Every few days, Eric Schurhamer steps away from the commotion. The St. Thomas Academy defenseman heads to his bedroom, lies down and shuts his eyes.
He's not napping. He's meditating.
"A whole different outlook on the game," he said.
Where does a hockey player learn the ins and outs of the age-old practice? Not a Zen master, but a North St. Paul native and former Stanley Cup winner Bret Hedican. Schurhamer was fortunate enough to speak with Hedican after last year's Class 1A state championship. Hedican's nephew, Grant Eichstadt, was a teammate of Eric's.
The two-time Olympian told Eric he had all the skills, but could improve on the mental aspect of the game. He offered to work with Schurhamer, a 5-11, 190-pound defenseman. Over the summer, they ran through some exercises together.
"I would say that was probably one of the biggest things that helped me as of today," Schurhamer said. "It kind of just turned my game around, and it gave me tons of confidence. I'm using it moving forward, and I'm using it every day when I skate."
The Cadets captain will run through on-ice situations while focusing on his breathing. He will visualize the game and carry it right onto the ice.
"Repetition is key, and it just strengthens your mind, and you really have no doubts when you get out there," he said. "You just do it without thinking about it."
