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In episode #295, we chat with Jeff Tambellini, who is the Director of Player Development for the Seattle Kraken.
He will be sharing how he develops long-term player development plans for the prospects of the Seattle Kraken at this June's TCS Live. Secure your seat now and see him live in person!
The former 1st round pick of the Los Angeles Kings played nearly 250 NHL games with the KIngs, Islanders and his hometown Canucks, before wrapping up his career in Europe.
From there Tambellini would step behind the bench, first with his alma mater University of Michigan and then returning to his roots in the BCHL as the Head Coach and GM of the Trail Smoke Eaters.
He then graduated into a scouting role with the Tampa Bay Lightning before joining the Kraken in his current role in 2022.
Listen as he shares why you need to get your players hooked on getting better, why processing speed is an underappreciated skill, and what we can learn from championship teams in other sports.
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In episode #294, we welcome back a man who requires no introduction (but we'll give one anyway): Player Development Coach Daniel Broberg.
He is the founder of DB Hockey Factory and is regarded as one of the top development coaches in the game,travelling the world extensively to work with players, teams, clubs of all levels, and is sought after by some of the the top players in hockey to tweak and refine their skills.
We recently collaborated on the course with Broberg, 7 Steps From Basic Skills to Smooth Power, provides you with a blueprint for building a foundation in your players that will not only enhance their fundamental skills, but also empower them to read and react to whatever the game gives them and tap into the full spectrum of their creativity. Check it out here.
And on top of that, he will be presenting on-ice at this June's TCS Live coaching conference for the first time ever. Save your spot to meet him in person!
Listen as he shares the importance of posture in skill development, why players need to face adversity on their own, and why finding the state of "flow" is the key to building elite players.
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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In episode #293, we welcome good friend of The Coaches Site, Dave Smith.
Two days before we were scheduled to record this podcast he notified us that he had been relieved of his duties as the Head Coach of RPI. Despite that, he agreed to join the pod with his only request being that we focus on the future and the positive experiences he enjoyed during his eight season’s leading the RPI program.
Previous to his time with RPI Smith spent 12 seasons as Head Coach at Canisius College. Prior to that, he was an Assistant Coach for seven seasons split between Miami University (Ohio), Bowling Green, and Mercyhurst.
He is now going to start a new chapter in his coaching journey and will again relish in the opportunity to build and lead a team. We hope that this conversation will give other coaches hope and help them navigate the curveballs that the game throws at them.
Listen as he shares the message he left his players with after being let go, why the royal road has changed offensive hockey, and why it all starts with following you passion.
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In episode #292, we welcome Tappara Head Coach Rikard Grönborg.
Last time we spoke with Grönborg, he and the Swedish National team were coming off back-to-back Gold medals at the World Championships, while he was also preparing to speak at TCS Live in 2019.
His presentation on the evolution of coaching and player development in Sweden is a must watch. You can check it out at The Coaches Site.
Grönborg was then hired by the Zurich Lions heading into the 2019-2020 season, his first opportunity to coach a club team in professional hockey. He would lead the Lions to first place in the NLA standings prior to his first season being cut short due to the COVID pandemic.
From Zurich, he would head north to Finland, joining Tappara, and in the process, become the first non-Finnish coach to coach in the Liga. In his first season, he would lead Tappara to a league Championship. Now in his second season, he’s managing a younger roster, but also an organizational shift focused on sports science and homegrown talent.
Listen as he shares why he's always accepted the challenge of trying something different, how to get players out of their comfort zone, and how to encourage your players to make decisions.
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In episode #291, we continue our trip through Europe with a visit from HC Davos Head Coach Josh Holden.
Davos is of course the home of the Spengler Cup, a tournament that Holden and HC Davos won last season (his first with the team), the 16th in the club's history.
After a playing career in North America that saw Holden drafted 12th overall in 1996 by the Vancouver Canucks and spend time with Carolina and Toronto, he would travel overseas and evetually settle in Zug, Switzerland.
