Glass & Out

If you had to pick one organization that was extra disappointed by the NHL postponement, the Edmonton Oilers would have to be at the top of the list. Currently sitting in second place in the Pacific Division, the Oilers looked primed to make the playoffs for just the second time in 13 years. And with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl sitting 1-2 in league scoring, there’s no doubt they would be tough a out. Oilers assistant coach Brian Wiseman was in the midst of his first season behind an NHL bench, playing a key role in helping Edmonton back into contention as a member of Dave Tippet’s staff. Wiseman’s coaching career began under Tippet as video coach in Dallas during the 2002-03 season. After stops at Princeton University and the AHL’s Houston Aeros, he decided to take a six-year break from coaching. Wiseman’s career would resume with a return to his alma mater, the University of Michigan. He spent eight years as an assistant to legendary NCAA coach Red Berenson, the same coach who recruited him to play fo

There’s no playbook for the current pandemic that we are all currently facing. As we continue to work our way through unchartered territory, we hope you and your loved ones are staying safe during this difficult time. We’re all in this together. Like many coaches all around the world, Oliver David’s season came to a disappointing end in early March. In the midst of his third season with the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints, David’s team sat second overall in the league with a record of 33-13-2 and looked primed to make a run at the Clark Cup. That will have to wait for another season. David’s first head coaching gig came with the NAHL’s Kenai River Brown Bears, where he spent four seasons. He would then join Dubuque as an assistant for three seasons. After a brief stop as Mike Johnston’s assistant coach with the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks, David would make his way back to Dubuque and take over the reigns as bench boss. How has David been dealing with the aftermath of a cancelled season and what does he see in t

Speed is everything in today's game. From the pace of the play, to how quickly young players are thrust into prominent roles, to how quickly coaches aspire to make their way up to the big leagues. Calgary Flames assistant coach Ryan Huska has approached his career with two key words: patience and loyalty. Throughout his 18 years of coaching, Huska has worked for just two organizations. His career would start as an assistant with the WHL's Kelowna Rockets in 2002, and he was named head coach five years later. During that time, Kelowna captured two WHL championships (2005, 2009) and made two appearances in the Memorial Cup. After 12 years in Kelowna, Huska joined the Flames organization, as head coach of their AHL affiliate in Adirondack. With Calgary's AHL affiliate now in Stockton, Huska remained the team's head coach for four seasons before being promoted to NHL assistant coach in 2018. Another impressive and rare distinction he's accomplished so far in his career? He's never been fired (knock on wood). How

The St. Louis Blues’ journey to their first Stanley Cup last season was truly one of the most incredible stories in recent sports history. Their unlikely turnaround from last place to champs has been well documented but here’s a quick refresher: On January 2nd, the Blues sat dead last overall in the NHL. After an impressive second half of the season that saw the team go 30-10-5, they finished 3rd in the Central Division. The Blues playoff run saw them take down Winnipeg, Dallas, San Jose and eventually the Boston Bruins in seven games en route to their first Cup in franchise history. A big part of the turnaround? An early season coaching change from Mike Yeo to Craig Berube. Berube, a former enforcer who accumulated over 3000 PIMs in just over 1000 NHL games as an undrafted player, made two Finals appearances with the Fylers in 1987 and the Capitals in 1998. His coaching career would begin with the Philadelphia Phantoms, where he spent four seasons as an assistant and head coach. He would then make the jump t

In a time where coaches are hired to be fired, it’s rare that you see longevity and success that Waterloo Black Hawks head coach P.K. O’Handley has been able to find in one league and, for the majority of it, with one team. With the exception of a four-year stop with the ECHL’s Florida Everblades, O’Handley has spent nearly the entirety of his 30-year coaching career in the USHL, including seven seasons with the North Iowa Huskies and 17 with Waterloo. He is currently the league’s all-time wins leader with over 700 and counting. His long list of achievements include four USHL Coach of the Year awards, three GM of the Year awards, and the Black Hawks’ lone Clark Cup championship. Internationally, P.K. has represented USA Hockey at the World Junior Challenge as head coach in 2007 and 2017, and served as an assistant coach at the 2009 World Junior Championships. With such a vast junior hockey resume, there’s no doubt that opportunities to move into pro hockey have presented themselves. But for O’Handley, finding

