Episode 58: Mental Edge Hockey - Confidence Isn’t a Feeling… It’s a Choice

Why most kids don’t actually know what a “good game” is.

Scott and Jamie sit down with Sandy Cohan (Mental Edge Hockey) for a deep dive into the mental side of youth hockey and why so many players struggle with confidence, focus, and pressure.

Sandy explains that most young athletes can’t even define what success is, yet their confidence rises and falls based on it. He breaks down why results (goals, points) are the wrong scoreboard, and why real development comes from actions, behaviors, and controllables, not outcomes. 

The conversation also hits what’s changed in today’s athletes (less focus, less grit) and how social media and comparison culture are making it worse. Sandy shares practical ways to help players reset, refocus, and build confidence, including why confidence is a skill that can be built, not something you either have or don’t.

In this episode:

• Why most players can’t define “success” and why that matters
• Confidence as a skill (not a feeling)
• The difference between awareness vs. focus
• Why kids focus on “don’ts” and how to fix it
• How parents can reshape post-game conversations

This episode isn’t about hockey systems.  It’s about how players think and why that changes everything.

Partners:

• https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/
• https://hockeytraining.com/
• https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydads
• https://howieshockeytape.com/
• https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/

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