Zug would also be where he got his start in coaching, joining Dan Tangnes’ staff the season following his retirement. During his five seasons as an Assistant Coach, the club would capture one Swiss Cup and back to back NLA Championships.
Listen as he shares the difference between skills-skills and game-skills, the mentality of being "all in today," and what he learned from the infamous bench incident at the Spengler Cup.
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In episode #290, we welcome current Head Coach of EV Zug Dan Tangnes.
He grew up in Norway and represented his country internationally at the U20 level, and eventually made his way to Sweden where he would turn pro.
Tangnes started coaching in the Rogle academy and eventually would work his way up to coaching Linkoping HC in the SHL, Sweden’s top league. From there, he would join Zug in 2018 and lead them to a regular season title in his first season. He continued to invest in relationships and along with his players, created a culture that would support Zug capturing back to back NLA Championships in 2021 and 2022.
Next season, he will be returning to Rogle to become their next Head Coach. In the meantime, he’s focused on bringing a third Championship to Zug.
Listen as he shares why filtering information down to what matters most is a key skill for coaches, why playing a possession game comes down to the players without the puck, and why integrity needs to come first before wins and titles.
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In episode #289, we're joined Cognitive Behavioural Sports Specialist Larissa Mills for a very important conversation.
Whether it’s social media, sports betting, pornography or any number of other apps designed to highjack the focus of your players, smart phones have become an opponent we’re all grappling with.
Mills holds a BA in Sociology, Psychology, and a Masters of Science in Education, specializing in brain functionality and learning mechanisms. She is the Founder of the Mental Game Academy, an organization committed to empowering athletes, specifically by helping them overcome addiction to their phones.
She also gave a talk last year's at TCS Live on How Phones and Social Media Impact Athlete's Brains and Hockey IQ.
Listen as she shares why confidence is directly linked to phone usage, why gambling and porn have become a major issue for today's youth, and solutions for coaches on handling these many issues.
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In episode #288, we welcome former NHL Head Coach Don Granato.
He is of course a member of possibly the most accomplished hockey family to come out of United States.
He got his start coaching in 1993 with the Wisconsin Capitals of the USHL, and since then has been getting his reps in across a multiple of leagues and levels, most recently as the Head Coach of the Buffalo Sabres.
And as you'll hear, there may not be a better person to have a conversation about player development with. His story of how he positioned himself to enhance world class talent is fascinating. We cover a lot of ground in this episode, and I sense you’re going to leave with pages of notes.
Listen as he shares why experimenting in practice is key for team growth, why coaching less should be the objective, and the incredible story of switching from goalie to player.
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In episode #287, Head Coach of the Coachella Valley Firebirds Derek Laxdal stops by.
His coaching career has seen him climb from the now defunct Western Professional Hockey League, to the Central Hockey League, the East Coast Hockey League, to the Western Hockey League, the American League and finally, to the show.
During that time, he's successfully navigated the ebbs and flows of his coaching journey with his trademark optimism and enthusiam.
Today, Laxdal is the Head Coach of the AHL affiliate to the Seattle Kraken. No different than any other team he’s coached, he has the ‘Birds in contention as they make their way towards another playoff run.
Listen as he shares why the skill of defending is lacking in today's young player, how to change the narritive after a tough loss, and how to stay optimistic through the challenges of a coaching career.
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In episode #286, we're joined by John Weisbrod, former NHL executive, scout and NBA GM. Yes, you read that correctly.
After a playing career that saw Weisbrod win a National Championship at Harvard and attend the San Jose Sharks first training camp, he pivoted to a career in team building at just 25 years-ols.
After getting his start in Albany of the AHL, he would travel to Orlando where his time with the IHL's Solar Bears resulted in him being named the GM of the Magic for one season.
Following that, he would return to hockey, spending time as a scout and Assistant GM with the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks.
You’re going to want to hear Weisbrod's story. He might just be the most interesting man in hockey.
