Johnny Hero’s Breakfast Club Camp
Beat the sun to the rink and stack discipline reps with like-minded grinders who love the extra work.
Skill Pillar
Work Ethic
Daily habits that prove you can be trusted in every drill, rep, and shift. Work ethic blends preparation, pace, and accountability so coaches know you’ll raise the standard of the group.
Snapshot
Definition
Relentless energy that carries from your warm-up to your last stride. Players with elite work ethic skate every rep with intent, reset quickly after mistakes, and treat recovery, nutrition, and film with the same seriousness as a game.
It is not just effort—it's planning, consistency, and the ability to pull teammates along when the session drags.
Key Habits
- Arrives early with a checklist
- Finishes drills at full speed
- Backchecks through the dots
- Tracks sleep and recovery
- Asks questions after feedback
- Supports teammates verbally
What coaches notice
Elite effort is loud in quiet moments: the player who hustles for loose pucks in line rushes, keeps gloves on the bench for the next unit, and rebounds immediately after a mistake. Those details earn extra shifts.
Training Blueprint
On-Ice Routines
- Shift Finishers: Add a 3-stride sprint to the bench after every drill rep to engrain complete shifts.
- Compete Windows: 12-minute blocks of 1v1 and 2v2 battles with quick resets. Track wins/losses to build accountability.
- Tempo Shuttles: Goal line to far blue and back in <25 seconds with puck control, repeated five times.
Off-Ice & Recovery
Blend strength, mobility, and conditioning so your effort can stay high in the third period.
- Contrast showers or cold plunge within 60 minutes of hard sessions.
- Two 20-minute mobility resets per week focused on hips and thoracic spine.
- Daily hydration target: bodyweight (lbs) × 0.6 in ounces.
Progress Tracking
Use a simple post-practice reflection:
- Rate energy (1-5) and note why.
- List one rep you finished hard.
- Set a micro-goal for tomorrow.
Peer Review Checklist
Ask a teammate or coach to complete this once a month. Compare their notes with your own reflection to spot gaps.
- Skates the first drill at game speed without needing reminders.
- Leads by example in conditioning segments (top third of group).
- Communicates energy—encourages or redirects teammates when tempo dips.
- Stays on task in video/meetings and follows up with clarifying questions.
- Maintains equipment and nutrition habits (no missed recovery windows).
Video Study
Use these clips for 5-minute film breaks—log one actionable takeaway per video.
Macklin Celebrini – Hockey IQ x Skill x Work Ethic. Watch how Celebrini stacks detail work with skill sessions and note how quickly he resets after errors. Open on YouTube
Inside the Mind of Mario Lemieux. Breakdown of how one of the best combined daily work habits with creativity—pause to record which routines translate to your level. Open on YouTube
Kevin Westgarth on Developing Work Ethic. Short interview on building pro standards—use it to spark a conversation with your leadership group. Open on YouTube
Cutting Edge Ice Academy
Set the Work Ethic Standard
Use Cutting Edge sessions that reward consistency, compete level, and accountability.
Level Up Skills Camp
High-tempo stations that demand max effort while coaches track reps and reinforce habits.
1-on-1 Training
Stay honest with individualized goals, progress tracking, and extra reps tailored to your grind.
Additional Resources
Download
Weekly Energy Planner
Map school, gym, and practices to avoid burnout. Update it every Sunday night.
USA Hockey PDF
Article
Habits of Elite Competitors
Ben Prentiss details how NHL veterans structure days to stay consistent.
Read on NHL.com
Team Exercise
Effort Standards Meeting
Run a 20-minute session where leaders define what “full effort” looks like for your group. Post the agreement in the locker room.
Facilitation guide