Episodes

4d ago

In episode 320 of the Glass and Out Podcast we're joined by Pete DeBoer, who will be part of Team Canada's coaching staff at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan. With over 1,400 games behind an NHL bench, DeBoer has enjoyed a remarkable coaching journey. And while he hasn't captured the Stanley Cup YET, the level of consistency that his teams have competed at is compelling. That includes nearly 700 wins, two trips to the Stanley Cup finals, and a Memorial Cup Championship with the Kitchener Rangers. Internationally he's represented Canada at the World Juniors, World Championships, World Cup of Hockey, and the 4 Nations Face-Off. DeBoer has presented twice at TCS Live, including his 2023 presentation on Teaching Offensive Zone Principles. He also sat down with the Athletic's Craig Custance back in 2019 to break down one of the craziest Game 7's ever played back between the Sharks and Golden Knights. Listen as he shares why versatility is a key trait to make Team Canada's roster, one tactical change that could be coming soon to the NHL, and advice for anyone who has been let go from their coaching role. Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/AretdHTr9B4?si=FYmZz5W884z_QhQ8 Learn more about our presenting sponsors: State & Liberty: stateandliberty.com/tcs Biosteel: BioSteelTeams.com/Glassandout Hudl: hudl.com/tcs

Dec 10

In episode 319 of the Glass and Out Podcast we welcome the focus of our new Shift Change documentary, Head Coach of the Lloydminster Lancers U18 AAA team, Chris King. If you haven't heard the incredible story behind his switch from National Champion basketball coach to youth hockey bench boss, you can check out the first two episodes of Shift Change now on The Coaches Site. In summary: After incredible success with the Lakeland College women's program, including being named ACAC Coach of the Year a six times and National Coach of the Year twice, King was fired based on a complaint from a disgruntled former player. The Lloydminster Lancers of the Alberta U18 AAA league were looking for a coach to resurrect the struggling program. In stepped King. Could a career basketball coach shift to the ice and replicate the same success he enjoyed on the court? Listen as he explains the background behind the unlikely switch, how coaching girls and boys differs, and why shinny is a critical part of developing creativity and problem solving. Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/j-8RocI3NSo Learn more about our presenting sponsors: State & Liberty: stateandliberty.com/tcs Biosteel: BioSteelTeams.com/Glassandout Hudl: hudl.com/tcs

Dec 3

In episode 318 of the Glass and Out Podcast we're joined by skills coach and TCS Live presenter Maxim Noreau. Noreau enjoyed a tremendous playing career. He played a handful of games in the National Hockey League to kick off a 17-year professional career, mostly in the Swiss National League. He also represented Canada on multiple occasions at the Spengler Cup and Winter Olympics. Upon retirement he founded Noreau Hockey, a development program operating out of Montreal, where he is also a development coach for the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMHJL. You can check out his TCS Live presentation on Blueline Shooting Options now on The Coaches Site. Listen as he shares why coaches need to focus on making the fundamentals elite, the importance of selling player development to parents, and how the position of defence as evolved in hockey.

Nov 26

In episode 317 of the Glass and Out Podcast we welcome back Andrew Lord, Head Coach of the AHL's Ontario Reign. Last time we spoke with Lord he was coming off four seasons as both a player and the Head Coach of the Cardiff Devils of the UK Elite Ice Hockey League. Since that conversation his coaching stock has been on the rise. That includes a South Division title and the Jack Brophy Award as the ECHL's coach of the year during his tenure with the Greensville Swamp Rabbits and a brief stop in the QMJHL with the Halifax Mooseheads. Lord now leads the LA Kings AHL affiliate, which has him just one step away from standing behind an NHL bench. Listen as he shares the importance of finding the link between practice and game, how to manage uncomfortable conversations, and how to handle the struggles of a rebuild.

Nov 19

For episode 316 of the Glass and Out Podcast we welcome CEO of Sports Innovation Lab Angela Ruggiero. She is best known as a 4x Olympian and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. She was a senior in high school when she played for Team USA and won gold at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano. In 2004 she won the Patty Kaizmeir Award as the top player in college hockey. She was also the first woman to play in a regular season professional hockey game in North America at a position other than goalie when she suited up for the Tulsa Oilers in a Central Hockey League game. However, her list of achievements extend well beyond her career as an athlete. That includes time as a member of the International Olympic Committee from 2010 to 2018. She served as a member of the Executive Board of the IOC after being elected Chairperson of the IOC Athletes' Commission, the body that represents all Olympic athletes worldwide, a post which she held from 2016 to 2018. She also has an MBA from Harvard and was a senior management associate with Bridgewater Associates, the largest hedge fund in the world. Listen as she shares why learning to love adversity is key to success in life, why utilizing data in sports has to be built on trust, and why athletes are the best opportunity for corporations in the world.

Nov 12

In episode 315 of the Glass and Out Podcast we collaborated with Hockey Calgary for their 4th Annual Leadership Day and sat down with Flames Head Coach Ryan Huska. Huska is a good friend of The Coaches Site, having previously joined Glass and Out. He's also presented multiple times at our TCS Live event. This was a special interview complete with diagrams to showcase some of the drills and teaching progressions he's used throughout his career. It offered a fascinating look at how an NHL coaching staff manages the limited practice time they have throughout the season to prepare their team. There is a lot coaches can learn from Ryan's drills in terms of efficiency in delivering a message. Every detail is thought out and no time is wasted. Listen as he shares his favourite drills for breakouts, encouraging competition, why the skill of passing is often missing in today's player, and why it's curcial to always celebrate the small and big wins with your team.

Nov 5

In episode 314 of the Glass and Out Podcast we chat with Hockey Hall of Famer Jayna Hefford, who currently works as the Executive Vice-President of Hockey Operations for the PWHL. As the person who has largely been the face of the league since it's inception in August of 2023, she has played a key role in the growth of female hockey. Her unique background prior to becoming a sports executive includes a playing career as a star on Canada's National Team, playing in five Olympics, capturing four gold medals, and 12 World Championships, where she collected another seven gold medals. Throughout her career she has gravitated towards leadership roles and demonstrated a knack for bringing people together to achieve a common goal. Nowhere has that skill-set been more valuable than her time with the PWHL. Listen as she shares the origins of the PWHL, why female hockey is rooted in passion and why the league's upwards trajectory has created an exciting time for women's sports.

Oct 29

In episode 313 of the Glass and Out Podcast we visited the University of St. Thomas campus in Minnesota to chat with Tommies Head Coach Rico Blasi. Blasi's coaching career dates back to 1994 with the Wexford Raiders. He would take over the University of Miami (Ohio) program, his alma matter, at the ripe old age of 27 - and would eventually turn them into a perennial contender. Now in his fifth season at St. Thomas, he has the Tommies on a similar track to success in the brand new Lee & Penny Anderson Arena. As you'll hear, Blasi's story is a reminder that while we're all on our respective coaching journeys, life is happening all around us. Listen as he shares his approach to getting players to play free, why the human need for connection is a vital part of coaching, and why his favourite day of the week is "Battle Tuesdays."

Oct 22

For episode 312 of the Glass and Out Podcast we had the chance to sit down with Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin at September's TCS Live Minnesota. Bill is of course a two-time Stanley Cup winner as a player and represented the United States at three Olympics. Following his playing career, he joined the Pittsburgh Penguins organziation, eventually landing in the Assistant GM role. He would then be named GM of the Wild in 2019 and would add President of Hockey Operations to his resume in 2023. In addition to his role with the Wild, he led Team USA at the Four Nations Faceoff and will also be the General Manager for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan. Needles to say, he's got a lot on his plate and he was extremly generous with his time to join us on the show. Listen as he shares his philosphy behind team building, why winning is the standard for Team USA, and the importance of preserving the Minnesota community hockey model.

Oct 15

For episode 311 of the Glass and Out Podcast we welcome Meghan Duggan, Director of Player Development for the New Jersey Devils. While most fans may know her best as the Captain of Team USA, you may soon know her as a possible candidate to become the first woman General Manager in NHL history. Duggan attended the University of Wisconsin, where she would help the Badgers capture three National titles and captain the program in her senior season. In total, she represented the United States at three Olympics and eight World Championships, capturing eight Gold Medals. Following retirement, she joined the Devils as their Manager of Player Development in 2021 before being promoted to her current role a year later. Listen as she shares how she approaches developing hockey sense, the power of being a vulnerable leader and her aspirations to advance as an executive in hockey.

Oct 8

For episode 310 of the Glass and Out Podcast we were down in St. Paul for TCS Live Minnesota and had the chance to sit down with Wild Head Coach John Hynes. The coaching conference was in support of the Minnesota Wild Foundation's Skate It Forward initiative. The Wild have a goal to cover the registration fee for every first year player in the state and provide families who benefit from the program the opportunity to pay it forward by making a donation that in turn gets another youngster on the ice. Click here for more information and to donate. Hynes is entering his third season in Minnesota and will also serve as an Assistant Coach for the U.S. Men's Team at the 2026 Winter Olympics. He started out his coaching career as an Assistant Coach at his alma mater, Boston University, and has rounded all the bases in his nearly 30 year coaching journey to eventually lead three National Hockey League teams. Listen as he shares tips on designing and executing a practice plan, why performance starts with relationship building, and the importance of betting on yourself.

Oct 1

In episode 309 of the Glass and Out Podcast we have the pleasure of being joined by Penn State University Head Coach Guy Gadowsky. One could argue that outside of the NHL, no hockey team in the world will receive as much attention as the Nittany Lions this upcoming season. Led by Gadowsky since 2011, the program is coming off its first trip to the Frozen Four and this offseason, recruited a ton of talent to an already loaded roster, including the consensus #1 pick in the upcoming NHL draft, Gavin McKenna. Ranked in the top 5 preseason college polls, Gadowsky had Penn State primed to make a lot of noise this season. Listen as he shares the importance of a well defined team structure, the keys to finding chemistry with high-end talent, and overcoming adversity on the way to a Frozen Four appearance.

Sep 24

In episode 308 of the Glass and Out Podcast we welcome Alan Letang, the Head Coach of the OHL's Sarnia Sting. Letang is still in the front 9 of his coaching career, and as you'll hear, when he decided that coaching was his chosen career post retirement, he immersed himself in all facets of the job. And it's paid off. After 2.5 seasons as an Assistant Coach in Owen Sound, he was promoted to the role of Head Coach. This would eventually lead him home to Sarnia, where he is getting set to lead the Sting for a 5th season, and one in which the expectations are high. Internationally, he has represented Canada multiple times, beginning as an Assistant Coach at the 2020 and 2023 World Junior Championships, as the Head Coach of Canada's entry at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and finally as the Head Coach of Team Canada at the 2024 World Junior Championships. Listen as he shares his philosophy on setting players up for success after a mistake, finding the fine line between physicality and discipline, and how he's approaching the changing landscape of junior hockey.

Sep 17

In episode 307 of the Glass and Out Podcast we're joined by Head Coach of the Henderson Silver Knights Ryan Craig. Craig has had a great run with the Golden Knights organization, including being a member of the coaching staff during their inaugural season that saw them go on a Cinderella run and reach the Stanley Cup Finals. He remained on the staff for six seasons, culminating in the organization capturing the Stanley Cup in 2023. During that time he received what can only be described as a Masters Degree in Coaching as he had the opportunity to work under Gerrard Gallant, Pete DeBoer, and most recently, Bruce Cassidy. Now heading into his third season with the Silver Knights he joins us to offer a fresh and modern perspective on leading today's player and creating winning culture. Listen as he shares why players see everything that happens with a coaching staff, how to maxmize your practice time, and why competition drives performance.

Sep 10

Welcome back! We kick off Season 9 of the Glass and Out Podcast with episode 306, featuring Seattle Kraken Assistant Coach Jessica Campbell. Campbell is of course getting set for her second season behind an NHL bench, after having the distinction of being the first female to be hired as a full-time NHL coach. The native of Moosomin, Saskatchewan parlayed her skating business and the experience of training NHL players in the off-season in Kelowna into the opportunity to coach professionally in Europe. It was then that Dan Bylsma, then recently hired as the Head Coach of the Kraken's AHL affiliate in Coachella Valley, reached out to interview her for the opportunity to join his staff. Two seasons and consecutive trips to the Calder Cup finals later, Bylsma was hired as Seattle's Head Coach and Campbell got the call to join him. You can check out her IIHF Coaching Symposium presentation on Feeding the Attack by Breaking Down the PK now on The Coaches Site. Listen as she shares her keys to creating a cohesive power play, how to help players out of scoring slumps, and how breaking barriers has influenced her coaching philosophy.

Jun 19

In episode #305 and finale for season 8, we had the pleasure of being joined by Calgary Flames assistant coach Brad Larsen for a live interview at our TCS Live coaching conference. As a player, the Vernon, BC native won a gold medal with Canada's U18 team, along with back to back golds at the World Junior Championships. He turned pro with the Colorado Avalanche organization, was named Captain of the Hershey Bears in just his second pro season, and would go on to play over 300 NHL games with the Avalanche, Atlanta Thrashers, and Anaheim Ducks. He jumped right into the coach arena following his retirement. First in the AHL with the Springfield Falcons before being promoted to the Columbus Blue Jackets and eventually, being named the club's Head Coach in 2021. Today, he is on Ryan Huska's staff with the Calgary Flames. There are so many take-aways from this final episode of the 2024-2025 season of Glass and Out. Listen as he shares how he's learned to lean on his faith, why the standard needs to be the standard, and the importance of blooming where you're planted.

Jun 5

In episode #304, we revisit our conversation from 2022 with Dan Muse, freshly named new Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins. At the time of this interview, Muse was Head Coach of with the US National Development Program and prior to that he spent three seasons as an Assistant with the Nashville Predators. He most recently spent two seasons as an Assistant Coach with the New York Rangers. Muse has rounded all the bases in his career and is a self-described OG member of The Coaches Site. He also presented for us back in 2022 on The Importance of the Second Player in Puck Support. Listen as he shares his philosphy of TNT, why his playing career has never deterred him from his coaching aspirations, and the important of creating chaos in practice. And go Penguins!

May 29

In episode #303, we're joined by former NHL Head Coach and upcoming presenter at June's TCS Live coaching conference Greg Cronin. Cronin was recently let go as the Head Coach of the Anaheim Ducks after spending two seasons with the franchise. He has enjoyed a remarkable and nearly 40 year run as a hockey coach, which began at Colby College and includes playing a role in getting the US National Development Team Program off the ground. After eight seasons with the New York Islanders organization, he returned home to Boston as the Head Coach of Northeastern University, the program his father captained. He returned to the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs and was named Head Coach of the Ducks in 2023 after a successful run with the Colorado Eagles, the Avalanches' AHL affiliate. You can catch Cronin at this June's TCS Live as he dissects individual skills on the forecheck. Listen as he shares the illumination of player development, his guide to creating reliable players, and insights into his forechecking philosphy.

May 22

In episode #302, we revisit one of our best talks from last year's TCS Live coaching conference from Cody Royle. Royle is a coach to some of the most accomplished coaches across multiple sports, along with being the author of three books, The Tough Stuff, Where Others Won't and his latest, Second Set of Eyes. He was a coach himself and has pivoted to providing coaches the sounding board and observations that nudge them towards discovering the best version of themselves. In his talk, "Coaches are Performers, Too," Royle provides tremendous insight into the importance of coaches not possessing ego, who are willing to be coached themselves. He also provides a system that supports coaches and helps them in situations in which they are experiencing negative mental health symptoms or early burn out. Listen as he shares why coaches are the greatest source of competitive advantage, how to improve the three primary skills of leadership and why even the best coaches need coaching.

May 15

In episode #301, we welcome upcoming presenter at this year's TCS Live and Executive Director of the New Jersey Devils Youth Foundation, Kate Whitman Annis. In her current role with the Devils, she is innovating how professional sports teams engage with their local fan base to raise funds and together, serve those in need in their local community. She has had a wide ranging career including several roles in the political arena, in addition to working with multiple organizations in leading their fundraising efforts. She is also a hockey coach at heart. In addition to coaching her four boys, Annis was the head girls hockey coach at the Pingry School, the General Manager of the Metropolitan Riveters of the National Women's Hockey League, and today is behind the bench of the Eastside High School Girls Varsity program. Listen as she shares the power that sports can have on young athletes, philosophy behind team goal setting, and learning to effectively explain a drill.

May 8

In episode #300, we celebrate the milestone with a very special guest: LA Kings Director of Goaltending Bill Ranford. Not only was Ranford one of the original presenters at our TCS Live coaching conference back in 2012, he'll be returning to the stage in June for this year's edition of hockey's premier coaching conference. And top it off, he is the childhood hero of our host Aaron Wilbur. Ranford has spent the last 19 seasons with the Kings, 17 as the goaltending coach and the last two as Director. As a goalie, he led the 1990 Edmonton Oilers to a Stanley Cup with a Con Smythe performance. He also led Canada to the 1991 Canada Cup and helped his country capture its first Gold Medal in over 30 years at the World Hockey Championships 1994. Listen he shares why detail and work ethic have to be the foundation of every player's game, giving new tools over change, and why goalie's need to have their own unique identity.

May 1

In episode #299, we welcome upcoming presenter at this June's TCS Live, Grizzlys Wolfsburg Head Coach Mike Stewart. At the time of this recording, he is currently preparing for his fifth season leading the Grizzlys. He has a unique origin story as a player that includes his mother discovering a loophole that would enable him to enroll at Michigan State University, without a high school diploma, and leading to being drafted in the first round by the New York Rangers. Following his retirement due to injury, he would immediately jump behind the bench as an Assistant Coach with Villacher SV of the Austrian ICE Hockey League. Now 15 seasons later, Mike has spent the bulk of his coaching career in the DEL. He remains a student of the game, and is engaged with the challenge of leading the Grizzlys, a smaller market club in a league with no salary cap, to DEL title. Listen he shares why the best coaches are the best thieves, why passing is a lost art, and why North America should adopt Olympic-sized rinks

Apr 24

In episode #298, we're joined by Bethany Brausen, Head Coach of the University of St. Thomas Women's program. Brausen just completed her first season with St. Thomas after taking over as interim Head Coach in November and being name full-time coach just a few months later. She is also in the process of completing her PhD in Organizational Leadership Policy & Development, and as you're about to hear, her education in leadership and organizational development is clearly woven into how she's building the Tomies program. Following her playing career that included captaining the University of Minnesota, she joined Brad Frost's staff with the Gophers as an Assistant Coach for 5 seasons, before moving across town to St. Thomas. Brausen will be joining us as a speaker at the upcoming IIHF Coaching Symposium, hosted in Stockholm during the Men's World Championship. Stay tuned for that presentation on The Coaches Site! Listen she shares why players need to create a self-governing culture, what we get wrong about real leadership, and the importance of understanding that every person has their own story.

Apr 17

In episode #297, we welcome former NHL Goalie Coach Mike Valley and Founder of The Goalie Guild Justin Goldman. The two are good friends who collaborated on the books The Power Within , which includes 3 volumes, and Embracing the Grind. Each book shares personal interviews and stories from the best goaltenders on the planet and provide a guide for aspiring goalies looking to navigate what has generally been an undefined path to the top of the profession. While the books focus on goaltending, they also provide real world solutions for dealing with the tough stuff that comes with reaching any noteworthy goal or achievement. Valley played professionally as a goaltender and had the role of Goalie Coach for the Dallas Stars from 2009-2017. He is also a former presenter at TCS Live. Goldman is a former goaltender, writer for NHL.com and Founder of The Goalie Guild, the world's only non-profit organization dedicated to developing goalies and goalie coaches of all levels. Listen as they share how the position of goaltending has evolved, why we need to redefine what "winning" is, and how to find your power within.

Apr 10

In episode #296, we welcome Head Coach of the Minnesota High School State Champion Moorhead Spuds, Jon Ammerman. Our team at The Coaches Site had the chance to take in the State Championships in person and boy, did it ever live up to the hype. The Spuds defeated the Stillwater Ponies 7-6 in the culmination of an incredible run by Moorhead. As a born and bred Moorhead-native, Ammerman has witnessed the magic of the State Championship as a fan, player and coach. In addition to his role as Head Coach, he is also a teacher at Moorhead High School. As a result of this year's success, he was named Minnesota State Class AA Coach of the Year. Listen as he shares the roller coaster journey that led to the championship, how Moorhead and Minnesota have built success through community-based hockey, and why coaching isn't about the destination but the journey.

Apr 3

In episode #295, we chat with Jeff Tambellini, who is the Director of Player Development for the Seattle Kraken. He will be sharing how he develops long-term player development plans for the prospects of the Seattle Kraken at this June's TCS Live. Secure your seat now and see him live in person! The former 1st round pick of the Los Angeles Kings played nearly 250 NHL games with the KIngs, Islanders and his hometown Canucks, before wrapping up his career in Europe. From there Tambellini would step behind the bench, first with his alma mater University of Michigan and then returning to his roots in the BCHL as the Head Coach and GM of the Trail Smoke Eaters. He then graduated into a scouting role with the Tampa Bay Lightning before joining the Kraken in his current role in 2022. Listen as he shares why you need to get your players hooked on getting better, why processing speed is an underappreciated skill, and what we can learn from championship teams in other sports.

Mar 27

In episode #294, we welcome back a man who requires no introduction (but we'll give one anyway): Player Development Coach Daniel Broberg. He is the founder of DB Hockey Factory and is regarded as one of the top development coaches in the game,travelling the world extensively to work with players, teams, clubs of all levels, and is sought after by some of the the top players in hockey to tweak and refine their skills. We recently collaborated on the course with Broberg, 7 Steps From Basic Skills to Smooth Power, provides you with a blueprint for building a foundation in your players that will not only enhance their fundamental skills, but also empower them to read and react to whatever the game gives them and tap into the full spectrum of their creativity. Check it out here. And on top of that, he will be presenting on-ice at this June's TCS Live coaching conference for the first time ever. Save your spot to meet him in person! Listen as he shares the importance of posture in skill development, why players need to face adversity on their own, and why finding the state of "flow" is the key to building elite players.

Mar 20

In episode #293, we welcome good friend of The Coaches Site, Dave Smith. Two days before we were scheduled to record this podcast he notified us that he had been relieved of his duties as the Head Coach of RPI. Despite that, he agreed to join the pod with his only request being that we focus on the future and the positive experiences he enjoyed during his eight season's leading the RPI program. Previous to his time with RPI Smith spent 12 seasons as Head Coach at Canisius College. Prior to that, he was an Assistant Coach for seven seasons split between Miami University (Ohio), Bowling Green, and Mercyhurst. He is now going to start a new chapter in his coaching journey and will again relish in the opportunity to build and lead a team. We hope that this conversation will give other coaches hope and help them navigate the curveballs that the game throws at them. Listen as he shares the message he left his players with after being let go, why the royal road has changed offensive hockey, and why it all starts with following you passion.

Mar 13

In episode #292, we welcome Tappara Head Coach Rikard Grönborg. Last time we spoke with Grönborg, he and the Swedish National team were coming off back-to-back Gold medals at the World Championships, while he was also preparing to speak at TCS Live in 2019. His presentation on the evolution of coaching and player development in Sweden is a must watch. You can check it out at The Coaches Site. Grönborg was then hired by the Zurich Lions heading into the 2019-2020 season, his first opportunity to coach a club team in professional hockey. He would lead the Lions to first place in the NLA standings prior to his first season being cut short due to the COVID pandemic. From Zurich, he would head north to Finland, joining Tappara, and in the process, become the first non-Finnish coach to coach in the Liga. In his first season, he would lead Tappara to a league Championship. Now in his second season, he's managing a younger roster, but also an organizational shift focused on sports science and homegrown talent. Listen as he shares why he's always accepted the challenge of trying something different, how to get players out of their comfort zone, and how to encourage your players to make decisions.

Mar 6

In episode #291, we continue our trip through Europe with a visit from HC Davos Head Coach Josh Holden. Davos is of course the home of the Spengler Cup, a tournament that Holden and HC Davos won last season (his first with the team), the 16th in the club's history. After a playing career in North America that saw Holden drafted 12th overall in 1996 by the Vancouver Canucks and spend time with Carolina and Toronto, he would travel overseas and evetually settle in Zug, Switzerland. Zug would also be where he got his start in coaching, joining Dan Tangnes' staff the season following his retirement. During his five seasons as an Assistant Coach, the club would capture one Swiss Cup and back to back NLA Championships. Listen as he shares the difference between skills-skills and game-skills, the mentality of being "all in today," and what he learned from the infamous bench incident at the Spengler Cup.

Feb 27

In episode #290, we welcome current Head Coach of EV Zug Dan Tangnes. He grew up in Norway and represented his country internationally at the U20 level, and eventually made his way to Sweden where he would turn pro. Tangnes started coaching in the Rogle academy and eventually would work his way up to coaching Linkoping HC in the SHL, Sweden's top league. From there, he would join Zug in 2018 and lead them to a regular season title in his first season. He continued to invest in relationships and along with his players, created a culture that would support Zug capturing back to back NLA Championships in 2021 and 2022. Next season, he will be returning to Rogle to become their next Head Coach. In the meantime, he's focused on bringing a third Championship to Zug. Listen as he shares why filtering information down to what matters most is a key skill for coaches, why playing a possession game comes down to the players without the puck, and why integrity needs to come first before wins and titles.

Feb 20

In episode #289, we're joined Cognitive Behavioural Sports Specialist Larissa Mills for a very important conversation. Whether it's social media, sports betting, pornography or any number of other apps designed to highjack the focus of your players, smart phones have become an opponent we're all grappling with. Mills holds a BA in Sociology, Psychology, and a Masters of Science in Education, specializing in brain functionality and learning mechanisms. She is the Founder of the Mental Game Academy, an organization committed to empowering athletes, specifically by helping them overcome addiction to their phones. She also gave a talk last year's at TCS Live on How Phones and Social Media Impact Athlete's Brains and Hockey IQ. Listen as she shares why confidence is directly linked to phone usage, why gambling and porn have become a major issue for today's youth, and solutions for coaches on handling these many issues.

Feb 13

In episode #288, we welcome former NHL Head Coach Don Granato. He is of course a member of possibly the most accomplished hockey family to come out of United States. He got his start coaching in 1993 with the Wisconsin Capitals of the USHL, and since then has been getting his reps in across a multiple of leagues and levels, most recently as the Head Coach of the Buffalo Sabres. And as you'll hear, there may not be a better person to have a conversation about player development with. His story of how he positioned himself to enhance world class talent is fascinating. We cover a lot of ground in this episode, and I sense you're going to leave with pages of notes. Listen as he shares why experimenting in practice is key for team growth, why coaching less should be the objective, and the incredible story of switching from goalie to player.

Feb 6

In episode #287, Head Coach of the Coachella Valley Firebirds Derek Laxdal stops by. His coaching career has seen him climb from the now defunct Western Professional Hockey League, to the Central Hockey League, the East Coast Hockey League, to the Western Hockey League, the American League and finally, to the show. During that time, he's successfully navigated the ebbs and flows of his coaching journey with his trademark optimism and enthusiam. Today, Laxdal is the Head Coach of the AHL affiliate to the Seattle Kraken. No different than any other team he's coached, he has the 'Birds in contention as they make their way towards another playoff run. Listen as he shares why the skill of defending is lacking in today's young player, how to change the narritive after a tough loss, and how to stay optimistic through the challenges of a coaching career.

Jan 30

In episode #286, we're joined by John Weisbrod, former NHL executive, scout and NBA GM. Yes, you read that correctly. After a playing career that saw Weisbrod win a National Championship at Harvard and attend the San Jose Sharks first training camp, he pivoted to a career in team building at just 25 years-ols. After getting his start in Albany of the AHL, he would travel to Orlando where his time with the IHL's Solar Bears resulted in him being named the GM of the Magic for one season. Following that, he would return to hockey, spending time as a scout and Assistant GM with the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks. You're going to want to hear Weisbrod's story. He might just be the most interesting man in hockey. Listen as he shares the story behind running an NBA franchise, key lessons while working under Lou Lamoriello and why hockey sense runs throughout the Hughes family.

Jan 23

In episode #285, we welcome Head Coach of the Windsor Spitfires, Greg Walters, someone who has thrived on his ability to be consistent and has never had a losing season. He is currently in his first season with the Spitfires following a year suspension that involved an inappropriate altercation with another Owen Sound employee. In this episode, he shares what he learned from that experience and we believe it's something that all coaches can benefit from hearing. Following eight seasons as an Assistant Coach with the Sarnia Sting to begin his coaching journey, Walters took over the Georgetown Raiders of the Ontario Jr A league for eight seasons, guiding them to 295 wins, a league championship and earning himself both coach and executive of the year honors. He would then return to the OHL as a Head Coach in Oshawa and Owen Sound, before landing in Windsor following the aforementioned suspension. Listen as he shares what he learned from incident that led to his suspension and the work he's done to overcome it, why good defence starts with breaking out the puck, and creating a culture of quality and self-evaluation.

Jan 16

In episode #284, we're joined by the Manager of Goalie Development for USA Hockey, Steve Thompson. It's no secret that the US has become a bit of a goaltending factory. For example, last season, of the goalies who played a minimum of 15 games in the NHL, four of the top six, seven of the top 11, and nine of the top 20 in save percentage were American. As Thompson explains it, this surge in goaltending development starts with focusing at the grassroot levels. The native of Alaska played college hockey at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and immediately jumped into developing the next wave of goalies upon graduation. As you're about to hear, Thompson's enthusiasm for the position is contagious, and much of what he offers from a development perspective applies to players of all positions. Listen as he shares why retention should be a youth coaches number one measure of success, why every goal against is an opportunity to learn, and the importance of keeping your goalies in mind during practice planning.

