By Bella Sacca
As a child, Cole Beaudoin dreamed of playing pro hockey, but it was hard work not talent alone that got
him there.
Beaudoin, a forward for the Barrie Colts was drafted by the Utah NHL franchise in 2024, is
entering a crucial phase of his development as he aims to
transition from junior hockey to the
professional level.
“I first started playing hockey when I was young because I just fell in love with the game the
moment I stepped on the ice, and I realized early that
being different and working harder than
others could take me far,” Beaudoin said.
He is one of the few young athletes who make it to the professional level.
According to NHL league development statistics, around 20% of OHL players are selected in the
NHL Draft, but only about 5% will go on to play even a
single game in the NHL, showing how
elite the transition truly is.
Adam Bracken, Beaudoin’s former coach and now a professional fitness trainer, said Beaudoin’s
progress is rare.
“Cole showed maturity and discipline at a young age, and his work ethic always separated him
from other players his age,” Bracken said.
Beaudoin said that minor hockey taught him discipline, structure, and the need to compete
every day to stand out.
“Growing up playing against strong competition prepared me to handle pressure and taught me
that nothing is given, especially when you're chasing the
chance to play pro,” Beaudoin said.
Beaudoin said that the OHL forces players to mature quickly both on and off the ice.
“Playing in the OHL pushes you to grow up fast because you're playing with guys who are
fighting for the same goal as you, and taking care of your
habits becomes non-negotiable,”
Beaudoin said.
He said that daily competition in the OHL is one of the biggest drivers of improvement.
“You show up knowing that the guys you practice against every day are future NHL players, so
the standard is high, and you can't take days off,”
Beaudoin said.
Beaudoin described his preparation routines for a game as
essential to performance and
consistency.
“My game day routine is built around keeping my mind calm and focused, going through video,
warmups, visualization, and arriving at the rink feeling
like I'm already prepared to play,”
Beaudoin said.
Mental performance is also a core part of Beaudoin’s approach to training and consistency.
“Mindset is everything in junior hockey because there are ups and downs every week, and if you
don't stay centered you can lose confidence fast,” Beaudoin
said.
Beaudoin acknowledged that the path to the NHL is extremely difficult and requires long-term
discipline.
“It's realistic for me to push for the NHL because of where I'm at in my development, but it's
about working harder than anyone else and having
consistency when no one is watching,”
Beaudoin said.
Jaeden Nelson, a second-year OHL goalie for the Ottawa 67’s entering his draft year, said
players need to develop a strong mindset if they want to
continue climbing to higher levels.
“I've learned that talent gets you here, but consistency and daily effort is what separates the
players who move on from the ones who don't,” Nelson said.
Nelson also said it is important to become a leader and example for younger players in his
community.
“Playing in my hometown has made me realize how much kids look up to us, and it teaches you
to be humble and carry yourself like someone they can
follow,” Nelson said.
Camden McCuaig, a first-year forward in the OHL for the Kingston Frontenacs, said the league
forces players to push beyond their comfort zone.
“You learn fast that every player in this league was the best on their team growing up, so you
have to elevate your pace, your strength, and your
confidence every day,” McCuaig said.
McCuaig said that development in the OHL is not just about ice time, but about finding ways
to grow during practices, workouts, and video sessions.
"Even if you're not playing big minutes yet, you're still competing against high-level players
daily. You can either get overwhelmed or use it to get
better,” McCuaig said.
Beaudoin said staying motivated requires focusing on the present rather than stressing about
future outcomes.
“I try to enjoy the process instead of fixating on the end goal, because if I work as hard as I can
every day then whatever happens, I'll be able to live with
it,” Beaudoin said.
Beaudoin offered advice to young players dreaming of following the same path.
“Don't rush the journey and don't get discouraged when things get difficult, because the players
who keep going through the hard parts are the ones who
actually give themselves a chance to
make it,” Beaudoin said.
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