ABOUT NORCAN HOCKEY

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Mike McGinnis is the Founder and Director of NorCan Hockey and has spent more than two decades coaching, scouting, and developing hockey players from the AAA level through Junior, collegiate levels.

His current roles include serving as a Scout for the Penticton Vees (WHL), Skill Development Coach & Scout with the Canmore Eagles (AJHL), Scouting & Recruitment with the Calgary Dinos program, and Development Coach for a variety of local elite programs.

Prior to founding NorCan Hockey full-time, Mike spent nearly a decade with Hockey Alberta as Manager of Elite Player Development (2016–2025), where he helped design and deliver elite development programs while working alongside many of Western Canada's top coaches and players. He is also a Hockey Canada Certified Skill Development Coach.

As an educator, Mike has presented at some of hockey's premier coaching events, including The Coaches Site Conference (2024) at

the University of Michigan and the Global Skills Showcase (2023). He has also appeared on respected hockey podcasts such as The Hockey Think Tank, React Forge, and The Mental Game Academy, sharing his perspectives on player development, decision-making, and the modern game.

Beyond the rink, Mike has become recognized throughout the hockey community for his educational video analysis and coaching resources. Through NorCan Hockey's YouTube and Instagram platforms, he shares detailed breakdowns of game situations, tactical concepts, and player development strategies with a global audience of players, coaches, and parents.

What sets Mike apart is the combination of player development and player evaluation. As both a coach and an active scout, he understands not only how players improve, but also what coaches, scouts, and recruiters are looking for at the next level. His extensive network across AAA, Junior, collegiate, and professional hockey throughout Canada and the United States keeps him connected to the latest technical, tactical, and developmental trends shaping today's game.

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Whether the objective is generating more offense, becoming more reliable defensively, improving decision-making under pressure, or preparing for the next level of hockey, every development plan is tailored to the individual. Drawing from his experience in coaching, scouting, and recruitment, Mike helps players understand not only how to improve, but what to improve.

Every skill, concept, and drill is connected to real game situations with an emphasis on hockey IQ, decision-making, and effective risk management. The objective is simple: help every player maximize their strengths, address the areas limiting their game, and develop the confidence and habits needed to reach their full potential.

The Coaches Site - "Mike  is a student of the game and loves to study hockey’s finer and often overlooked details in an attempt to create clarity. His personal approach utilizes video examples coupled with descriptive language and game like training scenarios. Through his various roles, including Coach Development with Hockey Alberta and Skill Instructor for Hockey Canada, Mike is on the ice with more than 500 athletes annually, which has been instrumental in applying and experimenting with learned techniques."