Glass and Out

Listen to Bakersfield Condors Head Coach Jay Woodcroft to learn more about the balance between winning hockey games and developing prospects in the American Hockey League.

Any time a young athlete moves, adversity tags along. Moving away from home? Check. Moving onto a new league? Yep, adversity. Moving up from junior to professional hockey? Absolutely. “Make sure everything you do today sets the table for the future.” Mike Johnston, Head Coach and General Manager of the Portland Winterhawks, has created a culture in his organization that allows people to develop naturally and prepare for the next level. And that's not just the players, but the coaches too. So when an inevitable losing streak strikes as it did to begin the season for the Winterhawks, coaches, players, and staff are empowered and trained to find a way through to the light at the end of the tunnel.

It's always interesting to chat with coaches who are now behind the bench for teams they once played for. That's the case for Ryan Donald, former captain of the Yale University Bulldogs and, after a sting playing pro hockey, followed by coaching junior hockey back up here in Canada, returned to Yale as an assistant coach. Ryan was a hard-nosed defenseman in his day, and he's doing good work combining that experience with the skill and speed required of today's defensemen.

Join the guys in a special episode featuring Ryan Hollweg, former professional hockey player with the New York Rangers, and former coach of the Everett Silvertips John Becanic.

"Matt asked me about my interest in coming to New York to work with the team," Victor told me when I pushed him to talk about his work with the Islanders' top centre. "I told him to just worry about himself and have a good year. There's a new coaching staff, Matt's on his own there without Tavares, we can certainly talk but I think he should just focus on himself and his teammates." What a guy. Tune into today's special podcast with world champion and current skating coach Victor Kraatz.

The Arizona Coyotes have been front and centre in hockey’s great analytics debate. However, according to Jeff Ulmer (and most coaches whose paycheque depends on wins and losses, at least to a degree), there’s no debate: analytics are a tool for improvement. Coaches use the knowledge to varying degrees, and everyone has their preference, but for Coyotes skills and special ops coordinator Jeff Ulmer, the Coyotes are leading the way, and it starts upstairs with GM John Chayka. The problem is that the wins haven’t come yet. Will they? Listen to Kelvin and Aaron’s interview with Jeff to find out what he believes.

Angus Reid was a feared offensive lineman with the CFL's BC Lions for eleven years. 11! He had the same offensive coordinator for all eleven seasons, Dan Dorazio. Can you imagine working with the same players on the same techniques and routines for eleven seasons? Well, Dorazio did such a good job with Reid that the latter wrote a book about the former.

Hear from Joe Quinn, Connor McDavid's on-ice skills coach since he was just a youngster.

Listen to EHC Linz Head Coach Troy Ward on coaching hockey players who don't speak the same language. Literally.

Des Moines Buccaneers Head Coach and friend of the podcast Gene Reilly hopped on the podcast with Aaron and Kelvin today to talk about the challenges associated with introducing a brand new coaching staff to a team of players, a board of directors, and a new city.