Get the inside scoop from a coach’s perspective on topics like recruiting, how to succeed on the ice, what coaches are looking for in a player and much more.
Eight tips for new hockey coaches
I truly enjoy receiving messages, e-mails and comments about my posts. I do my best to reply to all and often, the questions I receive really make me re-think what…
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How to correct bad hockey habits
I wanted to title this post “Things that Drive Me Nuts” but I wasn’t sure that was an appropriate title. I have to say though, there are things that happen…
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How to practice de-stagnation as a hockey coach
We ended our season on March 9th this year. It was a Saturday and we managed to win our last game 5-3 with empty-net goal – a good way to…
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The top factors that make a great hockey drill
I want to share with you a drill we used many times this year. We call it the Yale 1v1. I like it for many reasons that I’ll share with…
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The Coaching Pyramid (Part 6)
I’ve said this many times this year that in 31 years of coaching hockey, this season was the most extraordinary and rewarding season of my career. We didn’t win championships.…
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The Coaching Pyramid (Part 5)
My son Ben, who is grade 12, was hired this week to do some math tutoring for a young grade 8 student. He did the prep work necessary, getting a…
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The Coaching Pyramid (Part 4)
Just before the first season that I coached hockey after finishing playing, the head coach I was going to work with and I traveled to Windsor, Ontario to attend Roger…
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The Coaching Pyramid (Part 3)
It’s really great to connect with other coaches in the summer. We are so busy during the season that often there is no time to just chat. So I make…
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The Coaching Pyramid (Part 2)
Carolyn Waldo was Canada’s top synchronized swimmer through the 1980’s. She won world championships, and Olympic and Commonwealth games Gold Medals. A silver medalist at the 1984 Olympic Games, Waldo…
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The hockey coaching pyramid
So, this is the official end of my five month hiatus. I have taken a break from writing to do what I truly love – coaching hockey. And, it’s been…
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Pressure and finding your (wo)man
When we begin talking about defensive play, I will ask my player if they have ever played Monkey in the Middle. (Of course, at this point, I typically have to…
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A year in the life of a head coach
Parents and players alike will often look at this season’s minor hockey head coach and picture how easy it is, and how they could, or they know someone who could…
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Developing Versatile Hockey Players
I watched a team yesterday run a great, simple drill in their practice. Two players started in the endzone faceoff circle, battled and played keep away for about 15 seconds,…
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Does playing multi sports make you a better hockey player?
There is an ongoing debate about the benefits of playing multi sports as a youth athlete, versus focusing all your efforts on one sport. Advocates of the single-sport specialized approach…
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