For Cale Makar, the mind is the portal to all success

The education of Cale Makar continues – and will continue beyond his hockey career.

“I want to get that degree,” Makar told BSN Denver Thursday morning, several hours before he and the Avalanche were set to play the San Jose Sharks in Game 4 of their second-round series.

That degree, in sports management from the University of Massachusetts, is about half finished. We all know the reason why Makar had to take a leave from his studies at UMass – because the Avs need him, to win hockey games now and for the future. Hockey is obviously his No. 1 priority right now, but the 20-year-old defenseman plans on getting a bachelor’s degree.

“My plan is to graduate eventually,” he said. “Whether it’s in a few years or a couple years (beyond that) down the road. It’s definitely a goal of mine. I’m still taking classes, but it’s paused right now. My professors have been so great, in that I’ll be able to finish up this semester whenever my season is done. I don’t really have much time here in the playoffs to focus on that. They understand that and they’ve been great, but I’ll definitely finish up this semester.”

While sports management is his major, Makar has a deep interest in psychology, in all aspects of life. He had read a lot of books on studies of the mind, and he is fervent in the belief that success in sports and life, in general, has as much, or more, to do with the brain than brawn.

His favorite book on psychology? That would be “Mindset”, by Carol Dweck. The book’s synopsis, as detailed on its Amazon page, is:

“Success in school, work, sports, the arts, and almost every area of human endeavor can be dramatically influenced by how we think about our talents and abilities. People with a fixed mindset—those who believe that abilities are fixed—are less likely to flourish than those with a growth mindset—those who believe that abilities can be developed. Mindset reveals how great parents, teachers, managers, and athletes can put this idea to use to foster outstanding accomplishment.”

Another go-to book for Makar is “Hockey Tough”, by Saul Miller, a clinical psychologist at the University of London, and Makar is also a fan of the books by Mark Manson.

Makar’s demeanor is courteous and deferential. But you don’t have to spend much time around him to see that is a very serious young man, hellbent for success. He is off to a great start to his NHL career, with four points in his first six games – all in the postseason.

He knows, though, he has a lot more to learn about being an NHL player. What has been his biggest learning adjustment so far?

“Just the physicality,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s so much bigger hits, it’s just that you’re getting touched when you don’t really expect it. Guys are good in those small areas, whether it’s with their stick or their body positions. It’s the thing you adjust to and get better at every day.

“In the NCAA, they were pretty strict in the fact that if you hold ’em up for a few seconds, you’re getting called every time. In the periods last game, I asked the coaches just how strict they are, and I’m going to try and be more aggressive.”

MORNING SKATE NOTEBOOK

• Matt Calvert, who missed Game 3, was a full participant at the morning skate and is expected to play.
• Sven Andrighetto would be the likely scratch because of Calvert’s return, but Jared Bednar wouldn’t commit to making such a proclamation this morning. We’ll have to wait until game time to see his lineup decision.
• Bednar said the rest of his lineup wouldn’t change.
• Bednar on Alexander Kerfoot, who, despite playing on the top line, is still looking for his first goal of the postseason: “I thought he was highly competitive in the Calgary series. He was on the puck a lot. I think his game has taken a step back in this series, but I can say that for our whole team a little bit. We’re still fighting to find our footing against a real good team. But would I like him to step up? Yeah. I think there are a number of guys who could elevate their game here to peak performance, and I think we can do that.”
• Makar said he still texts daily with former UMass teammates. Asked if he’s “over” the loss to Minnesota-Duluth yet in the NCAA title game, he said “At the end of the day, you’re a hockey player and you’ve got to get over things like that. I’ve had so many losses like that in my life, that you just kind of learn and kind of forget. But I haven’t really had time to process that whole thing yet.”