Oilers Goaltender Hires Mental Coach to Help Overcome Early Season Struggles
Photo credit: CTV Edmonton
We can talk about all the money they make, or the fact that it's "just a game" all day. The fact of the matter remains that professional hockey players, especially in hockey-crazed markets like Edmonton, are under immense pressure. One Oilers goaltender is speaking publicly about that.
Mental Health Coach Helping Oilers Goaltender Overcome Struggles
Stuart Skinner, who is the team's number one netminder for now, admits his early season struggles were difficult to deal with. Skinner added he's been working with a mental health coach for some time.
"I started working with a mental health coach since I was 19 or 20 years old. I came off winning a (WHL) championship."
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Skinner went on to explain why he made that choice.
"It's a good thing to stay even keel. Especially in hockey or anything really, there are a lot of highs and lows. There are a lot of emotions in every single game, a lot of stress that goes into every single game. And I have a family to go back home to. Getting help with that has been critical in my life.
Oilers Stuart Skinner Says Mental Health Coach Important Part of his Off-ice Training
The pressure to perform at the level required in the NHL can be a great motivator. It can also be crushing at times. Skinner told Tony Brar in an article that no one should ever be afraid to ask for help.
Skinner's last five games have been interesting. Three of them had excellent results, with his save percentage at .957 or higher. Two of them were duds, and he let in five goals on 22 shots in his most recent game.
| POLL | ||
16 DECEMBRE | 348 ANSWERS Oilers Goaltender Hires Mental Coach to Help Overcome Early Season Struggles Will Skinner stay the number one goaltender in Edmonton this season? | ||
| Yes | 123 | 35.3 % |
| No | 153 | 44 % |
| Not sure | 72 | 20.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
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