Listen as he shares the story behind running an NBA franchise, key lessons while working under Lou Lamoriello and why hockey sense runs throughout the Hughes family.
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In episode #285, we welcome Head Coach of the Windsor Spitfires, Greg Walters, someone who has thrived on his ability to be consistent and has never had a losing season.
He is currently in his first season with the Spitfires following a year suspension that involved an inappropriate altercation with another Owen Sound employee. In this episode, he shares what he learned from that experience and we believe it’s something that all coaches can benefit from hearing.
Following eight seasons as an Assistant Coach with the Sarnia Sting to begin his coaching journey, Walters took over the Georgetown Raiders of the Ontario Jr A league for eight seasons, guiding them to 295 wins, a league championship and earning himself both coach and executive of the year honors.
He would then return to the OHL as a Head Coach in Oshawa and Owen Sound, before landing in Windsor following the aforementioned suspension.
Listen as he shares what he learned from incident that led to his suspension and the work he's done to overcome it, why good defence starts with breaking out the puck, and creating a culture of quality and self-evaluation.
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In episode #284, we're joined by the Manager of Goalie Development for USA Hockey, Steve Thompson.
It’s no secret that the US has become a bit of a goaltending factory. For example, last season, of the goalies who played a minimum of 15 games in the NHL, four of the top six, seven of the top 11, and nine of the top 20 in save percentage were American. As Thompson explains it, this surge in goaltending development starts with focusing at the grassroot levels.
The native of Alaska played college hockey at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and immediately jumped into developing the next wave of goalies upon graduation.
As you’re about to hear, Thompson's enthusiasm for the position is contagious, and much of what he offers from a development perspective applies to players of all positions.
Listen as he shares why retention should be a youth coaches number one measure of success, why every goal against is an opportunity to learn, and the importance of keeping your goalies in mind during practice planning.
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For episode #283, we welcome former TCS contributor and current Head Coach of the University of Minnesota-Duluth women's program, Laura Schuler.
Schuler has enjoyed a remarkable and diverse career that has seen her be on the forefront of the evolution of the Women's game as both a player and coach, including leading some of the most talented teams, both internationally and at the NCAA level.
That includes being named the Head Coach Canada’s National Team in 2015 and leading the program to a Silver medal at the 2018 Olympics.
Make sure to check out her TCS series, Finding the Details with Laura Schuler for a break down of the the key details and habits that are critical to creating consistency in your team’s play.
Listen as she shares why hockey is one the best labrotories for life lessons, why coaches should be focusing on tendencies in prescouts, and becoming a threat by creating a predictable structure.
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Happy New Years! For episode #282, we thought we’d kick off the second half of the season by going back and looking at our most popular content on The Coaches Site from this past year. And to help us reflect on our biggest year yet, we've recruited our Director of Content, Derek Jory.
You know how great teams have “Glue Guys” or teammates that ensure everyone feels important and that the rink is a destination? Well, Derek is that person on our TCS team.
He has a unique background in that he spent 13 years with the Vancouver Canucks as their lead content writer for their website and social media channels. He is also is the MC of TCS Live and has become the star of the show with his wardrobe, larger than life hair and dad jokes.
Listen as we look back at the top 5 articles, TCS Live presentations, community content, and podcasts of the year. If you want to learn what goes on behind the scenes at The Coaches Site, you’re going to enjoy this episode.
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For episode #281, we're joined by a very special guest to help get you all set for this year's World Junior Championships.
As a part of TSN's WJC coverage, Ray Ferraro had a front row seat at the tournament for 12 consecutive seasons. During that time, he saw some incredible players and games, and is here to share some of those highlights.
Ferraro is of course a former NHL player who suited up for over 1,200 games. He currently works for ESPN and is one of the best analysts in hockey, and more than anything, is as passionate about the game as they come.
Listen as he shares standout teams and players during his time broadcasting the tournament, his broadcasting origins, and some incredible travel stories.
