Coffey compares farming to hockey

“I have a lot of respect for the farmer,” began Coffey, speaking at a BASF Knowledge Harvest event held in Yorkton last Thursday. “You feed the city; you feed the country; you feed the world.”
— Former NHLer Paul Coffey

There are many similarities between being a successful farmer and a successful hockey player, suggested former National Hockey League star Paul Coffey.

“I have a lot of respect for the farmer,” began Coffey, speaking at a BASF Knowledge Harvest event held in Yorkton last Thursday. “You feed the city; you feed the country; you feed the world.”

Coffey, who was drafted by Edmonton sixth overall in 1980, and would play in the NHL for 21 years, (1980-2001), playing for nine teams, admitted he did not know a lot about farming, but he does understand that day-to-day farmers face challenges.

“It’s no different than sport, there is adversity everywhere,” he said, adding whether in sport, or farming there needs to “be incredible work ethic, incredible passion,” if you are to be successful.

In the case of farming, Coffey said he appreciated a video shown at the event where farmers talked about their family operations.

“They did it for love,” he said, noting they were often following in the footsteps of their fathers, and their father’s fathers. “… They love the land.”

After the formal presentation Coffey told Yorkton This Week he was trying to absorb as much about farming as he could as he makes four stops on the BASF tour.

“I got here, and listened. I tried to get a feel for farmers,” he said, adding growing up near Toronto farming was not part of his background.

In listening, Coffey said he quickly learned farmers have lots to deal with in doing what they do.

“There’s lot of stuff they have to go through,” he said.

Coffey said as a hockey player, much like farmers, it is about loving the game and then devoting lots of effort to being as good as they can be.

In Coffey’s case his best was among the best-ever among defencemen. He is a four-time Stanley Cup Champion, three-time Norris Memorial Trophy Winner, NHL All-Star and Hall-of-Famer. Known for his speed and scoring prowess, he ranks second all-time among NHL defencemen in career goals, assists and points, behind Ray Bourque.

As many milestones as Coffey has, he said none of it came without effort.

“Talent only takes you so far. You have to have a strong work ethic,” he said.

And even with effort, it does not always work out.

“Hockey is a very humbling sport,” he said. “We had a saying in Edmonton, you’re only as good as your last shift.”