“I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.” – Wayne Gretzky
Confidence is one of the most important ingredients for success in hockey. For goalies and players aspiring to be their best, confidence allows you to play bigger, stay composed under pressure, and respond effectively to any situation on the ice. But where does confidence come from? It is built through the powerful combination of belief and action.
Belief: The Foundation of Confidence
Belief is a mindset that acts as a necessary aspect of faith. It is trusting that you are capable of achieving your goals, even if you don’t have proof of the outcome yet. Belief keeps you focused on what is possible instead of dwelling on what might go wrong.
To understand belief better, let us define the future: it is nothing more than expectations. What you believe about the future shapes how you approach your game. If you believe you will succeed, you act in ways that increase the chances of success. If you focus on doubts, you unintentionally set yourself up to experience them.
Here is a key insight: worry is just misplaced faith. It is putting energy into believing in what you do not want to happen. For example, if you are worried about letting in a soft goal or making a mistake during a tryout, you are essentially giving power to those outcomes. Shifting your belief from worry to faith in your abilities allows you to build confidence instead of undermining it.
“Some people dream of success, while others wake up early and work hard at it.” – Alex Ovechkin
Action: Turning Belief into Reality
Belief alone is not enough, you must back it up with action. Action is the bridge between your potential and your performance. When you take consistent, deliberate action, you prove to yourself that you can handle challenges, grow your skills, and achieve your goals.
Think about how practice builds confidence. Every time you push yourself during drills, correct a mistake, or step out of your comfort zone, you are reinforcing the belief that you are improving. Action gives you evidence of progress, which strengthens your confidence over time.
It is important to note that even small actions matter. The way you show up to practice, how you prepare mentally before a game, and the energy you bring to each shift all contribute to building confidence. Remember, confidence grows with repetition, practice leads to belief, and belief fuels further action.
Confidence = Belief + Action
When you combine belief and action, you create unshakable confidence. This equation looks like this:
Confidence = Belief + Action
- Belief: Trust in your ability to succeed and focus on what you want to achieve.
- Action: Take consistent steps toward your goals, no matter how small they may seem.
Together, these create a cycle of confidence. The more you believe in yourself, the more likely you are to take action. The more action you take, the stronger your belief becomes. This cycle is what builds momentum and allows you to play with confidence.
How to Build Belief and Action in Your Game
Here are some steps to integrate belief and action into your hockey journey:
- Shift Your Focus to What You Can Control Let go of outcomes you can’t control, such as whether your team wins or how others judge your performance. Focus on controllable actions, like your positioning, effort, and attitude.
- Visualize Success Spend a few minutes each day visualizing yourself making great saves or executing perfect plays. This strengthens your belief by creating mental evidence of success.
- Reframe Worry into Faith When you catch yourself worrying, ask: “What do I want to believe instead?” Shift your focus to what you want to happen and take an action that supports that outcome.
- Celebrate Small Wins Confidence grows when you acknowledge progress. Whether it is a well- timed save, better focus during practice, or sticking to a pre-game routine, celebrate your wins.
- Stay in the Present Moment Confidence thrives in the present. Avoid dwelling on past mistakes or worrying about future outcomes. Focus on playing one shift at a time.
Belief and Action in Action: A Quick Story
Imagine two goalies preparing for the same important game.
- Goalie A worries about what might go wrong and believes they are not fully ready. Their actions in practice reflect this doubt, they avoid challenging drills and focus only on avoiding mistakes. As a result, they step onto the ice without confidence and play small.
- Goalie B focuses on what they can control. They believe they are improving every day and take action by pushing themselves in practice, even when it’s uncomfortable. On game day, they step onto the ice confident in their preparation and play big.
Which goalie do you think performs better? Confidence comes from belief and action working together.
Closing Thoughts
To become the most effective and confident hockey player you can be, focus on strengthening your belief and taking action every day. Belief is the foundation that keeps you grounded in faith rather than worry, and action is the engine that turns belief into results. Together, they create the confidence you need to perform your best on the ice.
Remember: Confidence is not something you either have or do not have. It is a skill you build with practice and intention. Believe in your ability, take consistent action, and watch your confidence and your game, reach new heights.