Between Shifts: MASTERY
A practice for becoming the player you no longer have to force.
“FLOW is a state.
MASTERY is an identity.
What’s up y’all! Draps here.
I co-create The Inner Rink—a philosophy centered around the psychology of performance, discipline, and greatness, on and off the ice.
Between Shifts is a mental conditioning system inside The Inner Rink.
RESET interrupts chaos.
RHYTHM regulates tempo.
FLOW allows performance.
But MASTERY is different.
MASTERY is when your mind, body, and identity stop arguing with each other.
This is where today’s practice begins.
What MASTERY Is
MASTERY is identity without internal resistance.
It’s when:
your preparation is trusted.
your confidence stops depending on performance.
your mind stops fighting your instincts.
your identity stays stable under pressure.
FLOW is a state you enter.
MASTERY is who you become.
Becoming The Player I Believed In
There was a point in my pro career where I felt caught between versions of myself.
Different teams.
Different roles.
Different expectations.
Trades.
Pressure.
Noise.
Part of me knew who I could become. But another part of me was still trying to prove it.
I was trying to be myself instead of just being myself.
And when you’re stuck in that space…
you play tight.
Not physically.
Internally.
Then Something Started Changing
When I got traded from Macon to Peoria, things slowly started aligning.
Not Immediately.
At first, I wasn’t that player.
But over time, I grew.
I became a better player, skill-wise.
I found myself inside a winning culture.
I played for a coach I deeply respected- someone who taught me things I genuinely didn’t know before.
And little by little…
I started becoming more myself.
MASTERY > PERFORMANCE
Performance can be temporary.
Mastery is repeatable.
Performance depends on emotion.
Mastery depends on identity.
Performance wants validation.
Mastery remains steady without it.
Performance tries to prove.
Mastery simply expresses.
THE ALIGNMENT
As playoffs got closer, I could feel something happening internally.
Not hype.
Not ego.
Clarity.
My conditioning was the best it had been in years.
Mentally, I was clear.
No distractions.
No identity battles.
No trying to prove myself to people who already misunderstood me.
Everything had finally aligned.
And for the first time in a long time… everyone saw me the same way I saw myself
What MASTERY Actually Felt Like
Nothing could shake me.
I was flowing.
But deeper than that…
I trusted myself completely.
Not just my skill.
My identity.
I was becoming the same kind of player I was when I was 12 years old - when I was one of the best players in the country.
Not because I was flashy.
Because I was fully myself.
Humble.
Confident.
Steady.
The kind of player who makes the game feel calm for everyone else.
A Total Teammate becoming a Playermaker.
The Game That Changed Everything
Then came the game I tore my ACL.
Ironically…
it was one of the best games I had played in years.
I scored arguably the nicest goal of my career.
Not flashy.
Just compete.
It reflected how much my game had evolved while still staying true to who I was.
And later in the game…
I took a hit that completely tore my ACL.
But even then…
something inside me stayed steady.
Instead of staying down…
I got up.
Hobbled to the bench.
And seconds after I sat down…
we scored.
The injury didn’t interrupt who I became.
It revealed it.
Check out the highlights from that season here →
The MASTERY Realization
Most people think Mastery means domination.
But real Mastery is quieter than that.
It’s identity stability under pressure.
It’s knowing who you are when:
things speed up
pressure rises
adversity hits
outcomes become uncertain
MASTERY is when performance stops feeling forced…
and starts feeling like you.
Jessica’s Perspective- Identity Integration
The nervous system performs best when there is internal alignment.
When identity, belief, and behavior conflict, stress increases.
When they align, performance becomes more efficient.
Less hesitation.
Less overthinking.
Less emotional volatility.
This is why Mastery often feels calm.
The mind is no longer fighting itself.
The MASTERY Cue
When pressure rises, ask yourself:
“Am I trying to become someone..or remember who I already am?”
MASTERY begins when identity stops negotiating.
Beyond the Rink
This applies far beyond hockey.
Most people aren’t exhausted from effort.
They’re exhausted from internal conflict.
Trying to be someone they’re not
Trying to force outcomes
Trying to prove something constantly.
But when alignment happens…
energy changes.
Confidence becomes quieter
Presence becomes stronger.
Performance becomes sustainable.
Reader Reflection
Who could you become…
if nothing inside you was fighting against you anymore?
Season One Nears Completion
MASTERY completes the core Between Shifts practices of Season One.
RESET.
RHYTHM.
FLOW.
MASTERY.
Together, these practices form the foundation of the Between Shifts Mental Conditioning System- a system designed to train awareness, regulation, identity, and performance under pressure.
We have one more practice to finish off season one, The PlayerMaker, coming soon!
As Season One comes to a close, The Inner Rink will begin turning these practices into physical and digital conditioning practice tools- including the official Between Shifts: Season One Practice Book.
Because these were never meant to be just posts.
They were meant to be practiced.
Train your mind the same way you train your body.
Final Thoughts
For the first time in years… I wasn’t trying to become the player I believed in.
I already was him.
That’s MASTERY.
That’s The Inner Rink.
Thank yourself for showing up to practice today.
- Joe Drapluk
DISCLAIMER
The Inner Rink shares educational content for athletes and readers interested in performance psychology, mindset, and discipline. It is not intended as medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. Always seek guidance from a qualified health care professional regarding your specific questions and individual situation.
Great work on the voice over !!
Understanding the difference between mastery and performance can significantly enhance one's athletic journey. Achieving mastery requires consistent practice and self-reflection, fostering a deeper connection with one's true self.