The recent string of NHL coaching firings and hirings are prime examples that a career in coaching isn’t for the faint of heart. There are many that make life changing sacrifices in the long pursuit of a job in the NHL, which as we’ve seen, can offer little to no security. For Victoria Royals head coach Dan Price, the gamble is worth the risk for the game he loves. Equipped with a law degree and steady job at a Calgary firm, Price decided to enter the uncertain world of coaching. His first job would come in 2006 as an assistant with the WHL’s Chilliwack Bruins (now the Victoria Royals) for three seasons. After a three-year stint as head coach and general manager of the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Drumheller Dragons, he would make the jump back to the WHL with the Tri-City Americans for two seasons as an assistant. Price would return to the Royals organization in 2016, taking over the reigns as head coach from Dave Lowry in 2017. Now in his fourth season with Victoria, Price has led the Royals to a winning

The NHL has had a history of former tough guys turned successful coaches, with Craig Berube, Gerard Gallant and Bob Boughner being the most recent examples. It would appear that Chicago Wolves head coach Rocky Thompson could be on his way to joining them. Thompson is a former Alberta Golden Gloves Champion who terrorized the Western Hockey League before embarking on a professional career, which included 25 games in the NHL and over 2,000 PIMs in his professional career. Thompson began his coaching career as an assistant with the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings for three seasons. He would then join Dallas Eakins’ staff with the AHL’s Oklahoma City Barons and, eventually, the Edmonton Oilers. Thompson’s first head coaching opportunity would come with the Windsor Spitfires, where he led them to a Memorial Cup championship in 2017. Currently in his third season with the Wolves and coming off an AHL Finals appearance, Thompson has been able to reinvent himself as a player’s coach that is receiving glowing endorsements fr

For hockey fans, the holiday season means so much more than just time with friends and family. It means the World Junior Championships are upon us. High quality hockey from young men giving their all for their country in the quest for gold. University of Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko knows first hand the ups and downs that players face in such a stress-filled environment. He’s led Team USA as head coach twice at the World Juniors, capturing gold in 2017 and bronze in 2018. He was also an assistant coach during a disappointing fifth-place finish by the Americans in 2014. The two-time NCHC Herb Brooks Coach of the Year winner has coached NCAA hockey for over 30 years, including 13 years as head coach at the St. Cloud State University. He is currently in his second season with the Golden Gophers. Find out how the long-time NCAA coach managed to find success in the short-term, high pressure tournament in this week’s edition of the Glass and Out Podcast! *Note: Due to technical difficulties, parts of the intervi

In the climate of today’s game, it’s understandable if a high profile coach or hockey executive decided to dodge something like a podcast appearance. That would definitely apply to Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour, who has been front and centre in the recent string of NHL coaching controversies. The Canes coach was gracious enough to join the Glass & Out Podcast during his team’s recent stop in Vancouver — and was a complete open book. The former Stanley Cup champ, Olympian, and two-time Selke Trophy winner followed up a successful playing career by becoming an assistant with his former team in Carolina. After seven seasons, he was named head coach and would lead the Hurricanes all the way the Eastern Conference Final in his first season. Known as a players coach, “Rod the Bod” has found a way to use his experience as a player to connect with his team in a unique way. Brind’Amour shares his opinion on the Bill Peters situation, the Hurricanes unlikely 2019 playoff run, and just how long he e

Hockey culture. It’s a term that has come under fire over the past few weeks. Whatever your opinion is on the subject, one thing is clear: change is coming – and fast. Former NHLer and current Lausanne HC head coach Ville Peltonen has seen his fair share of hockey culture on two different continents. Peltonen played 382 NHL games, with stops in San Jose, Nashville, and Florida. His pro career also included stops in Finland, Sweden, and Switzerland. Peltonen captained Finland six times at the IIHF World Championships and was also named captain of four different club teams during his 22-year playing career. As a leader on and off the ice, culture is something that’s played a critical role in on every team he’s been apart of. Now a rising star in the European coaching ranks, he could be on his way back to North America some day. So how does he feel about the current state of the hockey and the recent allegations of misconduct against current NHL coaches? And how does culture differ in Europe and North America? F

When people hear “skills coach,” toe-drags and saucer passes probably come to mind. But for longtime Vancouver Canucks skills coach Glenn Carnegie, that is just the tip of the iceberg. Carnegie began his coaching career with his own training company in his hometown of Winnipeg, where his list of clients included Jonathan Toews and Travis Zajac. He would then move on to become the strength and conditioning coach of the Manitoba Moose before making the jump to the Canucks in 2009. From the Sedin twins to Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser, there hasn’t been a shortage of talent that Carnegie has had to privilege to work with. So how exactly do you help develop such elite players with so much skill already in their arsenal? Find out in this week’s episode of the Glass and Out Podcast!

