Parent's Handbook

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...

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

Hockey is a game of speed, skill, and strategy, but it's also a game of opportunity. For junior hockey players, coaches, and parents, one of the harshest realities is that not all players are created equal. Some players have natural talent, elite-level skill, or simply a knack for making an impact in games. Others may work tirelessly in practice, be great teammates, and bring character to a team—but still find themselves sitting on the bench when the game is on the line.

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...

Hockey is more than just the excitement of a game or the rush of victory. It is a rich tapestry of community, values, and personal growth. At the heart of this growth is mentorship, which is crucial in shaping future leaders in the sport. Mentorship helps young athletes navigate the challenges of hockey, instilling values that extend well beyond the rink. This blog post shines a light on how mentorship cultivates development, builds character, and prepares the next generation

Youth hockey is not just about high-energy games or budding athletes; it is also about the referees who ensure fair play on the ice. These officials are essential to the game but often go unnoticed. This post aims to highlight their stories, challenges, and the vital contributions they make to the sport.

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...