Next Shift... By John Harrington

Morgan Mah recalls that it wasn’t really love at “first skate” when she stepped onto the ice. Her father, a devoted Kings fan, lovingly nudged her along when she was just 2 years old. Skating was just “something” that she did. She didn’t love it or even like it that much. By age 4, she joined the Little Kings hockey program and started swimming (in actual unfrozen water!) showing early athletic versatility and developing a strong athletic foundation. She was either in the water or on top of it.

Everything changed when Morgan joined a Squirt team and found herself among a few kids who played hockey simply for the joy of it. Nothing too serious. She saw how happy they were and curiously asked them “What is so great about hockey?”  These tiny dynamos didn’t hold back, shared everything -- not just about their favorite players or teams, stats, or points, but that feeling of competing with their friends in the fastest sport in the world. The speed. The chaos. The contagious energy. The physicality.  That spark led Morgan to watch NHL games on TV and fall in love with the sport’s wild unpredictability. She went from not caring to not being able to stop watching. She was hooked.

Morgan’s favorite coach, Kyle Calder, played a pivotal role in her development and passion for the game. After a tough sequence in a game when Morgan made a bad play, Coach Calder didn’t hold back and publicly held her accountable. He raised his voice from the bench, asking why she made such questionable play on defense. Morgan heard his frustration and felt the criticism deeply. But instead of quitting, and shutting down, she made a choice to keep working harder, lock in, and focus on making less mistakes. That stubborn, quiet decision to stay and improve became the foundation of Morgan’s growth and resilient mindset. That moment. That mistake. And how she rebounded became her compass when faced with future challenges.

At times, like many young athletes, confidence can be Morgan’s biggest hurdle. A couple of years ago, she felt overwhelmed -- sluggish skating, weak shooting, nothing clicking. She questioned her abilities and was constantly comparing herself to other players. This mindset can shatter confidence. Second guessing. Wondering if you have what it takes. Feeling like an imposter on the team. It’s a fear that we all experience in life. And not just in hockey.

Now, Morgan uses that fear as fuel. It pushes her harder. She turns it into energy.

Morgan believes confidence is rebuilt moment by moment, especially after setbacks. She recognizes when her confidence drops after mistakes or tough games, and takes a few deep breaths, adjusting her body language to project readiness. There is no time to feel sorry for yourself in the heat of battle. Especially in front of your opponents and teammates. When frustration seeps in, Morgan’s ritual is to hold her stick over her head, almost flexing in a military press, one glove near the blade, the other at the top. She finds that this helps ground her in that moment. The last thing she will ever do is bang her stick, point blame at a teammate, question the referee, or hang her head and shoulders in dejection. She learned this monumental importance of positive body language from Coach Torsson, even when everything is unravelling around you, and the game is slipping away. Torsson constantly reminded his players that emotional control is paramount: never bang the stick after a mistake because it feeds the drama. Instead, resetting and playing the next shift is real confidence. The best players quicky erase the mistake or error. And move forward with their game. And control what they can control in that moment.

Mogan replays her best moments to remind herself of her strengths and stops obsessing over mistakes in the past, focusing instead on the next opportunity. She builds a verbal ritual using phrases like "Next shift" or "I’m built for this" to reset mentally.

As the captain of the 2012 AA Bears team, this mindset is critical. Morgan is looked to as a leader on the team and knows this is a skill she needs to work on daily as well. When things are going great, or not so great, she needs to lead by example, reflect a confident disposition, and never show defeat. These are the mental aspects of the game that are hard to measure and quantify. And she humbly admits, leadership is always a work in progress for her.

Morgan works tirelessly on skating and stride technique, spending hours perfecting every detail. She knows there is always room to improve and is willing to train harder to close those gaps. She attributes her stride to Trifun Zivanovic – a power skating coach for the California Golden Bears Hockey Club she has been with since the beginning of her journey.

For Morgan, hockey is more than a game -- it is family. Team bonding is her favorite. She remembers a recent Friday when they all got together -- playing games, eating, and laughing. These people aren’t just teammates. They are her family outside of her own.

One of her inspirations is her mom. Her journey of moving from Hong Kong to Wisconsin for college, to follow her dreams, get a degree and carve out a new life. Through her parents she learned work ethic, commitment, and adapting to overcoming adversity. Her mom challenges her to be the best version of herself, even when she resists it.

If not hockey, Morgan says academics would be the focus. She already has great grades, but without hockey, she would pour everything into school. No matter what, she gives her heart and soul to whatever she chooses. I was thrilled to learn she loves English, writing and reading. (I knew she was amazing!). For you readers out there on the 405 she suggests The House of the Scorpion as your next read.

Morgan also shares a candid insight about the life of a teenage athlete: people don’t realize how little time they have. Even if you’re young, time flies -- and so does the money your parents invest. She advises committing while you can, but if you’re just playing casually for fun, that is totally okay too. Make every minute count, when you’re in the car, on the road in a hotel, or even in between work-outs – hit the books. And limit your social media / phone use. (She tries to keep her phone use to under 3 hours per day).

Morgan’s love for rock climbing complements her hockey training by building strength, focus, and mental toughness. She finds that climbing helps her develop skills that translate directly to the ice, such as balance, problem-solving, and perseverance. Both sports demand intense mental focus, quick decision-making, and strategic thinking to succeed. She loves that it’s randomized, and that you can climb in any order that you want, and that there’s no specific pattern to do it.

Rock climbing teaches you how to stay calm under pressure and to trust one’s body and strength. You are literally pulling your own weight. "It’s a different kind of challenge, but it makes me stronger both physically and mentally for hockey. And every climb is different. Different paths to the top.”

Sounds like youth hockey!

Morgan’s vision is clear and bold. She admires her older brother, Ian, a former Bear who now plays at Hoosac School in New Tork. She has her sights set on playing for the storied Shattuck-Saint Mary’s Prep School – and eventually go for gold with Team USA at the Olympics. I’ve interviewed nearly 12 hockey players, and this is the first time I’ve heard this as a dream. Amazing. She implores that she envisions this goal. She sees it. And she has to get there. I can hear it in her voice. Morgan is on a mission. And I believe every word she says.

Morgan Mah’s journey through hockey is a story of resilience, growth, and fierce determination. From early doubts to becoming a confident player with big dreams, Morgan’s path reflects the heart of a true athlete. Her story is a testament to how resilience, support, and self-belief transform her from uncertain beginnings to a rising star with a legendary future.