Glass & Out

We welcome a familiar face for episode #176 of the Glass and Out podcast. University of Vermont Head Coach Todd Woodcroft is a good friend of The Coaches Site and has presented at numerous events. He'll also be joining us at TCS Live at the University of Michigan this coming June. If you haven't already bought tickets, now is the time. Woodcroft just wrapped his second season as coach of the Catamounts, a position he was hired for at the on-set of the pandemic. Despite some obvious challenges, he has begun to put his mark on the program by adding several NHL prospects and looking outside of North America for talent, as there are players from nine different countries on the roster. Prior to his arrival in Vermont, Woodcroft spent four seasons as an Assistant Coach on the Winnipeg Jets coaching staff, one of several roles and stops in the NHL during the course of his career. His first stint was as video coach with the Minnesota Wild during their inaugural season and he went on to work as a scout for the Wild, W

In episode #175 of the Glass and Out podcast, we speak with Tomas Pacina, who up until the day before we recorded this conversation, had been the Head Coach of the Czechia National Women’s program for two seasons. Pacina has had an incredibly unique and diverse career that has touched just about every level of hockey. He moved to Calgary, Alberta, in the mid 90s and began coaching midget hockey, while working at a local hockey academy. This led to the opportunity become a Skills Coach for Canada’s National Men's Team, which at the time was under the guidance of current Hockey Canada CEO Tom Renney. From there, he joined the New York Rangers as a Skills Coach, becoming one of the first of his position to be hired by an NHL team. He remained with the Rangers until 2004, and later worked with the Florida Panthers and Montreal Canadiens in a similar capacity. From 2011 until 2020, Pacina was a skills coach for the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL, working under the leadership of Mike Johnston for majority of his t

For episode #174 of the Glass and Out podcast, we revisit one of our favourite conversations from last year's Virtual Hockey Summit. As many hockey seasons begin to wrap up, the time for coaches to start looking and networking for their next jobs is upon us. Gil Scott is the President & CEO of Gil Scott Sports Management and is the agent for top NHL coaches like Barry Trotz and Bruce Boudreau. He spoke with TCS Founder Aaron Wilbur on what it takes to prepare for an interview and be at your best when there’s a lot on the line. Scott founded Gil Scott Sports Management in 1979 and has negotiated over 500 contracts of coaches and players. In addition to his clientele of coaches, he currently represents 65 active NFL and CFL players. He is a graduate of Michigan State University, was the first Canadian to be certified by the NFLPA and served as a sports consultant for the Royal Banks Sports Professionals Program from 1997-2009. There is no instruction manual when it comes to finding your next coaching job o

In episode #173 of the Glass and Out podcast, we're joined by Bob Mancini, Assistant Executive Director of USA Hockey, who oversees hockey development. Mancini has done it all in hockey, coaching and overseeing programs as an administrator at just about every level. In the process, he has accumulated a diverse set of experiences that make him uniquely suited for his current role. Following his collegiate playing career at Colorado College, he embarked on a collegiate coaching career that included time with Lake Superior State University, Ferris State University, and Michigan Tech University. He was then a part of the inaugural US National Development Team Program coaching staff in 1996, where he coached at the U17, U18, and U20 levels for four seasons. His only stop in the NHL (so far) came with the Edmonton Oilers on two different occasions, as a scout and development coach. He also spent three years as the Head Coach and General Manager of the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League. In addition to his

For episode #172, we welcome a familiar face to the Glass and Out podcast. Dr. Cassidy Preston is a High-Performance Coach and the Founder of Consistent Elite Performance. He is also the co-host of the Beyond the X's and O's podcast, and has been a regular contributor at The Coaches Site and presenter at our past virtual events. On top of all that, he will be presenting at TCS Live, our in-person hockey coaches conference taking place at the University of Michigan from June 15-17th.  Dr. Preston grew up in North Bay, Ontario, where he played hockey; he was selected in the 4th round of the OHL draft and played five seasons of junior hockey. Following a brief professional career, he attended and played hockey at York University and later the University of Toronto, where he obtained a PHD in Sport and Performance Psychology. In addition, he also spent time coaching hockey at the grassroots levels in the Toronto area. With his education and the experience gained from his different positions in the game, he decid

