Tampa Bay Lightning video coach Brian Garlock spent his Saturday morning giving again at Benchmark Worldwide Area.
Garlock shocked youth hockey coaches at a USA Hockey teaching clinic downtown, sharing the story of his path to the NHL in addition to some recommendation earlier than the 2026-27 season begins.
He referenced the expansion of hockey throughout Florida and USA Hockey’s work as an entire, ensuring to strengthen to coaches in attendance that suggestions is nice for gamers however should at all times be constructive.
“If I might help youthful coaches get somewhat bit higher, then why not? I’m an American, and I’d prefer to see USA Hockey do effectively. I’d prefer to see all these coaches do effectively. I was one in all them, actually,” Garlock stated of why he agreed to talk on Saturday.
Like practically each coach, Garlock’s profession started on the youth degree. He as soon as coached highschool hockey earlier than becoming a member of Lightning coach Jon Cooper within the North American Hockey League (NAHL)—first as an gear supervisor—and advancing to the highest league on this planet.
Garlock instructed his fellow coaches how he turned a video coach, and lots of had been hungry for recommendation on how greatest to make use of video as a instructing software throughout youth hockey. Most instances, all you want is the digital camera in your cellphone and not more than quarter-hour at a time breaking down the clips, in response to Garlock.
Among the many practically 100 coaches in attendance on Saturday had been a number of leaders inside the new Jr. Lightning youth hockey program in addition to different space youth and highschool coaches. No matter age, teaching ought to at all times be about making a crew environment and dealing towards the identical objectives, Garlock stated.
“You aren’t going to get anyplace for those who’re not having fun with it somewhat bit. It may be a grind. It would not need to be enjoyable each second. It is difficult. It is demanding while you’re on the street on a regular basis, however these are people. Skilled athletes, they’re folks, man. They’ve acquired households. They’ve acquired their very own stuff to fret about. If you happen to’re at all times digging into them, they’re gonna tune you out. They are not gonna pay attention. They’re simply not going to. It is human nature,” Garlock stated.
“Make it enjoyable and make it relatable and provides them some authority on this complete factor, too. It’s important to make it a partnership. Clearly if we’re instructing 9 12 months olds, you should not be asking them, ‘What sort of D-zone do you wish to play?’ However the older you get, if they’ve some possession in a few of the selections, it will make them personal it and revel in it much more.”
Garlock has labored greater than 1,000 NHL video games and lots of of victories in Tampa. He hopes coaches at Saturday’s clinic noticed him as a child from Michigan who discovered his personal path to a profession in hockey via teaching and now has his identify on the Stanley Cup.
They’ll do it, too, if they need.
“I don’t assume it’s good to have NHL pedigree as a participant to have a training profession on this league. I feel there’s a path that’s totally different…So if the story of me being an gear man in junior hockey after which getting his identify on the Stanley Cup and serving to determine beat the Montreal Canadiens within the Stanley Cup Ultimate helps any person make it, that’s price it,” he stated.
Gehrig Oppenheimer is working as an assistant coach for a number of Jr. Lightning groups this season. He stated listening to from Garlock at Saturday’s clinic supplied a singular alternative.
In any case, it isn’t each day that coaches get to take notes from an NHL video coach.
“Simply listening to the phrases come out of his mouth and rising up within the hockey world and being round all kinds of coaches, the massive takeaway is he’s identical to every other common man, however his sport information is a lot deeper,” Oppenheimer stated. “There’s so many little key particulars you possibly can be taught from an NHL man and studying sure methods of educate youth hockey and turn into higher as a coach.”
Oppenheimer left significantly impressed after listening to of Garlock’s video expertise, saying the Jr. Lightning program can make the most of a few of his recommendation.
“Having a video alternative is gonna assist them see the sport from a special perspective of, ‘Hey, that is what we appear to be and these are some issues we will work on,’” Oppenheimer stated. “And as a coach, it helps you additionally see it as a result of while you’re watching the sport there’s so many elements of the sport occurring, and watching video again reveals what they had been pondering and reveals you an entire totally different perspective of the sport.”
Oppenheimer occupied one chair in a studious viewers, one crammed with coaches throughout a number of USA Hockey teaching certification ranges. Most stay within the space, whereas one traveled all the way in which from Buffalo, New York, and one other visited from Maine.
Garlock discovered the big turnout encouraging. He believes strongly that offering youth hockey coaches a number of instruments to achieve success issues inside the sport, one which continues to develop.
“You don’t need to persuade me that Florida and Tampa particularly is a hockey state and changing into extra of 1. I’ve seen it right here after we received, and it’s loopy,” Garlock stated. “So to see the grassroots degree and the youth degree getting larger and larger and larger, it’s not stunning anymore after 15 years…You see it now. There’s NHL youngsters from in every single place, whether or not it’s Arizona, Florida, Texas, California.
“That’s no accident. It’s not stunning, and it’s a very good factor.”
