Making the jump to the NHL, what changes?
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Video coaches are no different than players, everyone wants to make the NHL. If you’re grinding it out in minor hockey, major junior, NCAA or minor pro, there are some noticeable differences at the NHL level. Here are a few items we’re going to discuss today to help prepare you for the future:
Travel
Systems
Staff Members
Coaches Challenges
Technology
Support
Travel
The plane is awesome because seats are business class size, there is food, drinks and unless you are flying between the US and Canada, no need to go into the airport. You can show up to the private terminal, park your car and hop on the plane. Post game the bus pulls up to the plane and you just walk on and walk off once you land in the new city.
The NHL has a hectic schedule and you’re playing every second day. You have to get used to working on the plane and getting to the hotel between 2am-3am once you land in the new city. There are no back to back games against the same team like in lower levels.
Systems
Working for a NHL team means you will play every team in the league two to four times instead of just the same eight to ten in your division or conference. You’re going to have to know all team systems and their players for all 31 other teams.
Additional Staff Members
The NHL means more staff are around for the coaches, equipment, medical, strength & conditioning and management. There are just more team members to get to know and work with. You might not feel as “tight” with everyone as you once did with a smaller staff compared to the larger staff at the NHL level.
Coaches Challenges
The coaches challenge rules vary at lower levels. These decisions mean so much more in the NHL and there is a penalty if the challenge is wrong. This could be the difference between a win and a loss, making the playoffs or not making the playoffs and can even potentially cost you your job.
Technology
The NHL is the top level in hockey and you might be using equipment and technology that you haven’t used before. It is important to understand what is available to you, your roles & responsibilities before training camp so you can practice and get familiar with all the new equipment & technology in the pre season.
Support
Working at the top level means, for the first time as a video coach you will most likely have or be the assistant video coach as well as have access to the ATCs on game day to help with building issues. There are 29 of the 32 teams who have two video coaches and there is a team of 3-4 dedicated ATCs who can help with issues that might arise with the game feed connections, the building internet and hawkeye.
This might differ because chances are you were the lone video coach on staff at lower levels and had to rely on a game day person to help with technical issues and they probably were wearing multiple hats during the game.
Conclusion
Today we discussed a number of ways that the NHL is different from the current level you work at. I hope you keep these in the back of your mind and keep working towards your goal of being an NHL video coach.