The Jack Skille Podcast

7. Craig Smith: Road to the pros

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On Episode 7 of the Jack Skille Show, Jack is joined by Craig Smith of the Nashville Predators. A fellow Madison native, Craig's journey to the pros took many unique turns. He walks us through what it took to make it to the top.

The Jack Skille Show is produced by HMMR Media, a leader in helping athletes and coaches learn how to get better. Become a member to get access to a wealth of articles, videos, podcasts and more training resources. The show focuses on exploring the process behind sport with professional hockey player Jack Skille and key people he has met throughout his career. Season 1 focuses on development and what is the difference maker from those that make it to the top, and those that don’t.

Highlights from this episode:

  • 0:00 - Starting in hockey.
  • 6:30 - Playing different sports.
  • 10:00 - Developing work ethic: "If I wasn't doing it, someone else was doing it. It comes down to accountability. I want to be ready and be as good as I can possibly be."
  • 14:15 - Blue collar Madison upbringing and playing high school hockey.
  • 24:00 - USHL experience and knowing when to make the move to the next level: "If you are good enough, you don't have to play 70 games a year to get exposure. You never know who is in the stands watching."
  • 38:45 - Getting recruited to Wisconsin.
  • 42:15 - Playing at Wisconsin and experiences with coach Mike Eaves.
  • 50:30 - International experience at the 2011 World Championships.
  • 55:30 - Starting in professional hockey and first NHL game: "There is a lot of running around in college hockey, but in the pros it was almost like I was trying to do things too fast rather than controlled. Everything is more controlled in the pros."
  • 1:03:30 - What it means to be a professional: "A professional shows up every day no matter what and does something. There are days where you are tired, but you have to find a way to do it."
  • 1:08:30 - Advice for young players and parents on youth development: "Good things happen to good people who work hard."
    • ...more
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    The Jack Skille PodcastBy Jack Skille
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