Jan 9

For episode #283, we welcome former TCS contributor and current Head Coach of the University of Minnesota-Duluth women's program, Laura Schuler. Schuler has enjoyed a remarkable and diverse career that has seen her be on the forefront of the evolution of the Women's game as both a player and coach, including leading some of the most talented teams, both internationally and at the NCAA level. That includes being named the Head Coach Canada's National Team in 2015 and leading the program to a Silver medal at the 2018 Olympics. Make sure to check out her TCS series, Finding the Details with Laura Schuler for a break down of the the key details and habits that are critical to creating consistency in your team's play. Listen as she shares why hockey is one the best labrotories for life lessons, why coaches should be focusing on tendencies in prescouts, and becoming a threat by creating a predictable structure.

Jan 2

Happy New Years! For episode #282, we thought we'd kick off the second half of the season by going back and looking at our most popular content on The Coaches Site from this past year. And to help us reflect on our biggest year yet, we've recruited our Director of Content, Derek Jory. You know how great teams have "Glue Guys" or teammates that ensure everyone feels important and that the rink is a destination? Well, Derek is that person on our TCS team. He has a unique background in that he spent 13 years with the Vancouver Canucks as their lead content writer for their website and social media channels. He is also is the MC of TCS Live and has become the star of the show with his wardrobe, larger than life hair and dad jokes. Listen as we look back at the top 5 articles, TCS Live presentations, community content, and podcasts of the year. If you want to learn what goes on behind the scenes at The Coaches Site, you're going to enjoy this episode.

Dec 26, 2024

For episode #281, we're joined by a very special guest to help get you all set for this year's World Junior Championships. As a part of TSN's WJC coverage, Ray Ferraro had a front row seat at the tournament for 12 consecutive seasons. During that time, he saw some incredible players and games, and is here to share some of those highlights. Ferraro is of course a former NHL player who suited up for over 1,200 games. He currently works for ESPN and is one of the best analysts in hockey, and more than anything, is as passionate about the game as they come. Listen as he shares standout teams and players during his time broadcasting the tournament, his broadcasting origins, and some incredible travel stories.

Dec 19, 2024

In episode #280, we welcome Todd Nelson, Head Coach of the Hershey Bears and reigning winner of the Louis AR Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL's outstanding coach. Nelson and the Bears are coming off back-to-back Calder Cup championships and looking to add a third consectuvie this season. He is only the third person to capture the trophy as a player, an Assistant Coach and a Head Coach, and overall has been a part of eight championship teams throughout his playing and coaching career. Having already made three stops in the NHL, twice as an Assistant Coach with Atlanta and Dalals and once as a Head Coach with Edmonton, we wouldn't doubt his call up to the top league is coming soon. Listen as he shares why creating a family atmosphere is key to team culture, why you need to have a purpose to every drill, and why winning is the best form of development.

Dec 12, 2024

In episode #279, we're joined by Craig Custance, who is the Head of Creative Development at The Athletic. Custance recently released his second book, The Franchise: The Business of Building Winning Teams , which features in-depth interviews with some of the top team builders in hockey, including Tampa Bay Lightning GM Julien BriseBois, New York Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello, and many more. The book showcases the unique path each of these individuals has taken to land in their current roles, the challenges they've faced in their careers and the decisions that have led them and their teams to the pinnacle of the sport. Custance got his start in hockey by covering the Atlanta Thrashers for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and joined ESPN in 2011 as a National Hockey writer. In 2017, he joined The Athletic and has played a pivotal role in growing the company into a global sports brand that today serves over 11 million subscribers. Listen as he shares key lessons learned from hockey's top builders, the traits that all great leaders have in common, and future GM's to watch out for.

Dec 5, 2024

In episode #278, Kim Weiss, Video Coach of the Colorado Eagles, stops by to chat. She is a trail blazer who has relied on one tried and true method to advancing in her coaching career: learning how to make the players better. Previously, she would become the first female to earn a win as a Head Coach in North American junior hockey with the Maryland Black Bears and was also named an Assistant Coach with the mens team at Trinity College, her alma mater, making her the first female to coach at the NCAA level on the male side. In addition, Weiss is a two-time TCS Live presenter, covering Strategy for OT and Shootouts and Incorporating Wall Play into Practice. Listen as she shares advice for aspiring female coaches, why coaching is all about helping players get better and why wall play is an undertaught skill.

Nov 28, 2024

In episode #277, we had the pleasure of being joined by Duante' Abercrombie, who will be leading Tennessee State University as Head Coach in their inaugural season as a Div. 1 hockey program next season. In the process, TSU will become the first HBCU(Historically Black College or University) hockey program in history. A glance at Abercrombie's resume leaves no doubt that he is the right person to lead the Tigers. That includes his time as an Assistant Coach with Stevenson University, becoming just the fourth coach of colour at that time in the NCAA. Professionally, he spent the 2022-23 season with the Toronto Maple Leafs organizations and has also been a part of several NHL BIPOC programs, spending time with the San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins, Nashville Predators and Arizona Coyotes. Last year, he was nominated for Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award for his work with the Washington Capitals' Black Hockey Committee and the Rising Stars Academy. Listen as he shares what the new role at TSU means to him, how hockey can be used to connect people of all backgrounds, and the importance of wanting someone else to win more than you do.

Nov 21, 2024

In episode #276, we welcome Ottawa Senators Assistant Coach Ben Sexton, who presented at TCS Live 2024 on the fundamentals of the penalty kill. After retiring early from his playing career due to concussions, Sexton fell into the coaching arena when Mike Valluci, his Head Coach with the Wilkes-Barrie Penguins, offered him the opportunity to join the coaching staff while he was recovering from his injuries. The following season he stepped behind the bench full time with the AHL's Belleville Senators. Three seasons later, he was promoted to the big club, where he and the rest of Travis Green's staff are looking to lead the Sens to the post season for the first time since 2017. Listen as he shares why today's players are having trouble processing the game, why teams need to believe in their structure and details, and embracing the philosophy of thinking like a player and acting like a coach.

Nov 14, 2024

In episode #275, we're revisiting one of the highlights of last year's TCS Live conference. International speaker, best-selling author and Founder of the Changing the Game Project John O'Sullivan took to the stage to share how to take your coaching from transactional to transformational. O'Sullivan has dedicated his life to enhancing the experience kids have with youth sports by educating and inspiring the adults in the equation, namely their coaches and parents. He's been featured on CNN, ESPN and NBC Sports, along with speaking at TEDx, and to the US Olympic Committee, US Soccer, USA Wrestling, USA Swimming, US Ski and Snowboard, Ireland Rugby and Australian Rugby League. And with that in mind, Our team at The Coaches Site are excited to announce that we have collaborated with John on a course focused on the How To's of Transformational Coaching. You can learn more about the course here. Listen as he shares why great coaches win the relationship game, why we must be outcome aware but driven by process, and why every coach has the ability to change a person's life for the better.

Nov 7, 2024

In episode #274, we sat down with Bert Gilling, Head Coach of Mount Royal University, at Hockey Calgary's Leadership Day. The event brings together hundreds of coaches from across Calgary to kick off the season, break bread over dinner, hear technical presentations, a keynote speaker, and of course the Glass and Out Podcast. In 2014, Gilling was named the Head Coach of Mount Royal University, a program he has turned into a perennial contender in Canadian University Hockey or USports. Currently, the Cougars are tied for first place in the Canada West Conference and off to a 7-1 start. Listen as he shares how to design an optimal practice environment, building two-way relationships with your players, and the need for more mentorship in youth hockey.

Oct 31, 2024

In episode #273, we're honored to welcome Army West Point Head Coach Brian Riley. At the end of this season, Riley, who has been the Head Coach at Army since 2004, and prior to that an Assistant Coach for the program for an additional 12 seasons, is retiring. Combined with his father, who coached at Army for 36 seasons, and brother Rob, who coached 19 seasons, the Riley family has spent for over 75 consecutive seasons in charge of the Black Knights program. To say that the Riley family is a part of the DNA of the United States Military Academy would be an understatement. Listen as he shares what makes West Point the preeminent leadership insitution in the world, carrying the responsibility of honoring every player's legacy, and why creating the power of of one is the key to overcoming any obstacle.

Oct 24, 2024

In episode #272, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Iowa Wild GM Matt Hendricks at the Minnesota High School Hockey Coaches Association's Fall Clinic for a live interview. Prior to being named the GM, Hendricks spent five seasons as the Wild's Assistant Director of Player Development. Of course, prior to that he suited up for over 600 NHL games, spending time with the Avalanche, Capitals, Oilers, Jets and Wild. Growing up, he captained Blaine High School to a Minnesota State Championship and if you've never spent time in Minnesota, that is a HUGE deal in that part of the world. Listen as he shares what makes hockey in Minnesota so special, why there's no forward button on player development, and why small area games are key, even at the NHL level.

Oct 17, 2024

In episode #271, we welcome Vegas Golden Knights Player Development Consultant Scott Jones. Jones works primarily with the Golden Knights prospects and the Henderson Golden Knights, their American League affiliate. He got his start in pro hockey with the Hershey Bears and since 2017 has been the Director of Player Development with the OHL's Sarnia Sting. Jones has twice been been featured at a TCS event, including his 2021 Global Skills Showcase presentation and his on-ice presentation at this September's TCS Live at St. Andrew's College, which will be available on TCS later this season. Listen as he shares why good skill development is about knowing when to slow things down, why hockey is just a series of patterns, and what core skills kids are missing out on in the current state of player development.

Oct 10, 2024

In episode #270, we're joined by Assistant Coach of the Calgary Flames, Cail MacLean. Between his time cutting his teeth near the beaches of Charleston, South Carolina with the ECHL's Stingrays, and standing behind an NHL bench in Calgary for three seasons, MacLean has touched each rung of the coaching ladder. He joined us as a presenter at TCS Live this past June at the University of Michigan, showcasing how coaches can drive more play through the middle of the ice, and his polish and delivery stood out. Stay tuned for that presentation coming soon on TCS! Listen as he shares why he prioritizes principles over systems, the importance of creating game-like practices, and looking outside hockey to grow as a coach.

Oct 3, 2024

In episode #269, we're excited to have Rachel Flanagan, Assistant Coach of the newly named Toronto Sceptres of the PWHL, stop by. Now heading into her second season with Toronto, she previously spent 16 seasons building the University of Guelph into a perennial contender, including a National Championship in 2019 Rachel presented at our inaugural TCS Live at St. Andrew's College in September and showed how you can manipulate your opponents forecheck by owning and breaking out through the middle of the ice. Stay tuned for that coming soon on The Coaches Site! Listen as she shares the importance of constantly evolving your team, tips on building confidence to take risks, and why leading with a question is always the key to learning and growth.

Sep 26, 2024

In episode #268, we're joined by Ben Barr, who is entering his 4th season as the Head Coach of the University of Maine Black Bears. Maine hockey was a wagon through 90's capturing two National Championships under the legendary Shawn Walsh, and would remain in contention up until 2007 under Tim Whitehead. But since then, the program had made only one tournament appearance, in 2012, until last spring when they were again recognized in the National rankings and returned to the big dance under Barr's leadership. Listen as he shares how he's helped revive the Black Bears program, dealing with the challenge of a losing season, and why it's important to find the value in players other than goals and assists.

Sep 19, 2024

In episode #267, we welcome back former Glass and Out guest and presenter at last June's TCS Live, Mitch Love. Mitch is heading into his second season as an Assistant Coach with the Washington Capitals. When he last joined the show, he was coming off his first season as the Head Coach of the WHL's Saskatoon Blades in 2019. Since then, he spent two seasons as the Head Coach of the Calgary Flames AHL affiliate, winning back to back coach of the year Awards. Needless to say, at 40 years old, Mitch is one of the top young coaches in the game. Listen as he shares how the Capitals are preparing heading into training camp, why you have to stay on top of your players when it comes to details, and why breaking out the puck is an underrated skill that every defencemen needs to have.

Sep 12, 2024

We're back for season 8! To kick things off, we share our exclusive sit down with Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving which took place at our inaugral minor hockey masterclass, TCS Live at St. Andrew's College. The best part was that we got the privilege of donating $5,000 dollars to HEROS on Brad's behalf. Hockey Education Reaching Out Society aka HEROS is a volunteer driven charity that teaches life skills and empowers marginalised youth through hockey. They provide free programs to youth of all backgrounds from grade four through post-secondary, and his donation is going to put 10 kids through their program this season. Listen as he shares how player development as evolved during his time in the game, how his management career started with a hockey league in Texas, and why mental health of players needs to be priority for everyone involved in hockey.

Aug 1, 2024

The Hockey Factories Podcast is back for Season 2! TCS Contributor Matt Dumouchelle gives you an exclusive listen to the coaches, managers and players from some of the top hockey development program's in the world. Check out this exclusive listen of episode 1, where we take a look at how science has crept into the sports world, maybe nowhere as clearly as Zug in Switzerland. Dumouchelle gets to fan-girl a bit and we'll talk about skills that are becoming more prevalent like read and react and another that we seem to be losing because of the overwhelming increase of individual skills training. Subscribe on now on Apple and Spotfiy to hear every episode from Season 1 and 2.

Jul 5, 2024

In episode #265 and the season finale, we welcome Lee Moffie, Co-Founder of State & Liberty Clothing Company. As you likely know, State & Liberty is the presenting sponsor of Glass and Out. Their line of performance clothing designed for athletic men is worn by athletes in the NHL, NFL, MLB, NCAA, UFC and almost every other professional league. During our recent trip to Ann Arbor for TCS Live, Moffie and his teamn were gracious enough to host a VIP event for our community at their flagship store the night before the conference. That included a sit down with Moffie, who also happens to be a former University of Michigan hockey alumni. Listen as he shares the story of founding a clothing company with no past experience in the idustry, leadership lessons he's taken from his career in hockey, and tips on creating a culture for high functioning teams.

Jun 28, 2024

In episode #264, we had the honor of being joined by Gardiner MacDougall, live and in person at last week's TCS Live coaching conference. MacDougall presented on "Creating the "WOW" Factor from Your First Team Meeting" and also stopped by our Overtime event at the Circ Bar in downtown Ann Arbor. He is coming off an unprecedented 3 year run, which saw him capture back to back USports National Championships with the UNB Varsity Reds, the second of which included an undefeated 43-0 season, a Gold Medal leading Canada at the U18 Championships, a Gold Medal at the FISU World University Games and a Memorial Cup Championship with the Saint John Sea Dogs. After 24 seasons leading the University of New Brunswick, which included 9 National Championships, Gardiner is moving on to coach the QMJHL's Moncton Wildcats. He'll be working alongside his son Taylor, who will be the club's General Manager. Listen as he shares why losing can be necessary for overall team success, how to build a players confidence, and why simplicity is key to an effective practice plan.

Jun 14, 2024

In episode #263, we're joined by Steve Sullivan, who currently holds the position of Head Coach with the the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes 18U AAA. Following a playing career of over 1,000 NHL games, Sullivan joined the Arizona Coyotes as a Development Coach and would eventually work his way into management and become the club's General Manager in 2019. Following a change in ownership, he remained in Phoenix and began coaching in the Jr Coyotes program. Sullivan is an open book when it comes to how he develops players, runs practice and prepares players for the next stage of their career. Guaranteed you're going to steal a thing or two. Listen as he shares how to improve a player's goal scoring ability, why stubbornness played a key role in his hockey journey, and why team success is about being predictable within but unpredictable to your opponent.

Jun 7, 2024

In episode #262, we welcome Dan Watson, Head Coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins. Watson is coming off his first season with the Detroit Red Wings AHL affiliate. Previous to that, he spent 14 consecutive seasons with the ECHL's Toledo Walleyes. In his first season, he was awarded the Jack Brophy Trophy as the ECHL's Coach of the Year and would go on to guide the Walleye to two regular season Championships and two Kelly Cup Finals appearances. Listen as he shares why sleeping in the arena is a right of passage for coaches, his three keys to building a strong team culture, and why it's quality over quantity when it comes to drills.

May 31, 2024

In episode #261, we're joined by Head Coach of the ZSC Lions, Marc Crawford. Crawford's list of accolades are almost too long to list, but here are a few anyways. NHL Head Coach at the age of 33, youngest winner of the Jack Adams Award, Stanley Cup championship in just his second season in the NHL, and Head Coach of Team Canada at the 1998 Olympic Games. Currently, he's enjoying his second tenure as the Head Coach of the Zurich Lions of the NLA, who he just led to a Swiss League Championship. Listen as he shares why he decided to leave Gretzky on the bench, what he learned from working with a young Auston Matthews, and what all championship teams have in common.

May 24, 2024

In episode #260, Assistant Coach for the San Jose Sharks and presenter at the upcoming TCS Live, Ryan Warsofsky stops by. At just 36 years-old, Warsofsky just completed his first season behind an NHL bench after climbing the coaching ladder at a rapid pace. That includes time as a Head Coach in the ECHL and AHL, two Calder Cup championships and an ECHL record for fewest goals against in a season during his first season leading the South Carolina Stingrays. He's one of the top up and coming coaches in the game and is highly regarded by his peers in the industry. It will be fun to follow his coaching journey from here. Listen as he shares why coaches need to find releases to deal with anxiety, importance of creating a process to avoid negativity, and why practice habits become game reality.

May 17, 2024

In episode #259, we welcome Ben Syer, who was recently named Head Coach of Princeton University's men's program. Previously, he spent eight seasons as an assistant with Quinnipiac University and 13 with Cornell University. During that time, Cornell won an ECAC Championship and made 6 trips to the NCAA tournament. Based on the outpouring of support he's received from his peers, there is no doubt that Syer is deserving of this new position and is set up to have success leading the Tigers. Listen as he shares why positive peer pressure is the key to creating a competitive environment, finding the "wow" factor in a player's game, and the importance of improving the situation you're in, rather than jumping ship.

May 9, 2024

In episode #258, we're joined by newly named Head Coach of the USHL's Omaha Lancers, Lennie Childs. This comes following a two year run at Union College where he worked under Josh Hauge. Previously, he spent time with the NAHL's Janesville Jets and the USHL's Des Moine Buccaneers. As you'll find out, Childs's energy is infectious and is clearly riding a wave of momentum right now. The USHL has a long and impressive list of coaching alumni and it wouldn't surprise us in the least if down the road, he joins that club. Listen as he shares why you always need to bring the juice, the importance of standing with your players through the good and bad, and coaching in the generation of "me."

May 3, 2024

In episode #257, we come full circle and welcome back the original co-host of the Glass and Out Podcast, Kelvin Cech. We're proud to announce that Cech has rejoined The Coaches Site as our new Manager of Content Collaboration! This comes after he spent four seasons in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. The first two were spent as the Head Coach and Gm of the Winkler Flyers, where he was awarded Coach of the Year in his first season. From there, he was appointed the Head Coach and GM of the expansion Niverville Nighthawks. Listen as he shares why a growth mindset is integral for coaches, what he learned form coaching in hockey-mad small town, and what to expect from his new role with TCS.

Apr 25, 2024

In episode #256 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we revisit PWHL Ottawa and Czech Women's National Team Head Coach Carla MacLeod's presentation on creating authentic connections, which she delivered at last year's TCS Live coaching conference. As you know, our flagship event, TCS Live, is coming up June 20-22 at the University of Michigan. Every year, the best presentations to come out of the event are linked to the presenters or coaches lived experience. The information is somehow linked to a challenge, adversity they've faced or a triumph. In her presentation, MacLeod uses her experience of leading the Czech Team as the backdrop for how coaches create authentic connections with their players to drive performance on the ice. Listen as she shares the four ingredients for team success, strategies for getting to know players, and why coaching is a privilege.

Apr 18, 2024

In episode #255 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we welcome former NHL player and current Skill Development Coach for the Nashville Predators, Sébastien Bordeleau. Coming up in Junior hockey, Bordeleau possessed a ton of offensive skill, which led to him being drafted by his hometown Montreal Canadiens in the 3rd round. However, as his pro career unfolded, he had the foresight to develop a new set of skills that would serve him as a bottom 6, penalty killing checker. It's this experience that has served him well in his current role, both in terms of how he relates to the players he works with, but also in recognizing the importance of equipping players with a wide range of tools. Listen as he discusses why instinct is the hardest skill to develop in hockey, utilizing small area games at the NHL level, and the success of hockey in Nashville.

Apr 11, 2024

In episode #254 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we're joined by seven-time Stanley Cup Champion and someone who is woven into the fabric of some of the best NHL teams of all-time, Barry Smith. Smith spent 18 years behind an NHL bench, capturing back to back championships with the Pittsburgh Penguins as an Assistant Coach, three Cups riding shotgun with Scotty Bowman in Detroit, and two more with the Chicago Blackhawks as their Director of Player Evaluation. His resume also includes time coaching Sweden, Russia, the NCAA, he got his NHL start with his hometown Buffalo Sabres and was even an Assistant Coach to Wayne Gretzky in Phoenix. Smith be sharing his wealth of knowledge this June at TCS Live. Listen as he shares his philosphy on developing hockey sense, working with coaching legend Scotty Bowman, and what it takes to win hockey's ultimate prize.

Apr 4, 2024

In episode #253 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we welcome friend of the show, former presenter at TCS Live and one of the top young coaches in the game, Brennan Sonne. At the time of this release, Sonne is leading the Saskatoon Blades in the first round of the WHL playoffs. This past season, his third at the helm, the Blades reached the 50 win mark for just the third time in franchise history, and captured the organization's fifth regular season WHL crown. At 36, Sonne is already over 10 years into his coaching journey, and to date hasn't been shy about exposing himself to a variety of experiences and challenges. Listen as he shares why confidence is a choice to make the next right decision, why playing good defence really comes down to compete, and what he learned trying to stop Connor Bedard.

Mar 28, 2024

In episode #252 of the Glass and Out Podcast, our guest is Philipp Pinter, the Head Coach of both Austria's U18 and U20 National Teams. If you didn't grow up in Austria and play for the National Team, then it might be easy to focus on the reasons why Austria can't be successful internationally. But Pinter doesn't seem overly concerned with that. What he does seem focused on is creating a learning environment that makes his passion for hockey and representing Austria internationally contagious. In addition to his coaching role with hockey Austria, he was recently named the Sports Manager for the Graz 99ers hockey club. Listen as he shares why you have to first set yourself on fire before inspiring others, being your authentic self as a coach, and the importance of being an active listener

Mar 21, 2024

In episode #251 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we're joined by the USHL's Vice-President of Hockey Operations, Ian Gentile. In his role, Gentile has his hands in a numbers of areas that influence player development. His job description includes the USHL's central registry and drafts, player safety and supplemental discipline. The league's recent success has resulted in it becoming a major source of NHL talent. In fact, last season saw 51 players with USHL ties selected in the NHL, marking the 6th consecutive draft that over 50 players had been chosen. Previous to his role with the USHL, Gentile spent 13 years with the Chicago Blackhawks that saw him hold the role of Senior Manager of Player Development and win three Stanley Cup Championships. Listen as he shares the importance of putting an emphasis on the mental wellness of players, why parents should be encouraging their kids to play multiple sports, and why the USHL has become a major source of NHL talent.

Mar 14, 2024

In episode #250 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we welcome Head Coach of the Boston University Women's Team, Tara Watchorn. She is in the midst of her first season of leading her alma mater and is only the second coach in the program's history, taking over from the coach she both played for, and who brought her back as a Assistant Coach, Brian Durocher. You can catch her this June at TCS Live, hockey's premiere coaching conference. Listen as she shares her strategy on making efficient line changes, why it's important to let player's become leaders of their own career, and how the PWHL has impacted the aspirations of young female players.

Mar 7, 2024

Hey everyone! We're taking a pause the pod this week, as we're hosting the Global Skills Showcase! The 5 day virtual event features five of the world's top hockey skills coaches, as they dive deep into the key elements and fundamental skills needed to develop elite hockey players. Find out more about how to join here!

Feb 29, 2024

In episode #249 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we're joined by Cody Royle, who holds the position of Coach of Head Coaches. Royle coached Aussie rules football at an elite level before leading Canada's men's National team. He is also a coach to 17 Head Coaches across 6 different teams sports, in 5 countries. These coaches are some of the top performers in their respective sports. His work is connected to the belief that the greatest advantage in professional sports is in optimizing the Head Coach. You can catch Royle this June at TCS Live, hockey's premiere coaching conference. Listen as he shares why teams become their leaders, why fear is a player's number one obstacle to success, and coaching isn't an art or science, but a craft.

Feb 22, 2024

We close out our look at the five selected presenters for this year's Global Skills Showcase with Alexandre Chénier, Founder of Hockey Developpement. A skills coach based in Amos, Quebec, he's a certified Hockey Canada skills coach and mentor to coaches in the Gold Medal Pathway program, and the Development Coach for Val D'or of QMJHL. Chénier's approach to player development is a product of his formal education as a teacher, his relationships in and outside of hockey, his experience as a father and the community he lives in. Listen as he shares why player development is about connecting skills, why you should always on the person before the player, and his upcoming GSS presentation on optimizing pass receptions.

Feb 15, 2024

We are rolling along with our spotlight on the presenters who will be featured at this year's Global Skills Showcase . In episode #247, we feature Director of Player Development and Mentorship for the Western Canada Hockey Canada, Tyler Dittmer. Based in Brandon, Manitoba, he is also a development coach with the U18 Brandon Wheat Kings, Brandon Minor Hockey and the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings. As you'll hear, Dittmer's commitment to his craft and the care he has for his players is very evident. He offers a lot in this conversation and you'll no doubt steal a few of his tips and add them to your coaching toolbox. Listen as he shares his eight different processes for developing a skill, why coaches need to be a battery for players at practice, and his GSS presentation on creating a lethal shot.

Feb 8, 2024

Our visits with the five selected Global Skills Showcase presenters continues in episode #246, as we welcome GM and Player Development Coach for the Czech Knights, Adam Jonak. The GSS shines a spotlight on the top skill development coaches in the world, their area of expertise, specifically how they teach or transfer the skills to their players, and is available exclusively to subscribers of The Coaches SIte. Jonak, who is also the owner of ABC Hockey Development and the Development Coach for the Pilsnen Wolves Hockey Club, has had a unique career that has taken him around the globe, and equipped him with the skills to develop high end players. Specifically, if you coach youth hockey or work with younger players, I think you're really going to enjoy this one. Listen as he shares why youth hockey is the perfect place to build confidence in creativity, the importance of letting players make decisions, and why you should also ask the purpose of a drill before borrowing.

Feb 1, 2024

For episode #245, we continue our look at the five coaches selected to present at our Global Skills Showcase. Kevin Galerno is the Co-Owner and Director of Total Package Hockey London. He also holds roles as a Player Development Coach for the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins and the Skills Coach of the London Knights. At the GSS, Galerno will be providing members of The Coaches Site the framework to help your players enhance their decision making on the ice. Listen as he shares what to expect in his upcoming presentation, utilizing variable training, and helping players through scoring draughts.

Jan 25, 2024

For the next five weeks on the Glass and Out Podcast, we're going to be featuring the five coaches selected to present at our Global Skills Showcase. The event takes place from March 4-8 and showcases five of the top skills coaches in the worlds, presenting on how they teach a specific skill or tactic. In episode #244, we welcome skating coach Jill Plandowski, who will be presenting on improving a player's crossovers with an emphasis on the outside edge. Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Plandowski has over 25 years of coaching experience. Her client list includes current NHL players like Drake Batherson, Morgan Baron, Justin Barrohn, Liam O'Brien, Ryan Graves and Noah Dobson, along with numerous prospects in the junior and college ranks. Listen as she shares common skating misconceptions, what the prime age for improving a player's skating is, and why proper mechanics allow players to play with freedom of thought.

Jan 18, 2024

In episode #243 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we revist one of the more impactful conversations that came out of last year's TCS Live conference, featuring University of Michigan Head Coach Brandon Naurato and Dr Kathy Babiak, a professor of Sport Management and Director of the Michigan Center for Sport & Social Responsibility. The two discuss the burning issues facing today's coaches, centered around Naurato's eventful 22-23 season that saw him be promoted to full-time Head Coach of the Wolverines and end with a trip to the Frozen Four. From a distance, it may have seemed like an overall success but as you'll hear, it was a season that placed immense pressure on a first time head coach, his players, his staff, as collectively, they were tasked with facing a series of challenges that were out of their control. Listen as he shares his philosophy of "good dudes only," why growth is only possible through failure and why it's important to show your players the real you.

Jan 11, 2024

In episode #242 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we're joined by Head Athletic Trainer, and Strength and Conditioning Coach of the University of North Dakota men's hockey team. Poolman's reputation precedes him and it's no secret that UND is a pipeline of NHL talent. The alumni list includes the like's of Jonathan Toews, Zach Parise, TJ Oshie, Jake Sanderson, Ed Belfour, Brock Boeser, just to name a few. To put it in perspective, last season alone, 23 former UND players suited in the NHL. Listen as he shares off-ice training tips for youth players, why sleep is critical to player performance, and how to deal with stress as a coach.

Jan 4, 2024

In episode #241 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we welcome Dan Ceman, Head Coach of HC Košice, the reigning Champions of the Slovakian Extraliga. His coaching journey, which began in 2010, has seen championships follow him at essentially every stop. Four as a Head Coach, in addition to winning two as a player. If your goal is to be a career coach, there is a lot you can take away from how he approached his career. Ultimately, it seems that a big part of his focus is creating a supportive environment for his players. Listen as he shares why you can't win a champonship with cheating, why body language is just as important as what you say, and how to create a positive enivironment for players.

