Currently, I work at Total Package Hockey (TPH) in London, Ontario. My title is Head of Hockey and I oversee all of our on-ice programming. We work with players ranging from first-time skaters up to professionals. We run a variety of programs and offer third-party assistance to minor hockey players, teams, and programs in the southwestern Ontario region. These programs occur primarily in the early mornings, evenings, and on weekends. Most of my day is spent working in-house to run the business while I oversee our development initiatives with our TPH Academy athletes, who study & train full-time at our private school. The majority of the work I do with TPH would be considered to be in the skill development space although we also work with associations in delivering coaching clinics and seminars on a variety of coaching related topics. In addition to my work with TPH, I also volunteer my time as an assistant coach and skill development coach with Western University. I am entering my 3rd year with the program. I am constantly engaged in multiple disciplines all of which have been largely informed during my time within the SCLA program at MSU. Most recently, I have launched a games-based development program that seeks to incorporate in-class video sessions, 100% games-based practices, and follow-up “homework” activities, to enhance the development of players entirely through play. Much of this program has been informed from a Constraints Led Approach (CLA), which I was first introduced to in the SCLA program.
What brought you to the SCLA program and what did you want to do with the degree?
Kinesiology programs, specifically in Canada over the last two decades, have slowly dropped their coaching, physical education, and sport management streams. Upon completing my undergrad in sport management (which Western University has recently dropped), I made the decision to pursue coaching ice hockey not as a passion, but as a career. I sought out the SCLA program and had a few meetings with Dr. Driska regarding the content, structure and fit. I was fortunately accepted and I was able to complete my degree remotely, mostly during COVID. While COVID challenged my ability to actively coach during lockdowns, this provided me even further time to explore the literature and challenge my current approaches to coaching. My original intention entering the program was to begin running a U18AAA program locally as the Head Coach. However, I wanted further mentorship from a head coach regarding various responsibilities beyond the X’s & O’s of the game. This is why I am currently with Western University, as their head coach has provided incredible opportunities for mentorship and personal growth. My goal is still to work in professional sports. While I want to pursue coaching, I have found through this programs and additional experiences I am quite open to a variety of roles, but I am certain that I want to work in some element of the player development space and work directly with the athletes. To be frank I am unsure if my ideal position in ice hockey at the NHL level or below exists. By title it would be a Director of Player Development, but I am of the belief that this role’s title isn’t currently what the role actually entails. I believe firmly that hockey has a long way to go in truly streamlining a player development department such that it is connected amongst all (the many) members and is packaged concisely and readily understood by the players which it aims to serve (in theory).
What were some highlights during your time in the SCLA program?
Every project was purposeful and had practical applications. The integrated and applied nature of the coursework made it possible to not only research topics but actively explore them in my professional life. Recording interviews, journaling via prompts, recording myself coaching, and engaging with coaches in other disciplines all greatly contributed to my growth as a coach.
Tell us about your experience in practicum.
In my practicum I was fortunate to be accepted by Gardiner MacDougall at the University of New Brunswick. I was in Fredericton simultaneously completing my BEd during my practicum coursework so the stars really aligned. His program is highly reputable and the most successful in Canadian University hockey for the last 20 years. This past season his team went undefeated! I was provided unparalleled access to their programs workings and was able to film myself working to develop their players using CLA methodology. It was a great experience and I believe really changed my career trajectory.
What was your favorite SCLA course and why?
Skill Acquisition (KIN 868). There were many great courses, but when I entered the SCLA program 90% of my coaching experience was within a skill development or individual instruction role. Therefore I was fascinated to learn more and being introduced to ecological dynamics, CLA, instructional methods, and their impacts on skill acquisition was a memorable and important experience. Much of my work to this day is informed by this coursework. I have a binder of all my courses, the research, in my desk drawers that I consult regularly. I continue to work with my staff to teach them about the CLA and its applications in our work.
Fact Fact
During COVID pandemic I was actively seeing coaching experience, particularly job interviews to practice being interviewed as a coach. Most higher level hockey teams don’t really post jobs as most are filled through back channels and “who you know.” At the time there was only one posting on job boards, this was for an eSports team! I ended up creating a whole presentation about how I would apply a CLA and games-based methodology to their “player development” to improve team performance. This always gives everyone who knows me a chuckle. I knew relatively zero details about the game itself or how to even coach a video game!