By Aaron Wilbur

When the name Mike Keenan is brought up in hockey circles it often brings up memories of the Rangers Stanley Cup Championship in 1984 or conflicts with star players and upper management. However, even to the hockey purist, it’s easy to overlook the fact that Keenan’s roots in professional hockey date all the way back to 1984 when he was named head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers at the ripe young age of 34. Back in the mid to late 80′s, he wasn’t considered as much of an icon as he was an ambitious, innovative and talented hockey coach.

His early success with the Flyers(2 Stanley Cup Final appearances in 3 years) led to him being named the head coach of Team Canada at the 1987 Canada Cup tournament. To put that in perspective, Keenan was handed the responsibility of directing Canada’s best collection of hockey talent on the biggest international hockey stage at that time. Keep in mind that back then professional players weren’t eligible to play in the Olympics and the majority of Europe’s best players hadn’t yet migrated to North America. Now consider that out of all the experienced and decorated coaches Hockey Canada had to choose from, they handed the reigns to a 37 year old former college player and PE teacher, with only three years of NHL coaching experience.

That Keenan excepted the job under those circumstances speaks volumes to his relentless drive and confidence in his own abilities..IMO. It may have also been an indication that he was a little…well..nuts!

Keenan was first criticized for the roster he selected, choosing role players over some of the more skilled players at his disposal. Still, Canada fielded an impressive ensemble of talent on a team made up of numerous future Hall of Famers. It was also the only time that Gretzky and Lemieux where united in meaningful competition.

Canada would go onto to win the tournament in dramatic fashion, capped of by a Gretzky to Lemieux marker with 1:26 remaining in the third and final game of the best of three final. The goal is still considered one of the most memorable in the history of Canadian hockey.

What often gets overlooked though is the rough start that Canada got off to in the tournament. Keenan was masterful in his ability to unite Canada’s collection of talent and personalities into a focused and selfless group. His methods, while initially controversial, would rally the players against their coach but eventually produce a harmonious team of super stars and grinders. As if it all went according to plan.

Here’s a look back at their championship journey from the perspective of the players and the conductor himself, Mike Keenan.

Individual and minor hockey discounts are now available for the 2012 Hockey Coaches Conference. Click here to take advantage of our Early Bird discount or email: info@thecoachessite.com to inquire about our group discounts for minor hockey associations.

The Coaches Site is pleased to announce that Mike Keenan will be joining us in Vancouver at the 2012 Hockey Coaches Conference. The 2nd annual Hockey Coaching Conference will take place July 20-21 at the Delta Burnaby Hotel and Conference Centre and will feature presentations from professional coaches and experts in human performance.

Since Mike Keenan broke into the NHL in 1984 with the Philadelphia Flyers at the age of 34 he has been one the most decorated and at times controversial figures in the game. In just his first season, he would lead the Flyers to the Stanley Cup finals and be awarded the Jack Adams Award as the National Hockey Leagues top coach. Two years later, the Flyers would return to the finals, eventually losing to the Edmonton Oilers for the second time in three seasons.

Keenan was named head coach and general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks prior to the 1988-89 season. In Chicago the Blackhawks would qualify for the post season in each of his four seasons, compiling an overall playoff record of 33-27 and winning 7 out of 11 playoff series. In 1992, his fourth and final season, Keenan advanced to Stanley Cup finals for the third time in career. He would focus solely on his GM duties the following year before resigning his position at the conclusion of the season and accepting an offer to become Head Coach of the New York Rangers.

Vancouver Giants head coach Don Hay gave a presentation on defensive zone coverage at last years Hockey Coaches Conference. During his introduction he references the role the people around us play in our development as coaches. Here, the coach of Canada’s 1995 & 2012 World Junior teams shares a story from the Giants run to the 2007 Memorial Cup.

*Don Hay will be returning as keynote speaker to our 2012 Hockey Coaches Conference

By Aaron Wilbur

This is Leland Mack’s fifth season behind the bench in the BC Major Midget League and third as head coach of the Vancouver Canadians. Under the leadership of Mack, the Canadians have produced on the ice and have also been successful in moving several players onto the WHL and BCHL. The Canadians are set to open the BCMML playoffs this weekend in Kelowna against the Rockets.

Q-How did you get your start in coaching?

A-I started coaching back in Calgary when I was 22 because I loved the sport. I ended up moving out to Vancouver to attend Douglas College and was able to get involved with Burnaby Minor. From there, I became an assistant coach with the Vancouver NW Giants and that led me to the opportunity with the Canadians.

Q-How has the season gone for the Vancouver Canadians, thus far?

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By Aaron Wilbur

“For me, my strength is building teams. Building accountability within the framework of teams”, St Louis Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock

Hindsight is 20/20. But looking back at the St Louis Blues press conference on November 7, it’s easier to understand how a team could make such a remarkable turn around and vault itself into first place overall in the NHL standings. The Blues have gone on a 37-11-7 run since and they have done it playing a “200 foot” game. In other words, Ken Hitchcock has moulded a “team” in the truest definition of the word.