Dec 28, 2023

For episode #240 of the Glass and Out Podcast, ESPN's John Buccigross sits down with Quinnipiac University Head Coach Rand Pecknold for a special interview with the reigning National Champion. While Bucci and Pecknold touch on the championship run and game itself, they also spend a lot time reflecting on Rand's personal coaching journey, including the humbling start to his career, having to hold practices at midnight when he first arrived at Quinnipiac 30 years ago, to transitioning the program to the Div I level. Listen as they discuss why you should never use bag skates, the mindest of attacking adversity, and how to make every practice a success.

Dec 21, 2023

In episode #239 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we welcome good friend of TCS, Dr. Cassidy Preston. He is the Founder of CEP Mindset and co-host of the Beyond the X's and O's Podcast. Dr. Preston recently released his book Mindset First and touches on how coaches and athletes can break free from focusing on results, performing with confidence and rise to the occasion. You can check it out here. Listen as he shares how the "Screw It" mindset can help you let go, why confidence is a word he tries to stay away from, and why coaches should avoid being too judgmental with players.

Dec 14, 2023

For episode #238 of the Glass and Out Podcast, our team at The Coaches Site had the chance to visit the OHL's Kitchener Rangers facilities and sit down with Head Coach Jussi Ahokas. Ahokas is currently in his first season in North America after spending the past four seasons as the Head Coach of TPS in the Liga, Finland's top Professional league. During that time, he was named the Alliance of European Hockey Club's Coach of the Year, the equivalent of the Jack Adams Award across all of Europe's top professional leagues. Listen as he shares he shares the Finnish concept of "Sisu," why you'll always get better results when people enjoy the enviornment and why positionless hockey is the future of the game.

Dec 7, 2023

For episode #237 of the Glass and Out Podcast, our team at The Coaches Site hosted a private event for members of the local Vancouver tech and business community, featuring a live interview with Bruce Cassidy, Head Coach of the Vegas Golden Knights. The focus of our conversation was on the lessons in leadership that Cassidy has acquired throughout his career. There's no doubt that you'll come away with a deep appreciation for how humble he is, how he didn't come from means and has had to earn everything in his career, and more than anything, how he prioritizes being a husband and father above all else. And of course, his love of the game. Listen as he shares valuable lessons in leadership, why team defence is crucial during tough times, and why you always have to be ready for your next job in hockey.

Dec 1, 2023

In episode #236 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we're joined by the Director of Youth Hockey Programs and Fan Development for the Vegas Golden Knights, Sheri Hudspeth. She is also a coach in the Jr Golden Knights program. Not every NHL team has a role like Hudspeth in their organisation and her hockey journey is unique in and of itself. The learning she has done on the ground in Vegas is invaluable because hockey wasn't the natural choice when it came to parents selecting what youth sports program they had to sign their kids up for. Listen as she shares why it's important to have strong coaches for our youngest players, why parents need to let coaches do their job, and how we can empower women coaches.

Nov 23, 2023

In episode #235 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we sit down with Roger Ronnberg, Head Coach of the Frolunda Hockey Club. Ronnberg is widely considered one of the top coaches in Europe, his name routinely comes up when the topic of European coaches breaking into the NHL is mentioned. He is respected by the top coaches in the game as someone who has demonstrated that putting people first, and prioritising individual development, in all facets, is the process that leads to sustained performance by a team. Listen as he shares why he wants no thinking and no excuses from his players, breaking down systems into habits, and why coaches should strive to make every player successful.

Nov 16, 2023

In episode #234 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we welcome Head Coach at Minnetonka High School, the reigning AA State Champions in Minnesota, Sean Goldsworthy. Last season, they captured the title with a 2-1 win over rival Edina High School in the State Tournament in front of a sold out crowd at the Xcel Energy Centre. This was the second State title under Goldsworthy's watch. Listen as he shares how uses the 'multiple puck' practice tactic, why culture is a non-negotiable, and how to prepare your team for the big stage.

Nov 9, 2023

In episode #233 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we're joined by Dwayne Blais, who is a Player Development Consultant with the Detroit Red Wings, and for our money, one of the top development coaches in the world. Blais has over 20 years of experience in the game, specifically focused on how players improve on the mechanics and habits that exist within their individual game, so that they can bring more value to their respective teams. Check out his TCS Live presentation on Implementing Skills to Play with Pace and his Global Skills Showcase video where he Breaks Down the Skill of Deception. Listen as he shares why kids should be carrying their own hockey bags, why playing fast is about more than just skating fast, and why the key to skill development is simply more touches.

Nov 2, 2023

In episode #232 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Steve Hamilton, Head Coach of the WHL's Calgary Hitman. The interview took place at Hockey Calgary's second annual Leadership Day for Coaches. Currently in his fifth season with the Hitmen, Hamilton has spent his entire 22 year coaching career in the province of Alberta, including capturing a 2014 Memorial Cup as an Assistant Coach with the Edmonton Oil Kings. Listen as he shares his philosophy of What's Important Now, serving information to your players in spoonfuls, and why the coach-player relationship is more than ever about being a partnership.

Oct 26, 2023

In episode #231 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we're joined the inaugural Head Coach of the PWHL's Boston franchise. She no doubt has her hands full in preparation for this season. She's coaching what is effectively an expansion team, in an expansion league, that as of the time of this recording still had not assigned names to its respective franchises. Listen as she shares how she's approaching her first season in the new league, why empathetic honesty is more effective than brutal honesty, and what the next step in growing women's hockey is.

Oct 19, 2023

In episode #230 of the Glass and Out Podcast, Director of Development for the IIHF Kalle Valiaho stops by Valiaho has a fascinating role that encompasses balancing having a pulse on the latest trends in the game, specifically when it comes to individual player development, in addition to how we design learning environments that engage with young players and foster the growth of the game. Listen as he shares the importance of having passionate people to grow the game, building positive learning environments for players, and how Finland has grown into one of the top nations in hockey.

Oct 5, 2023

In episode #229 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we're joined by Dave Barr, who at the time of this recording was days away from opening training camp with the Chicago Wolves, where he begins his first season as the club's Assistant Coach. After turning pro in 1981, Barr has spent every single season since then as a coach or General Manager in professional hockey, with the exception of 5 seasons, between 2003 and 2008 that he was with Guelph of the Ontario Hockey League. Check out his TCS Live presentation on How to Sell Your Game. Listen as shares methods for improving a player's scanning, why even elite players need feedback, and his experience coaching a 15 year-old Connor Bedard.

Sep 28, 2023

In episode #228 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we welcome Manny Viveiros, who's beginning his first season as the Head Coach of the WHL's Vancouver Giants. Viveiros has had an incredible journey of ups and downs, including a battle with two types of cancer during his season coaching the AHL's Henderson Silver Knights. Thankfully, just prior to last season, he was deemed cancer free. Listen as shares how an emphasis on mental health helped him in his battle with cancer, lessons learned during his season playing for the legendary Herb Brooks, and how to implement pace into your team's play.

Sep 21, 2023

For episode #227 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we were fortunate to attend the Minnesota Hockey Directors Conference and be joined by newly named Head Coach of the Minnesota State Mavericks, Luke Strand. Strand is a friend of The Coaches Site, and needless to say our team is pumped for him and the Mavericks program. He's earned this opportunity and has put together an amazing staff that knows how to prepare players for the rigours of professional hockey. Listen as shares the importance of getting players out of their comfort zone, why simple is best, and handling player mistakes.

Sep 14, 2023

Welcome back for season 7 of the Glass and Out Podcast! For epsiode #226, we're joined by friend of the pod and Edmonton Oilers Head Coach, Jay Woodcroft. He is entering his third season as the Head Coach of the Oilers with the best winning percentage of any coach in franchise history. Last season, the Oilers were eliminated by the eventual Stanley Cup Champions, the Vegas Golden Knights in round 2. This season, well, fair to say there is only one goal in the City of Champions. Listen as shares his philosophy of repurposing disappointment, why it's important to "walk the talk" when it comes to building culture, and how a similar path in coaching led to a friendship with Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.

Sep 7, 2023

Happy hockey season everyone! Host and TCS Founder Aaron Wilbur tees up what you can expect for season 7, including an exciting new partnership with State and Liberty and who we've got lined up for the season opener. Don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe!

Jun 15, 2023

In episode #225, we welcome two-time presenter at TCS Live , Paul Boutilier. He has worn a lot of hats during his career, but currently works as a Defenceman Specialist, consulting with approximately 40 defenceman, several of whom are current NHL super stars through his company, the 44 Second group. As you'll find out in this episode, you'll be hard-pressed to find someone who has thought as much about playing defence as Paul has. Listen as shares his methods for improving a Dman's posture, why the funnel approach to defending should be flipped, and the importance of helping players understand concepts by writing it down.

Jun 8, 2023

In episode #224, we're joined by good friend of The Coaches Site and upcoming TCS Live presenter Glen Gulutzan. When he steps on stage at TCS Live later this month at the University of Michigan, it will mark the 5th time he has presented at one of our events, and in the process he will hold the pole position when it comes to the most presentations all-time at a TCS event. But while there is a ton tactical knowledge he's shared at the conference, the insights you can gleam from his coaching journey in today's interview are equally as valuable. Listen as he discusses constraints, or lack of them on the power play, cutting your teeth as a coach in Las Vegas, and how he's learned from all the coaches he's worked with throughout his career.

Jun 1, 2023

In episode #223, we welcome The Coaches Site Contributor and upcoming TCS Live presenter Greg Revak. Revak is also the writer of the Hockey IQ newsletter and host of the Hockey IQ podcast. Best known for his deep dives into the X's & O's or tactical side of the game, his work often goes outside the game, and in some cases sport, to find inspiration and to reinforce his thinking when it comes to teaching the hockey and specifically, developing the cognitive ability of players. Listen as he discusses the evolution of the weak side D, why point shots suck and the traits required by a successful coach in today's game.

May 25, 2023

In episode #222, we're pleased to be joined by John O'Sullivan, best selling author, Ted Talk speaker and the Founder & CEO of the Changing the Game Project. O'Sullivan's work and mission are to give Youth Sports back to our kids. He has made it is life's work to provide a blueprint to providing kids a more holistic sporting experience, in which success is not predicated on kid's eventually earning a paycheck or a college scholarship. Listen as he discusses the optimal mindset for a coach, how both youth and professional coaches need to focused on relationship building, and the impact of a positive sports experience for young people.

May 18, 2023

In episode #221, we're joined by friend of the show, Calgary Flames Assistant Coach Ryan Huska. He recently wrapped up his 5th season with the Flames and will be joining us at TCS Live, hockey's premiere coaching conference , next June at the University of Michigan. Huska will be presenting on the penalty kill and as you'll hear in this episode, has a lot to offer on the subject. Listen as he discusses the special teams chess match that takes during a playoff series, being intentional about finding time to build relationships with players and the coaches he admires outside of hockey.

May 11, 2023

In episode #220, we had the honor of being joined by John Paris Jr., the first black coach in professional hockey. During the 1993-94 season, he was hired by the Atlanta Knights of the now defunct, International Hockey League, marking the first time a person of colour had been appointed the Head Coach of a pro hockey team. The move paid off as the Knights would capture the Turner Cup and an IHL Championship that same season. Listen as he discusses how he overcame the adversity of being a black hockey player and coach, the story of being scouted by Scotty Bowman, and the drive to get him inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

May 5, 2023

In episode #219, we're joined by Lee MJ Elias, who can be best described as a bit of a Swiss Army Knife in that he has accomplished a lot in our game, albeit in a number of different roles. Elias is an award-winning author and currently the Co-Chair of the Hockey Operations Committee and Assistant Coach of the Puerto Rico Men's National Team. He is also the co-host of the Our Kids Play Hockey Podcast, which was awarded the top hockey podcast by the Sports Podcast Awards in 2022. Listen as he shares how to best manage your time to ensure you get the right stuff accomplished, strategies for growing the game, and why sports is a vehicle to bring people together.

Apr 27, 2023

In episode #218, we welcome two friends to the show: Newly named Head Coach of the AHL's San Diego Gulls, Matt McIlvane, and his former Assistant Coach with EC Red Bull Salzburg, Ben Cooper. Fresh off a second consecutive win2day ICE Hockey League championship with Red Bull, the two joined to give us a behind the scenes look on their road to a repeat. Listen as they the incredible story behind their final series comeback victory, why composure was a key element to overcoming adversity, and why championship teams need to get the locker room right.

Apr 20, 2023

Head Coach of St. Cloud State women's hockey team, Brian Idalski, joins us for episode #217. Idalski is coming off his first season leading the Huskies' program and was named the US College Hockey Online National Coach of the Year, as his team made significant strides in virtually every defensive and offensive area of the game. Listen as he shares why pattern recognition is key to helping players process the game, coaching Team China in the Olympics, and how to get your team to buy into blocking shots.

Apr 13, 2023

In episode #216, we welcome Performance Coach and Founder of Deviate, Ryan Blanck. To date, Blanck has worked with over half of the team's in the NFL, including the league itself, the iconic entertainment industry agency, the William Morris Endeavor, professional athletes, leading universities such as Penn State, Clemson, Vanderbilt and Stanford, along with executives from major corporations to start-ups. He will also be presenting at TCS Live, taking place June 22-24 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Hear him discuss why empathy is the number one skill needed by leaders, what erodes culture and what it takes to be a leader worth following.

Apr 6, 2023

In episode #215, we we're joined by Detroit Red Wings Assistant Coach Jay Varady. Varady has had a remarkable trajectory since his early coaching days with the WHL's expansion Everett Silvertips, and yet there is much more to be written in his story. Today, we discuss the origin of analytics in hockey, implementing process & structure into a program, and how to navigate when to make the jump in one's coaching career.

Mar 30, 2023

In episode #214, we welcome former NHLer and current Cognitive Performance Coach Aaron Volpatti. He is also the author of the book FIGHTER: Defying the NHL Odds, an autobiography on how he turned tragedy into triumph on his unlikely journey to playing in the National Hockey League. Listen as we discuss how he learned to leverage his mind to make an unlikely return to the ice following his severe burns that almost took his life, how that experience became a skill later in his career, and how coaches can offer support in their athletes visualizing their own peak performance.

Mar 23, 2023

In episode #213, USA Hockey's National Coach-in-Chief Mike MacMillan joins the show. MacMillan's role, along with the regional coach-in-chiefs, is to make decisions on how to best educate hockey coaches, and ultimately have a direct influence on the development opportunity afforded to young players in the US. Listen as he discusses the pageantry that is the Minnesota High School Championships, how tech is evolving coach education, and the positive role the game plays in supporting the overall development young boys and girls.

Mar 16, 2023

In episode #212, Erie Otters Head Coach Stan Butler stops by. Butler recently returned behind the bench after a two year break and is currently in his 26th season coaching in the CHL. He's coached in over 1,600 OHL games and won 742 of them, ranking him in the top 5 in league history in both categories. Hear him discuss the influence his teaching career has had on his coaching career, the decision to stay in Junior hockey, and why he still has the juice to chase that elusive OHL crown with the Erie Otters.

Mar 9, 2023

In episode #211, we welcome Skating Coach Katy Jo West to the show. She is the founder of Katy Jo Power Skating, based just outside of Denver, Colorado, where she works with everyone from two and three year-old's stepping onto the ice for the first time, right up to NHL players. West is also a presenter at this year's Global Skills Showcase, hosted by The Coaches Site. Listen as she discusses the fundamentals of becoming a great skater, getting comfortable with being unconventional, and hacks to running a business that requires you to be on the ice 40+ hours per week.

Mar 2, 2023

In episode #210, Skills Coach Brian Slugocki stops by to join the show. His current roles include Director of Skill Development for the Jr. Coyotes youth program, where he is also the Head Coach of the programs 10u elite team, Skill Development Consultant for the NHL Arizona Coyotes and prospects, Skills Coach for Total Package Hockey (TPH), all in addition to running private and small group training for youth players up to NHL players through his company Slugocki Hockey. Slugocki will be presenting at the 2023 Global Skills Showcase on how to develop hockey sense. Hear him discuss how you create a practice plan for elite players like Auston Matthews, what goes into creating a learning enivronment that develops hockey sense, and why you need to check for learning.

Feb 23, 2023

In episode #209, we connect with Paul Dyck, Head Coach and General Manager of the MJHL's Steinbach Pistons. The Pistons have been one of the most successful and consistent Junior A programs in Canada since Dyck stepped behind the bench part way through the 2012-2013 season. Listen as he discuss why great coaches find reasons why a team CAN succeed, the role grit plays in winning Championships and why you need to appreciate feedback from your fans, even if they interrupt your breakfast.

Feb 16, 2023

In episode #208, we're joined by Head Coach of the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds, Matt O'Dette. Coming off a season where he led the TBirds on an epic run to the WHL Finals, O'Dette has Seattle back in contention, currently sitting atop the Western Conference and ranked #4 in the CHL rankings with a roster full of talent. Hear him share why every team needs its own library, being neighbours with your goalie and how the secret to keeping the fire burning in your players is to actually start a fire.

Feb 9, 2023

In episode #207, we welcome a returning guest to the podcast, Brooks Bandits GM and Head Coach Ryan Papaioannou. He is currently in his 14th season behind the bench for the Bandits, a program that he's led to six AJHL Championships and three National CHampionships. Listen as he shares his offensive principles, the three qualities he looks for in players, and what it was like coaching a young Cale Makar.

Feb 2, 2023

In episode #206, we're joined by Tri-City Americans Owner and Head Coach Stu Barnes. Prior to coaching, Stu enjoyed a long NHL career as a player and has a long list of coaches that he either played for or has coached with, including the likes of Dave King, Roger Neilson, Lindy Ruff, Ken Hitchcock, Marc Crawford, and Dave Tippett. In today's conversation, we discuss the type of relationship players value from their coach, how he collaborates with his coaching staff, and what he's picked up from so many coaching greats.

Jan 26, 2023

In episode #205, we welcome Joel Martin, Head Coach of the ECHL's Kalamazoo Wings. Martin is in his first season as the Head Coach of he K-Wings, is currently one of only two black head coaches in North American professional hockey. Martin has spent a total of 14 seasons with the ECHL franchise, including nine as a goalie and four as a coach. He was named to the 14th ECHL Hall of Fame class January of 2022. Listen as he touches on why former goaltenders make great coaches, the power of postive affirmation and keeping things fun, and the principles to shutting teams down in your defensive zone.

Jan 19, 2023

We've got a special edition of the Glass and Out Podcast for you this week. During the holiday break, Breakaway, the Minor Hockey Podcast , was joined by one of the most influential voices in hockey, ESPN Hockey Analyst Ray Ferraro . In addition to his work on hockey broadcasts, Ferraro is also a sports parent, with four kids who played everything from hockey to soccer. Ferraro has seen first hand how the game and the parent-coach relationship have changed over time and he shared his coaching philosophy with Breakaway hosts Aaron Wilbur and Ian Taylor. There were more than a few gems dropped by Ferraro on how to improve today's game. Hear this must-listen conversation on the Glass and Out Podcast!

Jan 13, 2023

In episode #203, we're joined by Ken Martel, USA Hockey's Senior Director of Player & Coach Development. In his newly appointed role, he is charged with developing a framework for associations in the US to follow that leads to an enhanced player and coach development pathways. Listen as he shares his thoughts on what's next in the evolution of player and coach development, how he approaches developing hockey in non-traditional markets, and the experience of growing up playing hockey in a pre-Gretzky California.

Jan 5, 2023

In episode 202 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we're pleased to be joined by Pyry Lukkarila, Head of Coach Development for the Finnish Ice Hockey Association. Lukkarila has played a key role in re-shaping Finland's coach education system and his unique role in the hockey industry has him in a constant state of uncovering what's next by researching the top programs and coaches in and outside of hockey. If you look at the recent string of international success by a country of just under 67,000 hockey players, it's clear that his work is paying off. In the past three World Championships, the Finns have captured two Golds and one Silver. The previous eight World Junior Championships have resulted in three Golds, one Silver and one Bronze. And in the past six U18 World Championships, they have brought home two Golds, a Silver and a Bronze. Listen as he shares why coach education must always precede player development, why nothing is accomplished without good player-coach communication, and why alignment is critical to an affective development process.

Dec 29, 2022

The Glass and Out Pod wants to wish everyone a Happy Holidays! To celebrate the start of this year's World Junior Championships , we're revisiting one of our favourite conversations from 2020 featuring two former Gold Medal winning coaches, Brent Sutter and Phil Housley. Brent Sutter led Canada to back-to-back gold medals in 2005 and 2006, going an incredible 12-0 in the process. The 2005 team is widely considered the best Canadian team of all-time, featuring a star-studded lineup of NHL All-Stars and future Hall of Famers. He would also return to coach in the 2014 tournament, where Canada finished fourth. Phil Housley was twice an assistant coach with Team USA in 2007 and 2011, capturing bronze medals both years. He would then return as the program's Head Coach in 2013, leading them to the fourth gold medal in the country's history. We hope you enjoy this very special talk, as the two share their experience leading their respective countries to Gold.

Dec 22, 2022

Nick Oliver, Head Coach of USHL's Fargo Force, stops in for episode 200 of the Glass and Out Podcast. At the time of this recording, Oliver had the Force sitting atop the USHL standings, but what is most impressive about his story is the rapid rise he's made up the coaching ladder since completing his collegiate career at St. Cloud State University. Despite no prior experience, the Wannaska, Minnesota native got his coaching career started when he was invited to join the Sioux Falls Stampede's staff as an Assistant Coach and Director of Scouting. Three seasons later, he returned to St Cloud, where he was captain his senior season, to join the staff of current Head Coach Brett Larson. During his three seasons at St. Cloud, Oliver assisted the program in reaching three straight NCAA tournament berths and one NCHC regular season Conference Championship. He then returned to another of his former teams, the Fargo Force, where he has been the Head Coach since May of 2022. It's worth noting that throughout his career, Oliver has been surrounded by accomplished coaches. It goes without saying that young coaches can do themselves a great service by focusing on aligning themselves with coaches who have a broad range of experiences. Hear Oliver discuss how is father (a former coach) helped guide his career, the various mentors who have influenced him, and how he's used the Christmas break to prepare his team for the upcoming playoffs.

Dec 15, 2022

We're joined by member of the Norwegian Ice Hockey Federation, Tobias Johansson, for episode 199 of the Glass and Out Podcast. He has quietly become of one the most influential coaches in our sport and as you'll soon hear, he isn't afraid to think outside the box. Johansson, who hails from Sweden, has served as the country's Director of Player Development since 2021 and will be leading the Men's National Team as Head Coach at the upcoming World Championships being hosted this May in Finland and Latvia. Prior to crossing the border to Norway, he spent nine seasons with the legendary Swedish program, Frölunda HC, beginning as the programs U16 coach before being promoted to Director of Player Development. Frölunda is of course considered one of the top development programs in the world, and boasts an alumni list that includes Lucas Raymond, Rasmus Dahlin, Robin Lehner, John Klingberg, Henrik Lundqvist, and Daniel Alfredsson. Listen as he explains why your players should try beat the defender 1v1 at the offensive blueline, how changing a countries hockey fortunes begins at the initiation levels, and what he's leaned consulting with National Teams coaches form other sports.

Dec 9, 2022

In episode 198 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we welcome Dan Muse, Head Coach of the US National Development Programs U18 Team. If you attended TCS Live this past June, then you would have seen Muse on stage presenting on The Importance of the Second Player in Puck Support and Puck Pressure. Stay tuned for that presentation coming later this season on The Coaches Site. Muse got his start in coaching as an Assistant Coach at Milton Academy, following a four year playing career at Stonehill College, where he majored in Criminal Justice. He worked his way into the Div I ranks, beginning at Sacred Heart University, before joining Keith Allain's staff at Yale. In 2013, Yale captured the programs first ever National Championship. While at Yale, Muse also participated in the World Junior Championships on two occasions as the Video Coaches for Team USA. In 2015, he was named the Head Coach of the USHL's Chicago Steel. Despite the program having gone seven seasons without the reaching the post-season, Muse led them on a remarkable turn around, capturing a Clark Cup Championship in only his second season. From there, Muse was hired by Peter Laviolette and the Nashville Predators, where he spent the next three seasons and was a part of the 2017-2018 Predators team that captured the NHL's Presidents Trophy. Muse then joined the US National Development Team Program, where he is now in charge of the U18 team. Listen as he discusses the benefits of teaching a high school history class, why you should focus on habits and concepts with your team, and why great coaches invest in the other coaches on their staff.

Dec 2, 2022

Carla MacLeod, Head Coach of both the University of Calgary Women's program as well as the Czechia National Women's team, joins us for episode 197 of the Glass and Out Podcast. MacLeod is currently in her second season with the Dinos program, and will be leading Czechia at the upcoming World Championships after guiding the team to its first ever medal at the 2022 event in August. Her unique ability to inspire what some may consider underdog programs have helped her gain notoriety in the hockey community. From 2011 through 2014, MacLeod was an Assistant Coach with the Japanese National team and helped it qualify for the 2014 Sochi Olympics. It was the first time they had done so since hosting the first female Olympic tournament at the '98 games in Nagano. MacLeod got her coaching career started with the Edge School's U18 Female program. In 2020, the program captured the first ever Canadian Sport School Hockey League Female U18 Prep division Championship. During her tenure, the team upheld an average GPA of 89%, 98% of her players went on to pursue post secondary studies and 88% continued their hockey career. As a player, she patrolled the blueline for Canada's National Women's team for five seasons, capturing two Olympic Gold Medals, the second of which was at the 2010 games in Vancouver. She is also a member of the University of Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, as well as the Alberta SportsHall of Fame. In this episode we discuss why it's important to keep joy in the game, when you should focus on one thing with your team, and how she approaches inspiring and instilling confidence in her players.

Nov 25, 2022

In episode 196 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we're joined by Brad Yetman, Head Coach of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey. At just 31-years-old, Yetman is one of hockey's up and coming coaching talents. He is currently in the midst of his fourth season with the Huskies. In 2019, he was hired as an Assistant Coach on Mario Pouliot's staff. Late in his third season, he took over the reigns as Interim Head Coach after Pouliot stepped away from the team due to health issues. He was ultimately handed the role full time, despite barely two years of experience coaching at the Major Junior level. It's also worth noting that Yetman is the first New Foundlander to be a Head Coach at the Major Junior level. Prior to joining the Huskies, Brad was the Head Coach of the East Coast Blizzards program, in the Newfoundland U18 Major Hockey League. During this time he also scouted for the Shawinigan Cataracts, the team that originally drafted him in the Q. As a player, he spent four seasons in junior hockey, but had to retire early due to concussions. He then shifted his focus away from playing hockey to his education, as he earned a Masters in Education and Counseling Psychology Listen as he shares his experiences as one of the youngest coaches in Major Junior Hockey, the value of grading player performance in practice, and why players will only be vulnerable if they recognize their coach is willing to be vulnerable as well.

Nov 18, 2022

For episode 195, we're going back into The Coaches Site vault to hear LA Kings Head Coach Todd McLellan's 2021 Virtual Hockey Summit presentation titled "Coaching: Today, Tomorrow & Beyond." The talk is a foundational piece of content for coaches of all levels and provides a practical framework, particularly at the youth level, on how to handle adversity and shape their approach to the season. Over the past 28 years, McLellan has been a coach in the SJHL, WHL, IHL, AHL & NHL, and in all but three of those seasons, he's been at the helm. He's in his eighth season as NHL Head Coach and third with the Los Angeles Kings. McLellan has a Stanley Cup under his belt from his time with the Detroit Red Wings in 2007-08, and on January 2, 2022, he won his 500th NHL game, becoming the 27th coach in league history to accomplish the feat. Listen as McLellan shares his thoughts about why there certainly is an I in team, a player's mindset versus a coach's mindset, and how to develop a player support system that promotes individualism.

Nov 11, 2022

The Coaches Site is proud to announce the launch of the Hockey Factories Podcast! In this series, you will hear from the coaches, managers and players who helped bring the first five Hockey Factories articles to life. Listen as you get exclusive insight into the rooms where Sidney Crosby, Leon Draisaitl, Rasmus Dahlin and hundreds of others got their starts and developed into some of the brightest stars in the NHL. Check out episode 1, where Matt Dumouchelle examines youth development and where Shattuck-St. Mary's School, the Okanagan Hockey Academy, Adler Mannheim, Jokerit and Frolunda leave their marks on a player's career. Subscribe now to the Hockey Factories Podcast on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , and wherever else you listen to your podcasts.

Nov 11, 2022

In episode 194 of the Glass and Out hockey podcast, we welcome The Coaches Site Contributor Matt Dumouchelle, who's definitely had a week to remember. You may know Dumouchelle best from his series Hockey Factories , which provides a deep dive into he top hockey development programs in the world. Well, the series was such a success that we've turned the first five organization profiles into a PDF E-Book! You can download your copy now for free. On top of that, we've collaborated with Dumouchelle to create the Hockey Factories Podcast. You can now hear from the coaches, managers and players who helped bring the first five Hockey Factories articles to life. The first two episodes are now available , with episode one focusing on youth development and episode two on coaching. In addition to his writing, he is also currently the Assistant GM for the Leamington Flyers of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. Listen as we explore the story behind the origins of Hockey Factories, his key takeaways from talking to some of the top talent developers in the game, and what he's got planned for season two.

