How do you prepare yourself for a life altering situation? You need to train your mind!
Listen to a story about the craziest 24 hours of my life. Was I properly ready to handle a situation like this? Absolutely not.
Were there things I wish I had done so that I was prepared? 100%.
Listen to my story and what I wish I had known in order to be prepared for the trade that changed everything.
We have had coaches from the National Hockey League and the top Junior leagues in North America on the Up My Hockey podcast.
In this episode of Up My Hockey, we go across the pond, to get the inside story on what it is like to be a head coach in what is said to be the second best hockey league in the world, the KHL.
The KHL is Russia’s top pro hockey league, and today we talk with David Nemirovski, an Ex-NHL’er, and the current head coach for the Torpedo Nizhny Novogorod.
David played just under 100 National Hockey League games, before taking his professional career to Finland, then over to Russia.
During this interview he dives into what it is like playing and coaching in Russia, and discusses the different strategies that he implements to get the most out his players in order to maximize their potential.
I hope you enjoy this episode on Up My Hockey podcast, with David, Nemirovski.
Trevor Letowski played over 600 NHL games.
He then went on to coaching at numerous levels, but primarily in the Ontario Hockey League, where he has found incredible success.
He is currently the head coach of the legendary, Windsor Spitfires and his team is currently ranked top 10 in the CHL.
Trevor dives into what it takes to be successful in today’s hockey world, and how it has changed from when he was a player.
He provides incredible insight to the changing climates, as he is currently heavily involved, and has fully embraced the new coaching style of relationships, leadership and compassion for the players.
I hope you enjoy the podcast and learn a thing or two from the incredibly well respected, Trevor Letowski.
Brad Larsen is the Assistant coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
I played PeeWee with Brad back when we were kids, and we carried on to be teammates and friends.
Brad is one of the hardest workers I have ever played with, one of the best leaders, teammates and defines work ethic.
He was not always the most talented, but he knew the game and how to get the very most out of his skill set.
Brad is a perfect example of someone kids should look up to and stride to be like in the hockey world.
I hope you enjoy this episode, on Up My Hockey.
This is an incredible discussion with the NHL legend, Daniel Briere.
Briere found success at every level of his hockey career, but this did not come without its fair share of challenges.
At his peek, he clocked in at 5’9, and weighed less than 190 pounds.
Scouts, coaches, GM’s and practically everyone else always doubted his ability to compete at the next level due to being undersized.
Through special techniques, mental strategies mindset tricks, Briere dominated at each level which stemmed to the NHL, as he shared the responsibilities of Captain for the Buffalo Sabres.
There is a lot to be learnt here!
Enjoy
Jason Podollan sits down with Kevin Sawyer, current broadcaster for the Winnipeg Jets, and ex NHL tough guy.
Kevin Sawyer is a Canadian former National Hockey League right winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, Phoenix Coyotes, and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. His road to the NHL was not typical, as he discusses how difficult it was for him to be cut from his home town Junior B hockey club at the age of 16.
Through grit, toughness, and perseverance, Kevin slowly climbed the ranks in the eyes of the scouts, and earned every second of ice time in the NHL.
This is an amazing story about hard work and determination, and a great insight to the mind of one of the toughest guys to ever play the game.
Kevin was not the biggest guy on the ice, but he describes his fighting style as a “tactician” of fighting. He prides himself on being able to outsmart his opponent, opposed to out boxing them.
Over his 10 year pro career, Kevin ended up fighting NHL legends such as Tie Domi, Chris Simon, Stu Grimson, Bob Probert, Georges Laraque and many, many more.
I hope you enjoy this episode of Up My Hockey, with Kevin Sawyer.
Jason Podollan sits down with Arizona Coyotes Western Scout, Kevin Pedersen.
Kevin is in responsible for the WHL, BCHL, and the AJHL.
Kevin is in the room for the conversation at draft time with the Arizona Coyotes, and presents some incredible insight on what skills they truly value when considering selecting a player.
Some of his answers may surprise you, as he provides valuable insight into the importance of character, hard work and consistency!
I hope you enjoy this episode of Up My Hockey, with Kevin Pedersen.
Show Notes:
:37 – Kevin Pedersen Introduction
2:57 – Podcast begins
3:27 – Kevin discusses his personal career playing hockey
9:21 – Kevin discusses his first opportunity coaching
14:40 – Kevin discusses the importance of relationships in hockey and life
20:00 – Jason talks about how important it is to maintain a proper image
20:40 – Kevin talks about finding your passion
23:20 – Kevin discusses the BRICK tournament
27:15 – Kevin touches on how difficult it can be to predict future NHL players at a young age
30:18 – Kevin discusses how just because you are the best player at 10, does not mean you will be the best player at 13,14,15
31:54 – Kevin discusses Hockey B.C and his time in hockey B.C
36:30 – Kevin discusses how he knows where to look for the top prospects
37:40 – Kevin discusses the importance of consistency
39:00 – Jason touches the importance of always being prepared before stepping on the ice.
40:00 – Kevin sheds insight on how scouts value mistakes for different players
44:30 – Kevin discusses his first chance to start scouting
46:50 – Kevin shares his story about working for free, to earn his spot as a western hockey league scout
53:00 – Kevin talks about how important your character is from the perspective of a scout at any level.
54:15 – Jason mentions the importance of always having high character if you want to make the next level.
54:40 – Kevin states how scouts do call players coaches before drafting them
59:30 – Kevin quotes “how you do anything, is how you do everything”. Attention to detail in everything.
101:30 – Kevin and Jason discuss what makes a good leader.
103:00 – Jason provides insight on how to standout to become a better athlete.
108:15 – Kevin provides his insight on what the “best path” is for hockey players to take. WHL? Or College?
113:05 – The importance of opportunity and different paths players take
117:05 – The biggest mistake players make when deciding either WHL or College
120:55 – Kevin discusses what “Character” and “Mental Toughness” mean to him
123:30 – Jason discusses how you can improve your character and mental toughness
126:25 – Jason talks about his trade from Florida to Toronto and how important mental toughness was.
129:27 – Kevin talks about the benefits to speaking to a councilor or getting professional help
131:30 – Jason discusses being proactive with your character.
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