Do most great players live and breathe hockey?

[CascadeFilly]

I've been wondering this recently. I've heard a lot this year that Mark Scheifele can't get enough hockey. When he's not playing or practising, he's at home watching games, to the irritation of his roommate(s). Conversely, some players don't like to think about hockey when they're not at the rink, as they need to unwind and leave work at work.

Any thoughts on this? I would expect that guys like Crosby and Toews are much the same, but I don't know if that's the case.

I wouldn't paint it in black and white, certainly; that all great players live and breathe hockey, while lesser players leave it at the rink, but I'd love to hear what you guys think on the subject!

[The Bottlenecker]

I think your best players grew up playing hockey AND other sports. There is just too much research suggesting that "living and breathing" one sport is bad for you and your development into an elite athlete. Here is one of many sites saying the same thing:

http://pediatrics.aappublications.or...106/1/154.full

[Mr. Guru]

The simple answer is no.

I've talked to Wendel Clark a few times. One time in particular I asked him who Canada's defencemen should be at the Olympics. And he had no idea. Saying he doesn't follow hockey that closely. I was pretty shocked.

[The Comish]

If you are an intelligent human being, then you will naturally have other interests. So, great players like Ovechkin or Taylor Hall will of course live and breathe (through their mouths) hockey.

[kovalchuk17]

i dont think thats a measure for success at all. some players thrive in thinking the game 100%. others need time away from the game so they can focus on it when its practice/a game. everyone is different, only you know how to maximize your abilities

[newfcollins]

I think most of the great players have other interests.

Gretzky played lacrosse in the summer, I believe. Others play softball, or fish, or golf. Soccer is a big one for European players. If you don't get away from it, you burn out. There's been a few cases the last couple of years of players quitting hockey because they need a break.

On the flip side, a buddy of mine plays hockey, and have played with and against a few former NHL players that played a couple of seasons. He said you can't have a conversation with them about anything other than hockey because it's all they've known, all they've grown up with and all they've ever cared about. And now that their hockey career is pretty much over, they've not able to handle things not related to hockey.

[poolsharks]

All I know is that I couldn't get enough hockey as a kid . I would check stats , watch on TV, draw goalies, dwell on defeats , anticipate tournaments for weeks , etc . My son is quite the opposite , anything BUT hockey when not at the rink . He's a lot better than I ever was, playing midget AAA and having an outside chance at possibly junior A or major junior hockey. Here you go for the scientific explanation .
I think you need to get away but it's important to spend enough time developing skills .