Patrick McEachen's Publications

• Patrick McEachen: The Salvation Army, Patrick McEachen September, 2010 Mr. Patrick McEachen regularly volunteers at The Salvation Army, an international relief organization that strives to improve the lives of individuals around the world. The Salvation Army operates a number of programs to benefit those in need, including Christmas charities, elderly services, community care ministries, disaster relief, anti-human trafficking efforts, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, prisoner rehabilitation, and youth camps. Its most recognizable branch, The Salvation Army Thrift Stores, are located around the country. Providing work experience for individuals in rehabilitation, the Thrift Stores collect unwanted items, including clothing, furniture, automobiles, furniture, and household goods, making them available to those in need at low prices. The Salvation Army was founded in 1865 after a London minister, William Booth, abandoned his altar and took to the streets, bringing his message of peace and love directly to those most in need. First intending to rally the homeless and the hungry into existing congregations, Father Booth instead created a unique church for them, the East London Christian Mission. In 1878, the Salvation Army obtained its current name from a newsletter, which referred to The Christian Mission as a Salvation Army. Within a couple decades, Father Booth’s movement had spread internationally and began providing a significant amount of social services, including food depots, nurseries, and a missionary hospital. At present, The Salvation Army operates in more than 106 countries, motivating millions of individuals toward compassion for their neighbors.

• The Importance of Balancing Extracurricular Activities and Academic Pursuits, Patrick McEachen October, 2010 By: Patrick McEachen As I prepare to enter university, I realize that it is extremely important to maintain a balance between my extracurricular activities and academic pursuits. Although hockey is much more than a hobby to me, my desire to excel scholastically is as strong as my drive to secure a position on a professional hockey team. Over the course of my tenure at Brother André Catholic High School, I accomplished a great deal on the rink, as well as in other sports. I am incredibly proud of those achievements because I consistently strive for excellence in all my pursuits. In high school, I played basketball and ran cross-country, while devoting a great deal of my time and energy to improving my hockey game. In the latter portion of my high school career, I participated in numerous pre-professional matches, one of the most challenging being the Ontario Men’s Under-17 Provincial Selection Camp. In 2007, I was drafted into the Ontario Hockey League, joining a group of young athletes who I greatly admire for their work ethic and competitive drive. I served as Captain of my hometown hockey team, the Stouffville Spirit, and as Co-Captain of the Wellington Dukes, a leader in the Central Canadian Hockey League. In 2009, I had the opportunity to participate in the Battle of Ontario, realizing a long-held dream. It was an incredible honor to be selected by the NHL Central Scouting for its Players to Watch List, and I am looking forward to continuing the interview process with professional teams considering drafting me. I continue to devote all my efforts to hockey, and I am pleased that my hard work is paying off. Following the Central Canadian Hockey League playoffs of 2010, I earned the distinction of top scoring defenseman, and I am committed to continuously improving my skills.

• Patrick McEachen - Inside the Mental Game of Hockey November, 2010 By: Patrick Mceachen It takes more than physical ability to succeed at hockey. There is also a mental aspect to the sport that may be even more important than your physical skills. Not being in the right mindset during a game can result in a sub-par performance, no matter how physically skilled you are. It all boils down to composure on the ice. Having the ability to maintain self-control is an essential skill that allows players to stay focused during the game, no matter what happens. If a player is easily rattled, then his or her performance on the ice will suffer. If you are a hockey player who easily gets distracted during games, then your first step to better composure is to examine what’s making you upset in the first place. Do you see mistakes as ultimate failures that say something about who you are? Are you so afraid of making a mistake that you tighten up or play tentatively? Do other teams intimidate you easily? Are you a perfectionist who fears making a mistake, or who fears that others will think less of you if you make one? Alternatively, do you just lose control because you easily get angry or upset? All these mental obstacles can really hurt your game. If you find that you lack composure on the ice, you can take steps to get your head back into the game. First of all, maintain realistic expectations. While it is important to set goals, it is equally essential to realize that mistakes are part of the path towards achieving your goals. Learn from your mistakes and make adjustments as you move forward, instead of letting errors drag you down. If I could give just one piece of advice on how to maintain your composure on the ice, it would be this: stay focused. Keep your head exactly where you are in every single moment of the game. If you pull your focus away from what you are doing in the moment, then you are leaving yourself open to focus errors that will further erode your confidence in your abilities.

• More on Hockey November, 2010 By: Patrick McEachen In 2009, I graduated from the Brother Andre Catholic High School, where I played on the senior varsity hockey team and earned an Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) Bronze Medal. I find hockey to be an exciting and strategic sport, one that takes an incredible amount of teamwork and dedication to perform at high levels. One key element of advanced hockey play is skating technique. Skating well is not just about skating fast and hard, but about holding the ability to adjust speed and rhythm to match the opponent’s style of play. One key to skating is to not look back when you have the puck and are being pursued. This can slow you down enough for your opponent to overtake you. Another critical skill is puck handling. Missed blocks and passes indicate a need to practice skate-and-shoot drills that, while repetitive, give you quality time handling the puck. Practice different types of shots: The wrist shot, snap shot, and slap shot, until you are proficient at each. One key aspect to remember is to always skate for the puck instead of reaching for it. Leaning out too far to get the puck limits your power and precision in puck handling. As a forward, positioning is paramount. Position yourself in a spot where you can see both the goal and the teammate whom you want to pass to you. When the puck is passed to you, shoot if you can see the goal or if the goalie cannot see your shot because he is being screened. If you can see the goalie and he has a good view of you, it is often a good idea to pass. Don`t ever be afraid to pass—an assist is considered just as valuable in ice hockey as a goal. By following these simple pieces of advice and by practicing regularly, there is no question that anyone can achieve a high level of play.

Patrick McEachen's Links