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We close out our look at the five selected presenters for this year’s Global Skills Showcase with Alexandre Chénier, Founder of Hockey Developpement. A skills coach based in Amos, Quebec, he’s a certified Hockey Canada skills coach and mentor to coaches in the Gold Medal Pathway program, and the Development Coach for Val D’or of  QMJHL. Chénier's approach to player development is a product of his formal education as a teacher, his relationships in and outside of hockey, his experience as a father and the community he lives in.  Listen as he shares why player development is about connecting skills, why you should always on the person before the player, and his upcoming GSS presentation on optimizing pass receptions.

We are rolling along with our spotlight on the presenters who will be featured at this year’s Global Skills Showcase. In episode #247, we feature Director of Player Development and Mentorship for the Western Canada Hockey Canada, Tyler Dittmer. Based in Brandon, Manitoba, he is also a development coach with the U18 Brandon Wheat Kings, Brandon Minor Hockey and the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings. As you'll hear, Dittmer's commitment to his craft and the care he has for his players is very evident. He offers a lot in this conversation and you'll no doubt steal a few of his tips and add them to your coaching toolbox. Listen as he shares his eight different processes for developing a skill, why coaches need to be a battery for players at practice, and his GSS presentation on creating a lethal shot.

Our visits with the five selected Global Skills Showcase presenters continues in episode #246, as we welcome GM and Player Development Coach for the Czech Knights, Adam Jonak. The GSS shines a spotlight on the top skill development coaches in the world, their area of expertise, specifically how they teach or transfer the skills to their players, and is available exclusively to subscribers of The Coaches SIte. Jonak, who is also the owner of ABC Hockey Development and the Development Coach for the Pilsnen Wolves Hockey Club, has had a unique career that has taken him around the globe, and equipped him with the skills to develop high end players. Specifically, if you coach youth hockey or work with younger players, I think you’re really going to enjoy this one. Listen as he shares why youth hockey is the perfect place to build confidence in creativity, the importance of letting players make decisions, and why you should also ask the purpose of a drill before borrowing.

For episode #245, we continue our look at the five coaches selected to present at our Global Skills Showcase. Kevin Galerno is the Co-Owner and Director of Total Package Hockey London. He also holds roles as a Player Development Coach for the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins and the Skills Coach of the London Knights.  At the GSS, Galerno will be providing members of The Coaches Site the framework to help your players enhance their decision making on the ice. Listen as he shares what to expect in his upcoming presentation, utilizing variable training, and helping players through scoring draughts.

For the next five weeks on the Glass and Out Podcast, we’re going to be featuring the five coaches selected to present at our Global Skills Showcase. The event takes place from March 4-8 and showcases five of the top skills coaches in the worlds, presenting on how they teach a specific skill or tactic.  In episode #244, we welcome skating coach Jill Plandowski, who will be presenting on improving a player's crossovers with an emphasis on the outside edge. Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Plandowski has over 25 years of coaching experience. Her client list includes current NHL players like Drake Batherson, Morgan Baron, Justin Barrohn, Liam O’Brien, Ryan Graves and Noah Dobson, along with numerous prospects in the junior and college ranks.  Listen as she shares common skating misconceptions, what the prime age for improving a player's skating is, and why proper mechanics allow players to play with freedom of thought.

In episode #243 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we revist one of the more impactful conversations that came out of last year’s TCS Live conference, featuring University of Michigan Head Coach Brandon Naurato and Dr Kathy Babiak, a professor of Sport Management and Director of the Michigan Center for Sport & Social Responsibility. The two discuss the burning issues facing today’s coaches, centered around Naurato's eventful 22-23 season that saw him be promoted to full-time Head Coach of the Wolverines and end with a trip to the Frozen Four. From a distance, it may have seemed like an overall success but as you’ll hear, it was a season that placed immense pressure on a first time head coach, his players, his staff, as collectively, they were tasked with facing a series of challenges that were out of their control. Listen as he shares his philosophy of "good dudes only," why growth is only possible through failure and why it's important to show your players the real you.

In episode #242 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we're joined by Head Athletic Trainer, and Strength and Conditioning Coach of the University of North Dakota men’s hockey team.  Poolman's reputation precedes him and it’s no secret that UND is a pipeline of NHL talent. The alumni list includes the like’s of Jonathan Toews, Zach Parise, TJ Oshie, Jake Sanderson, Ed Belfour, Brock Boeser, just to name a few. To put it in perspective, last season alone, 23 former UND players suited in the NHL.  Listen as he shares off-ice training tips for youth players, why sleep is critical to player performance, and how to deal with stress as a coach.

In episode #241 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we welcome Dan Ceman, Head Coach of HC Košice, the reigning Champions of the Slovakian Extraliga.  His coaching journey, which began in 2010, has seen championships follow him at essentially every stop. Four as a Head Coach, in addition to winning two as a player. If your goal is to be a career coach, there is a lot you can take away from how he approached his career. Ultimately, it seems that a big part of his focus is creating a supportive environment for his players. Listen as he shares why you can't win a champonship with cheating, why body language is just as important as what you say, and how to create a positive enivironment for players.

For episode #240 of the Glass and Out Podcast, ESPN's John Buccigross sits down with Quinnipiac University Head Coach Rand Pecknold for a special interview with the reigning National Champion. While Bucci and Pecknold touch on the championship run and game itself, they also spend a lot time reflecting on Rand’s personal coaching journey, including the humbling start to his career, having to hold practices at midnight when he first arrived at Quinnipiac 30 years ago, to transitioning the program to the Div I level. Listen as they discuss why you should never use bag skates, the mindest of attacking adversity, and how to make every practice a success.

In episode #239 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we welcome good friend of TCS, Dr. Cassidy Preston. He is the Founder of CEP Mindset and co-host of the Beyond the X's and O's Podcast. Dr. Preston recently released his book Mindset First and touches on how coaches and athletes can break free from focusing on results, performing with confidence and rise to the occasion. You can check it out here. Listen as he shares how the "Screw It" mindset can help you let go, why confidence is a word he tries to stay away from, and why coaches should avoid being too judgmental with players.

For episode #238 of the Glass and Out Podcast, our team at The Coaches Site had the chance to visit the OHL's Kitchener Rangers facilities and sit down with Head Coach Jussi Ahokas. Ahokas is currently in his first season in North America after spending the past four seasons as the Head Coach of TPS in the Liga, Finland’s top Professional league. During that time, he was named the Alliance of European Hockey Club’s Coach of the Year, the equivalent of the Jack Adams Award across all of Europe's top professional leagues. Listen as he shares he shares the Finnish concept of "Sisu," why you'll always get better results when people enjoy the enviornment and why positionless hockey is the future of the game.

For episode #237 of the Glass and Out Podcast, our team at The Coaches Site hosted a private event for members of the local Vancouver tech and business community, featuring a live interview with Bruce Cassidy, Head Coach of the Vegas Golden Knights. The focus of our conversation was on the lessons in leadership that Cassidy has acquired throughout his career. There's no doubt that you'll come away with a deep appreciation for how humble he is, how he didn’t come from means and has had to earn everything in his career, and more than anything, how he prioritizes being a husband and father above all else. And of course, his love of the game. Listen as he shares valuable lessons in leadership, why team defence is crucial during tough times, and why you always have to be ready for your next job in hockey.