The Changing Landscape of Hockey IQ: Why Youth Players No Longer Learn the Game Like Previous Generations

For decades, young hockey players across North America would gather around their televisions every Saturday night, captivated by the action of the NHL. Watching elite players navigate the ice, execute plays, and showcase their hockey intelligence was a key part of the learning process. Without structured coaching, analytics, or even dedicated skill development sessions, kids absorbed the game naturally.

Today, that passive hockey education is disappearing. Young players do not watch games the way their parents or coaches did when they were growing up. Whether it’s due to the rise of streaming, shorter attention spans, or the overwhelming availability of other entertainment options, kids are simply not watching full hockey games in the same way. This shift has led to a noticeable decline in their innate understanding of the game, and it presents a challenge for coaches, parents, and players alike.

The Decline of "Hockey Night Education"

In the past, watching hockey was a shared ritual. Before smartphones and social media, there were fewer distractions, and kids absorbed the game by watching their favorite players in action. They saw how Gretzky anticipated plays before they happened, how Lidström positioned himself defensively, or how Yzerman evolved his game over time.

However, youth today consume hockey differently:

Short Clips & Highlights: Many players only see short goal highlights or viral moments on social media. While these clips showcase skill, they do not teach the flow of the game, positioning, or decision-making.
Esports & Alternative Entertainment: The rise of video games, YouTube, and TikTok means kids have endless content competing for their attention.
Streaming & On-Demand Viewing: Unlike previous generations who watched entire games because they had no other option, kids now watch highlights or skip through parts of a game, reducing their exposure to in-game nuances.

What’s Missing? The Decline of “Hockey Sense”

Hockey sense, or hockey IQ, is a player's ability to read the game, anticipate plays, and make smart decisions under pressure. Players who grew up watching full games—seeing the transitions, defensive plays, and neutral zone battles—developed an intuitive sense of the game. They learned not just what happened, but why it happened.

Now, many youth players are missing out on key aspects of the game:

Situational Awareness: Understanding time, space, and the game situation is critical. Watching games taught players when to take risks, when to protect a lead, and how momentum shifts during a game.
Defensive Play & Positional Concepts: Kids who only watch highlight reels miss the crucial elements of defensive positioning, gap control, and backchecking that don’t make the highlight reels.
Play Development & Transitions: Players used to learn how plays developed by watching full games. Now, many focus only on goals or individual skill moves rather than how teams move the puck systematically.

The Impact on Player Development

This shift in how kids consume hockey has affected player development in several ways:

1. Over-Reliance on Drills Over Game Awareness

Many young players are highly skilled technically, but they lack the ability to apply their skills in real-game situations. Without watching full games, they struggle to understand:

How to anticipate an opponent’s next move.
How to support teammates away from the puck.
How to adapt to different game situations.

Coaches often notice that players excel in structured drills but struggle in game scenarios because they lack the ability to recognize patterns and make quick decisions.

2. Delayed Development of Hockey IQ

Hockey IQ doesn’t come from practicing isolated skills alone. In previous generations, a 10-year-old who watched full games every week already had a foundational understanding of breakouts, neutral zone play, and forechecking. Today, players may not develop these concepts until much later—sometimes not until junior or even college hockey.

3. A Shift in Play Style

Many young players now focus more on individual skill moves, mimicking what they see in highlight reels. While individual skill is important, hockey remains a team sport that requires an understanding of:

Spacing and puck support.
Defensive responsibilities.
Reading and reacting to opponents’ positioning.

Some coaches have noticed that today’s players excel in skill-based drills but struggle with hockey’s strategic elements, such as cycling the puck, managing shifts, or making simple, effective plays instead of flashy ones.

How Coaches & Parents Can Help Bridge the Gap

Recognizing this shift is the first step, but the question remains: How can coaches, parents, and players adapt to ensure the next generation still develops strong hockey IQ?

1. Encourage Watching Full Games with a Purpose

While kids may not naturally sit through an entire game, parents and coaches can help them develop better viewing habits:

Game Breakdown Sessions: Coaches can assign players to watch a period of an NHL game and break down key moments (e.g., how a team transitions from defense to offense).
Watch Games Together: Parents can watch games with their kids and discuss key plays to help reinforce concepts.
Focus on More Than Just Goals: Encourage players to watch defensemen, backchecking forwards, or the play away from the puck to see the full game picture.

2. Incorporate More Game-Like Situations in Practices

Since players aren’t learning as much from watching, coaches must incorporate more game situations into practice:

Small Area Games: These force players to read and react, improving decision-making in tight spaces.
Situational Drills: Instead of only working on isolated skills, incorporate drills that simulate real-game scenarios.
Film Study & Game Analysis: Show players examples of proper positioning, forechecking strategies, and special teams play.

3. Leverage Technology to Teach Hockey IQ

While technology has contributed to the decline of traditional game-watching habits, it can also be used as a tool to develop hockey sense:

Video Review Apps: Tools like Hudl or Instat allow coaches to clip key moments from games and review them with players.
Tactical Board & Simulation Apps: Coaches can use apps to visually explain systems and decision-making.
Interactive Learning: Players can engage with breakdowns from high-level coaches and analysts online.

4. Teach the “Why” Behind the Skills

Many young players today execute complex skills but don’t understand why or when to use them in a game. Coaches can help by:

Explaining the purpose behind drills and how they translate to game play.
Emphasizing reading the game rather than relying solely on pre-planned moves.
Encouraging players to think and anticipate rather than react blindly.

The Future of Hockey IQ

The way young players learn the game is evolving. While they no longer absorb hockey passively by watching every Saturday night, that doesn’t mean they can’t develop elite hockey sense. It simply means coaches and parents must be more intentional about creating learning opportunities.

Hockey sense is still a vital skill, and while the traditional method of watching full games has faded, new approaches—game-based learning, video analysis, and situational training—can help bridge the gap.

As the game continues to evolve, those who actively seek out ways to understand hockey beyond just highlight reels will have a distinct advantage. By fostering this awareness, today’s players can still develop into smart, instinctive hockey players—just in a different way than the generations before them.

Ed Garinger is a seasoned hockey coach, mentor, and educator with over two decades of experience. A native of the Bruce Peninsula, he played minor and junior hockey before earning his BA and BEd from Nipissing University, where he also competed in varsity volleyball and extramural hockey.

Coaching since age 14, Ed has balanced his teaching career with an extensive coaching and development portfolio, working with players at all levels. He has coached in the Provincial Junior Hockey League, led youth and high school teams, and served as a learning facilitator for the OMHA. His experience includes elite programs like the OHL/OHF U15 and U16 camps, U17 Regional Camps, and Hockey Canada’s Skills Academy.

A Hockey Canada HP1-certified coach, USA Hockey-certified coach, and Chartered Professional Coach (ChPC), Ed is committed to ongoing professional development and continually seeks to expand his knowledge to better serve players and coaches. Now based in Orillia, he enjoys passing on his passion for hockey to the next generation.