Breakaway, The Minor Hockey Podcast

Any time you add a simple tweak to a standard drill it gives the opportunity to teach both the offensive and defensive side of the game. On offence, whether you’re working on hands or moves or creativity, kids learn where they have to put the puck so someone can’t take it away. On the other side of the puck, if you don’t have the puck and you’re actually chasing someone, you have to learn how to position your body and your stick so you can get it back. Incorporating those things into practice can translate it into games. Guest Bio: Corey McNabb is the Director of Player Development for Hockey Canada.

Every goal counts the same on the scoreboard. When the puck finds its way into the back of the net, there’s no reason not to celebrate. Coaches and players are always looking for the most efficient ways to score, and working on the most effective methods in practice can help lead to more success on the ice. Guest Bio: Dave Manning is the Head Coach of St. Andrew’s College in Aurora.

Change can be tough to go through. There's a comfort in what's always been done. You need patience to see the results. It's been 10 years since USA Hockey unveiled it's American Development Model for the betterment of the sport to keep kids in the game. It worked - and here's how. Guest Bio: Dave Starman is a pro scout with the Montreal Canadiens, Tier 1 Coaching Development Director for PAL Jr Islanders, and USA Hockey’s Coaching Education Program.

What makes physical literacy unique is the emphasis on developing not only kids’ fundamental movement skills, but also their confidence and joy of moving. The recipe of skills, confidence, and joy is the secret to giving children what they need to be active for life. If your purpose as a minor hockey coach is to help develop “hockey players for life,” you need to develop these three pillars through your coaching. Guest: Richard Monette, Managing Director for Active for Life

As an assistant coach with the Winnipeg Jets, Todd Woodcroft is very familiar with the high-level talent from across the hockey universe. He’s worked in a variety of roles including Assistant Coach with the Swedish, Belarus, Swiss and Canadian Men’s National Teams. Over the years he’s been able to pick up and learn how countries are developing players from a grassroots level. Guest: Todd Woodcroft, Winnipeg Jets Assistant Coach

Today's players consume more information through a screen than ever before. With video being such a prominent resource there is a fine line for minor hockey coaches in terms of using it as a teaching and feedback tool. While different tactics are key to success, it’s all about developing strong instincts. Guest: Aaron Wilbur, The Coaches Site Founder

The past few years Hockey Canada has been changing the look of minor hockey across the country. These Player Pathways aren't a significant change but rather just a different way of looking at age-appropriate skill development. Guest: Paul Carson, Vice-President - Hockey Development with Hockey Canada

Every team wants to win. To win you have to score goals. For players to succeed, they have to be challenged and they have to be continually developing and refining their skill set as they move up through the ranks in youth hockey. Finding the purpose into why a team plays the way they do can lead to more focused development and gameplanning.

One of the challenges facing hockey at the grassroots level is how to attract new families to the game. Sean Fitz Gerald, Managing Editor of The Athletic Toronto is working on a project that explores the status of the game today across the country. Hockey is woven into the sporting fabric of what it means to be Canadian and his work looks at what associations are doing to grow the game and let people into what he describes as a ‘bubble’ around the sport.

It’s the name of the game, scoring goals… and at the end of the day, more goals are the payoff we are all looking for. Goals don’t only help team success, they instill confidence in players, they fuel a fun environment and keep kids coming back to the rink. Guest: Guy Gadowsky, a former National Team Member and 20 year NCAA Division One Head Coach. Current Head Coach of Penn State’s Hockey Program whose high-powered offense leads the NCAA for goals scored this season.

Dave Poulin has done it all in the hockey world. He's been an NHL player, general manager and a college coach while never losing his love for the game. This is his story.

It's the most important line on the ice and you've likely never heard of it. What is the Royal Road? Chris Boyle and Steve Valliquette have identified what they believe is the most important line on the ice, the line he believes supports the existence of shot quality. This is a rebroadcast of Episode 25, one of Breakaway's most popular episode.

What do you remember about a coach you had in minor hockey? All coaches hope to make a positive impact on their players. Coaches are going to leave a memory by the end of the season. Similar to teachers, coaches have the ability to make an imprint on players, whether positive or negative, simply based on the amount of time spent together. Guest: Mike Bara, Manager, Coaching Development with Hockey Canada

One of the buzzwords in the last couple of years in hockey is Small Area Games. Players of any age or skill level can enjoy this great way to incorporate competition into practices. With an increased tempo, engagement and fun, these games check all the boxes for what coaches want. Joe Birch, the Senior Director of Hockey Development and Special Events with Ontario Hockey League discusses the benefits of Small Area Games.

'Culture' is one of the most popular buzzwords in all of sports. But what does it mean? Coaches need to learn how to improve emotional bonds and engagement while understanding how these factors improve athlete performance. It starts with communicating expectations to players and parents.

In the sport of hockey the environment is constantly changing which forces players to continually adapt. The importance of developing decision-making skills and building a toolbox to deliver the necessary skill at the necessary time is something that can make the difference in our game.

A common topic amongst professional coaches is their team philosophy or their ‘style of play’. Having a clear ‘style of play’ from the beginning is an important foundation to have as a coach at the minor hockey level as it allows you to build practices to help achieve your ‘vision’ of how you want the game to be played.

As a hockey parent, we all want our kids to be on teams that are prepared and encouraged to win games, tournaments and competitions at every level. Winning, a crucial part of a player’s development journey and success at any level helps breed confidence for the future but at the most critical years of development, winning shouldn’t be the ultimate aim. The individual development of the young players should be the priority, meaning the decisions that aid the development of all players at the cost of an isolated result should be taken. How much do we push winning?

Running a hockey practice isn’t always easy. Trying to get everyone moving, playing and learning cooperatively can be a challenge, even for the most experienced and confident coaches. Every group of kids is different. One of the most important jobs of coaches is maximizing the limited amount of practice time while providing the most development for players.

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.