Coachella Valley Firebirds Head Coach Derek Laxdal: Improving the skill of defending, handling a tough loss and staying optimistic
In episode #287, Head Coach of the Coachella Valley Firebirds Derek Laxdal stops by. His coaching career has seen him climb from the now defunct Western Professional Hockey League, to the Central Hockey League, the East Coast Hockey League, to the Western Hockey League, the American League and finally, to the show. During that time, he's successfully navigated the ebbs and flows of his coaching journey with his trademark optimism and enthusiam. Today, Laxdal is the Head Coach of the AHL affiliate to the Seattle Kraken. No different than any other team he’s coached, he has the ‘Birds in contention as they make their way towards another playoff run. Listen as he shares why the skill of defending is lacking in today's young player, how to change the narritive after a tough loss, and how to stay optimistic through the challenges of a coaching career.