Keep them moving, emphasize the fundamentals, and incorporate a progression of skill development for every participant. Wayne Parro, Executive Director of the Professional Coaching Department with Coaching Association of Canada discusses these four principals that will allow you to develop an effective plan for the upcoming season in under an hour.

The name ‘Defenseman’ or ‘Defender ’used to be an accurate title but no longer properly captures the role of the modern Hockey ‘Defenseman’. Now we ask our players to “Attack as five and defend as five” and our Defensemen to be our ‘Quarterbacks’ – playing with poise, vision, and awareness. NCCP Certified Coach Facilitator with the Ontario Minor Hockey Association, Peter McBride chats about the changing role of Defensemen.

In the past decade, hockey sticks made from high-tech materials found in aircraft and Formula One race cars have replaced wood models as the tool of choice for players from the NHL all the way down to tyke. Catherine Ward of the Montreal Stars of the CWHL and Product Manager for CCM talks about the technology behind sticks, how it has changed the game and what to look for when choosing the right stick for you.

One-on-One with Hockey Canada President, Tom Renney about the state of hockey, what direction Hockey Canada is taking and his passion for the sport.

Kids who have fun playing a sport are more likely to stay active and healthy for their entire lifetime. They also have a better chance of becoming a top athlete. So make it fun, and make it quality! Richard Monette from Active for Life sits down to talk about the role parents play in their child's athletic development.

Hockey is a fast and demanding sport requiring proper fueling to reach peak performance. Repeated bouts of high intensity, anaerobic shifts result in rapid decline of energy stores. A recovery eating plan is essential to speed up recovery before playing again the next day.Heidi Smith, Sport Dietitian and Head of Nutrition at the Health and Performance Centre at the University of Guelph chats about the foods to eat before your next game.

The saying “It takes a village to raise a child” is very appropriate when it comes to providing a positive experience for our players. Hockey Canada’s Long Term Player Development model (LTPD) is a framework to maximize a player’s potential and long term involvement in sport over the course of their life. Ian Taylor, Director of Development for the Ontario Minor Hockey Association is here with us to discuss the important role Minor Hockey Associations provide in leading the education of parents and volunteers about the benefits of Long Term Player Development and identify the need for programs to incorporate LTPD philosophies.