment from their players. Do the work. Do the extra work. Show Up. Commit. Committed players = Committed teams. Committed teams = Winning teams. Be committed and be a “favorite.”

#7 Favorite: Players who have TALENT
Finally, talent matters. You have to have some level of talent to play. But talent is not everything. Many talented players don’t get playing time. Develop your talent. Use your talent. Be a “favorite.”
____

Are you looking for more?

Join 12,000+ others who read my free weekly newsletter each week.

🏆 Great Teams Better Leaders

Check my profile for more.

[Ryan Walker @ryanwalks1]

@JamesGronau Funny thing is they literally make education students at the uofa take a class on integrating technology in the class room (trust me I had to take it)…. But then they try to shut it down, personally from my experience in school phones weren’t that big of a problem….

[Ryan Walker @ryanwalks1]

Can’t believe I’m saying this… I genuinely believe the oilers will make the finals. Also imagine if skinner and pickard get hurt and campbell plays cup final 😂

[Ryan Walker @ryanwalks1]

@EndWokeness This city council sucks- this major is a fucking moron who used to be trudeaus second hand man- and we all know how smart Trudeau is 🙄. Theres so much homeless people downtown that attack people and stumble around that no one wants to open business downtown