Prior to his visits with Tim & Sid and Prime Time Sports earlier this week, we caught up with NHL Hall of Famer Mark Messier to discuss his role with The First Shift and a range of NHL topics.
Mark Messier knows how important youth hockey can be to a family.
The former NHL player and his sister, Mary-Kay, grew concerned with declining youth participation rates across the sport — especially in Canada — and got deeply involved with The First Shift, a program designed to ease kids and families into the game of hockey.
Since then, the program has partnered up with Bauer and Hockey Canada to help eliminate the main barriers that are preventing kids from getting involved with hockey.
“The barriers are that it’s too expensive, too time consuming, there’s a fear of safety, and it was perceived as not fun,” Mary-Kay told Sportsnet. “With that information, we developed a model and (provided) an opportunity to try (the game).”
The First Shift offers an affordable six-week program that includes six on-ice sessions, head-to-toe Bauer equipment and education on the equipment and how to get (their kids) dressed. It’s a way to welcome families in the hockey community.
“It’s about creating exceptional first experiences for new-to-hockey families,” said Mary-Kay.
Messier spoke about the need to get more kids involved in the sport and a handful of other topics in our sit-down with the legendary NHL captain.
SPORTSNET.CA: What are you up to these days in terms of hockey? How involved are you with the NHL?
MARK MESSIER: (I’m) still involved as an advisor for the (Edmonton) Oilers. That’s a way to stay involved in the game. I still coach. My son is 12. I’m seeing all different levels of the game and helping my dad coach the last few years for the U-18 team in Connecticut.
SPORTSNET.CA: You did those Rogers NHL GameCentre Live spots, but how much do you actually watch the NHL now?
I watch a lot of hockey. I watch a lot of different teams. You have to know and stay current with all the teams, the players, and certainly stay up to date with the team’s farm systems and know the players. It’s one of the most critical things in the game today. Not only drafting and developing but knowing what other teams have under their hood as well.
SPORTSNET.CA: Are there certain teams you prefer to watch? What about certain players? Who’s your favourite to watch?
I’ve really enjoyed watching the Maple Leafs (this year). I’ve enjoyed the turnaround. Of course they would like to win more games but I think the effort has been excellent. They are giving themselves a chance. The structure that has been put in place has helped make them , in a way, be a good story this year.
SPORTSNET.CA: Wow. The Leafs. Who else?
The Oilers were off to a nice start before McDavid got hurt. Chicago made eight changes after winning the Stanley Cup and they’re still competitive. So there’s a lot of great stories.The Rangers have been knocking on the door for the last few years and I’ve been watching them to see how they react this year. There’s so much parity in the game. It’s amazing how good a year you have to have to qualify these days. Not a lot of reason.
SPORTSNET.CA: Does any modern player remind you of Mark Messier?
No. I never like to compare. I want these kids to form their identity. I never thought it was fair to take a guy who had a 10-20 year career and link them to someone who’s played six months or something. That’s unfair and puts unfair expectations or pressure on the kids. Everyone needs to carve out their own style because everyone’s different.
SPORTSNET.CA: What about Jonathan Toews? Some people have made that comparison.
I love Toews. I love Chicago. Kane, the way he’s playing has been amazing, The whole team really and those two guys are the catalysts that can sustain it.
SPORTSNET.CA: Okay, what’s going on with Sidney Crosby. He’s had a really tough start to the year. What’s the story there?
It’s really hard to tell when you’re not close to (the situation). He has been around for what, 11 years. He came in after the lockout. Time goes by fast. I’m sure he’ll get it straightened it out.
SPORTSNET.CA: Can you relate with what’s he’s going through? What it’s like to face heavy scrutiny as a superstar when you’re struggling?
We’ve all been there if you play long enough. And the league isn’t getting any easier. You know what I mean? There’s so many great players. It’s so well coached and the sophistication is at a higher level than ever from a strategy standpoint.
SPORTSNET.CA: What do you see, though? What’s the root of the problem?
The systems are better. Goalies are better. Teams key in on the best players. It’s not easy out there for them. Nowadays, fewer players can hang on to the puck for any length of time. So it’s a lot of chip and chase, which creates a lot of speed in the game, but the artistry can get lost.
SPORTSNET.CA: How do you adjust from that?
There’s very few players that can slow the tempo or dictate the tempo of the game. Kane is one of those guys that can dictate the tempo. When he gets the puck, the game either accelerates if he wants it to, or it slows down if he wants it to. Not a lot of players have that ability.
SPORTSNET.CA: What was the inspiration behind The First Shift? How can you keep getting kids involved in the game?
“To get nine out of 10 kids involved in the game. How do you do that? What’s the platform to get kids who don’t grow up in a traditional hockey family? So you make it fun, inviting, and affordable and create the passion through those three vehicles. Maybe you do things so kids can play three sports if they want to be a multi-sport athlete. There’s many different ways to do that… regardless of the end game, it’s still a great game and a lot of fun.
