Hockey Alberta staff as well as coaches from across the province gathered at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor for The Coaches Site Live Conference. Over 400 attendees from 14 different countries participated in the three-day event, which featured on ice, breakout and main stage sessions involving some of the best coaches in the sport.
Some of the presenting speakers included Cail MacLean from the Calgary Flames, Moncton Wildcats head coach Gardiner MacDougall, Washington Capitals assistant coach Mitch Love and University of Michigan head coach Brandon Naurato.
“The Coaches Site Live is regarded as the premier coaching conference in the world,” said Mike McGinnis, Hockey Alberta’s Manager, Player Development. “Hockey Alberta is proud to partner with The Coaches Site and we send approximately 20 delegates to the annual event. Every year we see exponential growth in those who attend as it’s impossible to not pick up one or two things from each presentation. We truly look forward to this event each year and we are excited to continue expanding our relationship with The Coaches Site to offer more opportunities for coaches in Alberta.”
One of those Alberta delegates who attended the event was Sage Sansregret, who spent this past season as an assistant coach with the Edmonton Junior Oilers White.
“The experience was definitely worthwhile,” Sansregret said. "It was a lot of fun being there to network and learn from some of the best coaches in the world. I think the biggest takeaway for me from this event is always to be willing to learn. There’s a lot of new concepts that you hear about during the conference and they really challenge you to expand your view and knowledge of the game.”
Sansregret believes events like these are vital to ensuring the next generation of coaches are making the most out of their opportunities.
“I think it’s extremely important,” she said. "It’s great to connect with other coaches and share ideas and thoughts. I think it helps the game continue to grow and move forward and it’s also great for young coaches like myself who want to start building a network and create a foundation for their coaching careers. High-level coaching jobs are network based, so events like these are great opportunities.”
The 2025 event is once again set for June at the University of Michigan.
