In episode #166 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we’re joined by former NHLer Andy Sutton, whose company Verbero is partnering with The Coaches Site in showcasing 10 of hockey’s top skills coaches at our upcoming Global Skills Showcase.

After a career that had him play 687 NHL games as an undrafted player, Sutton saw the need for a change in the hockey equipment and apparel industry. Recognizing the cost of outfitting a young player in gear was a major deterrent for parents allowing their kids to participate in the sport, he embarked on a mission, to make safe, quality equipment available at a reasonable cost. With Verbero, he’s developed a direct to consumer model that makes it easy for anyone to go online, or work directly with their local Verbero representative, and order quality, custom equipment and apparel at an affordable cost.

As a player, Sutton’s journey to a long NHL career is definitely one you’ll want to hear. After going undrafted, he made a name for himself at Michigan Tech, leading to 14 contract offers with NHL teams. He would go on to play for six teams and some iconic coaches like Darryl Sutter, Roy Sommer, Bob Hartley, Jaques Lemaire, and Tom Renney.

Find out how Verbero is helping provide a more affordable option for young players, how he battled his way to a long NHL career, and what lessons he learned while playing for some of the game’s top coaches.