Unfortunately, He Finds The CURRENT Profession Severely Lacking
By Paul LubanskiLate last winter, I was visiting my then 83 year-old mother on a Saturday evening and of course, the TV was tuned to CBC's Hockey Night In Canada.
The Washington Capitals, featuring the high-flying Alex Ovechkin were battling the LesCanadiens at the Molson Centre in Montreal.
My mom, a wonderfully dedicated and classic "hockey mom," (you know the kind that stayed up until 2 a.m. watering our backyard rink with a garden hose) was watching with great excitement. You see, she really hadn't followed the game on a professional level since the mid-70's--so this was a real treat for her to be viewing a game with one of her brood.
Here is what is so amazing about the scenario outlined above: a mere three shifts into the game mom made the following declaration: " That number 8 on the Capitals team is by far the best player on the ice."
Wow.
Pretty cool eh!
That's my momma.
Yes, I was impressed and proud that she was so perceptive but stay with me here because there is a good reason as to why I have led-off this week's column with this story--and it is thus:
ANYONE WITH MINIMAL EXPERIENCE/EXPOSURE TO HOCKEY COULD AND SHOULD HAVE DECIPHERED THE SAME!
Which leads us into the primary subject matter and ultimate message of what I am attempting to convey in today's blogpost. That being, scouts at most levels, but especially so on the "youth" side of things, are superficial, simplistic and as result--way more often than not--inept--at their so-called chosen craft.
Here is what I believe a SCOUT should stand for and embrace:
S-SEEKING
C-CHARACTER
O-OVERACHIEVING
U-UNUSUAL
T-TALENT(s)
Those virtues outlined above are THE most critical--bar none.
Yes, a "base" amount of skill(s) must be exemplified after closely watching a player. For example, on the surface, does he or she appear to possess the skating and or toughness requirements to shine at the next level. But you have to dig FAR deeper than that to be even a decent "scout." Far deeper.
HOWEVER: Can you truly gage "on-ice awareness" if you only watch 10 shifts --which in my experience, is the average number a typical scout will watch intently? And withn such a brief duration, can you pick-up on the players' propensity for finding an open-stick where others had no clue? If a center, have you charted face-off win percentages and projected how that number may translate to the next level? Did the winger win all of his/her one-on-one battles? Does he/she get a shot off quickly and on-target? Does the player show craftiness and cunning via use of the boards to pass or his/her skates and stick to tip and/or direct pucks on net or to a teammate? Do you hear the player's voice actually calling for the puck when open? Is that player on the ice in ALL crucial defensive and offensive situations--"directing" teammates with authority?
Can you weigh leadership? Dressing room positivity index? Dedication to off-ice strength-training and general what I REFER TO AS "TEAMSPERSONSHIP?" Can you accurately rate the player's resolve to be that hardest-worker in practice? Can you predict how that player reacts to adversity? Does the player take selfish and harmful-to-the-team penalties and sulk when thing don't go his/her way? I the players personality standoffish and negative towards teammates that play a far smaller role on that club? When things are going badly 800 miles from here at age 18, will he/she fold-up, cry and blame teammates vs. digging-in and doing everything possible to help a club out of a slide?
Why is all of that important at age 13, 14 or 15?
Because all the "negatives" just do not magically disappear as a player gains age. In fact, most become magnified intensity and loom larger as massive problems for coaches at the highest levels. Especially so, when he/she is attempting to frame the sort of cohesive infrastructure required to actually win a national championship. Coddled kids that have never been confronted regarding boorish/selfish behavior are major trouble for coaches at the next level.
So that above said--the question is now begged...Mr. or Ms. Scout--have you actually spoken to a players' parents? Coaches? Teammates? Organization's General Manager regarding reputation? Opposing coaches and players? How about his/her school teachers? Principal?
Probably not. That takes "real" work.
And is also assumes that the scout has and understands what true "character' is in order to look a player and family in-the-eye and determine whether or not is resides within that competitor.
Anyone can push a Mike Modano-type talent up to the next level. Anyone! That sort of elite-performer surfaces every 40 years or so.
Most players can only hope to be able to execute just one or two of the necessary hockey skills at the level that Modano was able to.
There-in lies the rub.
A "real" scout has the innate ability to peel back-the onion and find the diamond-in-the-rough that has both the inner-drive and hidden-potential within to eventually flourish at the next level while performing a few of the skills ala Modano.
If you'll excuse my misuse of the language to make this point:
"Just ain't many out there."
I will leave you with the following very true story will serve to illustrate the point-of-view I put forth in today's piece...
Several years back I attended a Midget Major Showcase game being played at one of the top Division I hockey schools in the state of Michigan. Sure enough, from my perch in the large arena, I watched with bemusement as the school's head recruiter went and fetched the head coach in order to hone-in on a player I had inside knowledge about that they were about to offer a scholarship.
This D-I "top" coach sat through one ragged period only--I kid you not. The player they were interested in scored a weak five-hole goal late in that session but also took two bad penalties that hurt the team earlier.
Yes, the player could skate and did so in a "flashy" manner. And, at times, was very good at drawing attention to himself by holding on to the biscuit FAR too long, which in-turn--HURT HIS TEAM.
You guessed it, post the contest the player was offered an early-commitment to compete at that school.
What a mistake.
On a myriad of occasions, I had witnessed the fact that this player's overall selfish attitude and penchant for destroying his team's chances to win big games with horrific penalties far overrode his flashy skating and individual skill display.
I tried to warn the D-I team of such and off course was publicly rebuked. Who was I? You are a "nobody"--not even an official part of either of the two organizations' playing--I was told. This even though I have played and competed successfully at a high-level and for years have demonstrated through coaching and writing that I just may know as much (or more) than theses dudes. Fact.
Regardless, guess who got the last laugh?
Your Paulie!
You see, the player's scholarship offer was eventually withdrawn and never stepped foot on their D-I ice.
I was correct.
But, I don't take joy and solace in telling you the story--no I do not. I am actually saddened by the fact that there were at least 6 other players that deserved that scholarship significantly more so on that ice when taking into account what I designated earlier as the attributes a scout should be seeking out. The sickest aspect of the tale is that the person I was speaking with "promised" to keep our conversation private and reneged on the deal. Thus, the player-in-question's father actually challenged me to a fist-fight a bit later. I held my ground--more than rhetorically speaking that is--and only said "we'll see who is right in a few years."
Maybe things will begin to change post the publishing of more column's such as this?
I hope so- I really do.
For the sake of the kids that DESERVE the scholarship. Especially a scholarship earned from the Midwest-based Universities for our Midwest-situated kids. We help support those schools with our tax dollars and the scholarship monies should be set-aside of our players born and raised and having played for "said" in-state teams.
More fodder for another column.
Stay tuned.
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