Alright, let’s talk about something I got into recently – looking closer at Seth Appert’s approach to hockey. It wasn’t some grand plan, more like I just started noticing things, you know? Mostly with the Rochester Americans, since I catch quite a few of their games.
So, I decided to make it a little project for myself. Instead of just watching the puck go back and forth, I started trying to really see what was happening systematically. What’s the deal with the structure everyone mentions? How does he handle the young guys?
Digging into the ‘Appert Way’
My process was pretty straightforward, nothing fancy. I basically just committed to paying extra attention during the games I watched over a few weeks. Here’s what I did:
- Focused Observation: I’d pick a couple of things each game to watch specifically. Sometimes it was how the defensemen handled puck retrievals under pressure. Other times, it was how the forwards supported the puck in the neutral zone.
- Player Usage: I paid attention to ice time, especially for the rookies or younger players. Were they getting benched immediately after a mistake, or were they given chances to play through it? Seemed like mostly the latter.
- Team Response: How did the team look after a goal against? Or after a bad penalty? Did they seem to deflate, or did they stick to their game plan? I looked for consistency in their effort and structure, win or lose.
- Mental Notes (and some actual ones): Yeah, I actually jotted down a few things. Like, “Team looked really connected on the breakout tonight,” or “Young D-man struggled early but seemed to gain confidence later.” Just simple stuff to track patterns.
It wasn’t like I was breaking down game film like a pro scout, just watching with a bit more intention than usual. Trying to understand the philosophy behind the plays.
And here’s the weird part where my brain went. Doing this, watching the emphasis on process and development, it unexpectedly reminded me of learning how to cook properly, like, really cook, years ago.
I remember wanting to make these complex dishes right off the bat. Failed miserably, obviously. Got frustrated. Burnt stuff. Undercooked stuff. It was a mess. My buddy, who’s a chef, told me, “Dude, you gotta master the basics first. Learn knife skills. Understand heat control. Make a simple sauce perfectly before you try the fancy stuff.”
Watching Appert’s teams, it felt like that. Building blocks. You see the structure, the attempts to play the ‘right’ way, even if the execution isn’t always perfect. You see players gradually getting better within that system. It’s like he’s teaching them how to chop the onions correctly, how to control the heat, before expecting a five-star meal. It takes time. It takes repetition. It takes patience – from the coach and the players.
Made me appreciate that side of coaching a bit more. It’s not just about the X’s and O’s for game night, but the day-in, day-out grind of building habits and skills. Like perfecting that simple sauce before moving on.
So, that was my little dive into Seth Appert’s hockey. Started as curiosity about a coach’s system, ended up reminding me about the importance of fundamentals and patience, just like back in the kitchen. Funny how you find connections in unexpected places. Still watching the games, maybe just seeing them a little differently now.
