By D.K. McIntosh /
There was some fear and trepidation when Ryan Walter was pushed out front in his second NHL season and named captain, but he was comfortable soon enough.
He’d already captained on the world stage, leading Canada’s World Juniors to bronze in 1978, the same year he was drafted second overall by the Washington Capitals.
Leadership was a quality Caps scouts had identified in his Junior career with the Kamloops Chiefs and Seattle Breakers, and one of the reasons he was picked second overall.
The New Westminster-native would eventually log 1,003 NHL games over 15 years, win a Stanley Cup, transition from rough and tumble goal scorer to a disciplined defensive forward, battle through a myriad of injuries, and finish his playing career in his home province with the Vancouver Canucks.
Walter realized early in his career that his passion for the game drove him to look for the little things that made a player, and a team, better – on the ice, and off. Often, the difference was in the ‘inner game.’ And perhaps the largest benefit was in the application to real life situations.
After his professional career ended, leadership became an even more important dimension of Walter’s professional life. At 45, he obtained his masters degree in leadership/business and began a second career as a motivational speaker/coach.
Today, he is back with the Canucks, in the demanding 24/7 role of assistant coach, with special team responsibilities, including the powerplay. His availability for speaking engagements and personal appearances is greatly reduced as a result.
But for those looking for a little bit of the inspiration and motivation that drove Walter to the success he enjoyed over 15 NHL seasons, it’s now there for the asking, online at www.inspiringyourbestgame.com.
Walter offers subscribers two program options. One is Inspiring Your Best Game, a 52-week program that offers a new video, article and podcast delivered to your desktop every Monday morning.
The second option, Playing Your Best Game, is an intense program delivered over 28 straight days, that concludes each session with a challenging question that requires careful thought and an entry into your own personal performance journal.
If you want to improve your leadership skills, concentration and add value to everything you do, this program is for you. And it costs less than the price a daily latte over the same period.
The program may not make an NHL player out of you, but for students of the game of hockey, or the game of life, Walter’s program will inspire, challenge and motivate.
Now wouldn’t that make a great Christmas gift for somebody you know? Check it out online at www.inspiringyourbestgame.com. |