There are things you can't teach an athlete, like size, for example. You're either born with incredible height and length or you're not, and if you're not then that sucks for you because you can't learn to be tall.
Effort is another trait that falls into that 'can't teach' category in our opinion. It's either you give it your all or you don't, and coaches can harp on effort, but that has to be something that comes from within. Nobody can teach you to give it your all.
In sports, effort plays are always enjoyable to watch because you can tell how hard a player worked in order to make the play and sometimes, the play they make turns out to be one for the highlight reels.
Saturday night, Nic Petan of the Manitoba Moose (Winnipeg's AHL team) turned in one of those all effort plays in order to score and it was a beautiful goal to say the least.
It doesn't get much better than falling, being flat on your stomach and stretching with one hand on your stick to deflect the puck into the net.
Some players might have given up on the play once they went down to the ice, but Petan isn't one of those players. The 22-year-old has played 6 games with the Jets this season and is at a point-per-game average with the Moose.
(H/T: Manitoba Moose)
