BONUS EPISODE! As first generation Canadians who grew up in households where academics were the first priority, Vinay and Parul Intwala refer to their family as “the Accidental Hockey Family”. This is their story.

BONUS EPISODE! As first generation Canadians who grew up in households where academics were the first priority, Vinay and Parul Intwala refer to their family as “the Accidental Hockey Family”. This is their story.

Episode 155 | Get to Know the 'Accidental Hockey Family'

In the season's final episode, we look back on the closing weeks on Championships and upcoming Evaluations.   Guest Bio: Michael Dundas is the Manager of Hockey Development with the OMHA

In the season's final episode, we look back on the closing weeks on Championships and upcoming Evaluations. Guest Bio: Michael Dundas is the Manager of Hockey Development with the OMHA

Episode 154 | End of Season Wrapup and Upcoming Evaluations

Glen Andresen

Growing the game of hockey to reach new families will only benefit the sport. That’s the sentiment of hockey bodies around the world. When it was realized that it was no longer automatic that all kids play hockey in the winter, Andresen knew Minnesota Hockey had to do something to attract those new players. Guest Bio: Glen Andresen is the Executive Director of Minnesota Hockey.

Growing the game of hockey to reach new families will only benefit the sport. That’s the sentiment of hockey bodies around the world. When it was realized that it was no longer automatic that all kids play hockey in the winter, Andresen knew Minnesota Hockey had to do something to attract those new players. Guest Bio: Glen Andresen is the Executive Director of Minnesota Hockey.

Episode 153 | Growing the Game to Benefit the Sport (Glen Andresen)

Guest Bio: Nick Buonocore is a parent, volunteer coach, and former collegiate athlete with a unique, first-hand perspective on the changing culture of today’s youth sports industry. He established The Reformed Sports Project to promote a healthy and holistic approach in all areas of sport, through education and advocacy. Today, he is a leading voice in youth sports reform.

Guest Bio: Nick Buonocore is a parent, volunteer coach, and former collegiate athlete with a unique, first-hand perspective on the changing culture of today’s youth sports industry. He established The Reformed Sports Project to promote a healthy and holistic approach in all areas of sport, through education and advocacy. Today, he is a leading voice in youth sports reform.

Episode 152 | Restoring a Healthy Balance in Minor Hockey (Nick Buonocore)

Michael Dundas

Teams are in the thick of Qualifiers for OMHA Championships presented by Egg Farmers of Ontario. Between those new weekends, pilot projects and engaging with our Associatons, parents and players, let's check in on where we are at right now in the regular season.   Guest Bio: Michael Dundas is the Manager of Hockey Development with the OMHA

Teams are in the thick of Qualifiers for OMHA Championships presented by Egg Farmers of Ontario. Between those new weekends, pilot projects and engaging with our Associatons, parents and players, let's check in on where we are at right now in the regular season. Guest Bio: Michael Dundas is the Manager of Hockey Development with the OMHA

Episode 151 | Where We're At In The Regular Season (Michael Dundas)

Ethan Kross

Why do we talk to ourselves, how can we talk to ourselves better, and how can we use this science to help ourselves, players and teams? Guest Bio: Ethan Kross founded the Emotion and Self Control Laboratory at the University of Michigan, and his research has been published in Science, The New England Journal of Medicine, and The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, among other peer-reviewed journals. He has participated in policy discussion at the White House and has been interviewed on CBS Evening News, Good Morning America, Anderson Cooper Full Circle, and NPR’s Morning Edition.

Why do we talk to ourselves, how can we talk to ourselves better, and how can we use this science to help ourselves, players and teams? Guest Bio: Ethan Kross founded the Emotion and Self Control Laboratory at the University of Michigan, and his research has been published in Science, The New England Journal of Medicine, and The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, among other peer-reviewed journals. He has participated in policy discussion at the White House and has been interviewed on CBS Evening News, Good Morning America, Anderson Cooper Full Circle, and NPR’s Morning Edition.

Episode 150 | Harnessing the Inner Voice of Your Players (Ethan Kross)

Hockey Factories is a unique look behind the curtain of some of the globe’s top hockey development programs. The series travels to Minnesota, British Columbia, Germany, Finland and Sweden to see how these programs are doing it right. Guest Bio: Matt Dumochelle is the Assistant General Manager of the Leamington Flyers of the GOJHL and the author of Hockey Factories for The Coaches Site.

