Getting a Job

Making the leap from being a player to a coach in youth hockey can be exciting yet overwhelming. It offers a chance to give back to the sport you love while facing the challenge of guiding the next generation of athletes. To transition effectively, you need more than game knowledge—it's about changing your mindset and expanding your skill set. Here’s how you can navigate this rewarding shift.

Like anyone who has played sports, my coaching philosophy has been shaped by a mix of positive and negative influences. I've learned from coaches across different sports, age groups, and personalities—some through great leadership, others by showing me exactly what not  to do.

Disclosure: I wrote this article in February 2025, when I as a 'free agent', and before I joined a team as General Manager.

There’s a sentence that’s been rolling around in my head for a while now: “One of my former teammates coaches in the NHL, one of my...

In hockey coaching, philosophical differences are inevitable. As a coach, you might have a vision for player development, team structure, or game strategy that differs from those above you—whether it’s the General Manager, President, or an Executive Board. The challenge is navigating these differences professionally while maintaining credibility, influence, and, most importantly, your job.

In the fast-paced, high-pressure world of hockey coaching, disagreements are inevitable. Whether you're an assistant coach questioning the head coach’s systems, a head coach at odds with the general manager over roster decisions, or a development coach who believes in a different training methodology than the organization’s leadership, philosophical differences can—and will—arise.

Jon Cooper’s career is one of the most remarkable coaching success stories in hockey. Unlike many NHL coaches who climbed the ranks as former professional players, Cooper took an unconventional path, transitioning from a career in law to coaching. His journey from coaching high school hockey to leading the Tampa Bay Lightning to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021 offers invaluable lessons for coaches, players, and parents.

For hockey players, coaches, and parents, the world of Junior hockey can often feel like an ever-evolving puzzle, with multiple moving pieces and unexpected twists and turns. It’s a sport built on passion, teamwork, and an insatiable drive to improve every single day. And yet, behind the on-ice action, there lies a realm of administrative work, roster building, budgeting, and season-planning that can be just as crucial to a team’s success as any perfectly executed power play.

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

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

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.

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

Preparation Meets Opportunity: My 2020 Coaching Interview Experience

Breaking into the world of junior hockey coaching can be challenging, but with the right approach, qualifications, and understanding of the landscape, you can land your first coaching job. Whether you're looking to be a head coach, an assistant, or even a video coach, knowing what teams value, the differences between tiers, and what makes a good organization can help you make the right move.

Resigning from a hockey coaching position is never an easy decision. Whether you're stepping away due to personal reasons, professional opportunities, or disagreements within the organization, how you handle your departure speaks volumes about your character and professionalism. A poorly managed exit can damage relationships and future opportunities, while a well-handled resignation can maintain your reputation and leave the door open for future opportunities.

Whether you are a player, coach, executive, or parent, this short handbook is for anyone striving to be a strong and effective leader....