CALGARY, Alta. – Brian Maloney of the Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL) is just one of many high-quality coaches across the entire Canadian Junior Hockey League.
The head coach and general manager of his side in British Columbia took some time out of his day to provide some insight on drills he likes to use in practice as well as offer his advice for any aspiring players who are looking to compete in the CJHL.
This is the initial installment of CJHL coach’s perspective, which today features Brian Maloney of the BCHL’s Chilliwack Chiefs.
BIO: Guided Chilliwack to a Canadian National Jr. A Championship back in 2018. … Led Team West to victory as head coach at the 2020 CJHL Prospects Game in Hamilton, Ont. … Played in the CJHL with both the Chiefs and Olds Grizzlys (AJHL). … Spent four years playing NCAA Division I hockey, on scholarship, at Michigan State University.
FAVOURITE PRACTICE DRILLS: Here in Chilliwack we really do not have one or two favourites.
Having said that, we typically look to work on drills that incorporate in-game habits and pace. We spend a lot of time working on different drills off of face-offs, off of fore-checks, and so forth.
Habits and game situations are two staples that we build all of our practices around and try to make each drill as efficient and productive as possible.
Some other areas that we work on incorporate line changes, etc. to create the continuous nature of the drill.
ADVICE ABOUT PLAYING IN THE CJHL: The best advice I could give to an aspiring student-athlete looking to contribute at the CJHL level is to have patience and understanding of the expectations.
To be a hockey player is one thing, but what we strive for is to prepare our players to have success on and off the ice, at the NCAA level, and beyond.
We take pride in our players going on to become contributing citizens and people that give back to their communities.
We want our players to leave our program, and our league, with a better understanding of how to manage their studies, their game, and ultimately their time.
It is hard work to balance school and hockey, but it is an integral part of a hockey players growth and something that I believe all teams in the BCHL and the CJHL take very seriously.
It is important to enjoy what you are doing and have patience and understanding of the work that it takes to be successful.
NEXT UP: Rob Pearson, head coach/GM, Pickering Panthers (OJHL)
Photo credit: Darren Francis/Hope Standard