"Inside the Game" Podcast

We finish with Denis Potvin here on "Inside the Game", brought to you by flexxCOACH. Denis discusses the success on the Islanders team in the Stanley Cup years. There is one word Denis said is important in life and sports. "Courage" you have to have it to be successful. Never back down and always have "Courage" will take you to where you want to go in life. Great advice from a hockey legend.

We continue with Denis Potvin, and he talks about the management of the New York Islanders and how Bill Torrey and Al Arbour built the team for the Stanley Cup runs when they won four in a row. 

We continue with Denis Potvin and this is a great listen to leadership and the Islanders during their Four Stanley Cups. Denis gives great insights to the leadership on the team and why they had such great success. 

We catch up with four time Stanley Cup Champion, Hockey Hall of Famer, and Captain of the New York Islanders. Denis takes us back to his beginnings is Canada a young man and the fun he had growing up with his brother Jean and playing hockey and other sports. As 12 years of age he was asked to play on a travel all star team in Ottawa made up the best 12 year old's in the area. It was the start of his hockey journey. At 14 years of age he made the transition to the Ottawa 67's. Was a jump at 14 years old but he was bigger than most kids. He received great coaching with the 67's, which really was important in his development as a young man and hockey player. One thing he was not when he played in juniors was a "dreamer", he never dreamed of playing in the NHL. He was more about being a good hockey player and winning. Winning was very important to him. Success is what he wanted in his game. His coach Bill Long was old school and great mentor. In his last year of junior which was his 5th year. Leo Bovine entered his life. He was great influence on teaching Denis, patience on the ice and how to execute a "hip check". One thing Leo taught him "there is no out of bounds in hockey due the boards, Denis said he will find you at some point"Denis finishes the first segment with being drafted by the New York Islanders and learning the responsibilities of what it takes to play in the NHL. Ed Westfall was huge help to him and the other young players on the Islanders. He also talks about Al Arbour and how he got the team to play defense and how the beginnings of the Islanders success. Enjoy listening to Denis here on flexxCOACH's "Inside the Game". 

We finish with John Flaherty from the YES Network here on "Inside the Game". John talks about when it was time to retire and how he transitioned to broadcasting and George Steinbrenner had something to do with John winding up at the YES Network. Jim Kaat also helped John in the being of his career in broadcasting in how to approach a game. We transition to youth sports discussion and John's thoughts on what kids should get out of a sports program. He makes a point to talk about how you should gain more life skills out of playing sports, than more about wins and losses. Great guest and great stories about John's career.

We continue with John Flaherty from the YES Network. John discusses playing catcher and the different things that are needed for success in the position. He breaks down what are things he learned about the position and how important your focus is in being a catcher. We also touch on the different people with his time at the Yankees and how they were important to the success of the team and how they were able to maintain the levels they reached. He talks about Joe Torre, Mel Stottlemeyer, Derek Jeter, and why they were able to compete and win with the Yankees. John also, tells a great story about working with Mike Mussina and getting ready for a game against the Red Sox, and how they prepared to face the line up. It is a great listen to learn about what it is like to play in the "show". 

We continue with John Flaherty of the YES Network. His playing days at George Washington University was going to change. John tells of how he was going to be drafted in the 3 or 6th round of the MLB Draft. He went in the 25th round of the draft and was very upset by where he was drafted. The Red Sox had taken him in the draft and now the climb to the majors was about to begin for him.  It is great to hear the story of how he started his career and the ups and downs that go with trying to make it to the majors or the "show". 

We catch up with John Flaherty of the YES Network. John, talks about his early days of playing sports in New York and going to St. Joseph school in Montvale, NJ and how it changed his life and gave him the foundation for success. He also, talks about his time at George Washington University in Washington DC and how he really learned about what it took to be a baseball player at the division one level. One great part of the segment is when talks about his introduction to the Cape Cod Baseball League and he realized he could play at very high level. Great start to the show. 

We finish with Craig Patrick and talk about him being the Commissioner of the new and exciting 3 ICE Concept which is starting on June 18th 2022. It a great overview of what the new league will be offering this summer for hockey. 

We continue here on flexxCOACH's "Inside the Game" with Craig Patrick.In this segment we discuss in depth the 1980 Olympic Hockey Team and what went into the success of the team with Herb Brooks. Craig talks of how Herb Brooks coached the team and was very prepared for how he coached the team. There was a mission for Herb, he had a plan from May 1979 when Craig was brought in as an assistant coach for the team and how he put that plan into action. They were prepared mentally and physical for the Pre Olympic tour as well the games themselves. Everything Herb did was part of bigger picture in what was to come. Craig even showed us his gold medal from the games. It is towards the end of the interview. We transition at the end of the interview with his time in the NHL and being the General Manager of the New York Rangers and the Pittsburgh Penguins and winning the Stanley Cup twice in Pittsburgh. It is a great segment on a very historic moment in the sport of hockey and how it changed the fortunes of the game in the United States.