Resilience

The Right Way to Tell a Player They Have Been Traded to a New Team

In junior and professional hockey, trades are an inevitable part of the game. Whether it's about improving team chemistry, filling a positional need, or developing players in a different environment, trades happen. However, for the player being moved, a trade is a deeply personal and often emotional experience.

Edward Garinger

5 min read

The Way to Communicate Philosophical Differences with Your Boss (Without Losing 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.

Edward Garinger

5 min read

The Right Way to Tell a Player They Didn’t Make the Team

One of the hardest parts of being a hockey coach is delivering bad news—especially to a player who has put in the effort, showed up with enthusiasm, and given their best shot during tryouts. Telling a player they didn’t make the team can be an emotional moment for both the player and the coach, and how you handle this conversation can have a lasting impact on the player's confidence, development, and love for the game.

Edward Garinger

6 min read

The Time an Opposing Team’s Coach Told Me I Was “A Lying Cheat, Just Like [My] Old Man”

I’ll never forget the day an opposing team’s coach hurled a personal insult at me—calling me a “lying cheat, just like [my] old man.”

Edward Garinger

8 min read

The Time I Broke My Own Goalie’s Shutout, and What We Can Learn From It

Every hockey player loves those rare and special moments when they or a teammate earn a coveted shutout. Whether you’re a forward,...

Edward Garinger

7 min read

Beyond Point Production: How to Evaluate Players Beyond 'Elite Prospects'

When discussing the success or potential of a hockey player, it’s all too common for the conversation to revolve around goals, assists,...

Edward Garinger

10 min read

The Unseen Bonds of Youth Hockey Friendships and Their Lasting Impact

Ice hockey is more than just a sport; it's a community. For many young players, the experience extends beyond the rink, fostering friendships that shape their development into young adults. These connections play an instrumental role in building life skills and emotional resilience.

Arthur Irie

5 min read

My Coach Wants Me to Run Over the Goalie—What Do I Do?

Hockey is a fast, physical game, but there’s a clear difference between playing tough and playing dirty. If your coach is telling you to...

Edward Garinger

5 min read

Fired: When Winning Isn't Enough – Lessons for Coaches, Players, and Parents

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

Edward Garinger

6 min read

When the World Shut Down and Ended Our Championship Run (We Would Have Won the Provincial Championship, Try to Convince Me Otherwise)

March 10, 2020—my daughter was born. Three days later, on March 13, the world shut down. Along with it, our season came to an abrupt and...

Edward Garinger

5 min read

Brandon Hagel’s Path to the NHL and Team Canada – And What We Can Learn from It (On and Off the Ice)

Brandon Hagel’s journey to the NHL and Team Canada is one of perseverance, resilience, and a relentless work ethic. For players, parents,...

Edward Garinger

6 min read