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GOOD PLAYERS AND GOOD TEAMS PRACTICE GOOD HABITS DAILY. And the goal is that those hab- its will become second nature on game days. Habits—good and bad—can carry over year to year, as well, says Amber Fryklund, associate head coach for the Bemidji State women's hockey team, so being conscious of your habits and reflecting on them can go a long way toward improving your overall game. "One habit I think is really important is that communication piece," Fryklund said. "We know that the habits that we create from a young age are things that we continue to do as we get older." BE READY TO MAKE A PLAY "Have your stick on the ice and be ready," Fryklund said. "Oftentimes when we think about the play, we think about the player with the puck. But the play away from the puck is so important. So having your stick on the ice, always being ready for a pass, always being in a ready posi- tion to take a shot or be a scoring threat and being ready to be an option for your teammates is a big habit." Having your stick on the ice also means being able to move it and make a better target for your teammates. "If you get perfect passes, great! But you're not always going to get perfect passes," she said. "So what can you do as M H J O N L I N E . C O M | J A N / F E B 2 0 2 4 12 by Shane Frederick Winning Hockey Habits Tips the puck receiver to catch that pass and find a way to get that puck on your stick? Being ready all the time goes into that." STOP AT THE NET So many scoring chances are missed by offensive players or are allowed by defenders because players end up in the wrong position—namely below the goal line. "Stopping at the net is another spe- cific habit," she said. "And that's offen- Photo / BSU Athletics, Reggie Photography "We know that the habits that we create from a young age are things that we continue to do as we get older." Players who stop in front of the net will be rewarded with rebounds and scoring opportunities. Little Details Are Key to Development with BSU's Amber Fryklund