Hockey Factories is a unique look behind the curtain of some of the globe’s top hockey development programs. The series travels to Minnesota, British Columbia, Germany, Finland and Sweden to see how these programs are doing it right. Guest Bio: Matt Dumochelle is the Assistant General Manager of the Leamington Flyers of the GOJHL and the author of Hockey Factories for The Coaches Site.

Episode 149 | The Three Pillars of a Hockey Factory (Matt Dumochelle)

Ray Ferraro

Ray Ferraro shares his philosophy on player development and how to handle the sometimes-tricky parent-coach relationship. Guest Bio: Ray Ferraro is a former player and current hockey analyst for the NHL and World Juniors.

Ray Ferraro shares his philosophy on player development and how to handle the sometimes-tricky parent-coach relationship. Guest Bio: Ray Ferraro is a former player and current hockey analyst for the NHL and World Juniors.

Episode 148 | Ray Ferraro Shares His Coaching Philosophy

Cara Morey

In this special excerpt from The Coaches Site's TCS Live conference, Cara Morey discusses grit, why it matters, and how to develop it in your athletes. Guest Bio: Cara Morey is in her sixth year leading the Princeton women’s hockey program. Since the Ontario product was announced as head coach in June of 2017, the program has won its first ECAC tournament title, won an Ivy League championship, qualified for two NCAA quarterfinals, set the program wins record, and established itself as a weekly inclusion in the national top-10 rankings.

In this special excerpt from The Coaches Site's TCS Live conference, Cara Morey discusses grit, why it matters, and how to develop it in your athletes. Guest Bio: Cara Morey is in her sixth year leading the Princeton women’s hockey program. Since the Ontario product was announced as head coach in June of 2017, the program has won its first ECAC tournament title, won an Ivy League championship, qualified for two NCAA quarterfinals, set the program wins record, and established itself as a weekly inclusion in the national top-10 rankings.

Episode 147 | Building Resiliency in your Players (Cara Morey)

The goaltending position has evolved not just positionally but how coaches utilize them in practice and also how the netminders can approach training and preparation. Guest Bio: Ryan Daniels is an OMHA grad out of Ajax-Pickering and the current goaltender development coach of the AHL’s Texas Stars. He spent three years as the goaltending coach for the Guelph Storm and three with the Mississauga Steelheads. As a player, Daniels spent time in the ECHL, OHL, Central Hockey League and OJHL.

The goaltending position has evolved not just positionally but how coaches utilize them in practice and also how the netminders can approach training and preparation. Guest Bio: Ryan Daniels is an OMHA grad out of Ajax-Pickering and the current goaltender development coach of the AHL’s Texas Stars. He spent three years as the goaltending coach for the Guelph Storm and three with the Mississauga Steelheads. As a player, Daniels spent time in the ECHL, OHL, Central Hockey League and OJHL.

Episode 146 | The Evolution of Incorporating Goalies Into Your Practice (Ryan Daniels)

The Ontario Minor Hockey Association's Breakaway, The Minor Hockey Podcast puts you with some of the best and brightest minds in the game today. Each week, Aaron Wilbur sits down with the leaders of hockey to discuss everything from scoring more goals to how to grow the game.

With a few weeks under every team's belt, let's check in on where they should be at this point of the year and what the rest of the season should look like. Guest Bio: Michael Dundas is the Manager of Hockey Development at the OMHA

With a few weeks under every team's belt, let's check in on where they should be at this point of the year and what the rest of the season should look like. Guest Bio: Michael Dundas is the Manager of Hockey Development at the OMHA

Episode 145 | Your Team’s Quarter-Season Check-In (Michael Dundas)

Rico Phillips

Hockey is for anybody and everybody. How we open the door to new fans is important for any community. Guest Bio: Rico Phillips grew up in Flint, Michigan and is the Ontario Hockey League's Director of Cultural Diversity and Inclusion.

Hockey is for anybody and everybody. How we open the door to new fans is important for any community. Guest Bio: Rico Phillips grew up in Flint, Michigan and is the Ontario Hockey League's Director of Cultural Diversity and Inclusion.

