What We Can Learn from Pro Hockey Role Players

Players like Crosby, MacKinnon and Poulin are surrounded by players who help them achieve their greatness.

When kids dream about professional hockey, they picture scoring highlight reel goals or being the star goalie in Game 7. But if you look closely at championship teams, you’ll notice something important: not every player is a superstar. In fact, many of the most valuable players rarely make the highlight reels.

The Value of Role Players

Role players are the glue that holds a team together. They might not lead the team in points, but they excel at doing the little things right: blocking shots, winning faceoffs, shutting down top opponents, or bringing energy every shift.

Think of players like:

• Patrice Bergeron (Boston Bruins, NHL): Known as much for his defensive reliability and leadership as for his offense.

• Mikyla Grant-Mentis (Toronto, PWHL): Known for her versatility, she contributes in multiple roles and adapts to what her team needs most.

• Blake Coleman (Calgary Flames, NHL): A player who makes his living on relentless forechecking and penalty killing.

• Jordin Tootoo (Nashville Predators, New Jersey Devils, NHL): An energy player whose grit and physical play set the tone for his team.

• Emily Clark (Ottawa, PWHL): A tireless two-way forward whose speed, tenacity, and penalty killing have been key for Team Canada and the PWHL.

  
  

These players may not fill the scoresheet, but they are often the difference between a good team and a great one.

Emily Clark - Ottawa Charge, Team Canada

Lessons for Young Athletes

1. Embrace Your Strengths: Not everyone will be the top scorer. Maybe your strength is speed, physical play, or defensive awareness. Lean into it.

2. Play a Complete Game: Coaches notice players who backcheck, block shots, and communicate. Those details build trust.

3. Energy and Attitude Count: Even if you don’t score, you can impact the game with hustle, positivity, and making teammates better.

4. Adaptability Wins: Role players often switch lines, positions, or special team duties. Flexibility keeps you valuable.

   
   
   
   

Bob Gainey was never the team’s leading scorer, but he’s widely considered one of the best defensive forwards in NHL history. He won the Selke Trophy the first four years it was awarded, as well as five Stanley Cups.

Why It Matters at Every Level

In minor hockey, just like in the NHL and PWHL, a team filled with only goal scorers will not succeed. Teams need balance: players who can defend, move the puck, kill penalties, and create energy. Embracing a role does not limit your future. It gives you a path to contribute in ways others cannot.

It is also why people are sometimes surprised when certain players get left off rosters. Whether in youth hockey, the PWHL, or the NHL, decisions are rarely based on points alone. Coaches and evaluators look for players who fill a specific need, complement a lineup, or bring intangibles that don’t always show up on the scoresheet. A player with fewer points may earn a spot because they win faceoffs, kill penalties, or bring consistent energy every shift.

Superstars may get the headlines, but role players win championships. By focusing on effort, consistency, and the 'little things', every player can become invaluable to their team. Sometimes the best way to stand out is by being the one who does the dirty work that no one else wants to do.

In 2003, the Devils showed how role players win Cups: defense, grit, and trust in every shift.