Ontario Reign Head Coach Andrew Lord: Finding your practice staples, managing uncomfortable conversations and leading an underdog
In episode 317 of the Glass and Out Podcast we welcome back Andrew Lord, Head Coach of the AHL's Ontario Reign. Last time we spoke with Lord he was coming off four seasons as both a player and the Head Coach of the Cardiff Devils of the UK Elite Ice Hockey League. Since that conversation his coaching stock has been on the rise. That includes a South Division title and the Jack Brophy Award as the ECHL's coach of the year during his tenure with the Greensville Swamp Rabbits and a brief stop in the QMJHL with the Halifax Mooseheads. Lord now leads the LA Kings AHL affiliate, which has him just one step away from standing behind an NHL bench. Listen as he shares the importance of finding the link between practice and game, how to manage uncomfortable conversations, and how to handle the struggles of a rebuild.
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Sports Innovation Lab CEO Angela Ruggiero: Learning to love adversity, true goal of youth sports and data built on trust
For episode 316 of the Glass and Out Podcast we welcome CEO of Sports Innovation Lab Angela Ruggiero. She is best known as a 4x Olympian and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. She was a senior in high school when she played for Team USA and won gold at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano. In 2004 she won the Patty Kaizmeir Award as the top player in college hockey. She was also the first woman to play in a regular season professional hockey game in North America at a position other than goalie when she suited up for the Tulsa Oilers in a Central Hockey League game. However, her list of achievements extend well beyond her career as an athlete. That includes time as a member of the International Olympic Committee from 2010 to 2018. She served as a member of the Executive Board of the IOC after being elected Chairperson of the IOC Athletes' Commission, the body that represents all Olympic athletes worldwide, a post which she held from 2016 to 2018. She also has an MBA from Harvard and was a senior management associate with Bridgewater Associates, the largest hedge fund in the world. Listen as she shares why learning to love adversity is key to success in life, why utilizing data in sports has to be built on trust, and why athletes are the best opportunity for corporations in the world.
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Calgary Flames Head Coach Ryan Huska: Breakout principles, the lost art of passing and celebrating your wins
In episode 315 of the Glass and Out Podcast we collaborated with Hockey Calgary for their 4th Annual Leadership Day and sat down with Flames Head Coach Ryan Huska. Huska is a good friend of The Coaches Site, having previously joined Glass and Out. He's also presented multiple times at our TCS Live event. This was a special interview complete with diagrams to showcase some of the drills and teaching progressions he's used throughout his career. It offered a fascinating look at how an NHL coaching staff manages the limited practice time they have throughout the season to prepare their team. There is a lot coaches can learn from Ryan's drills in terms of efficiency in delivering a message. Every detail is thought out and no time is wasted. Listen as he shares his favourite drills for breakouts, encouraging competition, why the skill of passing is often missing in today's player, and why it's curcial to always celebrate the small and big wins with your team.
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PWHL VP of Hockey Ops Jayna Hefford: PWHL origins, passion for female hockey and collaborative leadership
In episode 314 of the Glass and Out Podcast we chat with Hockey Hall of Famer Jayna Hefford, who currently works as the Executive Vice-President of Hockey Operations for the PWHL. As the person who has largely been the face of the league since it's inception in August of 2023, she has played a key role in the growth of female hockey. Her unique background prior to becoming a sports executive includes a playing career as a star on Canada's National Team, playing in five Olympics, capturing four gold medals, and 12 World Championships, where she collected another seven gold medals. Throughout her career she has gravitated towards leadership roles and demonstrated a knack for bringing people together to achieve a common goal. Nowhere has that skill-set been more valuable than her time with the PWHL. Listen as she shares the origins of the PWHL, why female hockey is rooted in passion and why the league's upwards trajectory has created an exciting time for women's sports.
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University of St. Thomas Head Coach Rico Blasi: Playing free, prioritizing human connection and Battle Tuesday
In episode 313 of the Glass and Out Podcast we visited the University of St. Thomas campus in Minnesota to chat with Tommies Head Coach Rico Blasi. Blasi's coaching career dates back to 1994 with the Wexford Raiders. He would take over the University of Miami (Ohio) program, his alma matter, at the ripe old age of 27 - and would eventually turn them into a perennial contender. Now in his fifth season at St. Thomas, he has the Tommies on a similar track to success in the brand new Lee & Penny Anderson Arena. As you'll hear, Blasi's story is a reminder that while we're all on our respective coaching journeys, life is happening all around us. Listen as he shares his approach to getting players to play free, why the human need for connection is a vital part of coaching, and why his favourite day of the week is "Battle Tuesdays."
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.
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