Glass & Out

In episode #224, we're joined by good friend of The Coaches Site  and upcoming TCS Live presenter Glen Gulutzan. When he steps on stage at TCS Live later this month at the University of Michigan, it will mark the 5th time he has presented at one of our events, and in the process he will hold the pole position when it comes to the most presentations all-time at a TCS event. But while there is a ton tactical knowledge he’s shared at the conference, the insights you can gleam from his coaching journey  in today's interview are equally as valuable. Listen as he discusses constraints, or lack of them on the power play, cutting your teeth as a coach in Las Vegas, and how he’s learned from all the coaches he’s worked with throughout his career.

In episode #223, we welcome The Coaches Site Contributor and upcoming TCS Live presenter Greg Revak. Revak is also the writer of the Hockey IQ newsletter and host of the Hockey IQ podcast. Best known for his deep dives into the X’s & O’s or tactical side of the game, his work often goes outside the game, and in some cases sport, to find inspiration and to reinforce his thinking when it comes to teaching the hockey and specifically, developing the cognitive ability of players. Listen as he discusses the evolution of the weak side D, why point shots suck and the traits required by a successful coach in today’s game.

In episode #222, we're pleased to be joined by John O’Sullivan, best selling author, Ted Talk speaker and the Founder & CEO of the Changing the Game Project. O'Sullivan's work and mission are to give Youth Sports back to our kids. He has made it is life’s work to provide a blueprint to providing kids a more holistic sporting experience, in which success is not predicated on kid’s eventually earning a paycheck or a college scholarship. Listen as he discusses the optimal mindset for a coach, how both youth and professional coaches need to focused on relationship building, and the impact of a positive sports experience for young people.

In episode #221, we're joined by friend of the show, Calgary Flames Assistant Coach Ryan Huska. He recently wrapped up his 5th season with the Flames and will be joining us at TCS Live, hockey’s premiere coaching conference, next June at the University of Michigan. Huska will be presenting on the penalty kill and as you’ll hear in this episode, has a lot to offer on the subject. Listen as he discusses the special teams chess match that takes during a playoff series, being intentional about finding time to build relationships with players and the coaches he admires outside of hockey.

In episode #220, we had the honor of being joined by John Paris Jr., the first black coach in professional hockey. During the 1993-94 season, he was hired by the Atlanta Knights of the now defunct, International Hockey League, marking the first time a person of colour had been appointed the Head Coach of a pro hockey team. The move paid off as the Knights would capture the Turner Cup and an IHL Championship that same season. Listen as he discusses how he overcame the adversity of being a black hockey player and coach, the story of being scouted by Scotty Bowman, and the drive to get him inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

In episode #219, we're joined by Lee MJ Elias, who can be best described as a bit of a Swiss Army Knife in that he has accomplished a lot in our game, albeit in a number of different roles. Elias is an award-winning author and currently the Co-Chair of the Hockey Operations Committee and Assistant Coach of the Puerto Rico Men’s National Team. He is also the co-host of the Our Kids Play Hockey Podcast, which was awarded the top hockey podcast by the Sports Podcast Awards in 2022. Listen as he shares how to best manage your time to ensure you get the right stuff accomplished, strategies for growing the game, and why sports is a vehicle to bring people together.

In episode #218, we welcome two friends to the show: Newly named Head Coach of the AHL's San Diego Gulls, Matt McIlvane, and his former Assistant Coach with EC Red Bull Salzburg, Ben Cooper. Fresh off a second consecutive win2day ICE Hockey League championship with Red Bull, the two joined to give us a behind the scenes look on their road to a repeat.  Listen as they the incredible story behind their final series comeback victory, why composure was a key element to overcoming adversity, and why championship teams need to get the locker room right.

Head Coach of St. Cloud State women's hockey team, Brian Idalski, joins us for episode #217. Idalski is coming off his first season leading the Huskies' program and was named the US College Hockey Online National Coach of the Year, as his team made significant strides in virtually every defensive and offensive area of the game. Listen as he shares why pattern recognition is key to helping players process the game, coaching Team China in the Olympics, and how to get your team to buy into blocking shots.

In episode #216, we welcome Performance Coach and Founder of Deviate, Ryan Blanck. To date, Blanck has worked with over half of the team’s in the NFL, including the league itself, the iconic entertainment industry agency, the William Morris Endeavor, professional athletes, leading universities such as Penn State, Clemson, Vanderbilt and Stanford, along with executives from major corporations to start-ups. He will also be presenting at TCS Live, taking place June 22-24 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Hear him discuss why empathy is the number one skill needed by leaders, what erodes culture and what it takes to be a leader worth following.

In episode #215, we we're joined by Detroit Red Wings Assistant Coach Jay Varady. Varady has had a remarkable trajectory since his early coaching days with the WHL's expansion Everett Silvertips, and yet there is much more to be written in his story. Today, we discuss the origin of analytics in hockey, implementing process & structure into a program, and how to navigate when to make the jump in one’s coaching career.

