On the Inside Edge

Implement tactics used by Stanley Cup champions to train mental skills.

Achieving excellence on the ice is a culmination of countless hours of physical training, but the importance of mental preparation cannot be overstated. On the Inside Edge: Mastering Hockey’s Mental Game explores the most important psychological aspects of the game, offering guidance based on the latest research in sport science as well as behind-the-scenes insights and observations.

Author Ryan Hamilton, an experienced sport psychology consultant, has helped the Tampa Bay Lightning win two (and counting) Stanley Cups during his tenure and now shares his knowledge of various psychological themes with hockey players of all levels. Activities for training mental skills, with instructions, are provided to help players and coaches apply the content to their own training and development. Key psychological domains covered in the book include these:

• Grit
• Confidence
• Resilience
• Dealing with adversity
• Competitiveness

The author’s experience in high-level sports helps him illustrate psychological concepts with stories about issues he has helped athletes address, personal and professional hurdles he has encountered, interviews he has conducted with pro hockey players, and more. Real-world applications bring hockey psychology into clear focus for readers. Examples of how things work in the NHL, in international competitions, and in junior hockey give players and coaches the tools to implement mental skills training the way professionals do.

Readers from all levels of the game will come away from On the Inside Edge with a host of on-ice and off-ice mental strategies to enhance their performance and feel more prepared for the next steps in their hockey career

Audience

Hockey players from high school to professional levels looking to improve their mental game. Coaches and mental performance consultants looking for insight into how to support their players’ mental game. Anyone interested in high performance and professional development.

Foreword
Preface: A Walk Worth Remembering

Chapter 1. Mastering Mental Toughness
Chapter 2. Creating Confidence
Chapter 3. Fostering Grit
Chapter 4. Realizing Resilience
Chapter 5. Training Attention
Chapter 6. Strengthening Motivation
Chapter 7. Crafting Competitiveness
Chapter 8. Shaping Mindset
Chapter 9. Refining Practice and Preparation
Chapter 10. Cultivating Wellness
Chapter 11. Cultivating Wellness When Injured
Chapter 12. Cultivating Wellness to Prevent Burnout

Epilogue: Another Walk Worth Remembering

Ryan Hamilton, PhD, has been the mental performance consultant with the National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lightning organization for more than 10 years, experiencing with them three Stanley Cup Finals runs, including two championships. He also serves as a mental performance consultant for Hockey Canada, working with a variety of Canadian national teams (World Juniors, Olympics, and Four Nations Face-Off) and supports clients in professional tennis, golf, and ultrarunning. He is also an associate professor of psychology at the University of New Brunswick.

Hamilton’s exceptional work at the top tier of the sport has provided him with opportunities to successfully implement mental skills training while at the same time allowing him to learn from the best of the best about the psychological components of elite performance. Finally, Ryan is a dedicated husband and father who in his limited free time also competes in ultramarathons lasting up to 24 hours and covering over 100K. Yes, he endeavors to practice what he preaches.

“Ryan approaches his job as a mental performance coach with humility, creativity, and passion: qualities that ring true throughout this book. No matter your level or role in the game, this book offers new insights and skills to enhance your hockey career and help you grow as a person and athlete.”

—Sidney Crosby, Professional Ice Hockey Player and Captain for the Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)

“Long considered one of the most innovative thinkers in the field of sports psychology, Ryan Hamilton has written a book providing insights that extend far beyond the world of hockey. Combine those insights with behind-the-scenes stories from hockey’s most prestigious events and most accomplished participants, and you have a fascinating read.”

—Gord Miller, Hockey Commentator for TSN and Member of the IIHF Hall of Fame

“I can still recall the first time I experienced Ryan’s approach to working through the mental side of being an athlete, and I know well the lasting effect it has had on my career. In On the Inside Edge, Ryan outlines the journey your mind takes you on and how to deal with the expectations and pressures that come during high-stakes moments. I have been able to apply his knowledge and expertise to help my own professional career, and I am thankful for that.”

—Steven Stamkos, Forward for the Nashville Predators (NHL)