Veteran NHL Coach Ken Hitchcock began his presentation at our Hockey Coaches Conference in 2012 by asking this question: “Do you coach hockey or do you coach people who play hockey?”

There is a distinct difference between each mindset. And that difference is the shift in philosophy when successfully relating to today’s athlete. Hitchcock shares the growth in his own coaching mindset that allowed him to have a long and successful NHL coaching career.

"We're teaching a cynical group. This is a generation that wants to know what they have to do, what's in it for them, and where's it going to take them. And we have to answer all three questions."

Hitchcock had a long and successful career as an NHL head coach spanning from 1995 to 2019. He coached several teams including the Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, St. Louis Blues, and Edmonton Oilers. His greatest success came with the Dallas Stars, where he led the team to a Stanley Cup championship in 1999. Hitchcock finished his NHL coaching career with 849 wins, ranking fourth all-time among NHL coaches. He was known for implementing strong defensive systems and demanding accountability from his players. He won the Jack Adams Award as NHL Coach of the Year in 2012 with St. Louis, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder in 2019.

For Hitchcock, players need to feel as though they're playing for more than just the game. Some sort of cause.

What else did Hitchcock value?

- Strong emphasis on defensive structure and accountability
- Demanding a disciplined, detail-oriented style of play
- Focus on team systems over individual creativity
- Intense preparation and thorough video analysis
- Building strong relationships with veteran players while being tough but fair
- Implementing tight checking and defensive zone coverage
- Teaching players to play a possession-based game with controlled breakouts

Hitchcock was known for his ability to quickly improve teams' defensive performances and instill a structured system that emphasized responsibility without the puck.

Hitchcock was ahead of his time when he began coaching hockey way back in Sherwood Park, Alberta in the 1980s. For Hitchcock, everything depends on trust. Input from players builds trust, it builds a family environment, and everything snowballs from there. 

More than anything, we have to learn to live in their world.

Noteworthy Timestamps:

• 1:05 Building trust/embracing the new generation
• 7:00 Decisions, family and cause
• 11:10 Embracing social media
• 14:00 Lead uniquely and honestly
• 17:05 Leaving their mark on society
• 19:55 Desire to learn/starting with humour
• 22:00 Quality time, values and stability
• 24:50 Circle of trust
• 28:45 Meetings and feedback
• 36:00 Q&A/ Doing research