Category: Coach’s Handbook

In today’s NHL, the game of hockey is being played in a completely different way than it has in the past. Positional hockey is becoming a thing of the past, as teams now rely more on fluidity between forwards and defensemen in order to confuse and create mismatches on the ice. As a result, defending players find it increasingly difficult to read and react to what is happening on the ice, making defending much harder to do. In this blog post, we will explore how this new era of hockey is proving to be harder to defend.

Continue reading “How the NHL’s New Era of Hockey is Proving to be Harder to Defend”

As a parent of a youth hockey player, I have coached my 11-year-old in 5 of his 6 seasons of hockey. I’ve seen every emotional meltdown possible with my kid. His first year of U7 we were playing British-Bull dog and after being tagged he did a complete yard sale in the middle of the ice. He refused to get up, so I had to grab his skate and drag him out of the area as the game continued to be played. Just recently during a wind-up at one of my camps, we were playing a full ice 5on5 game. He gets bumped by another player and has a complete meltdown. And let me remind you, he is 11 years old at this time. After having a fit, he leaves the middle of the game and doesn’t return. So what do we do with players on our team when they don’t know how to regulate their emotions when things aren’t going their way? Better yet, how do we help our own kids when we are coaching them? Because we all know they act differently when we are on the ice with them.

Continue reading “Navigating Your Kids Overreacting Emotions in Youth Hockey: A Parent’s Guide”

Creating lasting memories and team bonding is something that is essential in any hockey culture. As a coach of a U9 hockey team, I wanted to ensure that my team had an excellent sense of unity and togetherness. To do this, I decided to invest in matching tracksuits for the entire team. This story is about how this decision has helped our team bond and form a strong culture of hockey.

Continue reading “Creating Lasting Memories and Team Bonding: The Benefits Behind Matching Track Suits”

The summer season is a great time for hockey players to take part in summer hockey camps and hone their skills. However, what often gets lost in the mix of high paced competitive games is the joy of the game. Summer hockey camps should be a place for young athletes to explore the game with fun activities that remind them why they play hockey in the first place. In this blog post, I will discuss the importance of unlocking the joy in summer hockey camps and how to focus on what truly matters.

Continue reading “Unlocking the Joy in Summer Hockey Camp – Lessons on What Truly Matters”

When it comes to coaching hockey, the challenge lies in finding the right balance between pushing and pulling. It’s important to push players to maximize their performance, while also creating an environment that pulls them along for the ride. Finding this balance can be difficult, as there is always a fine line between pushing too hard and not hard enough. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to use the right amount of pressure to maximize hockey performance.

Continue reading “Pushing Limits: Maximizing Hockey Performance with the Right Amount of Pressure”

Modern hockey has seen a shift in the way defensive zone coverages are utilized in the NHL. From the Tampa Bay Lightning’s man-to-man style to the Arizona Coyotes’ smothering approach, it is clear that there are three main D Zone coverages used today. In this blog post, we’ll be diving into each of these coverages and looking at how teams use them to their advantage. With the right strategy and setup, teams can effectively protect their goal and keep the puck out of their net.

Continue reading “Diving into the Three Main D Zone Coverages in Modern Hockey”

When looking for hockey camps to help your child’s development, it’s easy to get caught up in the buzzwords like elite, master, power, explosive, acceleration and speed that seem to be everywhere. While these words can sound attractive, it’s important to understand what they really mean when it comes to hockey development. Many hockey camps offer flashy promises of quick results, but in reality, developing hockey skills takes time and effort. In this blog post, we will explore buzzwords when it comes to hockey development and how to evaluate camps based on their real results.

Continue reading “Why Your Need To Watch out For Buzzwords When Choosing Hockey Camps”

When it comes to performance on the ice, having the right hockey stick is key. But what many don’t know is that the flexibility of the stick is just as important. The legendary Kelly McCrimmon knows this well, having been an owner in the Western Hockey League and current GM of the Las Vegas Golden Knights. I was lucky enough to experience his hockey stick secrets firsthand when I went shopping for a stick with him in Dauphin Manitoba during a youth hockey tournament. His knowledge and expertise on hockey sticks showed me how it can impact performance. In this blog post, I’ll discuss my experience with Kelly and why flexibility in a hockey stick is essential.

Continue reading “Kelly McCrimmon’s Hockey Stick Secrets: The Importance of Flexibility”

The world of hockey has long been dominated by males, but that is quickly changing. With the growth of female hockey on the worldwide stage, more and more female coaches and players are entering the game. This surge in female hockey is creating an exciting new opportunity for women to take the lead in this sport. In this blog post, we will explore the rise of female hockey players on the worldwide stage and how they are creating stronger team cultures within their organizations.

Continue reading “The Rise of Female Hockey on the Worldwide Stage”

Hockey parents are a key part of any youth hockey program. While most parents are understanding and supportive, some can become problem parents. As a coach, it is important to know how to handle these challenging situations in order to create a positive environment for the players. In this blog post, we will provide tips and strategies for how to handle problem parents in youth hockey.

Continue reading “How to Handle Problem Parents in Youth Hockey”