In episode #171 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we're joined by Brad Ralph, Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations for the Florida Everblades of the East Coast Hockey League. Ralph is currently in his sixth season with the Everblades, quietly helping them develop into one of the top programs in the ECHL. During his tenure, Florida has captured four South Division titles and advanced to two conference championships. In the 2017-2018 season, he helped the club set a record for most wins (53) and points (112) in a season. The Blades also advanced to the Kelly Cup final and he was awarded the Jack Brophy Award as ECHL Coach of the Year. His 45 career wins in the Kelly Cup playoffs currently ranks him fifth all time in the ECHL. Ralph got his coaching career start at just 30-years-old in Augusta, Georgia, with the Augusta RiverHawks of the Southern Professional Leagues. After being handed the keys to an expansion franchise with no coaching experience on his resume, he led the team to the league final and was r

In anticipation of our upcoming Global Skills Showcase, we welcome Danny Heath, renowned skills coach and Founder of Project Hockey, for episode #170 of the Glass and Out Podcast.   In addition to Project Hockey, Heath is also the Skills Coach for the Minnesota State Mavericks, who just finished the college season as the #1 team in the country.   Heath grew up in the Phoenix area and credits the arrival of the Coyotes for igniting his love for the game. As a player, he spent time in the USHL with the Tri-City Storm and Des Moines Buccaneers, before landing a scholarship at Minnesota State.   After four seasons with the Mavericks, he retired from playing and decided to take on creating Project Hockey. Coming from the non-traditional hockey market of Arizona, he recognized motivated, passionate kids didn't have the resources or access to development programs in their part of the world. With Project Hockey, the app enables kids to train at home and get access to quality coaching, all at an affordable pr

For episode #169 of the Glass and Out podcast, we're joined by power skating instructor Cathy Andrade. She is also one of the 10 coaches selected to present at our upcoming Global Skills Showcase! Through hard work, striving to master her craft and word of mouth, she's built a reputation as one of the top skating coaches in hockey. Andrade grew up in Calgary, Alberta, where she competed competitively as a figure skater before obtaining CFSA certification, which is comprised of Gold Figure, Gold Free-Style and Gold Dance. In the early 90s, she set up shop in San Jose, California, and by the turn of the century, was training hockey players exclusively. Today, she trains a lot of the top players to come out of Northern California, as well as many of the top players who move to the Bay Area to play professionally, including current San Jose Shark Kevin Labanc and former Shark Joe Pavelski. Find out her philosophy on creating better skaters and athletes, how she's gained the trust of some of the top players in ho

We've got a very special edition of the Glass and Out podcast for you this week. To celebrate our announcement of TCS Live, our return to an in-person hockey coaches conference taking place June 15-17 at the University of Michigan, we're taking a look back one of our favourite presentations from our 2012 Hockey Coaches Conference.   Mike Keenan is a man who truly needs no introduction. The Stanley Cup, Calder Cup and Canada Cup champion is one of the most iconic figures in hockey. While it’s fair to say that a lot of Iron Mike’s methods wouldn’t fly today, what stood out most during his talk on "Having a Sense of Mission" was his ability to own the room. He clearly has that "it" factor that you can't teach and every great leader has.   During the talk, he shares stories from his personal coaching journey and stresses the importance of creating expectations for your team and reinforcing those expectations on a daily basis.   You won't want to miss this one!

