DEEP THINKERS
NHLers relate what influences them outside of hockey’s borders
We tend to think pro athletes are one-dimensional creatures.
An exceptional sporting talent couldn’t possibly have depth, right? Wrong. Many do.
For instance, of late we’ve learned that Green Bay Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers picks the brains of film producers in his spare time, and that Andre Iguodala of the Golden State Warriors not only rubs elbows with Silicon Valley investors but also is a pseudo-member of the area’s forward-thinking culture.
Curious about the hockey angle, Postmedia recently pulled aside players from four NHL teams to ask this straightforward, yet loaded, question:
Outside from those within your family and hockey bubble, who (or what) influences you?
The answers ranged from complex to simple.
Consider this a passing glance at the people and things influencing today’s NHLers.
CURTIS LAZAR, CALGARY FLAMES
“Tomorrow’s always a new day.” Lazar’s NHL career has been anything but smooth — a trade from Ottawa to Calgary, healthy scratches, just 43 points in 203 games — so his dad insists on having a short memory “even when things go south.”
The reminders help Lazar, 22, concentrate on the here and now. As do highlights of cannon-armed Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford, of all people.
“There’s always one YouTube clip I watch of Stafford. It’s of all the fourth-quarter comebacks he had,” said Lazar, flashing his trademark grin. “There’s one where, I think, he separated his shoulder but he finished the drive, led their team to victory. That always stood out to me because he sacrifices his body so much but he never gives up.”
Back in 2015, when Lazar captained Team Canada to a gold medal at the world junior hockey championship, it seemed like he had it all figured out. He had that Stafford edge.
Nowadays? Not so much. In part, that’s why Lazar would like to sit down with Stafford for a Q&A. He sees a gritty gunslinger who lives in the moment and he wants to learn more.
“You just get the job done, and I think that’s the pro athlete. That’s what you have to do,” Lazar said. “You have to block out all of the noise, the internal motivation that gets you going in the wrong way. You have to embrace it, have fun.”
MORGAN RIELLY, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
A thoughtful interview subject, Rielly let the wheels turn for a moment before offering his two cents on the survey question.
“Outside of family and hockey? That’s a tough question,” he said, eventually landing on a three-pack of celebrities working on causes Rielly cares about deeply.
“I think it’s cool when you look at Elon Musk and the things that he’s been able to do,” Rielly said of the South African billionaire and environmentalist. “Along those lines, (longtime Hollywood A-lister) Leonardo DiCaprio — what he’s done for awareness around global warming and our planet is pretty cool.”
In his downtime, Rielly has sought out reading and viewing material on Musk’s investments in sustainable energy technologies, DiCaprio’s role as a Zayed Future Energy Prize juror, as well as actor Matt Damon’s fight against the global water crisis through Water. Org.
Clearly, the top-pairing defenceman from Vancouver has a green thumb. “You could go about your day and not hear about anything like that but, when you go look, there’s lots of cool things out there that people do,” Rielly said.
Jonathan Toews, the 29-year-old Chicago Blackhawks captain, started speaking out publicly about environmental issues this past summer, reaching millions through his social media accounts. Rielly has pondered outreach, too, but isn’t entirely set on timing, cause or execution.
“I think it’s important,” the fiveyear Leaf said of using his platform for the greater good. “It’s up to us to do that, the more people who become aware of it, the better.”
FREDERIK ANDERSEN, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Rielly’s teammate and fellow survey participant, Frederik Andersen, can relate on some level.
First, Toronto’s starting goalie lauded Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt for his recent goodwill efforts that raised millions of dollars for victims of Hurricane Harvey. Then, he looked across the Leafs dressing room at Nazem Kadri and Matt Martin, two veteran NHLers with charitable foundations.
Andersen may follow their lead one day. “I think it’s something that has to hit home for you,” said the soft-spoken Dane. “It can really be anything, but last summer I lost my grandpa to cancer … You want to find something unique and try to build it the right way.”
BLAKE COLEMAN, NEW JERSEY DEVILS
Typically, elite hockey players view the college experience through two lenses: 1) it’s a stepping stone to the pros, with no other agenda, or 2) it’s a stepping stone to the pros, with an academic agenda.
Coleman, drafted by the Devils in 2011, gravitated toward the second option, earning a degree in entrepreneurship at the University of Miami (Ohio). And upon retirement — or maybe sometime during his pro career — Coleman’s intention is to transform those four years of lectures and papers into something tangible.
