David Pelletier becomes assistant coach of NHL Dallas's Stars

[4everchan]

I thought this was a perfect summer news.... how often does a former figure skater becomes a NHL assistant coach ? I mean, many skaters have been skating coaches but this is a different kind of job.

I looked for an English version on CBC... not found yet...

so here is the news from French CBC

David Pelletier devient entraîneur adjoint des Stars

L’ancien champion olympique de patinage artistique David Pelletier est nommé entraîneur adjoint des Stars de Dallas.

ici.radio-canada.ca

Does anyone know other figure skaters reinventing their sporting career to that level ?

 

[Pixie Cut]

I thought this was a perfect summer news.... how often does a former figure skater becomes a NHL assistant coach ? I mean, many skaters have been skating coaches but this is a different kind of job.

I looked for an English version on CBC... not found yet...

so here is the news from French CBC

David Pelletier devient entraîneur adjoint des Stars

L’ancien champion olympique de patinage artistique David Pelletier est nommé entraîneur adjoint des Stars de Dallas.

ici.radio-canada.ca

Does anyone know other figure skaters reinventing their sporting career to that level ?

Google Barbara Underhill. The 1984 World Champion with Paul Martini has been named one of the 100 most influential people in hockey. She works with hockey players on their skating skills and has had huge impact on numerous hockey players' careers.

Quite a lot of other former skaters teach skating skills and power skating to hockey players.

David Pelletier previously had a position with the Edmonton Oilers as a skating skills coach. This isn't his first NHL gig.

 

[4everchan]

Google Barbara Underhill. The 1984 World Champion with Paul Martini has been named one of the 100 most influential people in hockey. She works with hockey players on their skating skills and has had huge impact on numerous hockey players' careers.

Quite a lot of other former skaters teach skating skills and power skating to hockey players.

David Pelletier previously had a position with the Edmonton Oilers as a skating skills coach. This isn't his first NHL gig.

I am aware of that. That was my point. Many skaters will teach skating skills.. Nam, Patrick... and others...
but... to become assistant coach of the sport of hockey is something else.

 

[Pixie Cut]

I am aware of that. That was my point. Many skaters will teach skating skills.. Nam, Patrick... and others...
but... to become assistant coach of the sport of hockey is something else.

There are some former figure skaters who have truly studied hockey and focused their coaching on hockey players. Again, Google Barbara Underhill. She built a career working with hockey players. I don't know about Nguyen and Chan's coaching, but I'd guess they teach general skating skills. Any number of skaters coach skating skills and quite a few do power skating with hockey players. Some former skaters focus on hockey, study the sport and work with hockey players. Pelletier has been a skating coach with the Edmonton Oilers for 11 years. This is simply a step up for him.

 

[4everchan]

There are some former figure skaters who have truly studied hockey and focused their coaching on hockey players. Again, Google Barbara Underhill. She built a career working with hockey players. I don't know about Nguyen and Chan's coaching, but I'd guess they teach general skating skills. Any number of skaters coach skating skills and quite a few do power skating with hockey players. Some former skaters focus on hockey, study the sport and work with hockey players. Pelletier has been a skating coach with the Edmonton Oilers for 11 years. This is simply a step up for him.

i did look her up. She was a hockey skating skill coach like many others have been. As far as I am aware of, Pelletier's new job is groundbreaking for a figure skater. An assistant coach doesn't limit himself to help hockey players with skating skills... as a matter of fact, it may not even be part of their jobs. In the NHL, an assistant coach's role is to support the head coach in all aspects of team management and player development. They assist with tasks like practice planning, game strategy, player evaluation, and scouting.

 

[el henry]

Sitting up in the stands in the team box watching the game is not anything I have heard of any other former figure skater doing for a hockey team.

Very cool.

 

[cheerknithanson]

Maybeeeeee I'll go to Caps vs. Stars this year then lol.

 

[Pixie Cut]

i did look her up. She was a hockey skating skill coach like many others have been. As far as I am aware of, Pelletier's new job is groundbreaking for a figure skater. An assistant coach doesn't limit himself to help hockey players with skating skills... as a matter of fact, it may not even be part of their jobs. In the NHL, an assistant coach's role is to support the head coach in all aspects of team management and player development. They assist with tasks like practice planning, game strategy, player evaluation, and scouting.

Find one other skater profiled on NHL.com. Barbara Underhill has been named by The Hockey News one of the most influential people in hockey. That is very different than teaching some power skating. I don't dispute quite a number of figure skating coaches have worked with hockey players, some at a more advanced level. Being a consultant to NHL teams is several levels above and Underhill has worked with several NHL teams and farm teams. As for David Pelletier, during his 11 years with the Edmonton Oilers, he probably has built his skills and is now ready for an expanded role. This is indeed precedent setting, but not totally out of left field.

 

[4everchan]

With all my reading about Barbara Underhill, thanks for the trip to memory lane, what makes her achievement special is that she was a pioneer for women skaters working with the NHL players. This is what made her achievement special and groundbreaking. She didn't sit with the other coaches during matches, which is a completely different level of achievement in the NHL. David Pelletier seems to be the only skater to have reached this specific point. Being attached to one NHL team, not just a consultant, but also being part of the management of the players is definitely a huge precedent. I hope this clarifies why I felt this news article was intriguing.

For those interested in reading about Underhill https://www.nhl.com/news/women-in-hockey-tampa-bay-lightning-barbara-underhill

 

[iluvtodd]

Does this mean that he & Katia will move to the Dallas area? IIRC, they live in Canada (near Edmonton, Alberta). All the best to David!

 

[Pixie Cut]

Does this mean that he & Katia will move to the Dallas area? IIRC, they live in Canada (near Edmonton, Alberta). All the best to David!

With his son turning 18, perhaps they're ready for a change of scene.

 

[theblade]

This is a pretty awesome professional opportunity for David, so I can see why he would take it. After many years with another team, it's great to see a figure skating coach transition to an important coaching role in such a rare manner (ie. he's not just doing skating skills anymore but helping to plan the hockey played on the ice).

Although Dallas is not one of my teams, Otter is great! Interested to see how this will go next season.