For episode #167 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we welcome Pete Lenes, Co-Founder of Eleva802 hockey training company/media company. You might know him better on social media as "Swaggy P," the stick handling sensation who was recently invited to be a special guest of the NHL at the All-Star game festivities in Las Vegas. In addition, Lenes will be presenting at next month's Global Skills Showcase, along with nine other of the top skills coaches in hockey. The Burlington, Vermont native played for his hometown University of Vermont Catamonts, before embarking on a 10 year pro career that included stops in the ECHL, AHL and Austrian League. After retirement he, along with friend and former NHLer Torrey Mitchell, decided to open a training centre called Elev802. The company includes their former college coach Dave Sneddon, who manages their business operations, and Stanley Cup Champion Scott Gomez as a silent partner. Thanks in large part to an emphasis on social media promotion from Swaggy P himself, Elev802

In episode #166 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we’re joined by former NHLer Andy Sutton, whose company Verbero is partnering with The Coaches Site in showcasing 10 of hockey’s top skills coaches at our upcoming Global Skills Showcase. After a career that had him play 687 NHL games as an undrafted player, Sutton saw the need for a change in the hockey equipment and apparel industry. Recognizing the cost of outfitting a young player in gear was a major deterrent for parents allowing their kids to participate in the sport, he embarked on a mission, to make safe, quality equipment available at a reasonable cost. With Verbero, he’s developed a direct to consumer model that makes it easy for anyone to go online, or work directly with their local Verbero representative, and order quality, custom equipment and apparel at an affordable cost. As a player, Sutton's journey to a long NHL career is definitely one you'll want to hear. After going undrafted, he made a name for himself at Michigan Tech, leading to 14 co

In episode #165 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we're joined by Theresa Feaster, who is the Director of Hockey Operations for the Providence College men's hockey team; she also represented Team USA as a video coach for the past two World Junior Championships.   Feaster grew up in a hockey household, as her dad Jay was the former General Manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Calgary Flames, which included a Stanley Cup in 2004 with the Bolts. Despite the connection and no playing background, it was while attending Providence College as a student that she got her first chance at a role in hockey. After volunteering under head coach Nate Leaman for four seasons by taking on various roles, such as breaking down video and stat tracking, she was promoted to a full-time role as a player coordinator in 2016. After two seasons, she would take on the role of Director of Hockey Operations, which includes providing video and statistical support and analysis for the coaching staff.   During her time on Leaman’s staf

We're joined by Brock Sheahan, head coach of the defending USHL Clark Cup Champions Chicago Steel, for episode #164 of the Glass and Out Podcast. Sheahan is currently in his fourth season with the franchise and third as head coach, a role he took over part-way through the 2019-2020 season when Greg Moore was hired by the Toronto Maple Leafs to coach their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. Under Sheahan's guidance, Chicago has enjoyed incredible success and continues the development of a winning culture. The team has finished first overall in back-to-back seasons, capturing the 2021 Clark Cup, and was siting atop the standings at the time of this podcast airing. At the 2021 NHL Draft, eight current or former members of the Steel heard their names called, including three in the 1st round, highlighted by first overall pick Owen Power. Sheahan hails from Lethbridge, Alberta, played four seasons at the University of Notre Dame and following his pro career, returned to South Bend as a volunteer coach. Prior to jo

We’re going outside the box for episode #163 of the Glass and Out Podcast. We're joined by Scott O’Neil, the former President Madison Square Gardens and CEO of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, whose portfolio includes the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia 76ers. He is also the author of the book Be Where Your Feet Are: 7 Steps to Keep You Present, Grounded and Thriving, the main focus of today's interview. In the book, O'Neil provides a humbling and vulnerable peek behind the curtain as well as a framework, anecdotes, and exercises to guide the reader towards self-discovery. It's must read for anyone looking to improve every aspect of their life. O'Neil earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Villanova University and his Master’s in Business Administration from Harvard Business School. At 38-years-old, he was named the President of Madison Square Gardens and prior to that was the Senior Vice President of Team Marketing and Business Operations for the NBA. In July of last year, he steppe

We welcome University of Michigan assistant coach Brandon Naurato for episode #162 of the Glass and Out Podcast. As a former player development coach who worked primarily on-ice, Naurato is currently in his first season behind the bench. With a loaded line-up that features seven first round picks, plus getting a chance to work for his alma mater, there aren't many better settings to coach in early in a career. Prior to joining Michigan, Naurato established himself as one of the go-to player development coaches in the Detroit area, working with the likes of Zach Werenski and the Hughes brothers. That led to his role with the Detroit Red Wings as a player development consultant, where he worked for three seasons with the players on the big club, prospects in Grand Rapids, along with the team’s draft picks at development camp. Naurato presented at last year's Global Skills Showcase on connecting the missing links in a development plan, a must-watch for anyone looking to grow their player development knowledge.

