There weren’t a lot of expectations for Dustin Vogelgesang (Executive Director of the Minnesota Hockey Coaches Association) and Jon Ammerman (Assistant Coach, Minnesota District / USA-S17) in their first year at the USA Hockey Under 17 Festival. But they were prepared with enthusiasm, passion, and details.

And in its own way, that’s leadership, and it’s an experience Vogelgesang and Ammerman can bring back to their own teams.

Hockey Association Leadership

Being a coach leader in any given hockey association is a dynamic role that requires a delicate balance between preserving tradition and embracing innovation. At its core, the position demands leadership that understands both the technical aspects of player development and the broader community impact of youth hockey programs.

Sticking to your own box season over season isn’t productive. It’s why The Coaches Site exists, it’s why the Minnesota Hockey Coaches Association conference exists.

What can we learn from each other? What can we pass on to the players?

If you’re a hockey director, you know about the daily challenge of managing multiple teams, coordinating ice time, overseeing coach development, and ensuring programs remain financially accessible to families. However, the most crucial aspect of the role is recognizing when and how to innovate to better serve young athletes and their families. That doesn’t mean there isn’t a model to follow or a path to strive for.

“It’s really an opportunity for us to learn, not only the expectations but the purpose behind USA Hockey.”

Innovation in hockey leadership is particularly important to parents for several key reasons.

• Parents invest significant time and resources into their children's hockey development and they want to see programs that maximize this investment.
• Modern parents are increasingly aware of the latest developments in sports science, training methodologies, and player development strategies. They expect their local hockey associations to keep pace with these advancements.

Furthermore, today's hockey directors should be embracing technology and data-driven approaches to player development. This might include implementing video analysis tools, tracking player progress through specialized software, or utilizing modern practice planning techniques. These innovations help parents better understand their child's development pathway and provide tangible evidence of progress.

“We’re all dealing with the same issues, just at different levels.”

Dustin Vogelgesang

As Vogelgesang states, it’s incredibly valuable to borrow ideas and inspiration from each other.

The value of coaches learning from each other lies in sharing common challenges and solutions across different levels of hockey. You’re not alone! If you’re facing challenges, chances are someone else is as well.

Through collaborative learning, coaches can gain insights into expectations, purposes, and best practices, as demonstrated by USA Hockey's approach and the state of hockey in particular. This sharing of knowledge and experience allows coaches to bring valuable leadership lessons back to their own teams. Modern coaching also involves staying current with sports science, training methods, and player development strategies, making peer learning an essential component of professional growth.

Noteworthy Timestamps:

• 0:15 “I don’t want to make it worse”
• 2:45 Expectations heading into Festival
• 7:35 The passion for USA Hockey
• 9:10 Small group discussions
• 12:20 Difference between districts
• 15:30 Short term tournament team building
• 18:10 Accepting roles
• 20:50 Evaluations
• 23:10 Takeaways