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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

We've got a special edition of the Glass and Out Podcast for you this week. During the holiday break, Breakaway, the Minor Hockey Podcast, was joined by one of the most influential voices in hockey, ESPN Hockey Analyst Ray Ferraro. In addition to his work on hockey broadcasts, Ferraro is also a sports parent, with four kids who played everything from hockey to soccer. Ferraro has seen first hand how the game and the parent-coach relationship have changed over time and he shared his coaching...

In episode #203, we're joined by Ken Martel, USA Hockey's Senior Director of Player & Coach Development. In his newly appointed role, he is charged with developing a framework for associations in the US to follow that leads to an enhanced player and coach development pathways. Listen as he shares his thoughts on what’s next in the evolution of player and coach development, how he approaches developing hockey in non-traditional markets, and the experience of growing up playing hockey in a...

In episode 202 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we're pleased to be joined by Pyry Lukkarila, Head of Coach Development for the Finnish Ice Hockey Association. Lukkarila has played a key role in re-shaping Finland’s coach education system and his unique role in the hockey industry has him in a constant state of uncovering what’s next by researching the top programs and coaches in and outside of hockey. If you look at the recent string of international success by a country of just under 67,000...

The Glass and Out Pod wants to wish everyone a Happy Holidays! To celebrate the start of this year's World Junior Championships, we're revisiting one of our favourite conversations from 2020 featuring two former Gold Medal winning coaches, Brent Sutter and Phil Housley. Brent Sutter led Canada to back-to-back gold medals in 2005 and 2006, going an incredible 12-0 in the process. The 2005 team is widely considered the best Canadian team of all-time, featuring a star-studded lineup of NHL...

Nick Oliver, Head Coach of USHL's Fargo Force, stops in for episode 200 of the Glass and Out Podcast. At the time of this recording, Oliver had the Force sitting atop the USHL standings, but what is most impressive about his story is the rapid rise he’s made up the coaching ladder since completing his collegiate career at St. Cloud State University. Despite no prior experience, the Wannaska, Minnesota native got his coaching career started when he was invited to join the Sioux Falls...