Coach Development

Success in hockey, as in life, is never a guarantee of job security. I learned this the hard way.

Every hockey coach will, at some point, run into a goaltender who seems unbeatable. A hot goalie in a playoff series can be the single biggest obstacle between your team and the next round. When a netminder is dialed in, the usual tactics might not work, and frustration can set in. But there are ways to break through. Beating a hot goalie isn’t just about shooting more; it’s about creating the right kinds of chances, wearing them down, and making their job as difficult as pos

March 10, 2020—my daughter was born. Three days later, on March 13, the world shut down. Along with it, our season came to an abrupt and...

The St. Louis Blues’ 2019 Stanley Cup victory was one of the most improbable championship runs in NHL history. At the start of January...

The OHF/OHL U16 Program of Excellence was a development experience designed to educate and inform players and parents. The goals of the...

Every coach, player, and parent who has been part of a championship-caliber hockey team knows the emotional investment that comes with a...

The OHF/OHL U15 Program of Excellence is a development experience designed to educate and inform players and parents. The goals of the...

As a hockey coach, your core values define who you are, what you stand for, and how you lead your team. They influence every decision you make—from how you structure practices to how you handle adversity. More importantly, they set the tone for your players and staff, shaping the team’s culture and long-term success.

Setup: Four lines of players positioned at the blue lines. Pucks at all lines. Drill Execution: Initial Pass & Neutral Zone Movement: 1....

Setup: Goalies in nets. Four lines of players positioned in the corners. Pucks placed in all four corners. Drill Description: On the...

Setup: Four lines of players positioned at the blue lines. Pucks at all lines. Drill Description: X1 and O1 start skating backward at the...

Setup: Four lines of players positioned at the blue lines. Pucks at all blue lines. Drill Description: Player O1 skates backwards towards...

Setup: Four lines of players positioned at the blue lines. Pucks at all lines. Opposite lines go at the same time and mirror each other (...

Setup: Four lines of players positioned at the blue lines. Pucks at all blue lines. Drill Description: O1 steps out toward the middle and...

Setup: Four lines of players positioned at the blue lines. Pucks at all lines. Drill Description: On the whistle, O1  accelerates with...

Tic-tac-toe face-off goals are rare, even with the man advantage. Of course it certainly helps to have talent like Kevin Hancock ...

Technology is ingrained in our daily lives, and for young athletes, cell phones are an ever-present part of their world. Whether for social media, gaming, texting, or watching videos, cell phones provide constant stimulation and connection. But in the world of hockey, where focus, discipline, and teamwork are essential, cell phones can both affect  and effect  performance—depending on how they are used.

As a minor hockey coach, you spend countless hours planning practices, developing skill progressions, and structuring each session with a...

Coaching hockey is a never-ending learning process. No matter how many years you’ve been behind the bench, the game continues to evolve,...

For many young hockey players, the idea of “trusting the process” is difficult to grasp.