“The game for me is in slow motion. When I stand on the bench the game is in slow motion. I don’t have any idea why. I talk to Scotty(Bowman) a lot about the way to do it and the little mechanisms that you do on the bench but the game is in slow motion for me”.

Time will tell if Hitchcock and the Blues can continue their magical run through the playoffs. However, when you look at their young and talented roster and consider the confidence displayed by their veteran coach, its safe to assume the Blues will be Stanley Cup contenders for the foreseeable future.

Individual and minor hockey discounts are now available for the 2012 Hockey Coaches Conference. Click here to take advantage of our Early Bird discount or email: info@thecoachessite.com to inquire about our group discounts for minor hockey associations.

The Coaches Site is excited to announce that St Louis Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock will be a keynote speaker at our 2012 Hockey Coaches Conference. The 2nd annual Hockey Coaching Conference will take place in Vancouver, BC on July 20-21 at the Delta Burnaby Hotel and Conference Centre.

Ken is one of the most decorated coaches in hockey, having compiled a record 533-350-158 in 1,041 NHL games before arriving in St Louis. The native of Edmonton, Alberta has engineered one of the most remarkable regular season turn arounds in recent memory in his first season with the Blues. Hitchcock assumed the coaching reigns in St Louis after the Blues got off to a 6-7 start. Since then, he has led the Blues to 37-11-7 mark and first place in the NHL standings.

Hitchcock began his NHL career as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers from 1990-93. He would go on to become the head coach of the Kalamazoo K-Wings, Dallas’ Internationaly Hockey League affiliate, for two-plus seasons before being named the head coach of the Stars midway through the 1995-96 season. During his tenure in Dallas he compiled a record of 277-166-60 and led the Stars to two President’s Trophies (1997-98, 1998-99), two Western Conference Championships (1999, 2000) and a Stanley Cup championship in 1999.

On July 20^th & 21^st the Coaches Site’s Hockey Coaching Conference will be returning to the Delta Hotel and Conference Centre. Last years inaugural event was a great success and preparations are well under way to make this year’s edition even better.

Last year nearly one hundred amateur coaches had the opportunity to hear from top professional coaches and experts in the fields of strength & conditioning, sports psychology and sports medicine.  Highlights of the event included keynote presentations from Vancouver Giants and Canada’s World Junior Team head coach Don Hay, former Vancouver Canucks associate coach and current Portland Winterhawks head coach Mike Johnston and former NHL player and current TSN analyst Ray Ferraro who gave insight into developing a complete player.

This year will feature some returning presenters along with several new speakers from the WHL, AHL and NHL. A few big names from the hockey community are expected to be on hand and will be announced in the coming months.

“Minor hockey coaches are in a position to make a significant and positive impact in the lives of young people,” says the Coaches Site managing director Aaron Wilbur. “We are pleased to support the men and women who give so much time and energy to young players by offering an event which allows then to learn from some of the brightest and most innovative professionals in the game today. Ultimately, it’s the kids who benefit from this experience.”

Coaches talking hockey at our 2011 Sleeman’s Charity Reception for H.E.R.O.S

The Coaches Site is also pleased to bring back its charity reception for H.E.R.O.S. The evening social will take place on Friday, July 20^th and gives delegates the opportunity to mingle with the presenters as well as fellow coaches from across BC and Western Canada. Former Vancouver Giants captain Triston Grant addressed the audience at last year’s event, sharing his minor hockey experience and the impact his coaches had on his career and personal development.  In addition, a silent auction will be held with all proceeds being donated to charity. Nearly two thousand dollars was raised for H.E.R.O.S last year.

Individual passes to this year’s Coaching Conference will be made available on March 1^st.  Minor hockey associations also have the opportunity to take advantage of a minor hockey discount in which a limited amount of passes are made available to associations at a reduced rate. Coaches can inquire with their association’s executive to see if they would have an interest purchasing a table of 5 or 10 seats. Last year, nine associations took advantage of this program and supported over fifty volunteer coaches in attending the conference.

Click here for to register now and take advantage of our Early Bird Discount. Individual passes are only $275 + HST until April 15th. Email us info@thecoachessite.com with any questions.

Current TSN analyst and for NHL player Ray Ferraro, gave a passionate speech on Building a Complete Player at our 2011 Hockey Coaches Conference. Here is an excerpt from Ray’s presentation where he touches on how coaches can create a winning environment around their team.

It’s that time of year where many coaches are either pushing for or grasping onto that last remaining playoff spot. Every point is valuable and we all can understand if coaches are little on edge at this time of year.

Midway through the third period in a game versus the Wheeling Nailors, Toledo Whallyes’s coach Nick Vetucci walked over that edge. After a fight broke out, Vetucci became enraged that the Wheeling player didn’t receive an instigator penalty.

Here’s the result…