Nov 3, 2022

Tara Slone, former host of Rogers Hometown Hockey, joins us this week on the Glass and Out Podcast. If you're Canadian, you're familiar with Slone's work and her gift for sharing the stories of countless Canadians whose personal journeys have been shaped by their connection to hockey. These people make up the hockey fabric that continues to insulate Canada's culture. You may also know Slone as the lead singer of Joydrop, a Juno nominated band who released two albums and the hit singles "Beautiful" and "Sometimes Wanna Die." For eight seasons, she hosted Hometown Hockey alongside co-host and Canadian icon, Ron MacLean. The show was a weekly profile of a Canadian city, highlighting the local players, people and stories who make up the communities' hockey culture. In 2020, she was named host of a weekly Sportsnet docuseries called Top of Her Game , which focused on women's rights through interviews with female athletes, builders and executives. Overall, Slone is a positive change agent and continues to use her platform to advocate for human rights and a more inclusive society both in and outside of sport. Listen as she shares her love for story-telling, solutions for reshaping hockey's culture and riding shotgun on the road with Ron MacLean.

Oct 27, 2022

For this week's episode of the Glass and Out hockey podcast, it's our pleasure to be joined by three-time National Champion Scott Sandelin, Head Coach of the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. The Hibbing, Minnesota native is currently in his 23rd season with the Bulldogs. In that time, he's helped them become one of the top programs in college hockey, both in terms of wins, championships and moving players onto the National Hockey League. In 2011, the Bulldogs captured their first ever National Championship by defeating the Michigan Wolverines 3-2 in overtime. Then in 2018 and 2019, UMD became just the third school in NCAA history to win back-to-back National Champions. In total, Sandelin has led the Bulldogs to six NCAA Frozen Four Tournaments, three conference playoff Championships and finished a top of their conference nine times during the regular season. In 2004, Sandelin received the Spenser Penrose Award, presented to the top coach in college hockey and has twice has been named the head coach of Team USA at the World Junior Championships. As a player, Sandelin was a member of Team USA at the 1984 World Junior Championships, named Captain of the UND Fighting Sioux in both his Junior and Senior seasons, and was selected 40th overall by the Montreal Canadians at the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. He played 25 games in the NHL over a six-year professional career, before injuries forced him into retirement. In today's conversation, we'll discuss how to create healthy competition in practice, the definition of an 'Every-Day-Er,'and why he's content with continuing to build on the success of the UMD program.

Oct 21, 2022

To celebrate the success of our second annual College Hockey Inc. Virtual Coaching Clinic, we're excited to share this conversation from last year's event, featuring college hockey coaching legends Red Berenson and Jack Parker. Parker, now 77-years-old, has a resume that speak for itself: he served as the Head Coach at Boston University for 40 seasons and posted an overall record of 897-472-115. His 897 wins rank third all-time and mark the most of any college hockey coach at the same institution. Parker reached the 20-win mark in 27 seasons, won three NCAA titles, four consecutive Eastern College Athletic Conference crowns, 21 Beanpots and seven Hockey East titles. He holds the record for NCAA tournament appearances as a coach with 24. Berenson, meanwhile, now 82-years-old, is synonymous with the University of Michigan, where he spent 33 seasons behind the bench, leading the Wolverines to 23 NCAA tournaments and a pair of National Championships. In 1,366 games with Berenson as coach, Michigan went 848–426–92. For his outstanding service to hockey in the United States, the NHL honoured Berenson with the Lester Patrick Award in 2006. He's also a member of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame and the US Hockey Hall of Fame. Listen as we revisit two incredible careers, what they miss most about coaching and their thoughts on the state of today's game from a coaching and player perspective.

Oct 14, 2022

This week on the Glass and Out Podcast, we're joined by Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds head coach John Dean. Dean is entering his fifth season behind the bench in the Soo. During his tenure, the Greyhounds have qualified for the playoffs each season (keeping in mind the playoffs were cancelled in 2020 and 2021) and advanced to second round on both occasions. Dean and his staff have developed eight NHL draft picks and continue to make the Greyhounds program a destination for prospective prospects. He began his coaching career with the North York Rangers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, starting as an assistant coach, before being promoted to the club's head coach after two seasons. In 2014, he returned to North Bay, where he played his junior hockey, to join the North Bay Battalion on Stan Butler's staff. After three seasons in the OHL, Dean returned to the OJHL, this time with the Toronto Patriots, where he led the team to a regular season title with a 40-8-3-3 record and was named the league's Coach of the Year. He would also be named the head coach of Team East at the CJHL Top Prospects Game. In this episode, we discuss what a game day in the Soo looks like, how he uses running as a form of staying mentally healthy, and how he sets and enforces a high standard with his players.

Oct 7, 2022

We have a great show for you this week! Barry Trotz , a Stanley Cup champion and two-time Jack Adams award winner who is third on the NHL's all time wins list with 914, joins us for episode 189. You're going to need a notepad for this one. While most should be familiar with his long list of accomplishments, what truly stands out about Trotz is that he is regarded as one of the true gentlemen in our sport. Trotz grew up in Dauphin, Manitoba, and began his coaching journey as the head coach of the local junior team, the Dauphin Kings, when he was just 23-years-old. By 25, he was the head coach of his alma mater, the University of Manitoba. From there, Trotz began scouting for the Washington Capitals and was eventually named an assistant coach with the Baltimore Skipjacks, Washington's then AHL affiliate, a position he held for half a season before being promoted as the team's head coach. Trotz continued to lead Washington's farm team for five more seasons, which included a relocation to Portland, Maine. Then in 1997, David Poile, then General Manager of the Capitals, was named GM of the expansion Nashville Predators and offered Trotz the chance to be an NHL head coach. Fifteen years later, he was the longest active tenured coach in the NHL. Following his time Nashville, Trotz returned to Washington to lead the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup Championship in 2018. The next season, he joined the NY Islanders and guided them on back-to-back Cinderella runs to the Eastern Conference Championship, losing the Tampa Bay Lightning on both occasions. In this episode, we discuss his expansion season with the Predators, leaning into getting uncomfortable, and why you should always take the party to the streets following a Stanley Cup Championship.

Sep 30, 2022

This week's guest isn't a household name in the hockey world quite yet, but if you follow or are a member of The Coaches Site, then you'll recognize the name. Dan Arel has quickly become one of the most popular TCS contributors. In addition to his writing, Arel is the Director of Coach & Player Development for the San Diego Oilers Hockey Club. In our world, that's a potent combination, because while there are lots of experts out there when it comes to developing elite players or leading professional teams, there are few experts, at least few of them who are willing to share their experiences, at the grassroots levels. And that's Arel's wheelhouse. Coaching and developing programs focused on players who have yet to turn professional and likely never will. In addition to his Director role with the San Diego Oilers, he is also the Head Coach of the programs U12 A team, where he coaches his son. He holds his Level 4 certification through USA Hockey and in 2020 was named the San Diego Gulls Foundation Coach of the Year. In today's episode, we'll discuss making the most out of half ice practices, the challenges of being a parent-coach and how he believes we can keep kids playing the game, regardless of skill level.

Sep 22, 2022

For this week's Glass and Out podcast, we're excited to welcome Garrett Raboin, Head Coach of Augustana University . With the Viking Men's Hockey Program joining NCAA Division I hockey next season, Raboin is currently in the process of building the program from the ground up. Everything is new and will have his fingerprints on it when the Vikings debut next season. New rink, new uniforms, new conference, new players - new everything! Raboin comes to Augustana from the University of Minnesota, where he was an assistant coach on Bob Motzko's staff for four seasons. Prior to his time with the Gophers, he was an assistant coach at his Alma Mater, St. Cloud State University, also working under Motzko. As a player, Raboin was the captain of St. Cloud State during the final two seasons of his collegiate career, which speaks to his character and perseverance when you consider he was a walk onto the program. In this episode, we'll touch on his strategy for running a two player practice, the decision making process of selecting the seating arrangement in the locker room, to the colour of carpet in the players lounge, and why he's choosing to not to put any limits on his team once they drop the puck on their inaugural season.

Sep 16, 2022

This past weekend, our team at The Coaches Site had the opportunity to visit the Twin Cities and participate in the Minnesota Hockey Hockey Directors Conference. The event was an opportunity for Hockey Directors from across Minnesota to meet in advance of the season, learn about new ideas on both the player development and administration side of running a minor hockey association, along with picking each others brains. We had the pleasure of being joined by Minnesota Wild head coach Dean Evason to record a live edition of the podcast in front of those in attendance. Evason is entering his fifth season with the Wild and fourth as the organization's head coach. Last year, the Wild finished a mere six points back of the eventual Stanley Cup Champions Colorado Avalanche and there is a belief in the local hockey community that this team is poised to contend for a Stanley Cup. Evason, who is making his second appearance on Glass and Out , dives deep into his coaching staff's preparations for training camp and how they operate together throughout the season. Listen as we discuss the importance of being overly prepared, mixing up the way you communicate your message, and how the Wild approach shutting down Nathan MacKinnon.

Sep 8, 2022

Welcome back everyone! The hockey season is finally here and we're happy to return for season 5 of the Glass and Out podcast . To kick things off, we welcome Dr. Jody Carrington . Dr. Carrington is a Clinical Psychologist who has spent most of her career working with children and families who have experienced trauma. Having grown up in Viking, Alberta, home of the Sutter brothers , she worked on the Mental Health Inpatient Units of the Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary for 10 years. Through her experience she's developed an affinity for helping teams and organizations solve their most complex, human centered problems. Today, a lot of her work is focused on the Big People, as she describes them, who are in a position to look after the little people, or kids. As she puts it, through the relationships that young children have with their caregivers, they begin to develop the "story" of themselves and others around them. They decide two things: if they are worthy of love and support and if they are capable and competent beings. When they have these things in place, they have a much greater chance of developing into strong and healthy adults. If you have ever questioned the importance of your role in the lives of the players you coach, you won't after today. In addition to her work as a psychologist, she's also the best selling author of three books, Kids These Days , Teachers These Days and the soon to be released Feeling Seen . Listen as she shares how we connect with our players, the importance of staying regulated and self-care, and why "lighting up" is every coaches superpower.

Sep 1, 2022

We're thrilled to announce that the Glass and Out podcast returns next week for season 6! We've got an exciting lineup of guests and lots of new features that we can't wait to share with you. In the meantime, we just released likely the most important video in The Coaches Site's history. NHL on ESPN play by play broadcaster Leah Hextall shares her raw, emotional and shocking, but sadly not surprising, experience after he first season calling in the NHL. Aaron Wilbur explains how the presentation came to be an why it's a must-watch for everyone in the hockey and sporting community.

Jul 8, 2022

We've arrived at our final Glass and Out episode of the hockey season. For the finale, we welcome newly hired New York Islanders assistant coach Brian Wiseman, who joined us for another in-person interview at last month's TCS Live in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Wiseman just completed his third season as an assistant with Edmonton, in which the Oilers made it to the Western Conference Final for the first time since 2006. He's an alumni of the University of Michigan as both a player and coach, where he spent eight seasons as an assistant coach. He now joins the Islanders, along with new head coach Lane Lambert and fellow assistant Doug Houda. Hear Wiseman detail what went into the Oilers' lengthy playoff run, how his relationship and appreciation for legendary coach Red Berenson has helped shape his career, and how his transition from a press box role to on the bench helped him see the game from a different perspective. We want to thank everyone for tuning in this season and making us a regular part of your weekly routine. If you missed any episodes, make sure to go back and check out our full catalogue here . We've got some exciting things planned for season 6, so stay tuned. We'll see you in September!

Jun 30, 2022

We've got a couple of special episodes to close out season 5 of the Glass and Out podcast. We had the pleasure of being joined by longtime NHL coach Steve Spott for our first ever live episode of the podcast, which took place during TCS Live at the University of Michigan. Attended by close to 100 of our conference attendees at Conor O'Neill's Pub, recording this podcast was one of the many highlights from a truly incredible week in Ann Arbor. Spott has coached for close to 30 years and can be used as a great example of working your way up the coaching ladder, having made stops at just about every level of hockey. And while he was recently let go from his most recent gig in Vegas, there is no doubt he will find himself back in the NHL in no time. Listen as we dive into his journey from Seneca College to eight consecutive seasons in the NHL, how he's developed the technical aspects of his coaching and become known as a face-0ff specialist, and shares valuable advice that all aspiring coaches can take something from.

Jun 10, 2022

In episode #182 of The Glass and Out podcast, we're joined by Luke Strand, Head Coach of the USHL's Sioux City Musketeers, to discuss the process involved in bringing a fourth Championship to Sioux City, and his 20 season coaching journey, which has seen him spend time in the NCAA, USHL, AHL, as well as working in the NHL as a scout. He got his start as an Assistant Coach with St. Nobert College, a Division 3 school based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. In 2003, he moved across town to join the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL. After a two-year stop with the AHL's Houston Aeros, Strand jumped back to the USHL, for his first stint with Sioux City. In 2011, he made his way to the West Coast, to join Troy Ward, who had just been named the Head Coach of the Abbotsford Heat, then the AHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames. The next few seasons would see him return to the USHL in Sioux City and Madison, join the University of Wisconsin Badgers coaching staff and take on a scouting role with the Calgary Flames. In 2017, Luke returned to Sioux City for a third time, this time, leveraging his past experience to build a contender and eventual championship team. In this week's podcast, hear how Strand has established himself as one of the top developers of talent in the game, how his introduction to analytics has influenced his coaching, and the details of this season's Clark Cup championship.

Jun 3, 2022

For episode #181 of the Glass and Out podcast, we're joined by Kori Cheverie, a trailblazer for women's hockey and someone who had quite an eventful 2021-2022 season. First, she was an Assistant Coach with Team Canada's National Women's Team that captured Gold at the Olympics in Beijing. That was then followed with a trip to Germany for the U18 Men's World Championships, where she became the first female to work on the coaching staff of a Canadian men's National Team. Cheverie began coaching in youth programs at Ryerson University, while playing for the Toronto Fury of the CWHL. She decided to jump into the coaching ring full t-me and when she didn't see any opportunities with the Ryerson women's program, she turned to the men's program. She was named Assistant Coach of Ryerson's men's program in advance of the 2016-2017 season and in the process became the first female to be full-time Assistant Coach of a men's team in Canadian University Hockey. In 2019, she first got involved with Hockey Canada's program of excellence, beginning as an Assistant Coach of Canada's entry into the 2019 U18 Women's World Championships. Next up, in 2021, Cheverie took part the Women's World Championships as an Assistant Coach with Team Canada. That led to her appointment with the Team Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics, which opened the door to her coaching the men at the U18 World Championships last month. In addition to all her accomplishments, Cheverie has also been linked to being a candidate to be the first woman hired as a full-time coach in the NHL. Given her track record, we have no doubt that she just may have the ability and drive to make it happen. Find out her thoughts on how to prepare a team for international tournaments, how to build trust through autonomy, and how she's preparing for the next stage in her career.

May 27, 2022

In episode #180 of the Glass and Out podcast, Chris Lazary Head Coach of the OHL's Saginaw Spirit, stops by. Lazary was named Saginaw Head Coach on November 18, 2018, after serving as an Associate Coach for over two seasons. He led the Spirit to back-to-back West Division Championships (2018-19, 2019-20) for the first time in team history, and in the process, his team put up a ton of goals. As you'll hear, Lazary is clearly passionate about providing his players a framework to play with the puck on their sticks, and creating space to get creative and make plays. Get your notepads out! He got his start in junior as an Assistant Coach with the St. Michaels Buzzers in the Ontario Junior Hockey League during the 2010-11 season, following several years of coaching minor hockey in the Toronto area. After two seasons with the Buzzers, Lazary moved on to be an Assistant Coach at his hometown York University. He made the jump to the OHL in 2014 with the Sarnia Sting as an Assistant Coach, where he spent two seasons prior to joining the Spirit. While last season was a rebuilding year for the Spirit, the future is bright as they'll return a roster of young talent, including incoming rookie Michael Misha, who was selected 1st overall in the OHL draft after having been granted exceptional player status, meaning he will play his rookie season in Saginaw as an underage player. Find out Lazary's philosophy on teaching offensive tactics, how he handles the junior hockey balance of development and winning, and what he's picked up from a systems and tactics perspective from this year's NHL playoffs.

May 20, 2022

In episode #179 of the Glass and Out podcast, we're joined by Dr. Ethan Kross, who is one of the world's leading experts on controlling the conscious mind. An award-winning professor and bestselling author in the University of Michigan's top ranked Psychology Department and its Ross School of Business, he studies how the conversations people have with themselves impact their health, performance, decisions and relationships. Dr. Kross is the author of the National Bestseller Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why it Matters and How to Harness It , which was chosen as one of the best new books of the year by the Washington Post, CNN and USA Today. He will be going into further detail on the topic of his book at next month's TCS Live . If you haven't already bought your ticket, you can still register. You definitely don't want to miss it. Kross' research has been published in Science, The New England Journal of Medicine, and The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, among other peer-reviewed journals. He has participated in policy discussion at the White House and has been interviewed on CBS Evening News, Good Morning America, Anderson Cooper Full Circle, and NPR's Morning Edition. His pioneering research has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, Harvard Business Review, USA Today, The Economist, The Atlantic, Forbes, and Time. Legit. In this week's podcast, he shares how we can all improve our mental skills, regardless of what stage of life we're in, why it's important to embrace stress, and the problems with over venting.

May 12, 2022

For episode #178, we revisit one of our favourite conversations from last year's College Hockey Inc. Virtual Coaching Clinic. Seattle Kraken Head Coach Dave Hakstol sat down with us in advance of their inaugural training camp to discuss what goes into building a franchise/team from scratch and his coaching journey up to that point. Despite not living up to the lofty heights of the Vegas Golden Knights incredible expansion season, Hakstol and the Kraken appear to be in good shape to build off their first year with plenty of cap space and a surplus of draft picks. Hakstol got his coaching career started in 1996 with the USHL's Sioux City Musketeers, a role he held for four seasons before returning to his alma mater, the University of North Dakota. He was named Head Coach in 2004, leading the team to the NCAA Frozen Four on seven occasions and was also honoured with the conference Coach of the Year Awards in 2009 and 2015. Hakstol made the jump to the NHL in 2015 with the Philadelphia Flyers, becoming the first head coach since 1982 to go directly from the NCAA to the NHL. After four seasons, he joined Toronto for two seasons as an assistant. Hear about the whirlwind summer leading up to the Hakstol's first season with the Kraken, tips on how to support your players during the off-season, and how his climb up the coaching ladder helped shape him as a person.

May 5, 2022

We're joined by Nadine Muzerall, Head Coach of the National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes, for episode #177 of the Glass and Out podcast. While most would associate OSU with their legendary football program, Muzerall has been building a tradition of her own with the women's hockey program since she arrived on campus in 2016. In her six seasons, the Buckeyes have gone from a sub-500 team to a perennial college powerhouse, qualifying for NCAA tournament on four occasions and capturing the 2022 NCAA Frozen Four Championship as the top seed in women's college hockey. Muzerall has also been recognized as the WCHA Coach of the Year twice. The Mississauga, Ontario, product played her college hockey at the University of Minnesota, where she was named an All-American in 1998 and 2000, while also earning Team MVP honours during those seasons. Muzerall had the honour of becoming the first women hockey player to be inducted into the University's Hall of Fame. She joined her former Head Coach Brad Frost as an Assistant Coach with her alma mater in 2011. During her return to the Gophers, the program captured four National Championships in five seasons. Hear about how Muzerall reshaped the culture at OSU, her unique mentorship from John Tortorella, and the offensive philosophy that led to her squad putting up a staggering 175 goals in only 29 games.

Apr 29, 2022

We welcome a familiar face for episode #176 of the Glass and Out podcast. University of Vermont Head Coach Todd Woodcroft is a good friend of The Coaches Site and has presented at numerous events. He'll also be joining us at TCS Live at the University of Michigan this coming June. If you haven't already bought tickets, now is the time. Woodcroft just wrapped his second season as coach of the Catamounts, a position he was hired for at the on-set of the pandemic. Despite some obvious challenges, he has begun to put his mark on the program by adding several NHL prospects and looking outside of North America for talent, as there are players from nine different countries on the roster. Prior to his arrival in Vermont, Woodcroft spent four seasons as an Assistant Coach on the Winnipeg Jets coaching staff, one of several roles and stops in the NHL during the course of his career. His first stint was as video coach with the Minnesota Wild during their inaugural season and he went on to work as a scout for the Wild, Washington Capitals, and Los Angeles Kings. From 2013 to 2016, he was the Director of Scouting for the Calgary Flames. Woodcroft also has significant international experience, having been a part of the coaching staffs for Canada, Belarus, Switzerland, and Sweden. On the podcast we discuss how he's handled the challenges of rebuilding a program during a pandemic, how he structures his practices, and why he feels positivity is a coach's most powerful tool.

Apr 25, 2022

In episode #175 of the Glass and Out podcast, we speak with Tomas Pacina, who up until the day before we recorded this conversation, had been the Head Coach of the Czechia National Women's program for two seasons. Pacina has had an incredibly unique and diverse career that has touched just about every level of hockey. He moved to Calgary, Alberta, in the mid 90s and began coaching midget hockey, while working at a local hockey academy. This led to the opportunity become a Skills Coach for Canada's National Men's Team, which at the time was under the guidance of current Hockey Canada CEO Tom Renney. From there, he joined the New York Rangers as a Skills Coach, becoming one of the first of his position to be hired by an NHL team. He remained with the Rangers until 2004, and later worked with the Florida Panthers and Montreal Canadiens in a similar capacity. From 2011 until 2020, Pacina was a skills coach for the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL, working under the leadership of Mike Johnston for majority of his tenure. In addition to his work in the men's game, Pacina has also making significant inroads in women's hockey. From 2002-2007, he was the Head Coach of the Calgary Oval X-Treme of the NWHL, and led the club to two league Championships. Pacina returned behind the bench of Calgary's professional women's team in 2017, however this time it was for the Calgary Inferno of the CWHL. He was named the league's Coach of the Year. In 2020, he was named Head Coach of the Czech National Women's team and put in charge of developing a competitive program. He helped the program qualify for its first Olympic games and jump up to seventh in world rankings. Hear his process for assisting players in building confidence, the benefits of playing a position-less system, and how to connect with an athlete's human spirit through inspiration.

Apr 14, 2022

For episode #174 of the Glass and Out podcast, we revisit one of our favourite conversations from last year's Virtual Hockey Summit. As many hockey seasons begin to wrap up, the time for coaches to start looking and networking for their next jobs is upon us. Gil Scott is the President & CEO of Gil Scott Sports Management and is the agent for top NHL coaches like Barry Trotz and Bruce Boudreau. He spoke with TCS Founder Aaron Wilbur on what it takes to prepare for an interview and be at your best when there's a lot on the line. Scott founded Gil Scott Sports Management in 1979 and has negotiated over 500 contracts of coaches and players. In addition to his clientele of coaches, he currently represents 65 active NFL and CFL players. He is a graduate of Michigan State University, was the first Canadian to be certified by the NFLPA and served as a sports consultant for the Royal Banks Sports Professionals Program from 1997-2009. There is no instruction manual when it comes to finding your next coaching job or how to prepare for an interview, but it's a skill that all successful coaches need. And while having the right strategy heading into an interview or being comfortable approaching people in the industry with the goal of opening a door to your next gig may not make you a better coach than other candidates, it very well could mean you still get the nod. Hear valuable advice on what approach is best to take heading into the interview process, what he's learned from working with some of the top coaches in hockey, and why networking is still a coaches best friend when it comes to finding new opportunities.

Apr 7, 2022

In episode #173 of the Glass and Out podcast, we're joined by Bob Mancini, Assistant Executive Director of USA Hockey, who oversees hockey development. Mancini has done it all in hockey, coaching and overseeing programs as an administrator at just about every level. In the process, he has accumulated a diverse set of experiences that make him uniquely suited for his current role. Following his collegiate playing career at Colorado College, he embarked on a collegiate coaching career that included time with Lake Superior State University, Ferris State University, and Michigan Tech University. He was then a part of the inaugural US National Development Team Program coaching staff in 1996, where he coached at the U17, U18, and U20 levels for four seasons. His only stop in the NHL (so far) came with the Edmonton Oilers on two different occasions, as a scout and development coach. He also spent three years as the Head Coach and General Manager of the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League. In addition to his pro and junior hockey experience, Mancini has coached minor hockey and has spent countless hours on the ice with youth teams across the US. Find out about the origins of the USA hockey National Development Team Program, hear how the growth of the American Development Model is creating some of the top players in hockey, and his advice to coaches on how to keep their players more engaged during practices and games. If you enjoy this conversation, Mancini will be presenting at TCS Live, our hockey coaches conference taking place June 15-17th at the University of Michigan. He'll be joined by a collection of some of the top coaches and performance experts in our game; get your ticket today so you don't miss out!

Mar 31, 2022

For episode #172, we welcome a familiar face to the Glass and Out podcast. Dr. Cassidy Preston is a High-Performance Coach and the Founder of Consistent Elite Performance . He is also the co-host of the Beyond the X's and O's podcast , and has been a regular contributor at The Coaches Site and presenter at our past virtual events. On top of all that, he will be presenting at TCS Live , our in-person hockey coaches conference taking place at the University of Michigan from June 15-17th. Dr. Preston grew up in North Bay, Ontario, where he played hockey; he was selected in the 4th round of the OHL draft and played five seasons of junior hockey. Following a brief professional career, he attended and played hockey at York University and later the University of Toronto, where he obtained a PHD in Sport and Performance Psychology. In addition, he also spent time coaching hockey at the grassroots levels in the Toronto area. With his education and the experience gained from his different positions in the game, he decided to create Consistent Elite Performance, an organization that assists athletes, coaches, teams and businesses in enhancing their mental performance and well-being. In this week's podcast, find out his thoughts on the evolution of performance psychology, hear tips on how to get your team into the optimal mindset, and why he feels process over results is the key to an athletes and team success.

Mar 24, 2022

In episode #171 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we're joined by Brad Ralph, Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations for the Florida Everblades of the East Coast Hockey League. Ralph is currently in his sixth season with the Everblades, quietly helping them develop into one of the top programs in the ECHL. During his tenure, Florida has captured four South Division titles and advanced to two conference championships. In the 2017-2018 season, he helped the club set a record for most wins (53) and points (112) in a season. The Blades also advanced to the Kelly Cup final and he was awarded the Jack Brophy Award as ECHL Coach of the Year. His 45 career wins in the Kelly Cup playoffs currently ranks him fifth all time in the ECHL. Ralph got his coaching career start at just 30-years-old in Augusta, Georgia, with the Augusta RiverHawks of the Southern Professional Leagues. After being handed the keys to an expansion franchise with no coaching experience on his resume, he led the team to the league final and was recognized as Coach of the Year. After three season with the ECHL's Idaho Steelheads, he made a brief stop in the Western Hockey League as Head Coach of the Kelowna Rockets, during which he led the team to a 48-20-4 record and an appearance in the Western Conference Championship. Find out his strategies for managing the grind of an ECHL season, why preparation is key to developing relationships with his players, and why he believes every player has the potential to achieve their dream of playing the NHL.

Mar 3, 2022

In anticipation of our upcoming Global Skills Showcase , we welcome Danny Heath, renowned skills coach and Founder of Project Hockey, for episode #170 of the Glass and Out Podcast. In addition to Project Hockey, Heath is also the Skills Coach for the Minnesota State Mavericks, who just finished the college season as the #1 team in the country. Heath grew up in the Phoenix area and credits the arrival of the Coyotes for igniting his love for the game. As a player, he spent time in the USHL with the Tri-City Storm and Des Moines Buccaneers, before landing a scholarship at Minnesota State. After four seasons with the Mavericks, he retired from playing and decided to take on creating Project Hockey. Coming from the non-traditional hockey market of Arizona, he recognized motivated, passionate kids didn't have the resources or access to development programs in their part of the world. With Project Hockey, the app enables kids to train at home and get access to quality coaching, all at an affordable price. Find out how Project Hockey is providing kids with the ability to compete with their hockey playing peers from around the globe, how he balances his love of hockey with being a husband and school teacher, and what he's got planned for his Global Skills Showcase presentation on angling.

Feb 24, 2022

For episode #169 of the Glass and Out podcast, we're joined by power skating instructor Cathy Andrade. She is also one of the 10 coaches selected to present at our upcoming Global Skills Showcase! Through hard work, striving to master her craft and word of mouth, she's built a reputation as one of the top skating coaches in hockey. Andrade grew up in Calgary, Alberta, where she competed competitively as a figure skater before obtaining CFSA certification, which is comprised of Gold Figure, Gold Free-Style and Gold Dance. In the early 90s, she set up shop in San Jose, California, and by the turn of the century, was training hockey players exclusively. Today, she trains a lot of the top players to come out of Northern California, as well as many of the top players who move to the Bay Area to play professionally, including current San Jose Shark Kevin Labanc and former Shark Joe Pavelski. Find out her philosophy on creating better skaters and athletes, how she's gained the trust of some of the top players in hockey as a former figure skater, and how her Global Skills Showcase presentation on "3-Turns" will challenge your players like never before.

Feb 18, 2022

We've got a very special edition of the Glass and Out podcast for you this week. To celebrate our announcement of TCS Live , our return to an in-person hockey coaches conference taking place June 15-17 at the University of Michigan, we're taking a look back one of our favourite presentations from our 2012 Hockey Coaches Conference. Mike Keenan is a man who truly needs no introduction. The Stanley Cup, Calder Cup and Canada Cup champion is one of the most iconic figures in hockey. While it's fair to say that a lot of Iron Mike's methods wouldn't fly today, what stood out most during his talk on "Having a Sense of Mission" was his ability to own the room. He clearly has that "it" factor that you can't teach and every great leader has. During the talk, he shares stories from his personal coaching journey and stresses the importance of creating expectations for your team and reinforcing those expectations on a daily basis. You won't want to miss this one!

