At first glance, the world of ice hockey would appear to be an unlikely place for inspiration and motivation for students starting a new school year. But look a little closer and you can find a direct connection.

“The new school year and preseason hockey kind of go hand and hand,” said Wes Bolin, Woodbury boys’ high school hockey coach and social studies teacher. “There’s nothing quite like the feeling of a new school year because the start of hockey is just around the corner.”

Bolin has been teaching and coaching hockey for 33 years (12 at Woodbury High School) and believes that a successful start to school directly relates to a successful start to the hockey season.

“A great year in school can carry over into a great year of hockey,” said Bolin. “The kids that are serious about hockey know when their practices and games are. It’s the same thing with kids that are serious about school. They know when their assignments are due and plan their work time.”

Using the world of hockey as a guide, Bolin and Minnesota Hockey provide the following hockey concepts and lingo as a fun guide to show how hockey can actually help in the classroom.

Assist - 1. A pass that leads directly to a goal 2. Helping a classmate that is struggling with an assignment or lost in the hallway. Hopefully, the student that receives the Assist will reciprocate and it will create a nice Give-and-Go (see definition below).

Capitalize - 1. Take advantage of an opportune situation. 2. The first few hours when a student-athlete wakes up on the weekend are a prime time to get an advantage.

“The first few hours of the weekend are usually wasted,” said Bolin. “Students can get a lot done on Saturday morning instead of putting everything off until Sunday night.”

Chiclets - 1. Teeth. 2. A lot of students returning to school will have Chiclets with braces and they will be sensitive about their appearance. It would be nice to not Chirp them.

Chirp - 1. Trash talk, directed toward an opponent. 2. To Chirp at school is to verbally bully a fellow student. Chirping seems funny and harmless but it can be extremely hurtful.

Flow - 1. Great hockey hair that dangles out of a helmet. 2.) Having Flow at school means you have confidence, try and do the right thing, and have the conviction to avoid the trappings of peer pressure. 

Forecheck - 1. Work hard in the offensive zone to force a turnover. 2. A student is proactive on homework assignments and does not procrastinate.

“Be the aggressor on homework,” said Bolin. “Attack it early.”

Four Lines - 1. The same amount of ice time is assigned to all Four Lines. 2. Having a solid balance between athletics and school.

“To be a successful hockey player,” said Bolin, “You have to be successful in all aspects of life and that includes community, homework, nutrition and sleep. They all tie together.”

Give-and-Go - 1. A passing combination between teammates. 2. Being a good friend means being unselfish.

Goal - 1. Any play on which the puck crosses the goal line. 2. The long-term or short-term objectives of a student-athlete on the ice and in the classroom such as increasing points, maintaining a healthy GPA and being involved in community service.  

Gongshow - 1. Used to describe a game that has lots of craziness. 2. Those moments during the week when it feels like nothing is going right. It happens. Take a deep breath and ask for help when you need it.

Ice Time - 1. The amount of time a player is on the ice 2. Effective time management is just as crucial with school as it is in managing the minutes of Ryan Suter. Strong organization skills will allow a student to prioritize their effort where it is needed most.

“I think the kids need to realize that it is okay to schedule study time,” said Bolin. “They should equate scheduled practice time with scheduled study time.”

Lunch-Bucket Player - 1. A player known for his/her heart and determination. 2. A student that has a good attitude and tries their hardest regardless of the outcome. Definitely a way to get on the teacher’s good side.

Neutral Zone Trap - 1. A stifling defensive scheme. 2. Being drawn into the trappings of social media.

“Phones are major distraction,” said Bolin. “It is one of the biggest issues in school and with kids and they fall into all the social media sites and games.”

Set the Tone - 1. Make a play early in the game that establishes the team’s desired style of play. 2. Try to make Monday your best school day of the week. Whether it’s making progress on a school project or reading ahead in a book, making the most of Mondays will lead to more good weeks. Having a good breakfast each morning also helps students prepare for the day.

“Don’t sit back and let it come to you,” said Bolin.

Top Shelf (AKA “Where mom keeps the cookies!”) 1. Shooting the puck into the top corner of the net. 2. With the demands of school, a long hockey season and the influx of growth spurts, it’s critical to fuel your body with healthy sources of protein, carbs, fruits, vegetables, and, of course, a treat from the top shelf of the pantry.