Learn how to develop culture, what systems to use to achieve team success, and how to sell your systems/details to players who might resist.

When Dave Barr took on the Head Coach role with Team Canada at the U18 World Championships in 2021, he knew offence wasn’t going to be a problem. Connor Bedard, Shane Wright, Mason McTavish, Francesco Pinelli & Logan Stankoven were all forwards on the team and they all know how to produce on offence.

But could the team’s skilled forwards play the defensive game Barr knew was needed to win the championship? He admittedly had his work cut out for him.

Barr’s 25-minute presentation from TCS Live 2022 is all about how the 62-year-old was able to sell his players on the game he wanted his team to play.

Canada scored 28 goals for, only gave us five against and beat Russia in the gold medal game to capture Canada’s fourth tournament title. Whatever Barr did, it clearly worked!

Barr, currently the Head Coach of the Vienna Capitals in the ICEHL, played 20 years in the WHL, AHL, IHL & NHL, before moving into coaching. Working his way up to the NHL, he coached with the Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers and San Jose Sharks.

The product of Toronto knows how to get through to his players and his presentation includes thoughts on how to develop culture, what systems to use to achieve team success, and how to sell your systems/details to players who might resist.