By LENOX RAWLINGS Winston-Salem Journal 02-JUN-06 (Scripps Howard News Service).

"RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Carolina Hurricanes spent two weeks crashing into Buffalo Sabres, pinning them against the boards and creaming them whenever feasible.
Controlled aggression and 11th-hour puck control finally delivered the goods Thursday night, a 4-2 comeback in the Eastern Conference's decisive seventh game. The victory propelled the Hurricanes into the Stanley Cup finals against Edmonton ………………"

What, you might ask, is this "controlled aggression" to which Mr. Rawlings attributes a win for the Canes against Buffalo? What does it mean to me, as a coach?

Controlled aggression is an attitude of mind that drives individual players and teams to set their opponents back on their heels. It's an in-your-face attitude that is relentless and never lets up. It controls the speed of the game, ties up the defense and constantly attacks.

A hockey team may have talented players but without controlled aggression they will not produce to their highest potential. There is an old saying in hockey that if a team isn't drawing penalties it won't win. There is a lot of truth in this. The trick in winning through aggression is not to allow it to get out of control. In other words, take the game to the edge but don't fall off. Admittedly there is a fine line that separates the two. That fine line is exemplified in the saying that a team that isn't drawing penalties won't win. Too many penalties and a team will have crossed the boundary into uncontrolled territory. It's up to the referees to sort it out.

A hockey team that allows itself to be intimidated or is hesitant cannot win. Defensemen must have the attitude that they will never allow themselves to be scored on. The center is convinced that he will score every pass that he gets. The goalie knows that he will stop every shot on goal. A hockey team that plays with controlled aggression plays with the conviction that it is invincible at both ends of the ice, will never allow a goal and expect to score every time they get a stick on the puck.

Controlled aggression is all about taking control of every game and never letting the opponent come up for air. This is an attitude of mind that can be taught. Physical skills have their limitations but the mind plus motivation are powerful forces that can propel a player through his physical limitations to heights of excellence.