PRESSURE IS ....

What you feel when you don't know what you're doing. 

The first 20 games in junior hockey / professional hockey is a very testing time both mentally and physically. Likely you spent the summer training hard, working on your skills, tightening up your nutrition plan. When you get to training camp and into your first regular season games, your ice time may not correlate between the work you put in over the course of the summer. I cannot stress enough that this is a mental toughness test, during this time. If you have success - can you sustain it ? If you're not having success  - how do you get on track ? 

As an athlete it is important you trust your process on a daily basis. I had the great fortune of coaching with the Detroit Red Wings and seeing how Nick Lidstrom went about his business on a daily basis. He was consistent off the ice just as he was on the ice. No rush, no panic, no hurry, no PRESSURE. Calm and composed. This is my bench mark for how I represent players, I strongly encourage good habits year around that will carry you into your season and help your adjustment to "highs" and "lows".