The PDA Newsletter | What Scouts Look For
Isn’t what you think…
What if the moment that actually catches a scout’s eye isn’t the goal your kid scores… but what they do five shifts after a mistake?
You might not see them right away.
A scout might stand quietly in the corner of the rink, quiet, unassuming…
But they’re watching.
And naturally, every parent starts scanning the ice through a new lens:
Was that play flashy enough?
Did they stand out tonight?
Should they shoot more? Talk more? Hit more?
You start hoping for the goal. The shift that turns heads. The stat line that gets noticed. The open-ice hit that inks your last name in their notes. The big save that gets the whole rink talking.
But here’s the thing no one tells you:
That’s not always what they’re looking for.
Let’s find out why…
The Myth of “Stand Out or Be Overlooked”
There’s a myth that scouts are only interested in dominant players. Kids who take over games. Players with highlight reel skills.
That’s true… sometimes.
Top-end skill always gets noticed. Speed and scoring flair. A dominant performance can turn a maybe into a yes.
But that’s only one part of the puzzle.
Because what scouts are really doing is looking for something projectable. Repeatable. Reliable.
They’re not building a fantasy team.
They’re building a roster for the future.
And they know something you might forget in the stress of the moment:
The best players at 15 aren’t always the best at 18, 19 or even 20.
But the ones who think, compete and adapt their game?
Those are the ones who last.
What They’re Actually Watching
Body language after a bad shift. Did they slam the door, or reset and refocus?
Effort on the backcheck when no one’s watching.
Communication on the bench. Are they engaged, or pouting?
Response to pressure. After a turnover, do they disappear or bounce back?
Role acceptance. Do they force offence when the game calls for structure and safety?
Scouts are looking for players who can play without the puck.
Players who can think the game and understand systems.
Players who will represent their logo within the community with respect, honour, dignity and above all, maturity.
Players who think one play ahead.
Players who can be coached.
Players who help teams win, not just light up a tournament.
They’re not just watching the end-to-end goal that went viral.
They’re watching how the goal happened, step-by-step.
And how the player responded when it didn’t happen.
Backed By Science
Sports psychology research consistently supports what scouts quietly observe: resilience, self-regulation, and decision-making under pressure are stronger predictors of long-term success than early skill dominance.
Studies on performance profiling show that elite athletes aren’t just physically gifted, they score highest in attributes like emotional control, adaptability, and coachability (Gould et al., 2002). These traits often reveal themselves in moments of adversity, exactly the kinds of shifts that don’t show up on a scoresheet.
So when a scout watches how your child bounces back from a turnover or how they engage on the bench, they’re not being picky, they’re measuring traits science links to development, leadership, and performance longevity.
What This Means For Parents
It means your child’s best “scouting moment” might be invisible to you.
You might leave the rink thinking it was their quietest game.
No points. No big plays. No big saves. Nothing special.
But maybe that was the night they made three perfect reads under pressure.
Maybe that was the night they didn’t panic in a tough situation.
Maybe that was the night they kept their poise after a tough shift, and a scout noticed the mental bounce back.
The small details, repeated over time, tell a bigger story.
A story that can paint your child in the right light.
And scouts are very good at reading that story.
Concluding Thoughts
What scouts look for…
Isn’t flashy plays.
It’s foundation.
Projectability.
They look for players they can trust, both as a person and a player.
Players with elite habits, not just a sick highlight package that went viral on Instagram reels.
Players who don’t just chase the game, but understand it at it's core.
Your kid might not even know they were being watched.
But the right habits will always introduce them… long before a stat line ever does.
Actionable Advice: How to Help Your Kid Stand Out, For Real
Praise the good habits, not just the highlights. Focus post-game talks on smart plays, effort, and bounce-back moments. Keep a positive lens.
Spot the invisible wins. Backchecks, blocked shots, unselfish play, leadership, those matter more than you think.
Reinforce that scouts value trust. A composed shift after a mistake often says more than a goal, it shows maturity.
Model steady energy yourself. Your reactions to what you’re seeing in their game teaches them what to value, calm > chaos.
Keep the big picture in mind. It’s not about one game. It’s about patterns that build trust and real development over time.
Talon Mills
Up next in the PDA Newsletter
Up next: The Pavel Datsyuk Case Study: “Freedom to Create”
His game wasn’t built on size or speed, it was built on imagination. Pavel Datsyuk turned creativity into a weapon, seeing plays that didn’t exist until he made them real. You won’t want to miss this one.
