How to Break Out of a Slump

In hockey, much like in life, success is rarely a straight line. Players can hit hot streaks, scoring goals seemingly at will, but they can just as easily face cold streaks where nothing seems to click. For a player in a slump, the pressure to perform can become overwhelming. However, focusing on small wins is a powerful way to regain confidence and momentum.

A "small win" in hockey might be as simple as winning a faceoff, completing a clean pass, or finishing a backcheck with determination. These moments may not make the highlight reel, but they are essential for building confidence. Every positive action—whether it’s a solid forecheck, disrupting an opponent’s play, or making a quick breakout—helps a player focus on controllable factors, reducing the weight of expectations tied to points or goals.

For players in a slump, small wins serve as stepping stones. By focusing on the process rather than the outcome, a player can shift their mindset from frustration to progress. Over time, these small victories compound, laying the foundation for bigger breakthroughs, like regaining scoring touch or setting up crucial plays.

Ultimately, small wins build momentum, not just for the individual, but for the entire team. In hockey, every contribution matters, and sometimes the smallest victory is all it takes to spark a turnaround.

Small Wins

• Win your next shift territorially.
• Get the next shot on net.
• Winning a key faceoff in the defensive zone.
• Successfully blocking a shot to prevent a scoring chance.
• Completing a crisp breakout pass under pressure.
• Forcing a turnover with a solid forecheck.
• Win your next backcheck race…. Backcheck hard to disrupt an opponent’s odd-man rush.
• Getting a puck deep into the offensive zone on a line change.
• Drawing a penalty to give your team a power play.
• Screening the goalie to assist in a teammate’s shot.
• Keeping the puck in the offensive zone during a power play.
• Making a quick, smart decision to avoid icing or a turnover.
• Winning puck retrieval races in DZ or OZ.
• Being the high F3 and preventing an opposing breakout.
• Finding continuation plays off difficult wall pucks
• Getting inside the dot lane to leverage his high-end skills