Episode 144 | Opening the Door for New Hockey Fans (Rico Phillips)

Seanna Thomas

You are what you eat. Eat good, feel good. We know now more than ever about how to maximize our nutrition to fuel our performance. Let's dive deeper into what to focus on before and after your games. Guest Bio: Seanna Thomas is a Nutrition Consultant, Mom to 3 active kids, and founder of Hockey Snacks Inc., where she provides nutrition information for young athletes, sports teams, families, and organizations.

You are what you eat. Eat good, feel good. We know now more than ever about how to maximize our nutrition to fuel our performance. Let's dive deeper into what to focus on before and after your games. Guest Bio: Seanna Thomas is a Nutrition Consultant, Mom to 3 active kids, and founder of Hockey Snacks Inc., where she provides nutrition information for young athletes, sports teams, families, and organizations.

Episode 143 | Eat Smart, Play Well: Best Foods For Pre, Post-Game Meals (Seanna Thomas)

Players can begin to build their hockey skills on a modified, age-approrpiate ice size - the benefits of U9 and Below programming. Guest Bio: Michael Dundas is the Manager of Hockey Development at the OMHA

Players can begin to build their hockey skills on a modified, age-approrpiate ice size - the benefits of U9 and Below programming. Guest Bio: Michael Dundas is the Manager of Hockey Development at the OMHA

Episode 142 | Skill Building in Modified Ice (Michael Dundas)

As players and coaches are in the heart of the Evaluations process, we walk through the timeline of what to expect from the first ice session through to naming the roster. Guest Bio: Michael Dundas is the Manager of Hockey Development at the OMHA

As players and coaches are in the heart of the Evaluations process, we walk through the timeline of what to expect from the first ice session through to naming the roster. Guest Bio: Michael Dundas is the Manager of Hockey Development at the OMHA

Episode 141 | Player Evaluations: From the First Session to Naming the Team (Michael Dundas)

Host Aaron Wilbur of The Coaches Site and Ian Taylor, the Executive Director of the OMHA, catch up after the off-season and chat about the Player Pathways as skaters return to the ice for another year of minor hockey.

Host Aaron Wilbur of The Coaches Site and Ian Taylor, the Executive Director of the OMHA, catch up after the off-season and chat about the Player Pathways as skaters return to the ice for another year of minor hockey.

Episode 140 | Player Pathways

Jay McClement

While all parents get involved with coaching their kid’s team for all the right reasons, there are times when their hearts may get in the way of doing what’s best for the team as a whole, or even doing what’s best for their child. How do you figure out that balance? Guest Bio: Jay McClement is a retired NHL veteran of 10+ seasons and a Kingston native who returned home to coach his son’s U9 AAA Kingston Jr. Gaels team

While all parents get involved with coaching their kid’s team for all the right reasons, there are times when their hearts may get in the way of doing what’s best for the team as a whole, or even doing what’s best for their child. How do you figure out that balance? Guest Bio: Jay McClement is a retired NHL veteran of 10+ seasons and a Kingston native who returned home to coach his son’s U9 AAA Kingston Jr. Gaels team

Episode 139 | When Dad is Coach (Jay McClement)

Skating has evolved over the years from just a  focus on strides to now involving edges, angling, crossovers and so much more. What's the best way for coaches to work with their players to teach this important skill? Guest Bio: Viktor Kraatz is a former ice dancer who competed in three Olympics

Skating has evolved over the years from just a  focus on strides to now involving edges, angling, crossovers and so much more. What's the best way for coaches to work with their players to teach this important skill? Guest Bio: Viktor Kraatz is a former ice dancer who competed in three Olympics

Episode 138 | Teaching Skating Skills to Players (Viktor Kraatz)

Tom Ward

Coaches know the value of practice time. Coming in prepared and with a plan of what you will be teaching can save precious minutes. Practices are where players can learn how to best be effective on the ice.  Guest Bio: Tom Ward is the Head Coach of the Shattuck-St. Mary’s Boys Prep Team in Minnesota. 

