Hockey Players receive media training.

With the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs in full swing, players in the world's most elite hockey league are beginning to see why they were made to participate in media training before the NHL's second season began.

Hockey players have always been known as solid communicators, but the pressures of the postseason create problems for most. No longer can they rely on their twelve years of formal education, as most of their mental energies must be focused on chasing the rubber puck around the frozen surface.

The new media training teaches the players to answer questions about the game and their play, while still being able to focus on the task at hand. Every player wants to hoist Lord Stanley, hockey's biggest prize, and minor things like interviews should not get in the way of that dream.

"We just have to go out there and play our game, play our system" is what centre Lars Hundrick had to say when asked how the media training has helped his post-game interview skills. When asked whether the whole team had to attend the special seminar or whether it was just for rookies, defenseman Hugh Wittenbore replied, "We've got a special group of guys this year, and everyone wants to do what they can to contribute to the success of the team."

Into the second round of the playoffs, there are only eight teams remaining. Some players of the eliminated teams are relying on their unique training even when their season is finished. Clay Smith, a left winger whose team was ousted in the first round, provided insight into whether the team will be changing their diet or sleep habits during the off-season. "We've got to concentrate on going hard into the corners and getting pucks on net. At this time of year, there's no excuse for not playing with heart and making sacrifices."

Sports writers of the nation's major newspapers also attended the media training, knowing that hockey fans will be reading their columns in greater numbers because of the increased attention given to the playoffs. Writing in Saturday's weekend edition, vetern columnist Richard Kelly opined "The playoffs are a time when every player has a role to play, and there's no place for individualistic thinking or ego-driven breakaway moves" in his column titled Where Are They Now? Five Cities That Have Lost Their Hockey Teams.

As the second round progresses, it's becoming more important for members of the hockey community, both players and writers, to remember that there are thousands of fans hanging on the results of the games. "We've got to play hard, and take it one game at a time" is what goalie Oleg Smoleskiov had to say when prodded about the growing popularity of the sport in non-traditional hockey markets.

The new media training is likely to be an influence in other sports as well, as football and baseball teams are slated to attend the seminars in the coming months. Angelica Moore, CEO of Sports Talk!, the company providing the media training, says that the success of the hockey seminars has her phone ringing almost constantly. "You know, they were in a must-win situation in Game 2. Their best players had to be their best players, but that third goal really took the steam out of their sails."

With this new direction in hockey journalism, fans will be treated by more solid, in-depth coverage of the game they love. Happy playoffs!