How sports psychologist helped make the Edmonton Oilers Cup finalists - ESPN

When Jeff Jackson took the job as Oilers CEO of Hockey Operations in August, the team was at a pressure point. After yet another disappointing playoff exit the previous spring, star players Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl each declared 2024 was «Stanley Cup or bust.»

«With where everyone is at in their career,» McDavid said. «It's time.»

Jackson was McDavid's longtime agent before taking the job in the front office, so he knows hockey's biggest star as well as anyone. As Jackson searched for information, he began reading Phil Jackson's book, Eleven Rings.

The name George Mumford, a renowned sports psychologist and meditation teacher, kept coming up.

Phil Jackson had invited Mumford to work with his Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers teams that went on to win championships.

«Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant didn't win until they got a flow of their teams,» Jackson said. «And so a light bulb went off. MJ and [Scottie] Pippen and Kobe and Shaq[uille] O'Neal are kind of like Connor and Leon. Maybe his approach would be helpful. We need this guy.»

Jeff Jackson messaged Mumford on LinkedIn. Ever since his association with Phil Jackson, Mumford was in demand. He worked with the Knicks from 2014-2016. He spent a year in 2018 with the Miami Dolphins. He's spoken to Chelsea FC and Fulham FC.

He said he's done most of his work with college female athletes in the U.S. «I work with executives, doctors and lawyers,» Mumford told ESPN.com. «From jail to Yale, locker rooms to boardrooms, I've done it all.»

Even with the 72-year-old's time being precious, he responded to Jackson immediately. Mumford never worked in hockey before, and this project — helping the greatest star of this generation unlock his goals — intrigued him.

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