Feb 10, 2022

For episode #167 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we welcome Pete Lenes, Co-Founder of Eleva802 hockey training company/media company. You might know him better on social media as "Swaggy P," the stick handling sensation who was recently invited to be a special guest of the NHL at the All-Star game festivities in Las Vegas. In addition, Lenes will be presenting at next month's Global Skills Showcase, along with nine other of the top skills coaches in hockey. The Burlington, Vermont native played for his hometown University of Vermont Catamonts, before embarking on a 10 year pro career that included stops in the ECHL, AHL and Austrian League. After retirement he, along with friend and former NHLer Torrey Mitchell, decided to open a training centre called Elev802. The company includes their former college coach Dave Sneddon, who manages their business operations, and Stanley Cup Champion Scott Gomez as a silent partner. Thanks in large part to an emphasis on social media promotion from Swaggy P himself, Elev802 has established itself as a leader in individual skill development. The company aims to empower players to be creative and learn by making mistakes, while providing direction on how to correct them in a fun and supportive environment. Find out how Lenes utilized the power of social media to help grow Elev802, why he believes creativity and keeping the game fun are an important part of growing hockey, and what he's got planned for his upcoming #GlobalSkillsShowcase presentation.

Feb 4, 2022

In episode #166 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we're joined by former NHLer Andy Sutton, whose company Verbero is partnering with The Coaches Site in showcasing 10 of hockey's top skills coaches at our upcoming Global Skills Showcase . After a career that had him play 687 NHL games as an undrafted player, Sutton saw the need for a change in the hockey equipment and apparel industry. Recognizing the cost of outfitting a young player in gear was a major deterrent for parents allowing their kids to participate in the sport, he embarked on a mission, to make safe, quality equipment available at a reasonable cost. With Verbero, he's developed a direct to consumer model that makes it easy for anyone to go online, or work directly with their local Verbero representative, and order quality, custom equipment and apparel at an affordable cost. As a player, Sutton's journey to a long NHL career is definitely one you'll want to hear. After going undrafted, he made a name for himself at Michigan Tech, leading to 14 contract offers with NHL teams. He would go on to play for six teams and some iconic coaches like Darryl Sutter, Roy Sommer, Bob Hartley, Jaques Lemaire, and Tom Renney. Find out how Verbero is helping provide a more affordable option for young players, how he battled his way to a long NHL career, and what lessons he learned while playing for some of the game's top coaches.

Jan 27, 2022

In episode #165 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we're joined by Theresa Feaster, who is the Director of Hockey Operations for the Providence College men's hockey team; she also represented Team USA as a video coach for the past two World Junior Championships. Feaster grew up in a hockey household, as her dad Jay was the former General Manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Calgary Flames, which included a Stanley Cup in 2004 with the Bolts. Despite the connection and no playing background, it was while attending Providence College as a student that she got her first chance at a role in hockey. After volunteering under head coach Nate Leaman for four seasons by taking on various roles, such as breaking down video and stat tracking, she was promoted to a full-time role as a player coordinator in 2016. After two seasons, she would take on the role of Director of Hockey Operations, which includes providing video and statistical support and analysis for the coaching staff. During her time on Leaman's staff, the Friars captured the program's first NCAA Championship in 2015 and made a return trip to the Frozen Four in 2019. In addition, Feaster was a part of Team USA's Gold Medal entry at the 2021 World Junior Championships and returned to Edmonton with Team USA at this year's tournament, which unfortunately was postponed due to the pandemic. Find out why volunteering is an important aspect of starting any career, her process of learning the ropes as a video coach, and her tips for operating a successful program behind the scenes.

Jan 20, 2022

We're joined by Brock Sheahan, head coach of the defending USHL Clark Cup Champions Chicago Steel, for episode #164 of the Glass and Out Podcast. Sheahan is currently in his fourth season with the franchise and third as head coach, a role he took over part-way through the 2019-2020 season when Greg Moore was hired by the Toronto Maple Leafs to coach their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. Under Sheahan's guidance, Chicago has enjoyed incredible success and continues the development of a winning culture. The team has finished first overall in back-to-back seasons, capturing the 2021 Clark Cup, and was siting atop the standings at the time of this podcast airing. At the 2021 NHL Draft, eight current or former members of the Steel heard their names called, including three in the 1st round, highlighted by first overall pick Owen Power. Sheahan hails from Lethbridge, Alberta, played four seasons at the University of Notre Dame and following his pro career, returned to South Bend as a volunteer coach. Prior to joining the Steel, he was an associate coach with the College of Holly Cross. Hear how he's continued to foster a winning culture in Chicago, how his outside the box thinking on player development has helped his coaching career, and thoughts on how to improve youth hockey practices.

Jan 13, 2022

We're going outside the box for episode #163 of the Glass and Out Podcast. We're joined by Scott O'Neil, the former President Madison Square Gardens and CEO of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, whose portfolio includes the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia 76ers. He is also the author of the book Be Where Your Feet Are: 7 Steps to Keep You Present, Grounded and Thriving , the main focus of today's interview. In the book, O'Neil provides a humbling and vulnerable peek behind the curtain as well as a framework, anecdotes, and exercises to guide the reader towards self-discovery. It's must read for anyone looking to improve every aspect of their life. O'Neil earned his Bachelor's Degree in Marketing from Villanova University and his Master's in Business Administration from Harvard Business School. At 38-years-old, he was named the President of Madison Square Gardens and prior to that was the Senior Vice President of Team Marketing and Business Operations for the NBA. In July of last year, he stepped down as CEO of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, which included acting as an Alternate Governor for the NHL and NBA for nearly a decade. During this time, he received several awards and accolades, including Philadelphia Business Journal's "Most Admired CEO" honour in 2018. He was also named 2017's "Most Innovative Executive" by SportTechie and was recognized at Sports Business Journal's acclaimed "Forty Under 40" Awards on three occasions. Find out about the tragedy that led to him writing the book, his strategies for staying present, and why coaching his daughters basketball team is one of his proudest accomplishments.

Jan 7, 2022

We welcome University of Michigan assistant coach Brandon Naurato for episode #162 of the Glass and Out Podcast. As a former player development coach who worked primarily on-ice, Naurato is currently in his first season behind the bench. With a loaded line-up that features seven first round picks, plus getting a chance to work for his alma mater, there aren't many better settings to coach in early in a career. Prior to joining Michigan, Naurato established himself as one of the go-to player development coaches in the Detroit area, working with the likes of Zach Werenski and the Hughes brothers. That led to his role with the Detroit Red Wings as a player development consultant, where he worked for three seasons with the players on the big club, prospects in Grand Rapids, along with the team's draft picks at development camp. Naurato presented at last year's Global Skills Showcase on connecting the missing links in a development plan , a must-watch for anyone looking to grow their player development knowledge. As you'll hear in this week's podcast, his knowledge and ability to break down skills and tactics to a basic level are something that every coach can learn from. Find out his detailed thoughts on how to create and teach offensive hockey, what he's learned from working with some of the top coaches in hockey, and how video can play a crucial role in player development.

Dec 23, 2021

For episode #161 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we're joined by Scott Wheeler of The Athletic, who previews the upcoming World Junior Championship. Wheeler, who covers the NHL Draft and prospects nationally for The Athletic, is widely considered one of the top authorities in the hockey prospect community. Who better to help us get set for one of the biggest tournaments in hockey, featuring the best young players in the game! Listen as he shares an in depth review of each team in the tournament, the top prospects to watch out for, and potential breakout stars. He'll also share how he sees the groups and round robin portion of the tournament playing out, his keys to winning in a short term tournament, and of course, medal predictions.

Dec 16, 2021

We're joined by a coaching legend and one of the true gentlemen in hockey for episode #160 of the Glass and Out Podcast. Andy Murray's coaching career has spanned four decades, multiple countries and leagues, and every major international tournament. The Souris, Manitoba native includes representing Canada on multiple occasions, capturing six Gold Medals in six appearances at the Spengler Cup, three Gold Medals at the World Championships, and he was also an assistant coach during the 1998 Olympics. Murray spent 16 seasons in the NHL, highlighted by a 1991 cinderella run Stanley Cup Final with the Minnesota North Stars, coming just short to Mario Lemieux and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Following his dismissal from St Louis in 2010, he was announced as the head coach of Western Michigan University in 2011, a program he would oversee for 10 seasons. The topic of old school versus new school coaching tactics has long been debated. And if you look at Murray's bio, it would be easy to assume he's on the old school side. But as you'll find out in this podcast, he has always leaned into new school coaching methods, long before the shift in leadership practices that we're experiencing today. Find out about his title as "Mr. Spengler Cup," how his reputation as a tactician helped him throughout his career, and why it's important to coach out of your comfort zone.

Dec 9, 2021

In episode #159 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we welcome Tomas Montén, head coach of the Swedish National U20 Team. It's the holiday season, and that means the start of the World Juniors is fast approaching. Now heading into his eighth tournament with Team Sweden (and sixth as head coach), Montén makes the perfect candidate to discuss what the tournament experience looks like through the lens of a coach. In total, he's helped Sweden capture two silver medals, one bronze, and was a part of Sweden's incredible 54-game unbeaten streak during the round robin portion of the tournament, a streak that was halted by Russia during last year's event. During his tenure, he's had the opportunity to work with some of the top young talent in the game, such as Elias Pettersson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Lucas Raymond, to name a few. At our inaugural Virtual Hockey Summit in 2020 , Tomas gave an outstanding presentation on how he prepares Team Sweden for the World Juniors. It offers a ton of strategies in terms of how teach efficiently and to get your players comfortable playing in your system. In this week's episode, find out why the tournament is so special to him, how small area games have helped Sweden have success internationally, and what goes into building a fast team.

Dec 2, 2021

We've got a big one for you this week on the Glass and Out Podcast, as we were able to connect with Mike Babcock in person for episode #158. Babcock of course needs no introduction as one of the most decorated hockey coaches of all-time. He is the only coach to have the honour of being in the Triple Gold Club, which he's earned by winning a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008, leading Team Canada to the 2004 World Hockey Championship title and capturing gold at both the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics. In total, Babcock has won six distinct national and international championships throughout his career. More recently, he joined the University of Saskatchewan on a one-year term to assist his alma matter with making the transition to a new head coach. This comes after he was relieved of his duties with the Toronto Maple Leafs in November of 2019, amid controversy. It's no secret that Mike has faced some criticism from former players for coaching decisions he's made, something he has been an open book on and has had no problem addressing. Find out what he's learned during his time away from the NHL, his keys to creating a winning formula, and how he's learned to put an emphasis on the mental health of his players and fellow coaches.

Nov 25, 2021

In episode #157 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we're joined by Digit Murphy, President of the Toronto Six, members of the Premiere Hockey Federation (formerly the National Women's Hockey League). Murphy has a diverse and decorated background in hockey and is one the leading advocates for women's sports. She spent 22 seasons as the head coach of the Brown University women's program, capturing six ECAC Hockey titles and five Ivy League titles, and was the first female coach to reach 200 wins. She made the jump to the Canadian Women's Hockey League in 2012, joining the Boston Blades. The Blades won the Clarkson Cup in two out of her three seasons at the helm and she was also the recipient of the league's Coach of the Year award in 2014. Follow her time in Boston, Murphy was recruited by the Kunlun Red Star, the KHL team located in China, to establish a team to participate in the CWHL and assist in developing their Olympic women's team in preparation for the 2022 games. In her lone season with the Red Star, Murphy led them to the league final. On top of all that, Murphy is also the co-founder of RUTH , an organization that prepares and connects female athletes with careers in the corporate world. Find out her thoughts on progressing the women's game, the key to keeping her energy and passion high throughout her career, and her philosophy on building a culture with a new franchise.

Nov 18, 2021

In episode #156 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we welcome one of the most revered coaches in the history of hockey: Dave King. King began his coaching career in 1972 at his alma mater, the University of Saskatchewan. From there, he went on to coach at every level of hockey, including time in the NHL, Europe, Junior Hockey and Internationally with Team Canada. The list of King's career achievements are extensive to say the least and almost too long to list. They include a Canadian University National Championship, a WJC Gold Medal, and multiple Olympic appearances with Team Canada. On top of that, you can add being a made a member of the Order of Canada, and inductions into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, the International Ice Hockey Hall of Fame, the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame. Simply put, there are few coaches in hockey with his experience and knowledge of the game. Don't miss out on this must-listen from one of the legends of the game!

Nov 11, 2021

For episode #155, we're changing things up and revisiting one of our favourite presentations from this year's Virtual Hockey Summit. Detroit Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill shared valuable tips for planning and executing a successful practice. During the conversation, Blashill gets into the preparation and attention to detail that professional coaches need to invest into making a great practice, a great practice. While the drills you select for a practice certainly matter, he explains that it's how you organize them within the structure of your practice, how you communicate the habits and details you want your players to pull out of each drill, and as a staff, how each coach plays a role in teaching and managing the flow of practice. It's clear the improvement and evolution of his approach has been rooted in being open minded and curious, in terms of what other coaches are doing, taking the time to watch how practices operate in other sports, and looking at how other industries educate their people and operate more efficiently. Don't miss out on this must-listen for any coach looking to improve their practice habits!

Nov 4, 2021

In episode #154 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we welcome Toni Söderholm, head coach of German National Team. The Kauniainen, Finland, native has had a unique, yet quick rise to his current role. After retiring from his playing career in 2016, he joined his former team EHC München in the DEL as a player development coach. Within two seasons, Söderholm became an assistant with the German U20 team and head coach of their entry into the World Championships. Now just six seasons into his coaching career, he's preparing Germany for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China. Under Söderholm's leadership, Germany qualified for these Olympics by finishing in fourth at the 2020 World Championships. With the recent string of international success and a roster that will no doubt feature the most talent they've ever had, Söderholm and the Germans have high hopes for the upcoming tournament. Find out how he overcame a lack of coaching experience, how his well-travelled playing career helped shape him as a leader, and what goes into preparing a team for the biggest international tournament in hockey.

Oct 28, 2021

In episode #153 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we welcome Cam Abbott, head coach of Rögle BK in the Swedish Hockey League. Along with his twin brother Chris, who is currently the GM of Rögle, the pair has been able to revive a franchise on the brink of relegation, to one of the top team's in the SHL - in just four seasons. Cam and his brother have spent majority of their lives navigating careers in hockey together. That includes playing careers at Cornell University, a season spent time in the Central and East Coast Hockey Leagues, and seven seasons in Norway and Sweden. Then, without any prior coaching experience, Cam was hired as head coach of the Vaxjo Lakers U20 squad and in one season, completely turned around the program. The success would result in him and his brother being recruited to Rögle. Listen as Cam shares the incredible story of how he and his brother embarked on their pro hockey career together (which includes getting an offer to work at a canary), how they've been able to turnaround things around in Rögle, and thoughts on becoming a YouTube star.

Oct 21, 2021

In episode #152 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we welcome Cara Morey, head coach of the Princeton University's Women's Hockey team. After a playing career that included a stop at Brown University and time with Canada's National Team program, the Hensall, Ontario, native joined Princeton, spending six seasons as the program's assistant coach before taking over as coach prior to the 2017-2018 season. Under her leadership, the program has established itself as one of the top programs in the NCAA, which includes a ECAC championship in the 2019-20 season. Find out why she feels humility is critical to team success, her unique experience as a coach at the Philadelphia Flyers Development Camp, and how the hockey community can continue to help support the growth of the women's game.

Oct 19, 2021

In episode #151 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we welcome Ontario Reign assistant coach Chris Hajt. Hajt is entering his sixth season with the LA Kings AHL affiliate, which includes a Calder Cup championship in 2015 while the team was located in Manchester, New Hampshire. During that time, Hajt has played a key role in the development of many of the Kings' top prospects and has faced the challenge that many AHL coaches deal with: how do you balance the development of young players with team success. Find out how he approaches the challenge, what he learned during his two years as an assistant with the Buffalo Sabres, and why it's critical to be in-tune with your players in terms of listening to them and providing them a voice in their own development.

Oct 7, 2021

For this week's episode of the Glass and Out podcast, we've decided to flip the script. Sitting in the guest chair will be none other than Glass and Out host, and The Coaches Site founder, Aaron Wilbur. Taking over hosting duties will be Matt Dumouchelle, a new writer for The Coaches Site and Assistant GM for the GOJHL's Leamington Flyers. Now into its 10th year as a company, the 'why' of The Coaches Site has always been a simple one: to provide the game's top coaches a platform to share their ideas, and ultimately help coaches provide a better development experience for their players. In this week's podcast, find out about the origins of The Coaches Site, Wilbur's own personal coaching journey, and what he sees for the future of the hockey coaching industry.

Sep 30, 2021

Welcome back for season 5 of the Glass and Out Podcast! We have an amazing guest to kick things off, as we welcome Tom Ward, Head Coach of the Shattuck-St. Mary's Boys Prep Team. Shattuck is the prep school hockey powerhouse based out of Faribault, Minnesota, that has produced the likes of Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Jonathan Toews, Zach Parise, Jack Johnson, Drew Stafford, and many more. But while the list of elite talent and number of championships is impressive, what really stands out about the program is a culture grounded in hard work, sweat and a philosophy that every player, regardless of their pedigree or resume, has to earn their spot. In this week's podcast, we find out about Ward's coaching journey, that includes a stop in the NHL, the importance of developing the person before the player, and his role in creating one of the top prep programs in all of hockey.

Jul 20, 2021

We're back with a very special bonus episode of the Glass and Out Podcast! Now that the NHL playoffs are officially over and the Cup has been handed out, we get to the fun stretch of the off-season. That which includes the Entry Draft, Free Agency, and of course the Seattle Kraken Expansion Draft, where the NHL's 32nd franchise will officially announce their inaugural roster. To celebrate, we thought we'd jump into Ron Francis' GM chair and conduct our own mock expansion draft. And to help us out, we invited the COO of InStat North America, Mark Yates, to discuss what goes into creating a successful team. Yates' position with InStat connects him with coaches and managers of all levels in hockey, so he has a bit of a birds eye view in terms of what makes the top organizations tick. In addition, Yates spent six seasons as a junior hockey scout with the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads, the OHL's Mississauga Steelheads and the USHL's Muskegon Lumberjacks. We hope you enjoy this bonus episode of the Glass and Out Podcast, as we explore what a possible Seattle Kraken roster could look like and take a deep dive into what makes a successful team.

Jul 1, 2021

And just like that, we've arrived at our last Glass and Out episode for the season. We want to thank everyone for tuning in and we hope you were able to take at least a few things away from our lineup of amazing guests. To close things out, we welcome recent recipient of the NHL's Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award, Kevin Hodgson, a friend of The Coaches Site and one of the truly good people in hockey. Hodgson is the Executive Director of HEROS hockey (Hockey Education Reaching Out Society), which empowers at-risk youth and introduces them to the game of hockey, and its offshoot organization SuperHEROS, which provides boys and girls living with physical and cognitive challenges an inclusive and safe hockey environment, Under the guidance of Hodgson, Founder and President Norm Fylnn, and 300 volunteers, the organization has grown to 28 programs in 12 cities across Canada. One in three participants are girls, and almost half the participants are new Canadians; about 10,000 kids have participated in the program since 2000. Based out of Calgary, Hodgson has a background in social work and in addition to operating HEROS, he is also a consulting trainer at the Centre for Suicide Prevention. In the season finale, find out what winning this year's Willie O'Ree Award meant to him, how hockey has the power to change lives, and what can be done to create a more inclusive game.

Jun 25, 2021

In this week's Glass and Out episode, we welcome one of the top, young coaches in hockey. At just 35-years old, Matt McIlvane has quickly worked his way up the coaching ladder. Some of the accomplishments in his young career include becoming the head coach of EC Red Bull Salzburg, an Olympic Silver medal, and three DEL league titles. While you may not be too familiar with the name now, it likely won't be long before you we see him behind an NHL bench. Following a playing career in the minors, McIlvane began his coaching career at just 26-years old with the Danville Dashers of the now defunct Federal Hockey League. The following season, he would join Drake Berehowsky's staff in Orlando of the ECHL for one season. His first opportunity with EC Red Bull would come when his former coach, Don Jackson, invited him to Salzburg. After one season, both coaches would move to Red Bull's sister franchise in Munich of the DEL, where they built a dynasty that would capture 3 consecutive league titles.. Then in 2019, at the age of 33, McIlvane would move back to Salzburg to become the head coach of EC Red Bull. This past season, the club tasted playoff success, advancing to the semi-finals. In addition to his club duties, he was a member of Germany's coaching staff during their cinderella run at the 2018 Winter Olympics, where they captured a Silver medal. He was also recently a part of Germany's entry at the 2021 World Hockey Championships, where Germany advanced to the final four. Find out about his motivation behind an early entry into coaching, the importance of having good mentors, and what he's learned about creating a championship culture in this week's podcast!

Jun 17, 2021

On this week's edition of the Glass and Out Podcast, we're joined by Boston Bruins skating and skills coach Kim Brandvold. At just 39-years old and only two seasons of experience in the NHL, Brandvold has already become one of the most well-respected skills coaches in hockey, with a bright future still ahead of him. Following a playing career that saw him represent Norway's U20 men's national team and play four seasons for the Umass-Lowell River Hawks, the Oslo native decided to get into coaching. Under the mentorship of coaching legend Paul Vincent, Brandvold gained experience at his Massachusetts Hockey Development Camps. He would then join Central Catholic High School as an associate head coach, and would later take over the program in 2016. He also got involved with Boston's minor hockey scene, running development clinics, and helping out local teams. It's during this time that Brandvold began to refine his craft and acquire the details needed to work with younger players, that would eventually lead to him working his way to the NHL. Find out how starting at the grassroots level helped prepare him for a career in the pros, his insights into how he develops world class skaters, and how he's learned to gain the trust of some of the game's elite talent.

Jun 10, 2021

In this week's edition of Glass and Out, we welcome one the most experienced coaches in today's game. With over 40 years of coaching experience, Perry Pearn's remarkable resume spans the globe and includes just about every level of hockey . He began his coaching career with a 16-year run at the Norther Alberta Institute of Technology. Under his direction, the school became one of the top University programs in Canada. NAIT would collect five CCAA Championships, have an overall record of 457-177-24, and complete an undefeated season in 1984-85. Pearn, himself, captured seven Alberta College Coach of the Year Awards. After his time at NAIT, Pearn would spend one season in the Swiss Leagues and the next in Medicine Hat in the Western Hockey League. Next would be the start of a 20-year run in the NHL as an assistant coach with Winnipeg, Ottawa, the Rangers, Montreal, and Vancouver. Internationally, he has led Canada on three occasions at the World Junior Championships, capturing gold as head coach in 1993. He also recently spent one season as the head coach of Canada's National Women's team. This past season, Pearn worked under Bill Peters as an assistant with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg of the KHL. Put all that together and you have one of the most well-respected coaches in hockey, who has put in the time to constantly learn and grow as a person and coach. Find out what he learned about creating a successful program during his time at NAIT, how his coaching journey has shaped him as a person, and why team building is critical to team success.

Jun 3, 2021

We've got another big episode for you this week, as we welcome Alex Kovalev. The former NHL star just wrapped up his first season as the head coach of the Kunlun Red Star, the Beijing-based entry into the KHL. He spent the previous two seasons as the club's assistant coach. In addition to the many challenges caused by COVID-19, including relocating the team to Mystishchi, Russia due to travel restrictions in China, Kunlun presents the unique challenge in that the roster is largely in place to support the development of players with Chinese heritage to compete for China in the 2022 Winter Olympics, which will be held in Beijing. In other words, not exactly the ideal situation to begin a coaching career. After a playing career that saw him capture a Stanley Cup, Olympic gold medal, and record 1,029 points in just over 1,300 games as arguably one of the most skilled players of his generation, Kovalev's venture into coaching could be seen as a somewhat surprising move. But with his passion for the game and wealth of hockey knowledge, Kunlun offered a great opportunity to cut his teeth in the coaching game. And with aspirations of returning to the NHL, it's clear that this is just the beginning. Find out his thoughts on why coaches should empower their players to use their imagination and make plays, how his early development helped shape the player he would become, and what he learned during his first season as a head coach.

May 27, 2021

While this week's guest to the Glass and Out Podcast may not have the most obvious ties to the game of hockey, you could argue that he has had one of the most significant influences on the shift that has seen coaches prioritize creating a positive and inclusive team culture. James Kerr is a high performance consultant to some of the world's top organizations, but is most often recognized as the author of the bestselling book Legacy. The book details the culture and behaviour that has resulted in the New Zealand All Blacks, his country's national rugby team, becoming arguably the most successful professional sports team of all time. Ask a professional or aspiring coach what book they would recommend when it comes to culture and leadership and you'll often hear Legacy referenced. It has become a bit of a handbook for many high level hockey coaches. It's a must-read for for any coach looking to become a better leader. The book provides clearly defined objectives that coaches of all levels can implement if they are willing to put the time in and open to empowering others to lead. As a consultant, Kerr specializes in defining, designing, and delivering change for leaders of world-class teams and organizations. His corporate clients include HSBC, UBS, Boeing, and Shell, to name a few. On the sporting side, he's worked with UEFA (the Union of European Football Association), the Australian Kangaroos, Adidas, and most recently, Leicester City Football Club. Leicester recently captured the FA Cup, an incredible feat for a small market team in the English Premier League. In this week's episode, find out about Kerr's building blocks for creating a high performing culture, why humility is a common trait amongst great leaders, and why story telling is an integral coaching tool.

May 20, 2021

In this week's podcast, we welcome two of the most distinguished and well-respected men in hockey. They're also two current members of one of the more unique coaching staffs in hockey with the WHL's Portland Winterhawks. First, you have vice president, general manager and head coach Mike Johnston, who has almost 40 years of coaching experience at just about every level of hockey. Johnston has coached 10 seasons in the NHL, including two years as head coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Johnston took over the Winterhawks part way through the 2008-09 season and has turned it into one of the model franchises in junior hockey, producing for NHL talent such as Seth Jones, Ryan Johansen, Nino Niederreiter, and Cody Glass. Next, you have assistant coach Don Hay, who just finished his third season with Portland. Hay is of course the WHL's all-time winningest coach, setting the record with 743 victories, and has won three Memorial Cup championships (two with the Kamloops Blazers and one with the Vancouver Giants). Considered a legend in the coaching fraternity, he's played a role in developing countless NHL players who have gone on to become household names for hockey fans over the course of his career. Hay and Johnston first worked together at the 1995 World Junior Championships. With their roles reversed (Hay as head coach, Johnston as an assistant), they led Canada to a gold medal. The two have remained friends and a coaching resource to one another during their careers, resulting in a reunion with the Winterhawks. To have two coaches of their stature on the same bench is certainly a rare occurrence and no doubt provides an incredible environment for players to learn and grow in Portland. Find out how they have blended their individual coaching philosophies, their process for designing practices, and the importance of staying humble in this week's podcast.

May 13, 2021

In episode 140 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we welcome Scott Wheeler, who covers the NHL Draft and prospects nationally for The Athletic. Wheeler is widely considered one of the top authorities in the hockey prospect community and is known for his dedication to player evaluation. He does a ton of research through both video and live viewings, and makes it a priority to speak with coaches and those people who have participated in a player's development. See also: In-season skills session with Flames development coach Darren Rommerdahl (VIDEO) Need an opinion on a player eligible for this years draft? Make sure to follow him on Twitter. His in-depth articles offer video evidence and analytical analysis about what makes a player special, or what a player may need to improve on. He also produces some amazing human interest stories on people within our game, that details their journey or experience through hockey. For example, one of his latest pieces of work saw him move in with Minnesota Wild 2020 first round pick Marco Rossi to get a feel for the person behind the prospect. Through this research, he's seen firsthand how player evaluation has changed over the years and the way the game is trending, both good and bad. In addition to his work at The Athletic, Wheeler has also written for the Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, Toronto Sun, National Post, SB Nation, the PGA Tour, McKeen's Hockey, Future Considerations, and The Hockey News. In this episode, we discuss how he got his start coaching his high school hockey team as a student, his process for evaluating talent, and how he believes we can all use data and analysis to make better coaching decisions.

May 6, 2021

In episode 139 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we welcome Stanley Cup champ and NHL coach Kirk Muller. Ask anyone who has had a chance to meet or be coached by Muller, and they'd likely tell you that he fits the profile of a "modern coach" to a tee. With the shift from a dictatorship style of leadership, to one where the leader seeks to connect with their team, he has made relationship building a priority in every stop he's made throughout his career. Muller had a remarkable NHL playing career of 19 seasons and nearly 1500 games, highlighted by scoring the Stanley Cup clinching goal for Montreal in Game 5 of the 1993 Final. Following retirement, he would get his first shot at coaching with Queen's University in 2005. After just one season, he'd make the jump to the NHL and join his former club in Montreal as an assistant coach. In total, Muller has spent 10 of 15 seasons behind an NHL bench as an assistant with the Canadiens. His lone head coaching gig came with the Carolina Hurricanes for three seasons (2011-2014). During his career, Muller has had the chance to work with and learn from an incredible list of coaches. That includes Lou Lamoriello, Pat Burns, Dave Tippett, Ken Hitchcock, Bob Gainey, Guy Carbonneau, Jim Rutherford, Alain Vigneault, Doug Armstrong, and Claude Julien. After being relieved of his assistant coaching duties with Montreal earlier this season, Muller is currently without a coaching job. But with his resume, knowledge of the game and ability to connect with his players, there's no doubt that he'll find his way back to the NHL sooner rather than later. Find out how he approaches relationship building with his players, what he sees as the pillars to a successful program.