"We, us, and our." Those are the three key words that University of North Dakota head coach Brad Berry tries to instil in every team he leads. It's created a strong culture for UND - on and off the ice. Berry has coached the Fighting Hawks for 14 years and is currently in his fourth season as head coach. In his first season at the helm in 2016, he helped North Dakota capture its first national championship in 16 years, becoming the first coach in NCAA history to do so in his inaugural campaign. The 54-year-old native of Bashaw, Alberta also oversaw a program-record 22 student-athletes named to the NCHC All-Academic team during the 2016-2017 season. Year-after-year, the program and its players continue to thrive under his watch. In this week's episode of the Glass & Out Podcast, Berry explains how he's created a successful culture that has already produced NHL stars like Brock Boeser, Tyson Jost, and Nick Schmaltz.

Any successful coach will tell you their path faced many obstacles and led them to places they didn’t expect to be. Vancouver Giants head coach Michael Dyck is no exception. After 13 seasons in the WHL, which included an appearance in the league finals while the head coach of the Lethbridge Hurricanes in 2008, Dyck was found jobless one year later. Seen by many as a rising coaching star, he decided to step away from his coaching career and focus on his family. Nine years later, Dyck would receive a second chance in the Dub with the Vancouver Giants. He made an instant impact, leading the Giants to within one win of the 2019 WHL championship. The 51-year-old now appears back on track to a future job in the pros. So what did he learn from the nine-year WHL head coaching hiatus and how has he brought a winning culture back to the Giants? Find out in this week’s episode of the Glass & Out Podcast!

There are few women in hockey as decorated as Cammi Granato. From becoming one of the first women to be inducted into the International Ice Hockey Hall of Fame, the USA Hockey Hall of Fame, and the Hockey Hall of Fame, to Gold medals and numerous awards with USA Hockey, she's done it all. You can now add the first female Pro Scout in NHL history to her never-ending list of accomplishments. Needless to say, she is truly a legend in women's hockey and sports in general. Granato joins the GAO Podcast this week to discuss her new position with the incoming NHL franchise in Seattle and her historic career with USA Hockey.

We're back for our third season! It's only right that we kick things off with a familiar face to the Glass and Out Podcast: Former GAO Co-Host and The Coaches Site Editor in Chief, Kelvin Cech! Kelvin has moved on to become the Head Coach of the Winkler Flyers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. As a first time bench boss in hockey-mad, small town Manitoba, he's been experiencing many firsts: First training camp, first time making a recruiting call, first time trading a player, etc. How has he been adjusting? Find out in the season's first episode of the Glass & Out Podcast!

It's not every day you get a front row seat to learn about the inner workings of hockey's best team.* *Well, best regular season team. The Tampa Lightning had a season for the ages and looked ready to go on a deep run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where only the cup itself would represent true success. But that run was derailed early by a feisty Columbus Blue Jackets squad that wasn't paying attention to the standings in the regular season. What went wrong? And how do the Lightning improve for next year? Find out from Lightning Assistant Coach Derek Lalonde in the season's final episode of Glass & Out.

Friend of the Coaches Site and current Winnipeg Jets Associate Coach Jamie Kompon dropped by the Glass & Out podcast to talk defensemen development, his time working in the national hockey league, and the mind-boggling achievement of winning three Stanley Cups behind the bench. Enjoy!

The rise of American skill in the professional hockey ranks is no accident. The fuel for that offensive fire starts long before those players hit the NHL, too.  It starts at the grassroots level. The stickhandling you see from Patrick Kane, the creativity you're going to see from this year's probable first overall pick Jack Hughes, not to mention his older brother Quinn - it's all the product of development at the youth hockey level.  Enter Kenny Rausch, Director of Youth Hockey for USA Hockey. Kenny jumped on the podcast today to talk about cross ice hockey, small area games, and his emphasis on skill and fun.  And why it's working. Enjoy!

Fresh off yet another national championship, Brooks Bandits head coach Ryan Papaioannou joined Glass & Out not only to talk about the tactics his squad used en route to victory, but just what this victory means to the players, the staff, and the people of small town Alberta.  Enjoy!

Mike Gillis is a former player agent, lawyer, and most importantly around these parts, General Manager of the Vancouver Canucks, but it's what he's learned in his time away from the game that we're interested in these days. Mr. Gillis has spent the past few years touring sports performance powerhouses all over the globe - Switzerland, Spain, here on North American soil - you name it. What impact have those travels had on his desire to return to the national hockey league? What has he learned? What has he learned to avoid?All those answers and more in today's episode. Enjoy!