Your role on a hockey team isn’t fixed - it’s earned, adapted, and redefined throughout your journey.
In this episode of the Built From Steel Podcast, Eric and Andy dive deep into the reality of team roles, how players can develop the mindset to contribute, how parents can support without pushing, and how coaches can guide without limiting growth.
From navigating lineup competition to earning trust, this episode offers a powerful look into what it really means to “find your role” whether you’re on the top line or fighting for your next shift.
Whether you’re a player learning to adapt, a parent trying to understand your kid’s journey, or a coach balancing development and team needs, this episode is for you.
Key Moments:
0:00 – Jiu-Jitsu and the mental carryover to hockey
5:41 – Why playing with better players pushes growth
11:30 – What if your teammates aren’t as strong as you?
13:20 – U18 lineup mindset + finding your role
16:50 – Fighting for ice is part of the game
18:00 – “How can I help the team?”
24:25 – Understanding your linemates
27:21 – Adapting your role when you join a new team
29:45 – Don’t be a bucket of vanilla — bring identity
36:00 – Be ready when opportunity comes
39:20 – Trust determines ice time
43:55 – Sometimes you won’t get the chance — and that’s real
52:00 – Earning trust through smart decisions
52:46 – Parents may not know what the coach expects
54:15 – Sometimes another player is just better
58:45 – How to respond when things don’t go your way
1:01:25 – Be careful what you wish for — hockey is hard
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The Built From Steel Podcast is a division of BioSteel Sports.Learn more at www.biosteel.com