PAUL BUCZKOWSKI       Bio       Setting Goals       Respect       Back to School       Professionalism       Those in the know       Turn It Positive       Finding a Job       Eye Protection       Playing Injured       Gearing Up       WCHL vs. CHL       Europe v. N.A.       Specific Training       Training Camps       Road to Success       Dedication       Life in the WHL SANDY LAMARRE       Bio       Season to Forget       College vs. Junior       Sportsmanship       Game Prep       Conditioning FORBES MACPHERSON       Making the Jump BRIAN PATAFIE       Bio       Stretching       ICE PATRICK POWERS       Is Hockey Just a Sport? ANDREW ZOPPO       Be Tenacious
	PlayYourGame.com is proud to welcome Paul Buczkowski as a feature writer. From the WHL to the NHL, Paul will bring insight to every aspect of the game, as a sport and as a career. Professionalism By Paul Buczkowski February 13, 2002 For the first time in my career, I was traded. I was traded from the Columbus Cottonmouths of the ECHL to the Pensacola Ice Pilots also of the ECHL. I was severely frustrated in Columbus about a number of things, but I was taught at an early age by my parents and teachers that one must remain professional at all times. Professionalism is being able to take all your emotions and keep them in check. Sometimes you may want to choke your coach or throw a water bottle at a chirping fan but being able to keep your cool will go a long way especially after hockey is over. I really liked a lot of things in and with Columbus, but it seems that after my injury was close to being healed (I injured my groin for 7 weeks) I didn't feel like I fit into the philosophy or the systems of the team. I came to the rink every morning not wanting to be there, and it is not in my character to be like that. It also didn't help that we were in last place and trying not to fall out of the race for the playoffs. Every day there were meetings and people talking behind each other's backs shifting blame and pointing fingers. Being positive or being professional was really hard especially when there was so much negativity going on. This usually happens when teams are losing, but like I said in previous articles, "you must learn something out of everything you experience". The hockey world is small and eventually you will probably have to deal with someone that you have either talked with or played for in the past. Being professional is about not "burning those bridges", because it may come back to haunt you. Saying something that could hurt your reputation in an argument could affect you indirectly. It may be as simple as a new team calling an old coach about a reference or calling a former teammate about your lifestyle. You will learn, after time, when you have to stick up for yourself, and other times when you have to bite your lip. Be professional in all circumstances whether you are being traded or released, because if you stay in this business or even retire from the game, those that you have dealt with will cross your path in one way or another. Here is my quote for the month: "It is amazing what a team can accomplish when no one cares who gets the credit." - Unknown Paul Buczkowski 1 Year CHL 2 Years ECHL 3 Years Europe 6 Years WHL
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