In episode #214, we welcome former NHLer and current Cognitive Performance Coach Aaron Volpatti. He is also the author of the book FIGHTER: Defying the NHL Odds, an autobiography on how he turned tragedy into triumph on his unlikely journey to playing in the National Hockey League. Listen as we discuss how he learned to leverage his mind to make an unlikely return to the ice following his severe burns that almost took his life, how that experience became a skill later in his career, and how coaches can offer support in their athletes visualizing their own peak performance.

In episode #213, USA Hockey's National Coach-in-Chief Mike MacMillan joins the show. MacMillan's role, along with the regional coach-in-chiefs, is to make decisions on how to best educate hockey coaches, and ultimately have a direct influence on the development opportunity afforded to young players in the US. Listen as he discusses the pageantry that is the Minnesota High School Championships, how tech is evolving coach education, and the positive role the game plays in supporting the overall development young boys and girls.

In episode #212, Erie Otters Head Coach Stan Butler stops by. Butler recently returned behind the bench after a two year break and is currently in his 26th season coaching in the CHL. He’s coached in over 1,600 OHL games and won 742 of them, ranking him in the top 5 in league history in both categories. Hear him discuss the influence his teaching career has had on his coaching career, the decision to stay in Junior hockey, and why he still has the juice to chase that elusive OHL crown with the Erie Otters.

In episode #211, we welcome Skating Coach Katy Jo West to the show. She is the founder of Katy Jo Power Skating, based just outside of Denver, Colorado, where she works with everyone from two and three year-old’s stepping onto the ice for the first time, right up to NHL players. West is also a presenter at this year's Global Skills Showcase, hosted by The Coaches Site. Listen as she discusses the fundamentals of becoming a great skater, getting comfortable with being unconventional, and hacks to running a business that requires you to be on the ice 40+ hours per week.

In episode #210, Skills Coach Brian Slugocki stops by to join the show. His current roles include Director of Skill Development for the Jr. Coyotes youth program, where he is also the Head Coach of the programs 10u elite team, Skill Development Consultant for the NHL Arizona Coyotes and prospects, Skills Coach for Total Package Hockey (TPH), all in addition to running private and small group training for youth players up to NHL players through his company Slugocki Hockey. Slugocki will be presenting at the 2023 Global Skills Showcase on how to develop hockey sense. Hear him discuss how you create a practice plan for elite players like Auston Matthews, what goes into creating a learning enivronment that develops hockey sense, and why you need to check for learning.

In episode #209, we connect with Paul Dyck, Head Coach and General Manager of the MJHL's Steinbach Pistons. The Pistons have been one of the most successful and consistent Junior A programs in Canada since Dyck stepped behind the bench part way through the 2012-2013 season. Listen as he discuss why great coaches find reasons why a team CAN succeed, the role grit plays in winning Championships and why you need to appreciate feedback from your fans, even if they interrupt your breakfast.

In episode #208, we're joined by Head Coach of the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds, Matt O'Dette. Coming off a season where he led the TBirds on an epic run to the WHL Finals, O'Dette has Seattle back in contention, currently sitting atop the Western Conference and ranked #4 in the CHL rankings with a roster full of talent. Hear him share why every team needs its own library, being neighbours with your goalie and how the secret to keeping the fire burning in your players is to actually start a fire.

In episode #207, we welcome a returning guest to the podcast, Brooks Bandits GM and Head Coach Ryan Papaioannou. He is currently in his 14th season behind the bench for the Bandits, a program that he's led to six AJHL Championships and three National CHampionships. Listen as he shares his offensive principles, the three qualities he looks for in players, and what it was like coaching a young Cale Makar.

In episode #206, we're joined by Tri-City Americans Owner and Head Coach Stu Barnes. Prior to coaching, Stu enjoyed a long NHL career as a player and has a long list of coaches that he either played for or has coached with, including the likes of Dave King, Roger Neilson, Lindy Ruff, Ken Hitchcock, Marc Crawford, and Dave Tippett. In today’s conversation, we discuss the type of relationship players value from their coach, how he collaborates with his coaching staff, and what he’s picked up from so many coaching greats.

In episode #205, we welcome Joel Martin, Head Coach of the ECHL's Kalamazoo Wings. Martin is in his first season as the Head Coach of he K-Wings, is currently one of only two black head coaches in North American professional hockey. Martin has spent a total of 14 seasons with the ECHL franchise, including nine as a goalie and four as a coach. He was named to the 14th ECHL Hall of Fame class January of 2022. Listen as he touches on why former goaltenders make great coaches, the power of postive affirmation and keeping things fun, and the principles to shutting teams down in your defensive zone.