For episode #161 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we’re joined by Scott Wheeler of The Athletic, who previews the upcoming World Junior Championship. Wheeler, who covers the NHL Draft and prospects nationally for The Athletic, is widely considered one of the top authorities in the hockey prospect community. Who better to help us get set for one of the biggest tournaments in hockey, featuring the best young players in the game! Listen as he shares an in depth review of each team in the tournament, the top prospects to watch out for, and potential breakout stars. He'll also share how he sees the groups and round robin portion of the tournament playing out, his keys to winning in a short term tournament, and of course, medal predictions.

We're joined by a coaching legend and one of the true gentlemen in hockey for episode #160 of the Glass and Out Podcast. Andy Murray's coaching career has spanned four decades, multiple countries and leagues, and every major international tournament. The Souris, Manitoba native includes representing Canada on multiple occasions, capturing six Gold Medals in six appearances at the Spengler Cup, three Gold Medals at the World Championships, and he was also an assistant coach during the 1998 Olympics. Murray spent 16 seasons in the NHL, highlighted by a 1991 cinderella run Stanley Cup Final with the Minnesota North Stars, coming just short to Mario Lemieux and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Following his dismissal from St Louis in 2010, he was announced as the head coach of Western Michigan University in 2011, a program he would oversee for 10 seasons. The topic of old school versus new school coaching tactics has long been debated. And if you look at Murray’s bio, it would be easy to assume he’s on the old school sid

In episode #159 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we welcome Tomas Montén, head coach of the Swedish National U20 Team. It’s the holiday season, and that means the start of the World Juniors is fast approaching. Now heading into his eighth tournament with Team Sweden (and sixth as head coach), Montén makes the perfect candidate to discuss what the tournament experience looks like through the lens of a coach. In total, he’s helped Sweden capture two silver medals, one bronze, and was a part of Sweden’s incredible 54-game unbeaten streak during the round robin portion of the tournament, a streak that was halted by Russia during last year’s event. During his tenure, he’s had the opportunity to work with some of the top young talent in the game, such as Elias Pettersson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Lucas Raymond, to name a few. At our inaugural Virtual Hockey Summit in 2020, Tomas gave an outstanding presentation on how he prepares Team Sweden for the World Juniors. It offers a ton of strategies in terms of how teach efficie

We've got a big one for you this week on the Glass and Out Podcast, as we were able to connect with Mike Babcock in person for episode #158. Babcock of course needs no introduction as one of the most decorated hockey coaches of all-time. He is the only coach to have the honour of being in the Triple Gold Club, which he’s earned by winning a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008, leading Team Canada to the 2004 World Hockey Championship title and capturing gold at both the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics. In total, Babcock has won six distinct national and international championships throughout his career. More recently, he joined the University of Saskatchewan on a one-year term to assist his alma matter with making the transition to a new head coach. This comes after he was relieved of his duties with the Toronto Maple Leafs in November of 2019, amid controversy. It’s no secret that Mike has faced some criticism from former players for coaching decisions he's made, something he has been an open book o

In episode #157 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we're joined by Digit Murphy, President of the Toronto Six, members of the Premiere Hockey Federation (formerly the National Women’s Hockey League). Murphy has a diverse and decorated background in hockey and is one the leading advocates for women's sports. She spent 22 seasons as the head coach of the Brown University women’s program, capturing six ECAC Hockey titles and five Ivy League titles, and was the first female coach to reach 200 wins. She made the jump to the Canadian Women’s Hockey League in 2012, joining the Boston Blades. The Blades won the Clarkson Cup in two out of her three seasons at the helm and she was also the recipient of the league’s Coach of the Year award in 2014. Follow her time in Boston, Murphy was recruited by the Kunlun Red Star, the KHL team located in China, to establish a team to participate in the CWHL and assist in developing their Olympic women’s team in preparation for the 2022 games. In her lone season with the Red Star, Murphy