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In episode #280, we welcome Todd Nelson, Head Coach of the Hershey Bears and reigning winner of the Louis AR Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL's outstanding coach.
Nelson and the Bears are coming off back-to-back Calder Cup championships and looking to add a third consectuvie this season. He is only the third person to capture the trophy as a player, an Assistant Coach and a Head Coach, and overall has been a part of eight championship teams throughout his playing and coaching career.
Having already made three stops in the NHL, twice as an Assistant Coach with Atlanta and Dalals and once as a Head Coach with Edmonton, we wouldn't doubt his call up to the top league is coming soon.
Listen as he shares why creating a family atmosphere is key to team culture, why you need to have a purpose to every drill, and why winning is the best form of development.
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In episode #279, we're joined by Craig Custance, who is the Head of Creative Development at The Athletic.
Custance recently released his second book, The Franchise: The Business of Building Winning Teams, which features in-depth interviews with some of the top team builders in hockey, including Tampa Bay Lightning GM Julien BriseBois, New York Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello, and many more.
The book showcases the unique path each of these individuals has taken to land in their current roles, the challenges they’ve faced in their careers and the decisions that have led them and their teams to the pinnacle of the sport.
Custance got his start in hockey by covering the Atlanta Thrashers for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and joined ESPN in 2011 as a National Hockey writer. In 2017, he joined The Athletic and has played a pivotal role in growing the company into a global sports brand that today serves over 11 million subscribers.
Listen as he shares key lessons learned from hockey's top builders, the traits that all great leaders have in common, and future GM's to watch out for.
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In episode #278, Kim Weiss, Video Coach of the Colorado Eagles, stops by to chat.
She is a trail blazer who has relied on one tried and true method to advancing in her coaching career: learning how to make the players better.
Previously, she would become the first female to earn a win as a Head Coach in North American junior hockey with the Maryland Black Bears and was also named an Assistant Coach with the mens team at Trinity College, her alma mater, making her the first female to coach at the NCAA level on the male side.
In addition, Weiss is a two-time TCS Live presenter, covering Strategy for OT and Shootouts and Incorporating Wall Play into Practice.
Listen as she shares advice for aspiring female coaches, why coaching is all about helping players get better and why wall play is an undertaught skill.
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In episode #277, we had the pleasure of being joined by Duante' Abercrombie, who will be leading Tennessee State University as Head Coach in their inaugural season as a Div. 1 hockey program next season. In the process, TSU will become the first HBCU(Historically Black College or University) hockey program in history.
A glance at Abercrombie's resume leaves no doubt that he is the right person to lead the Tigers. That includes his time as an Assistant Coach with Stevenson University, becoming just the fourth coach of colour at that time in the NCAA. Professionally, he spent the 2022-23 season with the Toronto Maple Leafs organizations and has also been a part of several NHL BIPOC programs, spending time with the San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins, Nashville Predators and Arizona Coyotes.
Last year, he was nominated for Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award for his work with the Washington Capitals' Black Hockey Committee and the Rising Stars Academy.
Listen as he shares what the new role at TSU means to him, how hockey can be used to connect people of all backgrounds, and the importance of wanting someone else to win more than you do.
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In episode #276, we welcome Ottawa Senators Assistant Coach Ben Sexton, who presented at TCS Live 2024 on the fundamentals of the penalty kill.
After retiring early from his playing career due to concussions, Sexton fell into the coaching arena when Mike Valluci, his Head Coach with the Wilkes-Barrie Penguins, offered him the opportunity to join the coaching staff while he was recovering from his injuries.
The following season he stepped behind the bench full time with the AHL’s Belleville Senators. Three seasons later, he was promoted to the big club, where he and the rest of Travis Green’s staff are looking to lead the Sens to the post season for the first time since 2017.
Listen as he shares why today's players are having trouble processing the game, why teams need to believe in their structure and details, and embracing the philosophy of thinking like a player and acting like a coach.
- Visa fler
