Jonathan Toews' Mom: The Pressures of Competitive Hockey
Listen to JT's mom, Andrée as she shares personal insights into how JT has learned to stay focused and deal with the pressure of competitive play.
Jonathan Toews' Small Goals Tip
Jonathan Toews works hard every day to improve his game and he wants to help you improve your game too!
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What was it like to hold the Stanley Cup®?
Submitted by : Chris F., Toronto, Ontario - AIt was probably the most amazing experience I've ever had. Every young player has their own dream about the Stanley Cup® or their fantasy of what they would do if they ever won it. I had visualized this moment for a while and when it happened it was like blur and surreal I never thought it would happen to me. You just have to appreciate the moment on the ice and in the locker room, because after that, it's just a blur and surreal... - Jonathan Toews
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Do you wear your Stanley Cup® ring all the time?
Submitted by : Mark S., Hampton, Ontario - AI don't usually wear my ring. It's actually kind of uncomfortable to wear. It's beautiful but it's big and heavy, so when I'm showing people, I usually carry it around in my hand. Of course, it's still pretty awesome to have. It's something I can always look at to remind me of what we accomplished. - Jonathan Toews
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What did you do with the Stanley Cup® after you won?
Submitted by : Christine L., Toronto, Ontario - AIt was awesome. I brought it home and ate Cheerios out of it the next morning! The best part was that I got to bring the Stanley Cup® back to my hometown of Winnipeg. The city had a parade and hundreds of people came to see the Cup. It means a lot to me that all those people came out to celebrate and show their support.
What I'm most proud of is bringing the Cup to the Fore Kids Golf Classic. It's a celebrity golf tournament where all the proceeds go to The Rehabilitation Centre for Children in Manitoba. It's all well and good to have your day with the Stanley Cup®, but it's even better to give back to kids in your community.
- Jonathan Toews
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At the 2011 NHL All-Star Player Fantasy DraftTM, were you worried you would be picked last?
Submitted by : Salman B., Drummondville - ANot at all. Everyone thought I might be angry because I didn't get picked right away, but I wasn't worried. It's not about egos. Patrick Kane told me that he was going to wait for either Patrick Sharp or me to get picked, and then choose the other one. We had a lot of fun that day. I was just glad to be on the ice with so many talented players I wouldn't normally have the chance to play with. - Jonathan Toews
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My practices are starting to get boring. I'm not learning anything. How can I get better? (And maybe make it to the NHL®?)
Submitted by : Salman B., Drummondville - AEven when you get to the professional level, you realize that you're always learning something and there's always another goal to push yourself towards. You do certain drills over and over for a reason: so those skills really stick with you and become automatic.
Plus, you can always add your own twists to a practice. For example, if you're waiting for your turn, try a new stick-handling move. Give yourself different goals every time, like working on your crossovers or keeping your head up while you skate. Even if you don't notice big improvements right away, be patient. It's all about hard work and staying positive. As for the NHL®, just worry about making your next game great. You never know what'll happen down the road.
- Jonathan Toews
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How do you prepare for a big game?
Submitted by : Shannon C., Toronto, Ontario - AI believe that most of it is in your head. You have to tell yourself that you can play well. You've got to find a way to get your energy level up and stay positive. Listen to music that pumps up your energy or watch something funny to get yourself in a good mood. I also have to accept that I'm going to make a mistake or two. You need to take some of the pressure off yourself. The calmer you are, the more you can focus on the game. And if you're putting too much pressure on yourself, you’re not going to have a lot of fun. I also pay a lot of attention to what I eat all the time, its important to eat well in order to play well. Going to bed early the night before a game is also very important. - Jonathan Toews
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What was your favorite hockey memory as a kid?
Submitted by : David A., Toronto, Ontario - AWhen I was 6 years old, my little brother played on my team and we would practice together. I would skate around the net and pass him the puck and he would just stand in front and whack the puck in. Those were my best assists! Also, I was lucky to have my own backyard rink, I have so many good memories from playing outside with my brother and my friends. I would play on it from early morning to late at night, keeping my skates on all day. I would come and eat my meals with my skates on and go back out on the ice as soon as I could. Even when it was -30 ºC, I just loved every minute of it. - Jonathan Toews
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Besides playing hockey what is your favorite past time?
Submitted by : Shahin R., London, Ontario - AMy favourite past time would have to be spending time with my family and playing golf with my friends. Being on the road so much and being so busy makes it difficult to connect with love ones. So when I get the chance I like to go home to Winnipeg and spend time with my parents and brother. Just hanging out and relaxing with them helps me get through the busy and stressful times. - Jonathan Toews
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What did it feel like to get drafted into the NHL?
Submitted by : Tim L., Vancouver, British Columbia - AGrowing up you watch the draft on TV and you follow the players you see after hearing their name be called and you see how they do with their future in the National Hockey League. It was a dream come true after working so hard to be standing on that stage with my NHL future ahead of me. It was very exciting for me to be at the draft and not only be the third overall pick but more importantly being picked by the Blackhawks, with the history of the team and Chicago being such a great hockey town. - Jonathan Toews
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What do you suggest I can do to increase my face-off win percentage?
Submitted by : Jamie A., London, ON - AWinning face-offs comes down to a few things: focus, positioning, speed and accuracy. It’s important to make sure you are lined up in the right place so that when you win the face-off you can draw the puck to where you want it to go. Make sure your feet are in a position that leaves a clear lane to draw the puck back when you win it, and keep a low stance. The lower your centre of gravity, the more power and control you’ll have. Remember that you’ll be stronger and more accurate using your backhand than your forehand. Stay focused on the puck at all times so that you don’t miss it when the referee drops it. Then it’s just a matter of practicing over and over until you get as fast and accurate as you can. Practice against an opponent whenever you can so that you get the feel of a real game situation. - Jonathan Toews
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JONATHAN TOEWS
SHOOTS:
Left
HOMETOWN:
Winnipeg
BIRTHDAY:
April 29, 1988
WEIGHT:
195lb
HEIGHT:
6'1"
Jonathan Toews : A Life on Skates
