

Glass and Out
The Coaches Site
The Coaches Site Founder Aaron Wilbur sits down with some of hockey’s top coaches and leaders to learn about their journey and dissect the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Each episodes features key take aways for coaches of all levels. The Glass and Out Podcast is required listening for coaches looking to gain key insights from hockey’s most influential leaders.
Episodes
Mentioned books

7 snips
Feb 15, 2024 • 50min
WCHA Director of Player Development Tyler Dittmer: 8 ways to develop skills, fuelling players at practice and creating a lethal shot
Tyler Dittmer shares 8 processes for developing skills, emphasizes coaches as batteries at practice, and discusses creating a lethal shot. The podcast explores effective coaching techniques, player energy levels, promoting coaching conferences, handling pressure, enhancing player development, mechanical tweaks for skills, and building trust with players.

Feb 8, 2024 • 1h 20min
Czech Knights GM Adam Jonak: Building creative confidence, encouraging decision making and finding the purpose of every drill
Our visits with the five selected Global Skills Showcase presenters continues in episode #246, as we welcome GM and Player Development Coach for the Czech Knights, Adam Jonak. The GSS shines a spotlight on the top skill development coaches in the world, their area of expertise, specifically how they teach or transfer the skills to their players, and is available exclusively to subscribers of The Coaches SIte. Jonak, who is also the owner of ABC Hockey Development and the Development Coach for the Pilsnen Wolves Hockey Club, has had a unique career that has taken him around the globe, and equipped him with the skills to develop high end players. Specifically, if you coach youth hockey or work with younger players, I think you’re really going to enjoy this one. Listen as he shares why youth hockey is the perfect place to build confidence in creativity, the importance of letting players make decisions, and why you should also ask the purpose of a drill before borrowing.

Feb 1, 2024 • 1h 3min
Total Package Hockey London Director Kevin Galerno: Improving decision making, variable training and getting through scoring draughts
Kevin Galerno, Co-Owner of TPH London, discusses enhancing decision making in hockey, variable training methods, and helping players through scoring draughts. Topics include optimizing engagement in practice, navigating role transitions, player development challenges, coaching philosophy, flexibility in coaching styles, and enhancing decision making and pressure awareness in practice.

10 snips
Jan 25, 2024 • 1h 14min
Power Skating Coach Jill Plandowski: Skating misconceptions, the prime age for improving skating and playing with freedom of thought
For the next five weeks on the Glass and Out Podcast, we’re going to be featuring the five coaches selected to present at our Global Skills Showcase. The event takes place from March 4-8 and showcases five of the top skills coaches in the worlds, presenting on how they teach a specific skill or tactic. In episode #244, we welcome skating coach Jill Plandowski, who will be presenting on improving a player's crossovers with an emphasis on the outside edge. Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Plandowski has over 25 years of coaching experience. Her client list includes current NHL players like Drake Batherson, Morgan Baron, Justin Barrohn, Liam O’Brien, Ryan Graves and Noah Dobson, along with numerous prospects in the junior and college ranks. Listen as she shares common skating misconceptions, what the prime age for improving a player's skating is, and why proper mechanics allow players to play with freedom of thought.

11 snips
Jan 18, 2024 • 35min
University of Michigan Head Coach Brandon Naurato: Good dudes only, growth through failure and showing players the real you
University of Michigan Head Coach Brandon Naurato discusses his philosophy of 'good dudes only,' the importance of growth through failure, and showing players the real you. They explore the challenges of transitioning to head coach, gaining players' trust, positive coaching, providing care and accountability, being a coach beyond the game, and utilizing sports science in hockey coaching.

Jan 11, 2024 • 1h 6min
University of North Dakota Athletic Trainer Mark Poolman: Youth training tips, why sleep is key and dealing with stress as a coach
In episode #242 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we're joined by Head Athletic Trainer, and Strength and Conditioning Coach of the University of North Dakota men’s hockey team. Poolman's reputation precedes him and it’s no secret that UND is a pipeline of NHL talent. The alumni list includes the like’s of Jonathan Toews, Zach Parise, TJ Oshie, Jake Sanderson, Ed Belfour, Brock Boeser, just to name a few. To put it in perspective, last season alone, 23 former UND players suited in the NHL. Listen as he shares off-ice training tips for youth players, why sleep is critical to player performance, and how to deal with stress as a coach.

Jan 4, 2024 • 1h 42min
HC Košice Head Coach Dan Ceman: Championships without cheating, using good body language and creating supportive environments
In episode #241 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we welcome Dan Ceman, Head Coach of HC Košice, the reigning Champions of the Slovakian Extraliga. His coaching journey, which began in 2010, has seen championships follow him at essentially every stop. Four as a Head Coach, in addition to winning two as a player. If your goal is to be a career coach, there is a lot you can take away from how he approached his career. Ultimately, it seems that a big part of his focus is creating a supportive environment for his players. Listen as he shares why you can't win a champonship with cheating, why body language is just as important as what you say, and how to create a positive enivironment for players.

8 snips
Dec 28, 2023 • 42min
Quinnipiac University Head Coach Rand Pecknold: Never using bag skates, attacking adversity and making every practice count
ESPN's John Buccigross interviews Rand Pecknold, Quinnipiac University Head Coach, discussing coaching journey, no bag skates philosophy, attacking adversity, and maximizing practice efficiency.

7 snips
Dec 21, 2023 • 1h 16min
CEP Mindset Founder Dr. Cassidy Preston: The "Screw It" mindset, avoiding the word confidence and not being judgmental
Dr. Cassidy Preston, founder of CEP Mindset, discusses the 'Screw It' mindset, avoiding the word confidence, and the importance of non-judgmental coaching in sports. He emphasizes detachment from results, embracing alter egos, fostering vulnerability in team culture, and transitioning to intrinsic motivation for success.

Dec 14, 2023 • 1h 2min
Kitchener Rangers Head Coach Jussi Ahokas: Success through enjoyment, positionless hockey and the Finnish concept of "Sisu"
For episode #238 of the Glass and Out Podcast, our team at The Coaches Site had the chance to visit the OHL's Kitchener Rangers facilities and sit down with Head Coach Jussi Ahokas. Ahokas is currently in his first season in North America after spending the past four seasons as the Head Coach of TPS in the Liga, Finland’s top Professional league. During that time, he was named the Alliance of European Hockey Club’s Coach of the Year, the equivalent of the Jack Adams Award across all of Europe's top professional leagues. Listen as he shares he shares the Finnish concept of "Sisu," why you'll always get better results when people enjoy the enviornment and why positionless hockey is the future of the game.