Hockey Hall of Fame bench boss Roger Neilson was nicknamed Captain Video for bringing technology to coaching, but the Cariboo Cougars are taking Neilson's teachings to a whole new level.
With a camera in the press box and a tablet on the bench, the BC Major Midget League's coaching staff is able to provide players with realtime video feedback between shifts. Cougars general manger Trevor Sprague believes the Cougars are the first team in the province at the BCMML level to employ the technology.
Assistant coach Mike Matthies has an eagle view of the game from the video suite and he's connected wirelessly via headset to fellow assistant Tyler Halliday. If either coach sees something that requires a follow up, they can chat and have Matthies send a video clip right to the bench where Halliday can go over the play with the players involved.
Matthies gave the example of a turnover as the type of situation that can turn into a quality teaching moment.
"It helps us coach them and it helps them coach themselves," Matthies said. "It makes me a better coach and it makes them better players."
The coaches have been perfecting the system in recent weeks, first trying to communicate by texts before switching to the headsets. Matthies believe they've worked out the kinks and are looking forward to reaping the benefits of being on the front lines of coaching innovations.
The players are responding well to the new tools the coaches have at their disposal.
"It's a big new fancy thing and I think they're really starting to like it," Matthies said.
The video coaching extends beyond just the in-the-moment clips players can see on the bench to more extensive breakdowns after games.
Once just a luxury for professional athletes, video coaching has been working its way into the various developmental levels of hockey for years,
"Now the sky is the limit for what we can teach them," Matthies said.
