Mental Health

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

This piece exists alongside Well, That Didn’t Go as Hoped: My Nine Months as General Manager. That earlier article was intentionally narrow. It explained why I chose restraint, why I avoided narrative, and why I prioritized stability over explanation during an active season. This piece does not revisit that decision. It examines what happened after it. Specifically, it looks at how meaning is created when a story is not told, how framing appears even in the absence of explana

There’s a moment every season when fans, parents, and even players start asking the same question:

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...

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

In youth sports today, the pressure to specialize early is higher than ever. Many young hockey players are urged—sometimes by their parents, sometimes by their coaches, and sometimes by their own internal drive—to dedicate themselves exclusively to the game at a young age. The argument is usually the same: If you don’t specialize early, you’ll fall behind.

In 2011, the Owen Sound Attack made history by capturing their first-ever Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Championship, securing the J. Ross...

Curtis Sanford’s journey to professional hockey is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and a relentless work ethic. Unlike...

Alexandre Daigle’s hockey career is one of the most well-known cautionary tales in NHL history. Once the first overall pick in the 1993...

Navigating the junior hockey team selection process can feel overwhelming for young athletes and their families. With tryouts, skills assessments, and understanding what coaches want, it’s easy to feel lost. This guide aims to clarify the selection pathway, providing practical information that aspiring players need to position themselves for success.

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...

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...