Working Hard is the Only Way to Succeed

Hockey is one of my favorite sports because it takes a lot of practice and working together with your teammates. I like how players have to work together on the ice not one player does all the work like golf and baseball. Hockey players also have to practice a lot if they want to get better and play travel and varsity hockey.  I found an article about Matthew Schaefer, a 18 years old hockey player who made the NHL. The article is called “Schaefer Wins 2026 Calder Trophy ” written by NHL Public Relations. I thought this was an interesting story because he was one of the best rookie defensemen ever. 

The article explains how Matthew Schaefer who plays for the New York Islanders won the Calder Trophy for being the best rookie in the NHL during the 2025–26 season. He was picked first overall in the 2025 NHL Draft and had a great first season. Schaefer scored 23 goals which is really good for a defenceman and had 36 assists in 82 games. He also is the youngest player in NHL history to win the Calder Trophy. Another thing is that all 198 voters chose him for first place to win the award. He played as a defenseman, which means he had to help stop the other team while also helping his team score. His season showed me that young players can compete with some of the best hockey players in the world.

I think this story matters because it shows you how hard work pays off in hockey and in life in general. Schaefer was only 18, and he was able to play a full NHL season with a lot of ice time and become one of the best rookie seasons ever. It also shows that being a defenseman is not just about stopping goals, defensemen can help their team score, too. Hockey takes a lot of practice, and hardwork. Also that players need to keep getting better if they want to reach the next level. Even if you are younger than other players, they can still make an impact if they work hard. I think players like this make hockey fun because you never know who will become the next big player.

After reading this article, I noticed that age does not decide how good someone can be at hockey. Matthew Schaefer proved that a young player can make a difference on an NHL team. It also made me think about how much effort hockey players put into getting better if they go to the NHL. They have to practice skating, shooting, passing, and playing defense while also working with their teammates. I think winning an award like this would feel amazing because it shows that all the hard work was worth it in the end. If I want to improve at hockey, I should keep practicing and learn from losses or if you have a bad game. In the end, Schaefer’s story shows me that working hard and putting in effort will help you in life, not just hockey.

One really sad, happy, and amazing thing to watch is the video of when Matthew Schaefer wins the Calder Trophy. He get really emotional because his step mom passed away and she was such a big piece of his life. The video “Emotional Matthew Schaefer takes home Calder Trophy” really shows the battle and love he has for not just the game, but the people who loved and supported him throughout the years.