SPOTLIGHT: Rickard Hugg
Leadership isn’t necessarily taught; it’s learned. There is also no cookie-cutter approach. It comes in different forms for every leader.
For the Kitchener Rangers newest captain, Rickard Hugg, his leadership qualities came naturally, but also through watching his past captain’s lead. Specifically, Hugg looks to his Team Sweden U18 captain, Jacob Cederholm.
“Jacob is a captain I have always looked up to. Everyone had a great amount of respect for him. When he talked, everyone listened,” said Rickard. “When he came to the rink you could see in his eyes that everything mattered. Away from the rink, he could be the funniest guy, but he knew when to step up and take charge. That is the type of captain I try to be.”
For Rickard, this isn’t the first time he has been part of a team’s leadership core. He has been an assistant twice and a captain once on the national stage for Sweden. Through those experiences, he founded his leadership abilities on five pillars that he follows to help him become the best leader he can be.
- Be Humble. This one can be tough. Rickard has learned this through his years of experience. “I think this is the most important one. You gain so much from being humble,” said Rickard. “I always try to treat people the way I want to be treated. That is something my dad taught me growing up. Always be kind to everyone. Be humble and don’t let your ego get in the way. You get nowhere with a big ego.”
- Lead by Example. Rickard has always been that kind of leader. It’s easy to talk the talk, but it takes determination to walk the walk. “I am not the type of captain who does all the talking. I’m not scared to do it, but I like to lead by example both on and off the ice. I show up every day and put the work in at the gym, on the ice and even away from the rink. I try and take charge in the games and practices through my actions.”
- Be Approachable. An approachable leader makes people feel comfortable and at ease. “Everyone should feel comfortable coming to talk to you, especially if you’re the captain,” said Rickard. “No matter the situation, we can help. We have a lot of young guys, and we need to be there to help them out. I always want to be open to everyone.”
- Be Positive. This one comes without saying. No one wants a negative nelly on their team. Yes, there is a time to point out when things aren’t going well—Hugg gets that—but there can be a positive spin. “I always try to have a positive mindset even if we are not playing great. I try and find things that are going well and focus on those,” said Rickard. “It’s easy to talk about the negative things because it’s fresh, but everyone is going to tune you out. It’s important to focus on the positives.”
- Know When to Step Up and Speak Up. This goes back to the section about leading by example. As a leader, you need to know when it’s time to take a step back or step up. “Sometimes I sit back and allow our assistant captains to take the lead. But there are situations where I need to speak up and step up. If we have a bad game or period, one of us has to let everyone know that this is not acceptable. I always want to make sure the boys are dialed in and focused.”
Leadership isn’t for everyone, and it comes in many different forms. Rickard has found his stride and is honoured to be taking this next step with the Kitchener Rangers.
“Kitchener is one of the best organizations in junior hockey, so to have the staff and organization believe in me is pretty special. Having the support of my teammates is also a great feeling. This whole experience has been humbling.”
As the end to the regular season is fast approaching, Rickard hopes to continue to lead this team to success. Whether that is on the ice or even off the ice, he hopes to help these young men be the best they can be. Work hard every day, and it will pay off.
“A quote I always look to is ‘Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.’”