Apr 22, 2021

As a country of just 5.5 million people, Finland's success in hockey at the global and professional level has been impressive to say the least. Just how have they been able to do it while competing with larger countries? We welcome today's guest, Finnish National Men's Team head coach Jukka Jalonen to shed some light on the topic. Few coaches have been more instrumental in the growth of Finnish hockey. A big shift can be traced back to 2009, when Jalonen and the Finnish Ice Hockey Association held a summit, recognizing that they were not putting enough of an emphasis on skill development at the grassroots levels. Specifically, they recognized the value of having all clubs following the same program and hired coaches to oversee and deliver it on a regional basis. The key to doing it was to provide all young players an equal development opportunity and to take the focus away from wins and losses. With over three decades of coaching experience, Jalonen's resume includes two World Championship gold medals (2011, 2019), a gold medal at the 2016 World Junior Championships, and a bronze at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Currently, he is preparing to lead his country at the 2021 World Championships. After that, he'll turn is focus towards the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, where he hopes to lead a young, talented Finnish squad back onto the podium. Find out Jalonen's principles for creating a positive hockey culture, the keys to Finland's development system and his thoughts on when we will start to see more European coaches in the NHL.

Apr 16, 2021

Fresh off his appearance at last month's Global Skills Showcase, Philadelphia Flyers Player development coach John Riley joins us this week for a new episode. Riley presented on the topic of creating options, where he broke down how to teach the mechanics of deception. It was definitely a highlight of the week. If you didn't get a chance to watch it, the full presentation will be available to members of The Coaches Site later this spring. Now in his 13th season with the Flyers, Riley has been able to work his way up the coaching ladder without the pedigree of a professional playing career. Through a true dedication to his craft and studying what goes into creating an elite player, he's been able to ensure that he brings the most value to each organization he's worked for, and most importantly, the players he's helped develop. Riley got his coaching career started at some of the most prestigious prep schools in the United States, including Kingswood Oxford School in Connecticut. After eight seasons, he would then join Princeton University as an assistant coach for two seasons, where he would also spend time as an algebra teacher. Riley got his start with the Flyers organization as a scout for six seasons, before being promoted to his current role in player development. Find out about Riley's journey to the NHL, his philosophy for helping develop elite players, and why he puts just as much emphasis on developing the person as he does the player.

Mar 18, 2021

This week, we welcome to the podcast HC Lokomotiv Director of Player Development Ted Suihkonen, who will be one of the presenters at the Global Skills Showcase. Suihkonen, who is one of the most well-respected leaders in our game when it comes to player development, will be presenting on the importance of cognition and variability in hockey. The Duluth, Minnesota native has seen his career in hockey provide him the opportunity to travel the globe. Following a professional playing career that saw him spend time in the Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, and Germany, he would settle in Halden, Norway. There, he would climb the ladder from head coach of the program's U17 team, to the head coach of the pro team. He'd also get the opportunity to serve as an assistant coach with Norway's U20 National Team in 2015. During this time, Suihkonen began to gain notoriety on social media, which allowed him to the chance to travel to work with other clubs and run skills camps in many different countries. This eventually led to his current role with the KHL's Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey club, where he oversees the development plan for club players all the way down to the youth level. In addition to his wealth of hockey knowledge, Suihkonen also has his masters in neuroscience. This led to the launch a new venture called Neuro Hockey, which aims to provide coaches knowledge on developing game intelligence and enhancing skill acquisition. Find out how Suihkonen's studies of the brain has influenced his philosophy for player development, the difference between European and North American methods for player development, and what to expect from his Global Skills Showcase presentation.

Feb 25, 2021

As we continue to celebrate Black History Month, we welcome Paul Jerrard, an assistant coach with the University of Nebraska Omaha Mavericks, to the podcast. One of the few minority coaches to ever stand behind an NHL bench, Jerrard is hoping to help change that moving forward. Through the programs like the NHLCA's BIPOC coaching program, Jerrard has taken a leadership role in trying to create more opportunity for people for colour in hockey. With people like him leading the charge, we should expect more coaches of colour to be represented in the NHL in the not too distant future. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native has a total of 24 years of coaching experience, which includes five seasons as an assistant in the NHL. The most recent stint saw him spend two seasons on Glen Gulutzan's staff with the Calgary Flames between 2016 and 2018. Prior to that, Jerrard spent two seasons with the Dallas Stars and one with the Colorado Avalanche. Jerrard got his coaching career started with his alma mater at Lake Superior State following a 10-year professional playing career. He has spent 12 years of his career in the AHL, along with seven seasons in the NCAA. Now in his third season with Nebraska Omaha and Mike Gabinet's staff, the NCAA D1 11th-ranked Mavericks are in the process of preparing to make a postseason run. Find out his philosophy for running a successful penalty kill from his time in the NHL, how hard work and meaningful connections have helped him in his career, and his thoughts on what steps need to be taken to get more diversity in the NHL.

Feb 19, 2021

In honour of Black History Month, we're revisiting one of our favourite episodes in Glass and Out history, featuring the legendary Willie O'Ree. Back in 2018, host Aaron Wilbur and former co-host Kelvin Cech were lucky enough to be joined by O'Ree for an in-person interview as he shared some incredible stories about his journey to the NHL, the many challenges he faced along the way, how he feels about the current state of hockey, and what can be done to create a more diverse game. Along with being the first Black player in NHL history, O'Ree was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018 in the builder category for all the work he's done on creating a more inclusive game. Also in 2018, the NHL instituted the annual Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award in his honour, to "recognize the individual who has worked to make a positive impact on his or her community, culture or society to make people better through hockey." In addition, we were joined by the first woman President of the NHL Coaches' Association, Lindsay Artkin. Under Artkin's leadership, the NHLCA has been incredibly proactive in playing a role in creating a more inclusive hockey culture and in providing women and non-white coaches an equal opportunity to pursue a career in hockey. These initiatives include the Female Coaches Development Program and BIPOC Program. Listen in as we revisit a conversation with one of the legends of the game and a woman who is leading the charge in creating a more inclusive game.

Feb 15, 2021

Like the old saying goes, "coaches are hired to be fired." Take a look at any career coach's Elite Prospects page and you'll likely find a long list of different teams from various leagues. And then there's Mark Carlson. Carlson has the rare honour of being the only head coach in the history of the USHL's Cedar Rapids RoughRiders since their inception in 1999. That's 22 consecutive years in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In addition, Carlson has also served as GM and President of the RoughRiders since 2014. While many are looking to make that next step towards reaching the pros, Carlson has found his calling by committing to helping young men become good people first, and players second, as they prepare for the next level. His long list of accomplishments includes over 600 wins, three USHL Coach of the Year awards, a Clark Cup championship, and three Anderson Cup titles as the USHL regular season champions. More importantly, over 500 of his players have received Division I scholarships, and 38 have been selected in the National Hockey League Draft, 41 have signed NHL contracts — with 22 having made their NHL debuts. Carlson has also had the honour of serving as head coach for Team USA during the 2008 and 2009 World Junior A Challenge. Both years, USA won the gold medal. In 2009, he was recognized as the United States Olympic Committee Development Coach of the Year. Currently, Carlson and the RoughRiders are awaiting the start of the 2021-22 season after making the tough decision to not play the USHL season due to significant damage done to their arena and community of Cedar Rapids caused by a severe summer storm. Find out how Carlson has created a culture that prioritizes his values over winning games, his decision to stay in Cedar Rapids, and how he's dealt with the adversity of a missed season.

Feb 4, 2021

Fresh off a championship run at a World Juniors tournament like no other, Nate Leaman joins us for this week's Glass and Out podcast. Led by Leaman, the Americans dominated their way to gold, going 6-1 while scoring 38 goals and allowing just 10. The championship game would see them surprise an equally dominant Team Canada with a 2-0 win. Leaman is currently in his 10th season at Providence College. He led the program to its first NCAA Championship in 2015 and currently has the Friars on a streak of six consecutive berths in the NCAA tournament. During his tenure, he's produced a total of 28 NHL draft picks. On a personal level, he was awarded the 2011 Spencer Penrose Award, presented to the top coach in college hockey by the American Hockey Coaches Association, and was also named the top coach in the NCAA in 2015 by USCollegeHockey.com. He got his coaching career started at the age of 26, volunteering at the University of Maine as they went on to win the 1999 National Championship team. After four seasons as an assistant at Harvard, Leaman would take over as head coach at Union College for nine seasons. In his final year at Union, the Dutchmen's hockey program would capture their first ECAC regular season championship and invitation to the NCAA tournament. Prior to winning gold at this year's World Juniors, Leaman was an assistant with Team USA twice, winning Bronze in 2007. Find out about the journey that ended in a gold medal, why an emphasis on skill has resulted in recent success for the Americans, and Leaman's advice for other coaches navigating the early parts of their career.

Jan 28, 2021

At The Coaches Site and Glass & Out podcast, from the pros to the grassroots level, we're all about tackling the important issues facing our game. This week, we welcome Senior National Writer for The Athletic, Sean Fitz-Gerald to the podcast. He is the author of Before the Lights Go Out: A Season Inside a Game on the Brink, a book that details the many issues facing minor hockey in Canada. According to Fitz-Gerald, rising costs, exclusivity, and a decline in enrolment across the country have the game heading towards a state of crisis. A season following the OHL's Peterborough Petes provides the back drop of the book, as Fitz-Gerald attempts to get to the root of the problem by explores the motivations and expectations of the players, coaches, front office staff and hockey fans in the city. While Before the Lights Go Out focuses on some of the systemic issues that exist in hockey, it also sheds light on what is good about it and what steps can be taken towards creating a better sport. Fitz-Gerald is one of the most well respected journalists in Canada, and as you'll hear, a gifted storyteller. As a reporter, he's covered the Olympics, Pan American Games, Super Bowls, NBA playoffs, and NHL playoffs. In 2015, he was named the Sportswriter of the Year by Sports Media Canada. As a passionate, lifelong fan of the game, and hockey dad himself, he's also seen the good and bad of the sport firsthand. The "minor hockey complex," as he describes it, presents a big challenge to everyone involved in the sport. Whether you coach youth, junior, college, or pro, he believes we must all focus on creating a more affordable, more accessible, more diverse, and more inclusive game. Don't miss out on this important discussion on the current state of hockey!

Jan 21, 2021

A head coaching job in the NHL is the ultimate goal for just about every aspiring bench boss. With only 31 positions currently available (soon to be 32), the journey get there is no doubt a difficult one based on hard work, dedication, smarts, networking, and a little good luck. At just 35 years old, Paul McFarland already has three seasons of NHL experience under his belt. He spent last year as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs in what can be described as a tumultuous season, that included a head coach firing, a season pause due to COVID-19, and a return to play inside the Toronto bubble. Prior to that, McFarland spent two seasons as an assistant on Bob Boughner's staff with the Florida Panthers. This past spring, McFarland decided to make the difficult decision to step back from the NHL and rejoin his former OHL team, the Kingston Frontenacs, as the GM and head coach. With an eye on one of those NHL head coaching positions, he decided it was the best course of action to further his career. McFarland's coaching career got started in 2012, when he decided to leave his career as an accountant and join his former OHL coach, DJ Smith, as an assistant with the Oshawa Generals. After two seasons in Oshawa, he was named the head coach in Kingston, where he led the organization to its best regular season in franchise history in season two. His next stop would be in the NHL with Florida, where he was put in charge of the team's power play, helping them improve to second in the NHL. After the Panthers staff was fired in 2019, he'd quickly be hired by his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs to work under Mike Babcock. Now currently waiting to begin the OHL season, he hopes to lead a young, talented team featuring phenom Shane Wright towards a Memorial Cup championship. Find out about his decision to leave Toronto for Kingston, what lessons he's learned during his time in the NHL and his philosophy for running a potent power play in this week's podcast!

Jan 14, 2021

While 2020 was a year that many would like to forget, one silver lining came in the form of a number of talented and accomplished women breaking down sporting world barriers like we've never seen before. The Miami Marlins hired Kim Ng as the first female general manager in Major League Baseball, San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon was the first female to act as a head coach in the NBA, and Kendall Coyne Schofield was hired by the Chicago Blackhawks as a player development coach. Just to name a few. You can also add this week's guest to that list: Emily Engel-Natzke. At just 29 years old, she was hired to be the video coach of the Hershey Bears, the Washington Capitals America League affiliate, and in the process became the first female coach hired in the AHL. Engel-Natzke got her coaching career started in 2014 with the University of Wisconsin as video coach for the women's basketball team. With hockey always being her end goal, she eventually took on the role as video coach for both the men and women's hockey programs the following season. After two seasons, she would be promoted to director of hockey operations for the men's program, along with her duties as the team's video coach. Under the leadership of Badgers head coach Tony Granato, she gained the valuable experience that led to her historic signing with Hershey. She has also served as part of the coaching staff for the U18 Women's National Team and the senior U.S. Women's National Team. In this week's podcast, hear about the challenges of being a young, female coach, why being a video coach requires a high level of commitment and attention to detail, and her advice for others, men and women, who are looking to get into a career in hockey.

Jan 7, 2021

Welcome everyone to a new year of Glass and Out podcasts! We hope you had a safe and happy holidays. To kick off 2021, we welcome Anaheim Ducks head coach Dallas Eakins. Eakins was gracious enough to join us on the eve of the start of Anaheim's training camp (December 31), as the Ducks and the rest of the NHL prepare for what is sure to be a season like no other. With the many challenges and increased stress that is sure to come with the upcoming season, it has never been more important for everyone involved to keep a monitor on their mental health. As Eakins heads into his 16th season as a professional coach and second as head coach of the Ducks, he's learned a few keys to making sure he and his team are on top of their mental game. For Eakins, creating a positive team culture is the first step to creating resiliency. You can check out his 2020 NHLCA Online Global Coaches' Clinic presentation on the topic here. Another key? Taking good care of your physical health. Eakins is well-known for his commitment to exercising, eating healthy, and getting the right amount of sleep. To him, physical health and mental health go hand in hand — coaches included. The Sault Ste. Marie native got his coaching career started in 2005 as an assistant with the Toronto Marlies under Paul Maurice. After just one season, Eakins was promoted along with Maurice to the Leafs, where he'd remain an assistant for thee seasons. He would then return to the Marlies as head coach for four seasons, leading them to one Calder Cup appearance. His first NHL head coach gig would come with the Edmonton Oilers for two seasons. Then, after four season with the San Diego Gulls, he'd jump back to the NHL with the Ducks. In this week's podcast, hear more about his keys to dealing with stress and staying mentally healthy, how he's approaching the uniqueness of the upcoming season, and how he's trying to instil a positive team culture within a rebuilding Ducks franchise.

Dec 26, 2020

Happy holidays everyone and welcome to a very special edition of the Glass and Out podcast! For many hockey fans, the holidays mean one thing: the start of the World Junior Championships. To celebrate this year's tournament, we decided to bring on two former gold medal winning coaches to discuss their processes to leading their respective teams and countries to a World Junior Championship. Brent Sutter led Canada to back-to-back gold medals in 2005 and 2006, going an incredible 12-0 in the process. The 2005 team is of course widely considered the best Canadian team of all-time, featuring a star-studded lineup of NHL All-Stars and future Hall of Famers. He would also return to coach in the 2014 tournament, where Canada finished fourth. Phil Housley was twice an assistant coach with Team USA in 2007 and 2011, capturing bronze medals both years. He would then return as the program's head coach in 2013, leading them to the fourth gold medal in the country's history. Sutter has been owner and president of the WHL's Red Deer Rebels since 1999. During that time, he's spent 16 total seasons as the team's GM and head coach, leading Red Deer to a Memorial Cup and taking home CHL's Coach of the Year Award in 2001. He spent five seasons coaching in the NHL, split between the New Jersey Devils and Calgary Flames. As a player, Sutter is a two-time Stanley Cup champ and played over 1,000 games. He represented Canada on four occasions, including three consecutive Canada Cups. Housley is a Hockey Hall of Famer and one of the most decorated defencemen to ever play the game. He got his coaching career started in Minnesota with Stillwater High School. After nine seasons, he'd join the Nashville Predators as an assistant. His first head coaching gig would come with Buffalo Sabres for two seasons. Currently, he is in the process of preparing for his second season as an assistant with the Arizona Coyotes. We hope you enjoy this very special episode, as the two share their experience leading their respective countries to Gold.

Dec 23, 2020

Search up "hockey skills coach" on Instagram and you'll be sure to find a long list of user names. It's become a great platform for coaches to display short videos with drills that anyone can then take and attempt to replicate on the ice or add to their game. Daniel Broberg, AKA @db_hockey_factory is right at the top of the list when is comes to skills coaches leaving impact on and off social media. Broberg is a Swedish skills coach with over 30 years of experience and has built a reputation for breaking down very complex skills and transferring them to players of all ages, including some of the game's best. His list of clients includes NHLers William Nylander, Carl Haglin, Jesper Bratt, Marcus Krugger, and Oliver Kyllington. Most recently, Broberg spent time as a skills coach for the SHL's Vaxjo Lakers. Prior to that, he spent six seasons as a head/assistant coach in the HockeyAllsvenskan league in Sweden. He's also spent time helping out at the Detroit Red Wings' prospects summer camps. If you follow Daniel on Instagram, you've likely seen some of elite players performing his drills — and just how challenging they can be. Throw in his bleached blonde hair and numerous tattoos, and it's no wonder he's caught the attention of the hockey world. In this week's podcast, we'll discuss Broberg's journey towards becoming a skills coach, how he's been able to earn the trust of some of the game's top players, and his philosophy on developing fundamentals skills versus more complex ones.

Dec 17, 2020

When you think of top NCAA hockey programs, schools like Minnesota, Boston College, Michigan State, and North Dakota are usually some of the names that come to mind. While American International College is not quite yet in that conversation, head coach Eric Lang has helped the small school quickly gain notoriety during his short tenure. Lang has helped turn the Yellow Jackets program from a bottom feeder to one of the rising programs in college hockey. After only winning a combined 11 games the previous two seasons, Lang was named head coach of his alma mater in 2016. Within four seasons, he helped AIC to its first two Atlantic Hockey Conference playoff championships and its first ever birth in the NCAA Championship in the 2018-19 season. It was there that they completed one of the biggest upsets in College Hockey history, taking down #1 ranked St. Cloud State in the first round. The success resulted in Lang being named Atlantic Hockey's Coach of the Year twice and College Hockey News Coach of the Year once. The Bronx, New York native played two seasons for AIC, serving as captain for both years, while being honoured with the ECAC Merit Medal and the school's Henry Butova leadership award. He would start his coaching career by returning to his alma mater in 2006 as an assistant coach for two seasons. Lang then became the head coach for Manhattanville College, a NCAA Div III women's program. After three seasons, he returned to men's hockey and serve as an assistant for Army at the US Military Academy for five seasons. Now in his second tenure as a coach with AIC, he currently has the team 2-0 heading into the holiday break. In this week's podcast, we'll discuss how Lang has been able to turn around the AIC program, the challenges of recruiting for a small school, and leadership lessons learned while coaching at a military school.

Dec 10, 2020

Ask any longtime coach about their coaching journey and the lessons learned along the way, and they'll likely have more than a few stories to share. It's truly a profession all about learning from your mistakes and growing from every situation you encounter. Troy Ward is no exception. With over 30 years of coaching experience at just about every level of hockey, he's seen it all and probably more importantly, he's reflected on it all. It's this incredible wealth of knowledge and experience that let led to the creation of Troy Ward's Mailbag from the Pond at Deer Lake, one of the newest features here at The Coaches Site. Every other week, Ward will answer your questions on topics such as the tactical side of the game, systems, communication, leadership, drills, and anything else coaching related. He's an open book when it comes sharing what's worked, what hasn't, and what's he's learned along the way. Make sure to check out the latest episodes below and send any questions you have to troywardmailbag@thecoachessite.com. Ward got his coaching career started in NCAA Div. III with the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where was an assistant/head coach for five total seasons. After three seasons with the University of Denver, he'd have stops in USHL and IHL before making the big jump to the NHL as an assistant for the Pittsburgh Penguins for three seasons. In between a couple of stops in the ECHL, he'd return to NCAA with the University of Wisconsin for three seasons. His next seven seasons would be split between the AHL's Houston Aeros and Abbotsford Heat. Most recently, he spent time in the Austrian Hockey League as the head coach of EHC Linz. Currently, Ward is an amateur scout for the Vancouver Canucks and covers the midwest part of the United States, specifically the USHL and Minnesota High School Hockey. In this week's podcast, we'll discuss his mentor role for many young coaches, the biggest lessons he's learned throughout his career, and the challenges of scouting players during a pandemic.

Dec 3, 2020

Over the past few years, few NHL teams have been able to shock the hockey world they way the Columbus Blue Jackets have. With John Tortorella leading the way, the Jackets have become a team committed to playing a gritty brand of hockey that has helped them stay competitive despite big roster turnover and numerous injuries. Assistant coach Brad Shaw has worked under Tortorella for four of his five years with the team and has played a big role in helping create the Blue Jackets identity. Some of the Jackets' incredible accomplishments during that time include falling one win short of an NHL record 17 consecutive wins in the 2016-17 season and a first-round upset of one of the best teams in NHL history with a sweep of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019 playoffs. While they've failed to get past the past the second round of the playoffs during that time, there is no doubt that Columbus will continue to stay competitive for the foreseeable future -- thanks in large part to their strong team identity. Following his retirement as a player in 1999, Shaw got his coaching career started by immediately jumping behind the bench as an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning for one season. He would then make the move to the Detroit Vipers of the IHL the following season to become their head coach. After four seasons in the AHL, he'd make the jump back to the NHL with the New York Islanders as an assistant coach before taking over as head coach midway through the following season. The Cambridge, Ontario native's next move would see him incredibly spend the next 10 seasons as an assistant/associate coach in St. Louis, where he worked under four different head coaches. That includes Mike Kitchen, Andy Murray, Davis Payne, and Ken Hitchcock. After his time with the Blues, Shaw joined Tortorella's staff in Columbus in 2016. As the team's defensive coach, he has also had the opportunity to mentor two of the game's top young defencemen in Seth Jones and Zack Werenski. In this week's podcast, we'll discuss how the Blue Jackets have been able to create their identity, his philosophy for developing young defencemen, and his keys to developing meaningful relationships with his players.

Nov 26, 2020

We'd forgive you if you haven't heard the name Karl Schwarzenbrunner before. He may not be well known within North American hockey circles, but he's quickly gaining notoriety in one of hockey's rising nations -- Germany. Karl has been involved with German hockey since 2016 and is the current Director of Coach Education and Sports Science for the German Ice Hockey Federation. He's been tasked with helping create a successful development program for German players and coaches, and he's doing this without a traditional hockey background -- he's never played or coached the game. But that's what makes his perspective so fresh and intriguing. He doesn't share the typical philosophy of a hockey lifer and is willing to consider anything that will enhance his agenda. Prior to joining the German Federation, Karl was the Athletic Trainer for FC Wacker Innsbruck. He's also a former competitive power lifter and is known for his analytical approach to solving situations. It's this approach that has resulted in him seeking every resource, ounce of data and science backed strategy to elevate German hockey. With the recent introduction of the POWERPLAYER26 program, the country has been seeing success like never before. A silver medal at the 2018 Olympics, a Hart and Art Ross Trophy for Leon Draisaitl, and several NHL first round draft picks over the past few years are just a few of their accomplishments. It's Karl's objective to keep things rolling, while continuing the creation of development program that is uniquely German. In this week's podcast, we'll discuss his unusual path to a career in hockey, why data and analytics are so important to him, and his unique philosophy for enhancing Germany's coach education system.

Nov 19, 2020

Over the past few years, the NHL has attempted to take steps towards creating a more diverse, accepting game. That includes the introduction of the Hockey is for Everyone program and the newly formed Hockey Diversity Alliance. But while some progress has definitely been made, anyone who has been in a rink or locker room knows there is still a long way to go for the hockey community. With his recent public announcement of coming out as a gay man, player agent Bayne Pettinger is hoping to continue that progress towards creating a more inclusive game. In a sport where there has never been an active active player to openly come out, the move was a brave and a necessary one. The announcement has been been praised some of hockey's most influential leaders, including public support from superstars Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby. It shows that progress is being made within the sport. It also shows that, just like in every other industry, there are gay men and women in prominent leadership roles within hockey, and they deserve to be treated no different than anyone else. At just 33 years old, Pettinger is one of the youngest player agents in hockey, recently joining CAA Hockey and working under the guidance of high profile agents J.P. Barry and Pat Brisson. Prior to that, Pettinger spent 10 years as the manager of hockey operations for Hockey Canada, working with many of hockey's biggest superstars and most well-respected coaches. During that time, he helped Canada capture gold at the 2013 U18's, 2014 Winter Olympics, 2015 and 2016 World Championships, the 2015 World Junior Championships, and 2016 World Cup. Few people have had the experience of witnessing how world class organizations and leaders function that he's had. In this week's podcast, we'll discuss his time with Hockey Canada, what he's learned during his brief time in the player agent world, and how he hopes his decision to come out will influence opportunities for other gay athletes, coaches and executives in hockey.

Nov 12, 2020

When the NHL announced its return-to-play plan back in May, the result was the end of the season for seven teams with the likelihood of an extended offseason. Those seven teams have now gone almost eight months without playing a game. With an anticipated start of season date to be sometime in January, it could be a total of 10 months with no game action. Ottawa Senators assistant coach Davis Payne and the rest of the Sens coaching staff will be now tasked with preparing a young, rebuilding team coming off of one of the longest off-seasons in NHL history. The struggling Senators have finished as a bottom two team in the league in each of the past three years. While times have definitely been tough, a young core of Brady Tkachuk, Thomas Chabot, and 2020 top five picks Tim Stützle and Jake Sanderson provide a core that is giving reason for some hope to Sens fans. Payne will be heading into his 11th consecutive season as an NHL coach and his second as an assistant in Ottawa. The Kamloops, BC native got his coaching career started in the ECHL, spending seven seasons split between the Greenville Grrrowl, Pee Dee Pride and Alaska Aces. He would lead the Aces to a Kelly Cup championship in 2006. The St. Louis Blues took notice of his ECHL success, hiring him to coach their AHL affiliate in Peoria in 2007. Just three seasons later, Payne would replace Andy Murray midseason and become head coach of the Blues. His next stop was in LA as an assistant to Darryl Sutter for five seasons, highlighted by a Stanley Cup Championship in 2014. After two seasons in Buffalo, Payne landed in Ottawa to join DJ Smith's staff. In this week's podcast, we'll discuss the art of guiding a team through a rebuilding process, dealing with the extended offseason, and Payne's advice for developing individual skills in your players.

Nov 5, 2020

TSN's Bob McKenzie: Observations on the Evolution of Coaching by Aaron Wilbur

Oct 27, 2020

Former Team Canada Head Coach Laura Schuler: Growing the Women's Game by Aaron Wilbur

Oct 19, 2020

The recent growth of German hockey has been one of the more intriguing stories within the hockey world over the past few years. A silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics, four first-round picks over the past three NHL drafts, and the reigning Art Ross, Ted Lindsay and Hart Trophy winner in Leon Draisaitl are just a few accomplishments the country has to boast over that span. As arguably the most celebrated German player ever and former national team head coach, Marco Sturm has left an impact at almost every level of German hockey. The current LA Kings assistant coach played a key role in the developing the German Ice Hockey Federation's "POWER PLAY 26" program, which aims to make Germany a consistent medal contender at the World Championships and Olympics by the year 2026. Sturm's 14-season NHL career saw him spend time with six different teams and finish in first place in games played (938) and points scored (487) for a German born player. He was also a fixture with the national program, including captaining Germany at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. He got his coaching career started with that same national team, leading the Germans at the World Championships, World Junior Championships and Deutschland Cups between 2015-2018. During that time, he helped Germany qualify for the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. Then came the Cinderella run that resulted in the first silver medal in hockey in the country's history. That same season, Sturm joined Willie Desjardins' staff in LA midway through the NHL season. He would remain with the club when Todd McLellan took over as head coach the following year. The Kings are currently in the midst of a rebuild with one of the most promising prospect pools in the league. In this week's podcast, sponsored by Elite Prospects, we'll find out about his experience growing up playing hockey in Germany, how the "POWER PLAY 26" program has helped the growth of German hockey, and what he's learned since making his coaching debut in the NHL.

Oct 12, 2020

Well, the NHL pulled it off. Under the unprecedented circumstances of a global pandemic, the league was able to fully complete four rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs within two bubbles and no positive tests of COVID-19. Congratulations to them and the Tampa Bay Lightning on capturing a historic Stanley Cup championship. We're joined today by a member of the Lighting coaching staff and friend of the site, assistant coach Derek Lalonde. Lalonde's first two seasons in the NHL have been eventful to say the least. The last time he joined the podcast, Tampa was fresh off a disastrous first round sweep at the hands of the Columbus Blue Jackets. He now joins us just over two weeks after the Bolts captured their second championship in franchise history, and one that could definitely be put in the "hardest Cup runs in NHL history" conversation. Lalonde's journey to the NHL took a total of 23 years working his way through the NCAA, USHL, ECHL, and AHL. After 16 season as an assistant in NCAA Div 3 and Div 1 hockey, he got his first opportunity as a head coach and general manager came with the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers. During the 2011-2012 season, he guided the Gamblers to the organization's fourth Clark Cup and USHL Championship, and was named the USHL Coach of the Year in the process. Ironically, the Gamblers' previous USHL championship had occurred in 2010 under the guidance of a coach named Jon Cooper. Following three seasons in Green Bay, Lalonde made the jump to the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL. In his first season, he led the Walleyes to a regular season championship and again, was named Coach of the Year. His next move would see him graduate to the American League with the Iowa Wild, where he'd spend two season as an assistant before joining the Lightning. Today, we'll discuss how Lalonde has been celebrating his first Stanley Cup, the challenges of playing in a bubble, and Tampa Bay's secret to rebounding from a first round sweep only a year ago.

