Glass & Out

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In episode #238 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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!