It’s an exciting time in baseball and to be a Canadian sports fan. The Toronto Blue Jays, the country’s lone baseball team, are set to compete in the World Series for the first time in over three decades. Fans from coast to coast are set to cheer on Canada’s team. Along with that, the NHL season is underway, the Grey Cup playoffs are around the corner and the Toronto Raptors went jump ball on their season. 

As first pitch of the World Series is ready to go, here are three lessons that hockey teams can apply this season from the Blue Jays.

It Takes the Whole Team
The Jays are receiving contributions from up and down the lineup. With star players Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer shining, lesser known names (until now) like Andres Gimenez and Ernie Clement are now showcasing their skills in the playoffs for a much wider audience. The team has found chemistry across the lineup, with everyone exceeding in their role and providing big moments when given the opportunity.

Takeaway: Coaches should trust all of their lines and players to get the job done, no matter the scenario. Sometimes all a player needs is the opportunity to shine and prove what they can do. You never know on any given day who can play the hero. On days where someone may be struggling, it’s up to the rest of the team to provide offence.

You’re Never Out of It
It took the Blue Jays until just over two months into the season to find their groove. From there, they took off and never looked back. Even in the playoffs, whether down 2-0 in the series of 3-1 in the 7th inning of a Game 7, the team never gave up and always kept fighting. The Jays were patient and waited for their opportunities to strike.

Takeaway: Down a few goals in the game? It’s not over. Keep playing hard until the final whistle. The momentum of a game can swing on any lucky puck bounce and sometimes that’s all a team needs. String together a few wins in a row and all of a sudden your team is climbing up the standings.

Get Creative in Your Coaching
Be flexible in your approach throughout the season. When the time comes, don’t be afraid to mix things up and try something new. The Blue Jays have used starting pitchers Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt in relief as a way to shut down the game. They make late-inning defensive substitutions, bringing in players like Myles Straw after the offensive stars do their job.

Takeaway: The game plan should be well communicated so nobody is caught by surprise. Players should trust that coaches have the best intentions. Don’t be afraid of change or to try something new to provide a spark for your team. You never know what kind of positive results it can lead to. Put players in a position to succeed and play to their strengths.