Oct 5, 2020

The career of a hockey coach is often a long journey filled with many stops along the way. Success and prominent jobs usually take years of grinding and patience. At the age of 34, Adam Maglio is in the process of preparing for his first season as the head coach of the Spokane Chiefs -- making him the youngest current head coach in the WHL. This comes after just one season as an assistant on Manny Veiveros' staff, which saw the Chiefs finish with a 41-18-4-1 record, including wins in each of their final 10 games, before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Maglio's quick rise up the coaching ladder speaks to his ability to sell his vision through good communication and attention to detail. A native of Nelson, BC, Maglio's unique coaching journey began in Hong Kong of all places. After graduating from a playing career at the University of British Columbia, he travelled east to run a hockey academy for kids between the ages of 5-15, while also playing in the local semi-professional league. During that time, he learned the different aspects of coaching and running a hockey program in a foreign country, something that has definitely paid off early in his career. After a few years in Hong Kong, Maglio returned to UBC as an assistant coach. He would then join the BCHL's Prince George Spruce Kings. After two seasons as an assistant, he was named head coach and would lead the Spruce Kings to a BCHL Championship in 2019, along with a birth in the gold medal game of the Centennial Cup, the Canadian Jr A championship. In this week's podcast, we'll here about Maglio's time coaching in Hong Kong, how communication and attention to detail have helped him to his position with Spokane, and how he's preparing to lead his team during a the uncertainty of a pandemic.

Sep 21, 2020

Goaltending is one the most evolved and complex positions in hockey. Take the current Stanley Cup Final for example. It features two vastly different netminders who have helped propel their teams to within four wins of Cup. On the Dallas side, we have Anton Khudobin, a 34-year-old career backup on the playoff run of a lifetime. On the Tampa Bay side, there's Andrei Vasilevskiy, a 26-year-old Vezina Award winner whom many would have picked to be in this exact position at the beginning of the year. Despite their paths, resume, and playing styles, either could end up lifting the Cup. Few in hockey have knowledge of the position like LA Kings goalie coach Bill Ranford. From his days backstopping the Edmonton Oilers to a 1990 Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe trophy, to his 14 years helping develop the Kings future in net, Ranford has seen the evolution of goaltending first hand. His playing career included 15 years in NHL, a 1991 Canada Cup, and a gold medal at the 1994 World Championships. Following retirement, Ranford joined the Coquitlam Express of the BC Junior Hockey League as a goalie coach. Over the next four seasons, he would platoon as a goalie coach for the Express, Seattle Thunderbirds and Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League. In 2006, he would make the move to Los Angeles and join the Kings. Ranford played a key role in the rebuilding process that eventually resulted in the two Kings championships, one of which included a Conn Smythe Trophy awarded to Jonathan Quick. The Kings have also won the Jennings Trophy as the team with the lowest goals against average twice during his tenure. Essentially, every goaltending and team defensive record has occurred under his watch. In today's podcast, we'll discuss the evolution of the goaltending position, how Ranford's role requires him to be part coach, mentor, and psychologist, and how coaches can support the development of their goalies.

Sep 14, 2020

Over the past 10 years, few coaches have climbed the coaching ladder as efficiently as Reid Cashman. His noted work ethic, overall attention to detail, along with experience gained under several established coaches have led him to his current situation: preparing for a new chapter as first time head coach with Dartmouth Big Green. Cashman's fast-tracked coaching journey began at the young age of 29 with his alma mater Quinnipiac University, where he spent five years as an assistant under the mentorship of his former coach Rand Pecknold. He then made the jump to the AHL with the Hershey Bears and, after just two seasons, would join the big club in Washington as an assistant under Todd Reirden. During his time with the Capitals, Cashman was in charge of handling defencemen and played a key role in the development of players like 2020 Norris Trophy candidate John Carlson. Cashman shared his thoughts on defenceman development at the 2019 TeamSnap HockeyCoaches Conference, where he presented on building deception into your defenceman's game. To him, simplicity and a focus on building fundamental habits can empower players to make world class plays on a consistent basis. It struck a chord with the audience and was voted the top presentation at the event by the coaches who attended. It was clear then that Cashman had an effective process for developing individual players and that it would only be a matter of time before he got the opportunity to apply that process in leading his own team. The Minnesota native also took part in our popular Chalk Talk series at the 2019 draft, in partnership with the NHL Coaches Association. In this week's podcast, find out Cashman's thoughts on defenceman development, how relationships forged during his playing career have led to opportunities as a coach, and how he plans to build a championship program at Dartmouth.

Sep 7, 2020

We're back! Welcome to the fourth season of the Glass and Out Podcast. We hope you had a safe and productive summer. Although we remain in uncertain times, we hope to continue to provide a resource for anyone involved in the game to learn from and stay up to date in the latest happenings of the hockey world as we head into a what is sure to be a season like no other. We kick things off with a man who may have just been they busiest person in hockey this past summer, Hockey Canada Chief Executive Officer Tom Renney. Renney, like a lot of executives and leaders, has been navigating uncharted waters during the COVID-19 pandemic. The possibility and aftermath of a cancelled season are likely concepts that he never thought he'd have to contemplate. As a hockey lifer, he can certainly relate to the range of emotions so many have been feeling during these times. The Cranbrook, BC native has coached at just about every level over his more than 40 years involved in the game. His resume includes two WHL championships and a 1992 Memorial Cup with the Kamloops Blazers, as well as four NHL stops with the Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, and Detroit Red Wings. Renney has also spent much of his career serving Hockey Canada at various roles (coach, team manager, CEO, president). That includes time at the World Junior Championships, World Championships, Spengler Cups, and Olympic Games, which includes a silver medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics. Today, he oversees the growth and development of the game in Canada as Hockey Canada's Chief Executive Officer. That makes him one of the key influencers in the hockey world. In this week's podcast, we'll hear how Hockey Canada plans to approach the upcoming season, his thoughts on the overall direction of the game globally, and about his journey to becoming an influential voice in hockey.

Jun 30, 2020

By now, you're probably sick and tired of hearing the phrase "unprecedented times," but that is the reality we currently live in. As the NHL prepares for a possible return to play, it, along with the rest of the hockey world, remains in a state of great uncertainty. Nowhere is that more prominent than minor and youth hockey. What happens if a player tests positive for COVID-19? When will full team practices be allowed? Will 5-on-5 games be played or will it be purely skill development and practice? Those are just a few of the many questions that face Ian Taylor, the Executive Director of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association, and Glen Andresen, Executive Director of Minnesota Hockey. Both men oversee two of the largest hockey organizations in the world and will play critical roles in how their leagues approach the upcoming hockey season during the current pandemic. Their main objectives will be keeping everyone involved safe, while returning to some level of normalcy to keep the game fun and competitive. It's a tall task that will require all involved, including players, parents, coaches, managers, and volunteers, to do their part. Taylor has over 28 years of coaching and minor hockey experience. After 14 years as the OMHA's director of development programs, he was named executive director in 2016. He holds a NCCP High Performance 1 Coaching Certification and has sat on Hockey Canada's Athlete Development Council, as well as the National Coach Mentorship Program Advisory Committee. Andresen has spent nearly eight years as Hockey Minnesota's executive director and oversees the marketing, promotion and growth of game in the State of Hockey. Prior to that, he spent four years working with the Minnesota Wild as their website and social media manager. He's a graduate of the University of Minnesota and is also an executive board member of the Positive Coaching Alliance. In this season's final episode of the Glass and Out Podcast, find out how they are developing a game plan for their players getting back on the ice, what the biggest challenges will be, and what they've learned about the importance of youth sports and the role of their organizations.

Jun 22, 2020

In many ways, the Boston Bruins have been one of the model NHL franchises over the past 10 years. Over that span, the B's have won a Cup while making three Finals appearances, captured two Presidents' Trophies and only missed the playoffs twice. One of the main reasons for their success? Top notch special teams — and more specifically, their penalty kill. Bruins assistant coach Joe Sacco is currently in his sixth season with the team and is in charge of the PK. The Bruins have finished with a top-three unit three times under his watch, including the current season. Sure, having arguably the top two-way forward in the league in Patrice Bergeron, along with super-pest Brad Marchand and a 6-foot-9 Zdeno Chara helps, but a lot of the credit belongs to Sacco. The Medford, Massachusetts native played college at Boston University and was selected by Toronto in the fourth round of the 1987 NHL Draft. He would go on to play 13 seasons in the NHL and represent USA Hockey eight times, including the 1992 Olympic Games in Albertville, France. Following his playing career, Sacco was hired as an assistant coach by the AHL's Lowell Lock Monsters. Two years later, he'd join the Colorado Avalanche organization and become the head coach of their AHL affiliate in Lake Erie. The Avs would promote Sacco to head coach of the big club after two seasons. His first season resulted in a Jack Adams Award nomination and a playoff birth for an Avalanche team that was expected to finish at the bottom of the standings. After three more years with Colorado and a brief stop in Buffalo, Sacco would join the Bruins organization. This season saw Boston capture the Presidents' Trophy as top team in the NHL when the season was suspended. They now await the start of the playoffs as a top four seed in the Eastern Conference. In this week's podcast, Sacco explains his thoughts on creating a successful penalty kill, how USA hockey has evolved over the past 30 years, and preparing for a summertime postseason run.

Jun 15, 2020

Ownership instability, the constant threat of relocation, and only two playoff series victories in 22 years have made the history of the Arizona Coyotes franchise one filled with turmoil. But for the first time in years, it appears that things could be trending upwards for the Desert Dogs. A young core that includes Clayton Keller and Jakob Chychrun, plus veteran stars like Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Taylor Hall, and a solid goaltending-tandem of Darcy Kuemper and Antti Raanta compose a team looking to end a seven-year playoff drought. They will take on the Nashville Predators in a best-of-five play-in series this summer. Assistant coach John MacLean is his third season with Arizona and knows the struggles of trying to build a contender. MacLean spent 22 years as a player (14) and coach (8) with the New Jersey Devils, and played a pivotal role in their journey from basement dwellers to NHL powerhouse. Drafted sixth overall in 1983, he would finish his career as their all-time leading scorer (347 goals and 701 points) and help the organization capture their first Stanley Cup in 1995. MacLean joined the Devils' coaching staff as an assistant immediately following his playing career. Working under Hall of Famer Pat Burns, New Jersey captured their third Stanley Cup in franchise history that season. Six seasons later, he would take over as head coach of the AHL affiliate in Albany, before moving back to the NHL club the following season as the team's head coach. After three seasons as an assistant in Carolina, MacLean took a three-year break from coaching and pursued a broadcasting career. He then made his way to Arizona in 2017. In this week's podcast, we'll cover how he's brought his experiences from New Jersey to the desert, his philosophy for handling the Coyotes' forwards and penalty kill, and the challenges his team faces in the upcoming best-of-five series with the Predators.

Jun 8, 2020

Well, it appears that NHL hockey will be resuming sometime this Summer. While the unprecedented circumstances will create a playoffs like we've never seen before, the unique best-of-five series play-in round that kicks things off is sure to offer some intriguing matchups. The Minnesota Wild and assistant coach Bob Woods are now in preparation mode as they get ready for a series with the Vancouver Canucks. The Wild have had a turbulent year that saw head coach Bruce Boudreau replaced by Dean Evason in February. The Wild went 8-4 following the coaching change and appeared to be turning things around right as the season came to a halt. With no exact dates currently set, Woods and the Wild staff now face the tough task of two months of uncertainty and designing a plan for Elias Pettersson and the upstart Canucks. After an ECHL Hall of Fame playing career, Woods would take on a role as a player-assistant coach with the Tallahassee Tiger Sharks and Mississippi Sea Wolves for four seasons. It was there that he met Boudreau, whom he would go on to work with throughout his coaching career. After a stint as head coach of the Sea Wolves for four seasons, the Leroy, Saskatchewan native's next stop was back under Boudreau with the AHL's Hershey Bears. Woods took over as head coach after three seasons and led the Bears to a Calder Cup Championship in 2009. He joined Boudreau in Washington, helping the Capitals to a Presidents' Trophy in 2010, and followed him to Anaheim in 2011-12, where they coached together for another two and a half seasons. After a two-year stint as head coach/GM with the WHL's Saskatoon Blades, Woods made the jump back to the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres for one season before again rejoining Boudreau's staff, this time in Minnesota, where he is currently in his third season with the Wild. In this week's podcast, Woods shares his experience of having a Hall of Fame career in the ECHL, what he's learned about working with veteran players, and how the Wild are preparing for their best-of-five series with the Canucks.

Jun 1, 2020

Hockey's transition from a standard of big, tough, physical defencemen to mobile, puck-movers has truly been one of the more interesting changes the game has seen. Not only are undersized defencemen now given a legitimate chance to succeed, they're flourishing as some of the hockey's brightest stars. If Nashville Predators assistant coach Dan Lambert had been born 20 years later, his playing career may have played out very different. As a 5-foot-9 defenceman, Lambert had an impressive junior career that saw him rack up 319 points in 244 games with the WHL's Swift Current Broncos, capture a Memorial Cup championship and represent Canada at the 1989 World Junior Championships. He was drafted in the sixth round by the Quebec Nordiques but would go on to play just a handful of NHL games, spending most of his career in the AHL, IHL and DEL German pro league. Following his playing career, Lambert got his first coaching gig as an assistant with the WHL's Kelowna Rockets. After five seasons, he was named head coach and would lead the Rockets to a WHL title and Memorial Cup Final. He spent the next two seasons in the Buffalo Sabres' organization, one as an assistant with the big club and the next as head coach of their AHL affiliate in Rochester. He would return to the WHL as head coach of Spokane for two seasons, leading the Chiefs to total record of 81-46-5-8. Lambert would then join the Nashville Predators as an assistant. He currently oversees one of the top defensive cores in the league, which includes Norris-candidate Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis and Mattias Ekholm. The Predators are now destined for a best-of-five play-in series with the Arizona Coyotes if/when the NHL does resume play. In this week's episode, he'll discuss how the Predators are preparing for a possible return to play, how he approaches coaching the power play, and his thoughts on developing defencemen for the modern game.

May 25, 2020

Here at the Glass and Out Podcast, we tend to focus on topics like tactics, player development and leadership/communication. This week, we'll be focusing on an often forgotten side of the game — but one that is just as integral to success on the ice: the mental game. Dr. Leonard Zaichkowsky is credited as one of the pioneers of sports psychology, bringing together cognitive neuroscience and sports performance. He has spent his career researching, writing and speaking on performance psychology, sports science, and the emerging technology that allows us to better understand it. A co-founder and senior consultant at 80 Percent Mental Consulting, Dr. Zaichkowsky advises coaches, teams and sports organizations on developing athlete cognition. His current list of clients includes the Pittsburgh Penguins and Golden State Warriors. He's also consulted with teams in the NBA, NHL, NFL, MLB, Australian Rules Football, the Spanish men's national soccer team and Olympic sports organizations around the world. From 2010 to 2012, he served as the Director of Sports Science for the Vancouver Canucks. Dr. Zaichkowsky's resume also includes nearly four decades as the Director of the Sports Psychology Program within the school of Education and Graduate Medical Science at Boston University. He is a former President and a fellow of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, and currently section editor on psychology for the International Journal of Health & Sport Science. Recently, the American Psychological Association honoured Len with the "Distinguished Service to the Profession" award. In this week's podcast, we'll be discussing the adoption of neuroscience as a driver of performance in the sports, his book The Playmakers Advantage: How to take your mental game to the next level, and what strategies coaches can implement to enhance the performance of their players.

May 18, 2020

Look up the phrase "hockey lifer," and you'll likely find a picture of Rick Bowness right next to it. Bowness has coached for an incredible 35 consecutive years in pro hockey and currently sits in first place in all-time NHL games coached with over 2,400 of them. At 65 years old, he doesn't appear to be slowing down either. Bowness is currently the interim head coach of the Dallas Stars after taking over the team in December. The Stars sat in third place in the Central Division at the time of the season postponement. Ranked second in goals against with 177 allowed, there's no doubt that they will be a contender in the Western Conference if/when the season resumes. The Moncton, New Brunswick native began his coaching career in 1984 as a player-coach with the Sherbrooke Jets, Winnipeg's AHL affiliate at the time. The Jets promoted Bowness to assistant coach of the big club the following season. After four seasons back in the AHL, he would join the Boston Bruins as head coach for one season. Bowness would then have the honour of being the first head coach in Ottawa Senators franchise history, a job he would keep for three and a half seasons. His next stops would be with with the New York Islanders and Phoenix Coyotes for nine total seasons. In 2006, Bowness joined Alain Vigneault's staff in Vancouver for seven seasons, capturing two Presidents' Trophies and coming within one win of the Stanley Cup in 2011. He would then John Cooper's staff in Tampa Bay for five seasons, again making an appearance in the Finals but coming up just short. Considered one of the all-time good guys in hockey, there's few in the game who wouldn't like to see Bowness hoist the Cup before he calls it quits. In this week's episode, Bowness discusses his philosophy on playing defensive hockey, lessons learned from 35 years of professional coaching, and what a Stanley Cup would mean to someone who has dedicated his life to hockey.

May 11, 2020

One of the toughest challenges a coach can face is to be named interim head coach of a struggling team that is expected to make the playoffs, midway through a season. There's no exact playbook for turning things around in such a short timespan. That is the exact situation that the Minnesota Wild's Dean Evason faced this season. With the team sitting at 27-23-7 under Bruce Boudreau, Evason was promoted from assistant to interim head coach on February 14. He would guide the Wild to an 8-4 record and within a point of the final Western Conference wild card spot when the season was put on hiatus. The appointment was 22 years in the making, as Evason had progressed from coaching junior hockey in the WHL, to professional hockey in the AHL and NHL. After getting his career started with WHL stops in Kamloops, Vancouver, and Calgary, his first shot in the NHL would come as an assistant with the Washington Capitals. Seven seasons later, he would move to the AHL and become head coach of the Milwaukee Admirals for six seasons. Evason made the jump back to the NHL with the Wild, where he is now in his second season. The Flin Flon, Manitoba native played 858 NHL games over 13 seasons, including time with the Washington Capitals, Hartford Whalers, San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars and Calgary Flames. His longest stint was with the Whalers, where he played with the likes of Joel Quenneville, Dave Tippett, Ron Francis, Marc Bergevin, Kevin Dineen, Ulf Samuelsson, Brad Shaw, John Stevens, John Anderson, Brian Lawton, and Don Maloney – all of which have spent time in management or coaching at the NHL level. It is truly one of the more incredible coaching trees in hockey history. In this week's podcast, we'll discuss how Evason approached the midseason takeover, the unique coaching tree out of Hartford, and what NHL hockey might look if the season resumes.

May 5, 2020

From his pro career as an undersized enforcer, to his journey through unlikely destinations as a coach, Kevin "Killer" Kaminski has just about seen it all. The former tough guy recently finished his first season with the La Ronge Ice Wolves of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, leading them to the playoffs after three consecutive last-place finishes. In fact, the Wolves won more games under Kaminski than they had the previous three seasons combined. As a result of the impressive turnaround, he was named co-SJHL Coach of the Year. Standing at just 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds, Kaminski was able to carve out a 12-year pro career as an enforcer after being drafted 48th overall by the Minnesota North Stars in 1987. He would go on to play 139 NHL games, collecting 528 PIMs and battling heavyweights like Bob Probert, Tie Domi, and John Kordic. Did we mention he was 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds? Following his retirement, Kaminski accepted an assistant coaching gig with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks of the AHL under Mike Babcock. His next 16 years would include stops in the WCHL, ECHL, UHL, CHL, SPHL, NAHL, and the WSHL. He was named the Central Hockey League's Coach of the Year in 2009 while behind the bench of the Mississippi River Kings. His next challenge would be returning to his home province of Saskatchewan to help revive the Ice Wolves. Find out how Kaminski was able to turn things around in the La Ronge, what life was like while growing up in hockey-crazed, small-town Saskatchewan, and how he he's been able to overcome adversity throughout his career in this week's edition of the Glass and Out Podcast!

Apr 27, 2020

There are few coaches in the history of hockey as accomplished as Ken Hitchcock. While he may not be officially there yet, it's fair to say that's it's only a matter of time before he receives a call from the Hockey Hall of Fame. Hitchcock has dedicated nearly 50 years of his life to coaching and his list of achievements are endless: - 3rd all-time in NHL wins(849) - 6th all-time in NHL games coached(1598) - Stanley Cup winner - Jack Adams Award winner - 3 Olympic Gold Medals with Team Canada - World Cup of Hockey Championship - WJC Gold Medal - 2 WHL league titles - 2 WHL Coach of the Year awards - CHL Coach of the Year - Honoured with the Order of Hockey in Canada Hitchcock's coaching career began at the grassroots level in his hometown of Edmonton, Alberta with the Sherwood Park Chain Gang Midget AAA program. After 10 seasons of great success, he would join the WHL's Kamloops Blazers. In his six seasons there, the Blazers would advance to the Memorial Cup twice. His first shot at the NHL would come as an assistant with the Philadelphia Flyers for three seasons. He would then join the Dallas Stars minor league affiliate in Kalamazoo for three seasons as head coach. Partway though his third season, he would be promoted to head coach of the big club in Dallas. After one Stanley Cup and two Finals appearances in seven seasons with the Stars, he would make his return to Philadelphia as head coach. Hitch's NHL career also includes stops in Columbus, St.Louis, back to Dallas, and a one-year stint in Edmonton. He is currently a senior advisor for the Oilers. Hitchcock has also been a staple with Hockey Canada, coaching in a four Olympics, a World Cup of Hockey, four World Championships and a World Junior Championship. In this week's podcast, he'll discuss his illustrious career in junior, professional and international hockey, how the game has changed throughout his many years of coaching, and what it takes to win the ultimate prize.

Apr 20, 2020

When you think of sports and the state of Nebraska, Cornhuskers football and the College World Series are usually the first things that come to mind. But thanks in part to current Omaha Lancers head coach David Wilkie, you can now add growing pipeline for ice hockey players to that list. There are few people as deep rooted in Omaha hockey as Wilkie. Prior to his three seasons with the Lancers in the USHL, he guided the Omaha AAA Hockey Association for seven seasons as their Director of Hockey Operations. He coached the program's U16 and U18 teams to 34 major championships, bringing the program to national prominence. During that time, the program produced 92 junior hockey players, 44 NCAA Division 1 commitments and four NHL drafted players. Included in that list is his son Chris Wilkie, who finished this season second in goals in the NCAA as a senior forward for Colorado College. As a player, Wilkie was a first-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens and would go on to play 167 NHL games. He also represented Team USA at two World Junior Championships. Wilkie's transition to coaching would come during the 2001-02 season, as a player-coach for the ECHL's Augusta Lynx. He would later spend one season as an assistant coach at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Find out about the challenges that come with coaching in a non-traditional market, his unique mentorship from coaching legend Scotty Bowman, and how the USHL supports the development of world class coaches in this week's Glass and Out Podcast!

Apr 13, 2020

Today marks a special day for the Glass and Out Podcast. We've arrived at episode 100! We want to send a special thanks to everyone who's tuned in over the past few years. Here's to a 100 more! We are certainly in bizarre times around the world. When it comes to hockey, you'd be hard pressed to find a coach who had a stranger season than Kelowna Rockets bench boss Kris Mallette. The Rockets were struggling under head coach Adam Foote with a record of just 24-26-2-2 in late February. With the 2020 Memorial Cup taking place in Kelowna and things not going according to plan, GM Bruce Hamilton decided to shake things up by replacing Foote with Mallette, who had worked as an assistant for five seasons. Mallette was handed the reigns of a struggling Memorial Cup-bound team with only 14 games remaining in the regular season, all while replacing a well-respected former NHL star, whose son also happened to be the captain of the team and a first-round NHL draft pick. Then, just when the Rockets appeared to be responding to the change with a 3-0-1 record in the first four games, the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It truly was a season like no other. In today's podcast, Mallette discusses his unusual season, climbing the coaching ladder in the Okanagan, and how he is planning to spend his off-season preparing for his first full year as a WHL head coach.

Apr 6, 2020

If you had to pick one organization that was extra disappointed by the NHL postponement, the Edmonton Oilers would have to be at the top of the list. Currently sitting in second place in the Pacific Division, the Oilers looked primed to make the playoffs for just the second time in 13 years. And with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl sitting 1-2 in league scoring, there's no doubt they would be tough a out. Oilers assistant coach Brian Wiseman was in the midst of his first season behind an NHL bench, playing a key role in helping Edmonton back into contention as a member of Dave Tippet's staff. Wiseman's coaching career began under Tippet as video coach in Dallas during the 2002-03 season. After stops at Princeton University and the AHL's Houston Aeros, he decided to take a six-year break from coaching. Wiseman's career would resume with a return to his alma mater, the University of Michigan. He spent eight years as an assistant to legendary NCAA coach Red Berenson, the same coach who recruited him to play for the Wolverines. Brian would spend eight seasons on campus before rejoining Tippet in Edmonton. In this week's podcast, Wiseman shares how he's helped the Oilers back into contention, what he learned during his first season behind an NHL bench, and how he developed a close relationship with coach Red.

Mar 30, 2020

There's no playbook for the current pandemic that we are all currently facing. As we continue to work our way through unchartered territory, we hope you and your loved ones are staying safe during this difficult time. We're all in this together. Like many coaches all around the world, Oliver David's season came to a disappointing end in early March. In the midst of his third season with the USHL's Dubuque Fighting Saints, David's team sat second overall in the league with a record of 33-13-2 and looked primed to make a run at the Clark Cup. That will have to wait for another season. David's first head coaching gig came with the NAHL's Kenai River Brown Bears, where he spent four seasons. He would then join Dubuque as an assistant for three seasons. After a brief stop as Mike Johnston's assistant coach with the WHL's Portland Winterhawks, David would make his way back to Dubuque and take over the reigns as bench boss. How has David been dealing with the aftermath of a cancelled season and what does he see in the future for the Fighting Saints in this current time of uncertainty? Find out in this week's edition of the Glass and Out podcast!

Feb 10, 2020

Speed is everything in today's game. From the pace of the play, to how quickly young players are thrust into prominent roles, to how quickly coaches aspire to make their way up to the big leagues. Calgary Flames assistant coach Ryan Huska has approached his career with two key words: patience and loyalty. Throughout his 18 years of coaching, Huska has worked for just two organizations. His career would start as an assistant with the WHL's Kelowna Rockets in 2002, and he was named head coach five years later. During that time, Kelowna captured two WHL championships (2005, 2009) and made two appearances in the Memorial Cup. After 12 years in Kelowna, Huska joined the Flames organization, as head coach of their AHL affiliate in Adirondack. With Calgary's AHL affiliate now in Stockton, Huska remained the team's head coach for four seasons before being promoted to NHL assistant coach in 2018. Another impressive and rare distinction he's accomplished so far in his career? He's never been fired (knock on wood). How has he done it? Find out how patience and loyalty have helped Huska, how he's dealt with a turmoil-filled season in Calgary, and his method for developing talent in this week's episode of the Glass and Out Podcast! *Note: Due to technical difficulties, parts of the interview audio were negatively effected. We apologize in advance.

Feb 3, 2020

The St. Louis Blues' journey to their first Stanley Cup last season was truly one of the most incredible stories in recent sports history. Their unlikely turnaround from last place to champs has been well documented but here's a quick refresher: On January 2nd, the Blues sat dead last overall in the NHL. After an impressive second half of the season that saw the team go 30-10-5, they finished 3rd in the Central Division. The Blues playoff run saw them take down Winnipeg, Dallas, San Jose and eventually the Boston Bruins in seven games en route to their first Cup in franchise history. A big part of the turnaround? An early season coaching change from Mike Yeo to Craig Berube. Berube, a former enforcer who accumulated over 3000 PIMs in just over 1000 NHL games as an undrafted player, made two Finals appearances with the Fylers in 1987 and the Capitals in 1998. His coaching career would begin with the Philadelphia Phantoms, where he spent four seasons as an assistant and head coach. He would then make the jump to the big club and spend seven seasons with the Flyers. After a year off from coaching, Berube would join St. Louis' AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves in 2016. Two years later, he would lead the Blues to their long-awaited first title. And the success has carried into this season. St. Louis currently sits in first place in the Western Conference and Berube represented the Blues as head coach of the Central Division at this year's NHL All-Star Game. Find out his perspective on the Blues' Cinderella run, how he's approached avoiding the dreaded cup hangover, and his thoughts on today's game as a former enforcer in this week's edition of the Glass and Out Podcast!

