Leadership

There are moments in hockey that stay with you not because of what happened on the scoreboard, but because of what they revealed about you. Not about your systems, your record, your resume, or your philosophy - about your character. About the gap between the person you believe yourself to be and the person you briefly became. Those moments don’t always announce themselves loudly. Sometimes they arrive disguised as something small, something fleeting, something that would bare

Prologue Before I begin, it’s worth clarifying the timeline. This story was written recently, but it describes something that happened more than a decade ago. I didn’t write it at the time. I carried it with me instead. Not because it was dramatic, or unresolved, or unfinished - but because it quietly shaped how I understand leadership, trust, and professional boundaries in this game. It became one of those experiences that doesn’t announce its importance right away, but slow

A Note to the Reader This piece is part of an exploration of competition, ethics, and the often uncomfortable space between the two. In hockey, we like to pretend the game is clean—that it’s only about skill, effort, and systems. But anyone who has played or coached long enough knows that isn’t true. Hockey is emotional. It’s physical. It’s imperfect. It’s played by humans under pressure. That’s why grey areas exist. That’s why gamesmanship exists. And that’s why what happens

There are two documents that mark the end of my time as General Manager for the 2025–26 season. One is a short resignation email. The other is a brief public statement shared on social media. They say the same thing. They simply do so in different ways. If you are reading this without much background, the resignation may feel understated. Possibly incomplete. That was intentional, though not for dramatic reasons. Why the Letter Is Short The resignation email was written to se

Introduction Coaching is more than drawing up systems and running drills—it’s about leadership, accountability, and making tough calls...

Introduction As a hockey coach, you are constantly making decisions that impact not only the game but also your players’ development,...

Introduction Every hockey coach, at some point in their career, will face ethical dilemmas that challenge their values, decision-making...

Introduction Coaching hockey is as much about decision-making off the ice as it is about strategy on it. Every season presents new...

The Erie Otters’ 2017 OHL Championship run was the culmination of years of careful team building, strong coaching, and player...

It’s a situation that’s more common than you’d think - but no less frustrating when you’re the one in it. Your son is trying out for another team in the same league where you coach or serve as a general manager. You’re proud of him. Curious. Maybe even a bit nervous. You just want to watch him skate. But when you reach out as a professional courtesy to let the other team’s GM know you’ll be in the stands - thinking he’ll say “Of course” - you’re met with a polite but firm: “I

Introduction In Part One, we explored some of the toughest ethical dilemmas hockey coaches face. But coaching is a never-ending series of...

Hockey has been a huge part of your life for as long as you can remember. The early mornings, the road trips, the practices, and the games—it's all been part of your routine. But now, for whatever reason, you feel it’s time to step away. Maybe your passion has faded, injuries have taken a toll, or you simply want to explore other interests. No matter the reason, telling your parents that you want to quit hockey can be incredibly difficult, especially if they’ve invested a lot

It was my last year of minor hockey. You know that time—when you’re not quite an adult but definitely no longer a kid. Hormones (testosterone especially) are running high, pride is practically stitched into your gear, and you’ve convinced yourself that every single game matters more than anything else in life.

There’s a long list of things you might expect to happen during a hockey game—too many men penalties, line brawls, maybe even a fire...

This past weekend, standing up in the stands rather than in my usual spot alone down on the glass in the corner (partly to sit with my...

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...

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.

One of the most damaging mindsets in hockey today is the phrase: “It’s only AA,” “They just play B,” or “It’s only house league.”  These...

Preparation Meets Opportunity: My 2020 Coaching Interview Experience

In hockey, coaching is as much about learning as it is about teaching. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or just starting, there will always be moments when you see another team do something intriguing—an effective forecheck, a creative breakout, a unique power play setup, or even a well-structured practice drill. When you come across something that sparks your curiosity, one of the best ways to learn more is to reach out to the coach who implemented it.