Coach - The Hockey Think Tank

August 3, 2020

Life U

By: Greg Revak Hockey is the most important, unimportant thing most of us will ever do. I repeat, “hockey is the most important, unimportant thing.” Only a small fraction of people make a career out of hockey. That doesn’t mean playing hockey is pointless. We play hockey because it brings joy to our lives. If...

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June 15, 2020

Don’t Chase the Snake

By: Drew Carlson Mistakes… To some they are fertilizer for growth, to others they are fatal. Mistakes are the starting point. It is the choice you make next which puts you on the path to learning from it or being derailed by it. Stop right now and think about what you say to yourself when...

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May 25, 2020

The Overlooked Importance of Player Development

By: Dave Starman Craig Button is a long time and successful hockey executive. His name is on the Stanley Cup as the Assistant GM of the 1998-1999 Dallas Stars. Currently he works for TSN, a national sports network as a game analyst for NHL and World Junior games as well as their #1 guy when...

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May 11, 2020

Connor Cadaret – Stouffville, Ontario

By: Connor Cadaret I write this today realizing and knowing that this pandemic is much, much bigger than me and much bigger than sports. But I thought I could share some feelings now that I am stepping away from the hockey team I have been a part of for the past 4 years of my...

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April 19, 2020

It’s Not You, It’s Me: Why Parents Aren’t the Problem in Youth Hockey

By: Dan Sutterman Something that I hear often in coaching circles is typically something along the lines of “I hate dealing with the parents” or “The parents are ruining this for the kids”. First, let me lead by saying I am far from an expert. I’ve had the fortune of coaching in a developing hockey...

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February 4, 2019

A Grassroots Thank You

By: Anonymous Hockey Director Dear Topher, I am a hockey director in the US and have been excited to read the blogs and listen to the podcasts. The Hockey Think Tank has a lot of great information and resources. I am writing you today to express my sincere gratitude to all the volunteers who make...

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January 1, 2019

Brian Daley – Atlanta, GA

By BRIAN DALEY Working with my coaches and our U16 players, we established four pillars that define our Team Culture. Everything we do and say is driven by and supports one of these pillars. We play ‘4C Hockey’. COMMITMENT CHARACTER COMMUNICATE COMPETE I know this isn’t a new or unique concept. I know many...

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December 14, 2018

JJ Santagata – Woodbridge, VA

By JJ Santagata A year ago I would have been on the other side of this writing a letter about how I appreciate the game more than anything as a player. Yet after unforeseen events, my playing days ended shorter than I would have liked. It was heart-wrenching to step away from the game as...

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October 9, 2018

RJ Grimshaw – Oswego, NY

By RJ Grimshaw I’ve been blessed to have the game of hockey in my life for 44 years, either playing, coaching, billet dad or watching. I take a different approach when spectating this wonderful game as I enjoy watching the coaches on both teams and how they interact with the players. Overtime I have...

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