Jan 26, 2020

In a time where coaches are hired to be fired, it's rare that you see longevity and success that Waterloo Black Hawks head coach P.K. O'Handley has been able to find in one league and, for the majority of it, with one team. With the exception of a four-year stop with the ECHL's Florida Everblades, O'Handley has spent nearly the entirety of his 30-year coaching career in the USHL, including seven seasons with the North Iowa Huskies and 17 with Waterloo. He is currently the league's all-time wins leader with over 700 and counting. His long list of achievements include four USHL Coach of the Year awards, three GM of the Year awards, and the Black Hawks' lone Clark Cup championship. Internationally, P.K. has represented USA Hockey at the World Junior Challenge as head coach in 2007 and 2017, and served as an assistant coach at the 2009 World Junior Championships. With such a vast junior hockey resume, there's no doubt that opportunities to move into pro hockey have presented themselves. But for O'Handley, finding the right niche in the USHL has provided him the chance to leave a lasting legacy. Find out what led into his decision to remain in the USHL, his philosophy on balancing team success with player development, and how he's continued to evolve over the course of his career in this week's Glass and Out Podcast!

Jan 19, 2020

The recent string of NHL coaching firings and hirings are prime examples that a career in coaching isn't for the faint of heart. There are many that make life changing sacrifices in the long pursuit of a job in the NHL, which as we've seen, can offer little to no security. For Victoria Royals head coach Dan Price, the gamble is worth the risk for the game he loves. Equipped with a law degree and steady job at a Calgary firm, Price decided to enter the uncertain world of coaching. His first job would come in 2006 as an assistant with the WHL's Chilliwack Bruins (now the Victoria Royals) for three seasons. After a three-year stint as head coach and general manager of the Alberta Junior Hockey League's Drumheller Dragons, he would make the jump back to the WHL with the Tri-City Americans for two seasons as an assistant. Price would return to the Royals organization in 2016, taking over the reigns as head coach from Dave Lowry in 2017. Now in his fourth season with Victoria, Price has led the Royals to a winning record each season and has drawn praise for his ability to communicate with his players. Find out what it was like to give up a career in law, his teaching philosophy, and how he's preparing himself for the next stage of his career in this week's edition of the Glass and Out Podcast!

Jan 12, 2020

The NHL has had a history of former tough guys turned successful coaches, with Craig Berube, Gerard Gallant and Bob Boughner being the most recent examples. It would appear that Chicago Wolves head coach Rocky Thompson could be on his way to joining them. Thompson is a former Alberta Golden Gloves Champion who terrorized the Western Hockey League before embarking on a professional career, which included 25 games in the NHL and over 2,000 PIMs in his professional career. Thompson began his coaching career as an assistant with the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings for three seasons. He would then join Dallas Eakins' staff with the AHL's Oklahoma City Barons and, eventually, the Edmonton Oilers. Thompson's first head coaching opportunity would come with the Windsor Spitfires, where he led them to a Memorial Cup championship in 2017. Currently in his third season with the Wolves and coming off an AHL Finals appearance, Thompson has been able to reinvent himself as a player's coach that is receiving glowing endorsements from past and current players. He now looks to be apart of the next wave of coaches who are poised to bring a modern approach to coaching in the NHL. Find out his coaching philosophy, strategies for connecting with his players and how he's preparing for the next step in his coaching career in this week's edition of the Glass and Out Podcast!

Dec 23, 2019

For hockey fans, the holiday season means so much more than just time with friends and family. It means the World Junior Championships are upon us. High quality hockey from young men giving their all for their country in the quest for gold. University of Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko knows first hand the ups and downs that players face in such a stress-filled environment. He's led Team USA as head coach twice at the World Juniors, capturing gold in 2017 and bronze in 2018. He was also an assistant coach during a disappointing fifth-place finish by the Americans in 2014. The two-time NCHC Herb Brooks Coach of the Year winner has coached NCAA hockey for over 30 years, including 13 years as head coach at the St. Cloud State University. He is currently in his second season with the Golden Gophers. Find out how the long-time NCAA coach managed to find success in the short-term, high pressure tournament in this week's edition of the Glass and Out Podcast! *Note: Due to technical difficulties, parts of the interview audio were negatively effected. We apologize in advance.

Dec 15, 2019

In the climate of today's game, it's understandable if a high profile coach or hockey executive decided to dodge something like a podcast appearance. That would definitely apply to Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour, who has been front and centre in the recent string of NHL coaching controversies. The Canes coach was gracious enough to join the Glass & Out Podcast during his team's recent stop in Vancouver — and was a complete open book. The former Stanley Cup champ, Olympian, and two-time Selke Trophy winner followed up a successful playing career by becoming an assistant with his former team in Carolina. After seven seasons, he was named head coach and would lead the Hurricanes all the way the Eastern Conference Final in his first season. Known as a players coach, "Rod the Bod" has found a way to use his experience as a player to connect with his team in a unique way. Brind'Amour shares his opinion on the Bill Peters situation, the Hurricanes unlikely 2019 playoff run, and just how long he expects to stay in the coaching game during this week's edition of the Glass & Out Podcast.

Dec 9, 2019

Hockey culture. It's a term that has come under fire over the past few weeks. Whatever your opinion is on the subject, one thing is clear: change is coming – and fast. Former NHLer and current Lausanne HC head coach Ville Peltonen has seen his fair share of hockey culture on two different continents. Peltonen played 382 NHL games, with stops in San Jose, Nashville, and Florida. His pro career also included stops in Finland, Sweden, and Switzerland. Peltonen captained Finland six times at the IIHF World Championships and was also named captain of four different club teams during his 22-year playing career. As a leader on and off the ice, culture is something that's played a critical role in on every team he's been apart of. Now a rising star in the European coaching ranks, he could be on his way back to North America some day. So how does he feel about the current state of the hockey and the recent allegations of misconduct against current NHL coaches? And how does culture differ in Europe and North America? Find out in this week's edition of the Glass & Out Podcast!

Dec 1, 2019

When people hear "skills coach," toe-drags and saucer passes probably come to mind. But for longtime Vancouver Canucks skills coach Glenn Carnegie, that is just the tip of the iceberg. Carnegie began his coaching career with his own training company in his hometown of Winnipeg, where his list of clients included Jonathan Toews and Travis Zajac. He would then move on to become the strength and conditioning coach of the Manitoba Moose before making the jump to the Canucks in 2009. From the Sedin twins to Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser, there hasn't been a shortage of talent that Carnegie has had to privilege to work with. So how exactly do you help develop such elite players with so much skill already in their arsenal? Find out in this week's episode of the Glass and Out Podcast!

Nov 24, 2019

"We, us, and our." Those are the three key words that University of North Dakota head coach Brad Berry tries to instil in every team he leads. It's created a strong culture for UND - on and off the ice. Berry has coached the Fighting Hawks for 14 years and is currently in his fourth season as head coach. In his first season at the helm in 2016, he helped North Dakota capture its first national championship in 16 years, becoming the first coach in NCAA history to do so in his inaugural campaign. The 54-year-old native of Bashaw, Alberta also oversaw a program-record 22 student-athletes named to the NCHC All-Academic team during the 2016-2017 season. Year-after-year, the program and its players continue to thrive under his watch. In this week's episode of the Glass & Out Podcast, Berry explains how he's created a successful culture that has already produced NHL stars like Brock Boeser, Tyson Jost, and Nick Schmaltz.

Nov 17, 2019

Any successful coach will tell you their path faced many obstacles and led them to places they didn't expect to be. Vancouver Giants head coach Michael Dyck is no exception. After 13 seasons in the WHL, which included an appearance in the league finals while the head coach of the Lethbridge Hurricanes in 2008, Dyck was found jobless one year later. Seen by many as a rising coaching star, he decided to step away from his coaching career and focus on his family. Nine years later, Dyck would receive a second chance in the Dub with the Vancouver Giants. He made an instant impact, leading the Giants to within one win of the 2019 WHL championship. The 51-year-old now appears back on track to a future job in the pros. So what did he learn from the nine-year WHL head coaching hiatus and how has he brought a winning culture back to the Giants? Find out in this week's episode of the Glass & Out Podcast!

Nov 8, 2019

There are few women in hockey as decorated as Cammi Granato. From becoming one of the first women to be inducted into the International Ice Hockey Hall of Fame, the USA Hockey Hall of Fame, and the Hockey Hall of Fame, to Gold medals and numerous awards with USA Hockey, she's done it all. You can now add the first female Pro Scout in NHL history to her never-ending list of accomplishments. Needless to say, she is truly a legend in women's hockey and sports in general. Granato joins the GAO Podcast this week to discuss her new position with the incoming NHL franchise in Seattle and her historic career with USA Hockey.

Oct 17, 2019

We're back for our third season! It's only right that we kick things off with a familiar face to the Glass and Out Podcast: Former GAO Co-Host and The Coaches Site Editor in Chief, Kelvin Cech! Kelvin has moved on to become the Head Coach of the Winkler Flyers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. As a first time bench boss in hockey-mad, small town Manitoba, he's been experiencing many firsts: First training camp, first time making a recruiting call, first time trading a player, etc. How has he been adjusting? Find out in the season's first episode of the Glass & Out Podcast!

Jun 21, 2019

It's not every day you get a front row seat to learn about the inner workings of hockey's best team.* *Well, best regular season team. The Tampa Lightning had a season for the ages and looked ready to go on a deep run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where only the cup itself would represent true success. But that run was derailed early by a feisty Columbus Blue Jackets squad that wasn't paying attention to the standings in the regular season. What went wrong? And how do the Lightning improve for next year? Find out from Lightning Assistant Coach Derek Lalonde in the season's final episode of Glass & Out.

Jun 14, 2019

Friend of the Coaches Site and current Winnipeg Jets Associate Coach Jamie Kompon dropped by the Glass & Out podcast to talk defensemen development, his time working in the national hockey league, and the mind-boggling achievement of winning three Stanley Cups behind the bench. Enjoy!

Jun 7, 2019

The rise of American skill in the professional hockey ranks is no accident. The fuel for that offensive fire starts long before those players hit the NHL, too. It starts at the grassroots level. The stickhandling you see from Patrick Kane, the creativity you're going to see from this year's probable first overall pick Jack Hughes, not to mention his older brother Quinn - it's all the product of development at the youth hockey level. Enter Kenny Rausch, Director of Youth Hockey for USA Hockey. Kenny jumped on the podcast today to talk about cross ice hockey, small area games, and his emphasis on skill and fun. And why it's working. Enjoy!

May 31, 2019

Fresh off yet another national championship, Brooks Bandits head coach Ryan Papaioannou joined Glass & Out not only to talk about the tactics his squad used en route to victory, but just what this victory means to the players, the staff, and the people of small town Alberta. Enjoy!

May 24, 2019

Mike Gillis is a former player agent, lawyer, and most importantly around these parts, General Manager of the Vancouver Canucks, but it's what he's learned in his time away from the game that we're interested in these days. Mr. Gillis has spent the past few years touring sports performance powerhouses all over the globe - Switzerland, Spain, here on North American soil - you name it. What impact have those travels had on his desire to return to the national hockey league? What has he learned? What has he learned to avoid?All those answers and more in today's episode. Enjoy!

May 17, 2019

Mitch Love knew junior hockey as a defenseman with the Moose Jaw Warriors, Swift Current Broncos, and Everett Silvertips, and he knows junior hockey as a coach, both from his time with the Everett Silvertips and now as the head coach of the Saskatoon Blades. And in Mitch's words, the game has changed. In today's episode of Glass & Out, we dig into Mitch's experience as a player and a coach, notably in dealing with high octane offensive defensemen. Enjoy!

May 3, 2019

Swedish National Team Head Coach Rikard Gronborg joined the show a day before his squad would unite for the first time prior to the 2019 World Hockey Championships.

Apr 26, 2019

The Prince George Spruce Kings are provincial champions after capturing the 2019 Fred Page Cup, but according to head coach Adam Maglio, they're not done yet.Maglio spent time as a player and an assistant coach with the USports' Men's Hockey program at UBC before being named Junior A PG's head coach in April of 2017, and just two years later, they're BCHL champions gearing up for a date with AJHL champion Brooks Bandits. Adam hopped on the podcast today in between series to talk about life as a coach in Prince George and how his team steamrolled through the 2019 playoffs. Enjoy!

Apr 19, 2019

Hear from Doug Lidster, former Vancouver Canuck and long-time NHL player and coach who's currently back in the minor hockey world with Victory Honda in Detroit.

Apr 12, 2019

Hockey parents, this one's for you. Topher Scott did an in-depth study on the cost of AA hockey for Hockey Think Tank, so we wanted to dig into that research to answer the ultimate question facing hard-working, wage-earning hockey parents from Vancouver, BC to Stockholm, Sweden and everywhere in between. Plus, if you're a coach at the AAA level or you're involved in spring hockey, we also vindicate you in today's episode. But we'll make you feel guilty first.

Apr 5, 2019

Canadian university hockey's national champions once again reside in Fredericton after the University of New Brunswick's Varsity Reds brought home the David Johnston University Cup. It was UNB's third championship in four years, an impressive feat, all of which has occurred under the leadership of UNB Head Coach Gardiner MacDougall. Coach Mac knows a thing or two about university hockey. This is a level where young men are transitioning into the next stage of their lives. They're competing on the ice and in the classroom, and when they graduate, or even before, will have several options when it comes to professional hockey.Gardiner stopped by Glass & Out to talk about hardware and life as he enters his third decade (sorry Gardiner)at UNB. Enjoy!

Mar 29, 2019

Arizona State University's hockey program is going to the NCAA's Sweet 16 tournament for the chance to make a trip to the Final Four, and ASU Head Coach Greg Powers isn't surprised at all. As the newest game in town, both in Tempe, Arizona, and on the American College Hockey scene, ASU is making history. So naturally, in between the announcement that the team is headed to the Sweet 16 and their first matchup with Quinnipiac University, Coach Powers took the time to chat with Kelvin and Aaron about recruiting a group of players that have quickly become a brand new tradition. Enjoy, and go ASU!

Mar 22, 2019

Former Phoenix Coyotes Head Coach Dave Tippet has been tasked with a rather large responsibility by the NHL: oversee the early days of the league's 32nd franchise in Seattle, Washington, which will drop the puck at the start of the 2021-2022 season. Dave joined Glass & Out to talk about the transition from being a long-time NHL coach to executive.

Mar 15, 2019

As a former goal scorer, enforcer, and assistant coach with the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League, it's safe to say Brennan Sonne has seen the game in its most pressure-packed moments from both sides of the bench. And a lot has changed in the short time since he coached here in North America. After a stop in Hong Kong, Brennan moved to France to coach Angers, a team on the rise. Listen to today's episode with local product Brennan Sonne to find out just how many penalties are handed out in each game in France.

Mar 7, 2019

Something huge happened to the New York Islanders this past summer. They traded John Tavares for Barry Trotz. Yep, that's exactly how it went down. Even deal for both sides we'd say. Seriously though, while the Islanders' fans were busy buying toy snakes to throw at Tavares in his eventual return to...Long Island? Is that where they play? Anyways while they were doing that, the Islanders were ushering in the era of Lou Lamoriello and Barry Trotz. Somewhere along the way the Islanders players decided they'd listen to the new regime and find a way to replace Tavares. Then they authored one of the greatest year over year defensive improvements the NHL has ever seen. Besides a new coach and a vacant locker stall where once sat a superstar, how did they do it?

Mar 1, 2019

Friend of the show Enio Sacilotto stopped by the studio to talk about his experience as Head Coach of the Croatian National Team as well as his time with the Under 18 Croatians. As one might expect, it's a different world over there. But that doesn't mean the hockey holds less power than the hockey played over here in North America.

Feb 8, 2019

Neil Glasberg is a coaching agent and advocate for fair practices when it comes to our profession. It's not easy to make choices when there isn't a ton of available information, so it's a good thing we were able to borrow some of Neil's time.

Jan 25, 2019

What makes a hockey player creative? Is it the way he or she thinks during hockey games? Is it the tactics given to them by their coaches? Or is it how they practice? For USA Hockey's Dave Starman, it's a little bit of everything. Dave joined us on the Glass & Out Podcast this week to talk about creativity in the game, and what we can do as coaches to encourage it. You guessed it, we touch on cross ice hockey for little hockey players and small area games for hockey players young and old. This is an episode you don't want to miss, check it out!

Jan 18, 2019

Kyle Wallack has been around the NCAA College Hockey block, but all of his experience thus far has been with established universities that everyone on this side of the Atlantic has heard of: Yale, Vermont, Quinnipiac - but have you heard of Albertus Magnus? If you haven't, you're about to.

Jan 11, 2019

Check in with The Athletic's Ryan Stimson to learn more about modern hockey tactics and how analytics are helping coaches at every level of our game.

Dec 14, 2018

Join Hockey Canada Video Coach Tyler Dietrich to learn how Team Canada prepares their players for the World Junior Tournament.

Dec 7, 2018

Catherine Silverman is a writer for The Athletic, InGoal Magazine, and she's currently plying her trade covering the Arizona Coyotes in the middle of hockey's heartland: the desert. Now, we've all heard coaches refer to goalies as voodoo. For Catherine, despite fighting the moniker for much of her life, she's bought into a little bit over the years. And why not? She's covered Ilya Bryzgalov, Mike Smith, Devan Dubnyk, and Coyotes impressive new trio, Antti Raata, Darcy Kuemper, and the new kid on the block, Adin Hill. Catherine took some time on a game day to teach us a thing or two about stopping the puck. Enjoy the episode!

Nov 30, 2018

Listen to Bakersfield Condors Head Coach Jay Woodcroft to learn more about the balance between winning hockey games and developing prospects in the American Hockey League.

Nov 16, 2018

Any time a young athlete moves, adversity tags along. Moving away from home? Check. Moving onto a new league? Yep, adversity. Moving up from junior to professional hockey? Absolutely. "Make sure everything you do today sets the table for the future." Mike Johnston, Head Coach and General Manager of the Portland Winterhawks, has created a culture in his organization that allows people to develop naturally and prepare for the next level. And that's not just the players, but the coaches too. So when an inevitable losing streak strikes as it did to begin the season for the Winterhawks, coaches, players, and staff are empowered and trained to find a way through to the light at the end of the tunnel.

Nov 9, 2018

It's always interesting to chat with coaches who are now behind the bench for teams they once played for. That's the case for Ryan Donald, former captain of the Yale University Bulldogs and, after a sting playing pro hockey, followed by coaching junior hockey back up here in Canada, returned to Yale as an assistant coach. Ryan was a hard-nosed defenseman in his day, and he's doing good work combining that experience with the skill and speed required of today's defensemen.

Nov 2, 2018

Join the guys in a special episode featuring Ryan Hollweg, former professional hockey player with the New York Rangers, and former coach of the Everett Silvertips John Becanic.

Oct 26, 2018

"Matt asked me about my interest in coming to New York to work with the team," Victor told me when I pushed him to talk about his work with the Islanders' top centre. "I told him to just worry about himself and have a good year. There's a new coaching staff, Matt's on his own there without Tavares, we can certainly talk but I think he should just focus on himself and his teammates." What a guy. Tune into today's special podcast with world champion and current skating coach Victor Kraatz.

Oct 19, 2018

The Arizona Coyotes have been front and centre in hockey's great analytics debate. However, according to Jeff Ulmer (and most coaches whose paycheque depends on wins and losses, at least to a degree), there's no debate: analytics are a tool for improvement. Coaches use the knowledge to varying degrees, and everyone has their preference, but for Coyotes skills and special ops coordinator Jeff Ulmer, the Coyotes are leading the way, and it starts upstairs with GM John Chayka. The problem is that the wins haven't come yet. Will they? Listen to Kelvin and Aaron's interview with Jeff to find out what he believes.

Oct 12, 2018

Angus Reid was a feared offensive lineman with the CFL's BC Lions for eleven years. 11! He had the same offensive coordinator for all eleven seasons, Dan Dorazio. Can you imagine working with the same players on the same techniques and routines for eleven seasons? Well, Dorazio did such a good job with Reid that the latter wrote a book about the former.

Oct 5, 2018

Hear from Joe Quinn, Connor McDavid's on-ice skills coach since he was just a youngster.

Sep 28, 2018

Listen to EHC Linz Head Coach Troy Ward on coaching hockey players who don't speak the same language. Literally.

Sep 21, 2018

Des Moines Buccaneers Head Coach and friend of the podcast Gene Reilly hopped on the podcast with Aaron and Kelvin today to talk about the challenges associated with introducing a brand new coaching staff to a team of players, a board of directors, and a new city.

Sep 14, 2018

Listen to Gardiner MacDougall on the first episode of the Glass & Out Podcast for the 2018 / 2019 hockey season. Topic: teambuilding in training camp.

Jul 2, 2018

It's the last episode of the season! Aaron and Kelvin are taking a much-deserved break for the summer, but before that the guys are talking with two very important guests on two very different topics. Mark Watson is a former football player who now specializes in brain health and the effects of multiple impacts to the head. Mark stopped by the studio to share his experience and what questions the sports world needs to ask. In the second segment the guys chat with Peter Belisle, friend of the show and the Head Coach of UMass Boston Division 3 hockey. Thanks for listening everybody, we'll talk to you in a couple months!

Jun 22, 2018

A local BC boy, we brought Andrew into the Glass & Out studios to talk about his experience playing in the East Coast Hockey League, the American Hockey League, and how he ended up coaching professional hockey in the UK.

Jun 15, 2018

For Pyramid Hockey's John Becanic, the wonderful thing about coaching hockey is finding something new every single time you see a game or a practice. Sure, that might mean you're a little obsessive every now and again, but John has made a career out of the notion that if you're not learning, your time is up.

Jun 9, 2018

It's always a treat when you get to talk to someone who's seen the game from multiple angles. And boy, does Dave Poulin ever qualify. A former captain of the Philadelphia Flyers (even though he was told he was much too small for the Broad Street Bullies of that era), Poulin has played, coached, managed, and now analyzed basically ever hockey league on Earth. And that's not even really much an exaggeration. Enjoy!

Jun 1, 2018

Check in on the goaltending performances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, particularly finalists Marc Andre Fleury and Braden Holtby, with Toronto Maple Leafs Goalie Coach Steve Briere.

May 25, 2018

Matt Korthuis learned early on in his pro career that he needed to excel at certain skills in order to keep his career going. Never the most skilled player out there (his words), Matt's turned his ability to study the game's details closely into a career developing young players.

May 18, 2018

While The Coaches Site team was down in Florida for the AHCA Convention, there was no shortage of interesting people to talk shop with. One of those people was Mike Donaghue, a strength and conditioning coach by trade, and a master organizer and details implementer by necessity.

May 15, 2018

Listen to Rico Blasi, Head Coach of the University of Miami (Ohio)'s Men's Hockey Team, on the trade show floor at the AHCA Convention in Naples, Florida.

May 11, 2018

Listen to Dave Smith, Head Coach of the RPI Men's Hockey Program, on the trade show floor at the AHCA Convention in Naples, Florida.

May 8, 2018

Listen to Joe Bertagna, commissioner of Hockey East, on the trade show floor at the AHCA Convention in Naples, Florida.

May 4, 2018

Listen to Paul Vincent, skills coach with the Florida Panthers, on the trade show floor at the AHCA Convention in Naples, Florida.

Apr 27, 2018

Join Aaron and Kelvin in a chat with Gord MacFarlane, live off the floor from the AHCA Convention in Naples, Florida.

Apr 26, 2018

Listen to Jay Aikenhead and Kelvin Cech tee off the first night of the American Hockey Coaches Convention in Naples, Florida.

Apr 25, 2018

Aaron and Kelvin drop the puck on the American Hockey Coaches Convention in Naples, Florida.

Apr 20, 2018

Join Aaron and Kelvin in a chat about the playoffs with former professional hockey player and current broadcaster with TSN Radio, Dave Tomlinson.

Apr 6, 2018

Join Kelvin and Aaron in a conversation with Carson Hamill, brother of Zach Hamill and current financial advisor for parents of young hockey playin' children.

Mar 30, 2018

Aaron and Kelvin were joined on this week's episode by the legendary Willie O'Ree, the first black person to play in the National Hockey League.

Mar 22, 2018

The Belleville Senators of the American Hockey League are incredibly fortunate to have one of the game's brightest teachers, educators, and listeners on their staff in Paul Boutilier. Paul's been around the block, both as a player in the NHL and worlds beyond, and also as a coach, spending over 20 years at the Canadian University hockey level with the St. Mary's Huskies and Dartmouth University in Halifax.

Mar 14, 2018

Sven Butenschon is the head coach of the UBC Thunderbirds Men's Varsity hockey team. He stopped by the show to talk about playing in the WHL, moving on to the NHL, and finally his first two years behind the bench at UBC.

Mar 9, 2018

Join Kelvin and Aaron in a chat with Mark Fitzgerald, strength and conditioning coach with the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League.

Mar 1, 2018

Join Aaron and Kelvin in a chat with Dr. Saul Miller, a mental performance coach specializing in hockey.

Feb 15, 2018

We caught up with Dallas Ferguson as he embarks on the home stretch with his Hitmen hockey club to learn more about life in two different leagues, and doing what you can to improve when you're probably not going to make the playoffs.

Feb 7, 2018

We caught up with Todd Woodcroft while he was preparing to play the league's best team, the Tampa Bay Lightning. And while Todd was respectful of their opponent, it was obvious that their belief in the dressing room and the culture they've established through people like Blake Wheeler makes them confident they can beat anybody. (And they did; Winnipeg Jets 3, Tampa Bay Lightning 1)

Jan 29, 2018

Join Kelvin and Aaron in a chat with Wenatchee Wild Head Coach Bliss Littler, and learn a thing or two about the best part of hockey: scoring goals.

Jan 22, 2018

Join Kelvin and Aaron in a chat with Craig Custance, the author of a brand new book detailing the lives of NHL coaches: Behind The Bench.

Jan 18, 2018

Join Kelvin and Aaron in an interview with Jay McKee, head coach of the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League.

Dec 28, 2017

You know who knows a thing or two about the World Juniors? Don Hay. The current head coach of the Kamloops Blazers has led Canada into the tournament twice. We caught up with Don today to talk about his experiences at the World Junior Tournament, plus a secret or two about getting his Kamloops Blazers out of an early season funk.

Dec 18, 2017

In our final episode before the holidays, Aaron and Kelvin talk with Blake Wesley from the Okanagan Hockey Academy. A former National Hockey League player, Blake has been very open about his struggles with alcohol, depression, and prescription drugs. how many of our teammates or colleagues are suffering in silence like Blake did?

Dec 11, 2017

Join Kelvin and Aaron in a sit-down with Florida Panthers Assistant Coach Ben Cooper.

Dec 7, 2017

The first thing that comes to mind after starting a conversation with Penn State Men's Hockey Coach Guy Gadowsky is how important fun is in our game. You have to have fun, because according to Coach Gadowsky, you're not going to improve if you don't enjoy the process. Pretty simple, right?

Nov 29, 2017

Hear from the Head Coach and General Manager of the WHL's Portland Winterhawks in a talk about bus rides, habits, and teaching young players the ins and outs of the game at the next level.

Nov 21, 2017

Join Aaron & Kelvin in a sit down with Penticton Vees Head Coach and General Manager Fred Harbinson to talk about practice habits and the importance of finding and developing the right people.

Nov 14, 2017

Today we're introducing a brand new podcast: Glass & Out. More of a coaching focus, Glass & Out will dive deeper into the systems, habits, and characteristics of the world in which we can claim ultimate authority: coaching hockey.

Nov 3, 2017

It's the end of an era! The last episode of the Minor Hockey Talk podcast, but there's good news! Aaron and Kelvin are immediately pivoting to a new format focusing more on the coaching side of our game. So stay tuned for the first episode of the Glass & Out podcast!

Oct 23, 2017

There's one thing, when it comes to hockey, on which we can all agree: the game is expensive. In this episode of Minor Hockey Talk Aaron & Kelvin chat with Mark Bachman, founder of a handy new app called FlipGive that tackles the costs associated with hockey.

Oct 13, 2017

Have you heard the news? Cross Ice hockey has hit the minor hockey scene in North America and it hasn't been pretty. How come? Aaron and Kelvin have the answers in the latest episode of Minor Hockey Talk.

Sep 26, 2017

Kris Beech joins the guys to talk about the importance of focus, concentration, and the benefits a clear mind can have on your purple monkey dishwasher. Hockey career, I mean hockey career.

Aug 16, 2017

Minor Hockey Talk Podcast - Goals – They Don't Grow on Trees by Aaron Wilbur

Aug 16, 2017

The Playoff Push With Kelvin & Aaron by Aaron Wilbur

Aug 16, 2017

Coaches' Site Podcast Early Season Jitters with Derek Popke by Aaron Wilbur

Jun 7, 2017

On this episode of Minor Hockey Talk Aaron and Kelvin are joined by the one and only Mike Snee, the Executive Director of College Hockey Inc and a speaker at this year's Team Snap Hockey Coaches' Conference.

Jun 1, 2017

Aaron & Kelvin had the pleasure to chat with Norm Flynn, the founder of Hockey Heroes, to learn more about how a true inspiration in our game operates.

Apr 13, 2017

Kelvin's got two special guests today: Clint Colebourn, a recently graduated minor hockey player; and Wade Burt, a former CIS Allstar turned minor hockey coach, mentor, and school teacher.

Mar 22, 2017

Ryan Kerr joins the guys on the show to talk about the pressure involved with being a former first overall pick in the Western Hockey League Bantam Draft.

Dec 22, 2016

Minor Hockey Talk : Oldschool Vs Newschool With Special Guest Rick Lanz by Aaron Wilbur

Dec 7, 2016

Mark Fitzgerald Of The Anaheim Ducks & The Key To Surviving A Long Season by Aaron Wilbur

Nov 10, 2016

Believe it or not, the way your minor hockey system is set up is likely very different from the way it's set up in other places around the world. If we know anything, it's that there isn't one way to develop hockey players.

Oct 20, 2016

Minor Hockey Talk: Punishment Vs Consequences In Minor Hockey by Aaron Wilbur