It's Been A Year
Be Present
The only way this sport gets better is through better communication, more transparency, more accountability, and an understanding that this game has miles to grow. It can be better if we make it better.As I sit in the stands, I've heard lots of parents wonder aloud why their kid isn't playing more minutes. That's a question that parents have every right to ask, and coaches should give those parents the honest truth. Don't sugar-coat anything in the answer because clear communication and transparency builds trust. Parents need to understand that coaches set standards for their teams, and it's up to players and parents to meet those standards. All of this needs to be clearly communicated so that all players and parents understand what is expected, and parents need to hold the coaches accountable by demanding that transparency. The "why" should be obvious.
This goes up the chain through league organizers and officials as well. I'm not advocating for people to accuse organizers of having some sort of ulterior motive, but, if something seems off or is unclear, there should be questions asked. In a day and age where social media was supposed to bring people closer together, talking to one another civilly is now the biggest obstacle in communication. For teams and leagues to work better, communication is the key ingredient.
Again, if you get an answer you don't like or is unclear, ask for clarification. Coaches should be able to provide that effectively. They are coaches, after all, so instructions should be clear.
Coaches, if you get a question that you don't like, don't just shut down the person asking and walk away in a huff. Ask for clarification. Give direct, honest answers. You need that support to be successful!
I know it's easy to text people with everyone having a cell phone, but communication improves with face-to-face contact. Let's make that the norm for 2026 when it comes to interactions between people.
Go Explore
On December 31, 1995, Bill Watterson published his last new Calvin & Hobbes comic strip before retiring. He owns all the rights to the strip below, but I wanted to post if for the important message he wrote.
There's no doubt that the NHL gets the majority of TV time when it comes to hockey on television in North America, but there are so many good leagues and players that people aren't watching that really deserve some additional attention. I'm not just talking about professional hockey either, but amateur hockey and minor hockey in and around the cities in which we live. It's time to explore!
In 2024, I had my first opportunities to attend both an OHL game and an ECHL game, and I would go again if there was a team in either league near me. Lots of hockey fans lamented the loss of the WHL's Winnipeg Ice when they left, and I get that because it was fun hockey that one could go see for a relatively low price. Most major cities across Canada have U SPORTS men's and women's hockey teams, but virtually no one attends those games. Even some of the major minor-hockey tournaments often have up-and-coming stars playing in them. Why aren't we embracing these more? We should be doing that!
Just through the Female World Sport School Challenge alone, I've had the privilege of seeing Aerin Frankel, Jade Iginla, Sarah Potomak, Halli Krzyzaniak, Hannah Miller, Alexis Paddington, and Logan Angers all skate for their respective high school teams before they moved on to the NCAA and to the professional ranks. Seeing these women play as teenagers before fans were wearing their names on jerseys is something I cherish, and I feel fortunate that I got to see them play in that developmental era of their careers before they were stars.
I sat beside a woman in Sudbury who told me how important the Wolves were to her because she doesn't "need to be a millionaire to have season tickets to watch good hockey". In crossing paths with Fiona Quinn, you can tell how important Indiana Tech hockey and the Fort Wayne Komets are to her when it comes to fueling her passion for the game. In speaking with Courtney Kollman, it's easy to see that her talent has taken her places like Switzerland and Spain, but she's not pursuing a PWHL career because she loves all the benefits that come with playing in Europe. None of these women spoke of the NHL.
What I'm getting at is that there's more passion and less cutthroat business as you move further away from the NHL. Don't get me wrong in that the NHL will always be there as it's a billion-dollar industry on its own, but I think a lot of hockey fans and people would benefit from a perspective change once in a while to understand why the game of hockey matters more than the business of hockey. Amateur, minor, and European hockey are the former. The NHL is the latter.
In giving these two simple messages, they work hand-in-hand: be present and go explore. Far too often, I find myself in a routine that feels more like a rut when it comes to life, and I need a break from that monotony to restore my sanity. This is why HBIC doesn't sit here and analyze advanced stats and NHL games on a daily basis - I'd go completely insane. Or, according to some, just a little crazier.
Instead, I like to get out to events, games, and tournaments, and 2026 will hold a number of opportunities for me to do that. The Female World Sport School Challenge is back, and I'll be at those games. There's an exciting sledge hockey showdown happening in March where I'll be attending. There may even be a bigger opportunity in April that comes about if all the stars align right.
What I'm saying is that 2026 is a year where I plan on being more present and exploring more. And when it comes to being present, maybe that means a conversation with you at an event after you go exploring too. Thanks for reading all year, folks, and have a safe, fun, memorable New Year's Eve as we get set for fun in 2026!
Until next year, keep your sticks on the ice!
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