The Edmonton goaltender Stuart Skinner sometimes turns to chess to calm his racing mind. Anything to relax and not constantly dwell on stopping shots.
According to Aimee Kimball, a mental training consultant who has worked in the NHL for 16 seasons and is currently the Washington Capitals' director of organizational development, it is really important for their mental health that they don't play 24/7 hockey because they need to learn how to manage the stress. It's harder to transition into that next phase of life when you lived and breathed hockey your whole life. It's very important for them to have hobbies, other interests, not just during their playing days, but afterward too."