Wickenheiser’s Perspective on NHL “Winning Mentality” & Preparation
In honor of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) start of the 2025-2026 season this past week, let’s take a look back to some of the Development Camp programming and pre season training NHL teams were utilizing to prepare in their pursuit of The Cup.
With a laser focus on developing and building the most high-performing team on the ice, front office staff, coaches, and players worked tirelessly to prepare for the long season ahead, and the media was hungry to gain their thoughts and perspectives on future prospects and what the league has in store this season.
One interview in particular with hall of famer, Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser, the Toronto Maple Leafs’s Assistant General Manager - Player Development and Canadian ice hockey gold-medalist, highlighted several key focus areas and mental performance topics that were prioritized in the Maple Leaf’s Development Camp and their prep for the pre-season.
Let's take a look at what Dr. Wickenheiser shared:
Approaching On and Off Ice Training with Purpose: While considering the range of off season rest times among players and prospects, in addition to the demands of pre-season play, Maple Leaf staff focused on intentional recovery, off-ice training, and adjusting the length of Camp to best prepare the players for pre-season and future competition.
Adjusting training modalities and routines to the physical and mental demands of training for individuals and the team fosters a culture of quality practice, both on and off the ice.
Highlighting Advantageous Controllable Skills and Intangibles: When discussing prospects and future rookies, Wickenheiser focused attention towards specific skill building, process-oriented goals for players, and “pro-habits” that are required at the NHL level. She continues with a switch to intangibles like “passion”, “drive”, and “emotion” and how these can impact a competitive environment and the grind that is required during an NHL season.
Outlining task-oriented skillsets, short-term goals, as well as components of intrinsic motivation, lays the foundation for a process-oriented team fueled by grit, improvement, and high compete levels.
Setting Team Expectations Early: After a heated on-ice fight during Camp, Wickenheiser and staff directly addressed the players involved, emphasizing that “no one needs to get hurt” and that is not something they want to see at Camp. She went on to mention that while they are “happy to see guys playing with emotion and passion and want to make an impact”, staff is sure they “won’t see it again”.
Effectively communicating team norms at the beginning of the season sets the blueprint for team cohesion and connection while mitigating misunderstandings and conflict later.
Handling Pressure and “Winning Mentality”: When asked about her thoughts on the “mentality of winning”, Wickenheiser highlights that winning at the highest level requires the “ability to grind day after day after day” and being able to perform “on demand when it matters the most”. To address this, the Leafs held mental training sessions on topics including managing pressure, emotions, and expectations, the “jump to the pro” level, and navigating the responsibilities of life off the ice (social media, family, etc.).
Like physical skills and training, refining mental skills demands effort, buy-in, and consistent practice. And, in order to perform “on demand when it matters the most”, athletes must build the mental skills required to stay composed in high-pressure situations before it’s showtime - so when it is, confidence, trust, and consistency is present.
In all, Dr. Wickenheiser provided great insights into the intentional physical and mental preparedness that is required at the highest level and how the organization is working to develop players from an early stage, emphasizing that high performance is honed through grit, passion, intention, and resilience.
Interview: Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser by Leafs Nation Network, July 3, 2025
Watch the interview here.
