Erik Westrum

Erik Westrum is a former professional ice hockey player, author, motivational speaker, and leadership coach whose career on the ice established a foundation for his work guiding athletes, executives, and professionals in performance improvement. An American former professional ice hockey center, Westrum played in the National Hockey League for the Phoenix Coyotes, Minnesota Wild, and Toronto Maple Leafs. He was drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes in the NHL Entry Draft while playing in the NCAA for the University of Minnesota, where he spent four years with the Gophers. During his college career, he scored 168 points in 161 games, earned WCHA All-Star honors, served as team captain for two years, and won the team's MVP award in consecutive seasons.

Westrum's professional hockey career spanned more than a decade across North America and Europe. After completing his college career, he joined the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League, where he played 199 games and scored 106 points. As captain of the Toronto Marlies in the AHL, he finished as the team's top scorer with 58 points. On the international stage, Westrum scored the game-winning goal in a shootout to secure the bronze medal for Team USA against Slovakia at the Men's World Ice Hockey Championships. He concluded his playing career with five years in Switzerland with Ambri-Piotta, where he was recognized for his league-leading play.

After retiring from hockey, Westrum navigated the transition to life off the ice by applying the tools and discipline developed as a high-performing athlete to new challenges. He earned an MBA from the Carlson School of Management, gaining expertise to support leaders and organizations in growth and development. Through consulting and coaching, Westrum established the principles behind "Becoming Elite" and conducts workshops focused on leadership, mindset, and performance improvement.

Westrum is the author of several books that translate lessons from professional sports into actionable frameworks for personal and professional growth. His debut book, "Becoming Elite," shares practical stories of accountability and discipline. His follow-up, "The 1% Impact," explores how small, intentional actions can drive significant transformation in leadership, productivity, fitness, and success. He also released "The 1% Impact Workbook: Daily Discipline. Lasting Growth." to help readers implement these principles consistently.

Westrum is a keynote speaker, coach, and author who supports leaders, athletes, and professionals in overcoming barriers using a framework built on elite performance, daily discipline, and a purpose-driven mindset. He brings firsthand experience from the NHL and Team USA, offering practical frameworks that athletes, coaches, and executives can apply. Westrum's journey from professional hockey to leadership development positions him as a knowledgeable voice on resilience, reinvention, and high performance.