So, who influences the 26-yearold Texan, you know, outside of the usual suspects? Perhaps a business person he holds in high regard?
Nobody in particular, Coleman said, but he admires “any creative person who takes it upon themselves to make something of themselves and not rely on others.”
The idea of starting a business, getting it off the ground and watching it grow really appeals to Coleman, a penalty-killing forward.
Being your own boss and “pushing the envelope” is the post-playing dream. “You kinda control your own destiny. I like that,” Coleman said, nodding.
“You don’t have to rely on other people to push you further. Obviously, if I can give back to people by creating something meaningful, I can help family or friends and let them get involved. That’s my passion.”
MARK JANKOWSKI, CALGARY FLAMES
There’s family. There’s hockey people. And then there’s Derek Jeter.
A longtime New York Yankees fan, Jankowski has always appreciated The Captain. Jeter’s demeanour and consistent results captured the rookie Flames forward’s attention as a youngster.
“He was just a classy guy,” Jankowski said of Jeter’s 20 memorable years in MLB. “The way he worked and played throughout his career, it’s just someone who I’ve idolized.”
Jeter, who retired in 2014, has pivoted to big business. Among other ventures, the future Hall of Famer has founded/run The Players’ Tribune website and is partowner/CEO of the Miami Marlins.
“You hear a lot of stories about people struggling with what they should do when they’re done playing their sport. Obviously he’s found what he wants to do,” said Jankowski, who studied management at Providence College. “It’s something I look up to. Hopefully, when I’m done playing this sport for a long time, I won’t have any trouble figuring out what I want to do next.”
BEN LOVEJOY,
NEW JERSEY DEVILS
For other NHLers, including one polled for this story, life after hockey is an afterthought. Because, for certain players, being “all-in” on hockey means pressing pause on any outside sources of influence, interest and inspiration.
“I am a naturally curious person, but for my entire life and the last 11 years, my life has been about hockey,” Devils defenceman Ben Lovejoy explained.
“I think that everything you do as a professional athlete affects your game and I have done everything I can to focus on becoming a better hockey player, from what I eat to what I do in my spare time. When I’m done hockey, I look forward to doing a lot of things, but right now and for the last 11 years I’ve been all-in trying to get my game to (the highest level) possible.”
Added 33-year-old Lovejoy, who in early December revealed plans to donate his brain to CTE research: “You go to bed and you’re thinking about hockey, you’re thinking about mistakes in previous games, the next game. Someday I will completely get away from the game, but while I’m a professional athlete, a professional hockey player, this is all I think about.”
CONNOR CARRICK, TORONTO
Maple Leafs Shunryu Suzuki, Ryan Holliday and James C. Collins are three people Connor Carrick probably couldn’t pick out of a lineup. But that doesn’t mean the articulate Toronto blue-liner isn’t heavily influenced by them.
Suzuki’s Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, Holiday’s Ego Is The Enemy and Collins’ Good To Great are some of bookworm Carrick’s recent reads.
“I like to consider the habits,” said Carrick, one of the league’s best thinkers and communicators.
“They do help each other — when I eat well and sleep well and my head’s in a good spot, it does help my hockey — but I (also) like to think of them as separate entities.
“I like to set up good habits for my post-career, for all of the time (and try to remember that) these are the tendencies of a successful person’s brain and how it operates day to day. You just try to pick that up and steal it.”
Translation: Carrick aspires to be his best self on and off the ice. He tries to connect the body, mind and soul, and reading can provide the know-how. The 23-year-old will ask those close to him, like his dad and financial adviser, for recommendations.
“It helps freshen things up and helps you look at something in a little bit different light, you know? I think you get more and more comfortable with yourself. You’re allowed to borrow someone else’s brain, essentially, for a little bit.”
DANIEL WINNIK, MINNESOTA WILD
Similar to Carrick, Minnesota Wild forward Daniel Winnik isn’t so much concerned with who wrote something as he is focused on the content and the message.
“I always try to find new stuff,” the NHL journeyman said. “I’m never someone who’s like, ‘I’m going to go buy all the James Patterson books,’ or all the Stephen Kings. I like a wide variety of stuff.
“I read a ton of articles,” Winnik continued. “I’m interested in business, politics — all that stuff. I’ve always been intrigued by what makes the world tick and what other successful people do or what’s going on in the world.”