Coaches know the value of practice time. Coming in prepared and with a plan of what you will be teaching can save precious minutes. Practices are where players can learn how to best be effective on the ice. Guest Bio: Tom Ward is the Head Coach of the Shattuck-St. Mary’s Boys Prep Team in Minnesota.

Episode 137 | What It Means to Practice With a Purpose (Tom Ward)

Brendan Taylor

As players get older, situational awareness becomes more important as part of their Hockey IQ. How can players build this over the years and what can they look for in skill development? Guest Bio: Brendan Taylor is an Assistant Coach with the OHL's Mississauga Steelheads.

As players get older, situational awareness becomes more important as part of their Hockey IQ. How can players build this over the years and what can they look for in skill development? Guest Bio: Brendan Taylor is an Assistant Coach with the OHL's Mississauga Steelheads.

Episode 136 | Creating Situational Awareness (Brendan Taylor)

Breakaway, The Minor Hockey Podcast

Malcolm Gladwell popularized the 10,000-Hour rule and immediately parents latched on to the idea that if they want their child to excel in sports, they needed to get these 10,000 hours in before his 10th birthday. What doesn’t come up when defining the 10,000 hour rule are the defining features of deliberate practice, the pillars of skill development and talent. For Dr. Justin Davis, grit might equal deliberate practice, but grit doesn’t necessarily equal creativity.

Episode 82 | The Importance of 'Grit' in Talent Development

A minor hockey coach spends almost as much with the players as their parents do. They hold the keys for unlocking their skill development and teaching them important life lessons. The core of the player-coach relationship is a mutual respect and the knowledge that the coach has the player's back. Guest Bio: Ray Ferraro, TSN Hockey Analyst

Episode 105 | Improving the Player-Coach Relationship (Ray Ferraro)

Many coaches think that coaching is all about X’s and O’s, but the truth is that it is all about growing great relationships. The secret to great coaching and a successful performance by one’s team isn’t simply technique, or tactics, or fitness. Most coaches only look at potential and behavior (genetics, hours and quality of practice, attitude, coaching, fitness, etc.). These are incredibly important components, but they are not the whole equation.

Episode 59 | The Secret Ingredient to Great Coaching

Bob McKenzie

Bob McKenzie has seen and done it all in the hockey world. Now a respected TSN Hockey Insider with over 35 years of experience, McKenzie rewound the clock and took a look back at how the game has changed since he was a minor hockey parent and coach in the OMHA. Guest Bio: Bob McKenzie, TSN Hockey Insider

Episode 108 | What I Loved About Coaching Minor Hockey (Bob McKenzie)

The differences between a good coach and a great one at the grassroots level may be subtle, but they can make a world of difference to players. While knowledge of the game, ability to demonstrate drills and organizational skills are important, what actually separates the best from the rest?

Episode 78 | What Makes a Good Coach?

Placing players on teams is one thing, but what you do with those players once the teams are formed is another. Many Canadian communities only have enough players for one team in each age category, others have many teams in each age category, thus tiering occurs. Whether you have one team or multiple teams in each category, player evaluation can still be used, and should still be used as a way of developing players. Tyler Dietrich, Hockey Canada’s Manager, Hockey Operations, Analytics &amp; Video Coach joins us to discuss the best way to evaluate minor hockey players.

Episode 68 | Monitoring Success: How To Evaluate Minor Hockey Players

Ask any NHL coach what is the hardest skill or attribute to find and they’ll tell you it’s goal scoring. Fifty goals in a season used be a benchmark for goal scorers. Now-a-days fifty goals is reserved for the super elite and one thirty goal season will turn an average player into an All-Star. OHL Video Coach, Brendan Taylor explains how as the game has gotten faster, the time available to make plays has been reduced; in particular, around the net where goals are usually scored.

Episode 62 | Where do Goals Come From?

Organized sports are one of the many ways we can help our kids develop character, build friendships and stay active and healthy. But for many of us, the high price of these activities can put a strain on finances. Our sport is one that gets constant attention for its cost to play. With equipment, registration and ice costs, the price of playing hockey can add up quickly. However, there are a number of ways that associations and teams can balance the hockey budget by determining what’s important to spend money on from an individual and team perspective.

Episode 85 | Reducing Costs in the Hockey Budget

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