Glass & Out

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. McF

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 wo

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

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'

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

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.

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@thecoaches

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 r

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

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 t

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 coachi

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

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

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 captainin

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

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. Dur

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, Ranfor

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

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 a

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