Minor Hockey

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...

Elite defenders do more than block shots—they dictate the game’s tempo, disrupt opponents’ best scorers, and spark transition plays. Building shutdown defensemen requires comprehensive training in positioning, stick work, body leverage, and game sense. When your blue line is anchored by rock-solid defenders, the entire team gains confidence.

A championship-level team isn’t just about the top line or star defense pair. The “weakest” player on your bench matters, too. Elevating everyone’s skill—especially those who might see limited minutes—creates depth, fosters unity, and can produce unexpected heroes when injuries or fatigue strike.

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

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

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 the early 2000s, OHL teams and their coaches frequently partnered with the Ontario Minor Hockey Association to host OMHA Game Day...

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...

When I was 17 years old, I made a decision I’ve spent years trying to make sense of—and, sometimes, wishing I could get in a time machine to go back in time and redo.

When I look back on my minor hockey days, a few moments stand out vividly—but one above all: the night I scored four goals against my former team—the same team that had cut me from their rep roster just a year earlier. That single game taught me lessons that have stayed with me for life: perseverance, redemption, and the pure satisfaction of proving something to myself when it mattered most.

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.

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...

This is a story I’ve told countless times, and while I can laugh about it now with friends and colleagues, it still speaks volumes about a coach’s approach to hockey—and, more importantly, to life.

Introduction Hockey coaches face ethical dilemmas constantly—whether it’s deciding how to handle ice time, managing conflicts with...

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