Ice Hockey Mentor / Coach – Ex-Professional Player (NHL / KHL / Top European League)
Budget: $10 – $200 USD
I'm looking for an ex-professional ice hockey player to be a long-term mentor and coach. Someone who's played at the highest level — NHL, KHL, SHL, Liiga, DEL, NLA, or equivalent top European leagues — and wants to share that experience to help a competitive adult player take his game to the next level. This is a complete mentorship — from on-ice skills to game IQ, off-ice training, mental game, and lifestyle.
Freelancers only — no agencies. Ongoing engagement, primarily remote with potential for occasional in-person sessions depending on location.
---
ABOUT ME
• 30-year-old competitive ice hockey player based in the Netherlands
• Currently training 16+ hours/week and playing recreationally in Dutch leagues
• Also a serial tech entrepreneur running multiple international ventures — so I balance hockey with a demanding business career
• Hungry to improve and push my limits — I want to know how far I can go in this sport
• Looking for someone who's been at the top and can help me see the game differently
---
WHAT I NEED
On-Ice Skills Development
• Skating — edge work, speed, agility, transitions, efficiency
• Shooting — accuracy, release, shot selection, scoring in traffic
• Stickhandling — puck control, deking, hands in tight spaces
• Passing — tape-to-tape, saucer passes, timing
• Video review of my games with specific skill feedback and drills to work on
Game IQ & Tactics
• Positional play — where to be and why, reading the play before it happens
• Offensive and defensive systems — understanding structure and when to freelance
• Decision-making with the puck — when to shoot, pass, hold, or dump
• Away from the puck — supporting plays, creating space, backchecking
• Video analysis — breaking down my game footage together, identifying patterns and mistakes
• Understanding what separates good players from elite players
Off-Ice Training
• Strength and conditioning programs specific to hockey
• Explosive power, speed, and agility training
• Flexibility and mobility for injury prevention
• Periodization — structuring training around game schedule and season
• Dryland training that translates directly to on-ice performance
Mental Game
• Composure under pressure — staying calm and making plays when it matters
• Confidence building — playing with swagger, not hesitation
• Compete level — bringing intensity every shift
• Dealing with mistakes during games — short memory, next shift mentality
• Pre-game preparation and in-game focus routines
Career Development
• Honest assessment of my current level and realistic potential
• What it would take to play at higher levels
• Understanding the gap between recreational and semi-pro / professional
• Pathway advice — leagues, tryouts, showcases, opportunities
Lifestyle & Balance
• How to balance serious hockey with a demanding business career
• Recovery, sleep, and lifestyle habits of professional players
• Nutrition and training habits that fit a busy schedule
• Lessons from your career on discipline, sacrifice, and longevity in the sport
---
WHO YOU ARE
• Ex-professional ice hockey player — NHL, KHL, SHL, Liiga, DEL, NLA, or equivalent top European league
• Passionate about the game and about helping others improve
• Able to break down complex hockey concepts into actionable advice
• Direct and honest — tell me what I need to hear, not what I want to hear
• Comfortable with video analysis and remote coaching
• Patient but demanding — you push me to improve
Bonus:
• Coaching experience (any level) after playing career
• Experience mentoring adult players (not just juniors)
• Experience with players who started late or came from smaller hockey nations
• Understanding of Dutch/European hockey landscape
• Experience balancing hockey with life outside the sport
• National team experience
---
HOW WE WORK
• Primarily remote — video calls, game film review, training plans
• Occasional in-person sessions possible depending on your location
• Regular sessions — frequency based on what works (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly)
• Async communication for quick questions and feedback between sessions
• Long-term mentorship — this is a relationship, not a one-off consultation
---
TO APPLY
1. Your playing career — where you played, at what level, how long
2. Any coaching or mentoring experience after your playing career
3. Your approach to developing a player remotely
4. What you think separates a good mentor from a great one
5. Fee structure (per session or monthly)
6. Availability to start
Freelancers only — no agencies. Ongoing engagement, primarily remote with potential for occasional in-person sessions depending on location.
---
ABOUT ME
• 30-year-old competitive ice hockey player based in the Netherlands
• Currently training 16+ hours/week and playing recreationally in Dutch leagues
• Also a serial tech entrepreneur running multiple international ventures — so I balance hockey with a demanding business career
• Hungry to improve and push my limits — I want to know how far I can go in this sport
• Looking for someone who's been at the top and can help me see the game differently
---
WHAT I NEED
On-Ice Skills Development
• Skating — edge work, speed, agility, transitions, efficiency
• Shooting — accuracy, release, shot selection, scoring in traffic
• Stickhandling — puck control, deking, hands in tight spaces
• Passing — tape-to-tape, saucer passes, timing
• Video review of my games with specific skill feedback and drills to work on
Game IQ & Tactics
• Positional play — where to be and why, reading the play before it happens
• Offensive and defensive systems — understanding structure and when to freelance
• Decision-making with the puck — when to shoot, pass, hold, or dump
• Away from the puck — supporting plays, creating space, backchecking
• Video analysis — breaking down my game footage together, identifying patterns and mistakes
• Understanding what separates good players from elite players
Off-Ice Training
• Strength and conditioning programs specific to hockey
• Explosive power, speed, and agility training
• Flexibility and mobility for injury prevention
• Periodization — structuring training around game schedule and season
• Dryland training that translates directly to on-ice performance
Mental Game
• Composure under pressure — staying calm and making plays when it matters
• Confidence building — playing with swagger, not hesitation
• Compete level — bringing intensity every shift
• Dealing with mistakes during games — short memory, next shift mentality
• Pre-game preparation and in-game focus routines
Career Development
• Honest assessment of my current level and realistic potential
• What it would take to play at higher levels
• Understanding the gap between recreational and semi-pro / professional
• Pathway advice — leagues, tryouts, showcases, opportunities
Lifestyle & Balance
• How to balance serious hockey with a demanding business career
• Recovery, sleep, and lifestyle habits of professional players
• Nutrition and training habits that fit a busy schedule
• Lessons from your career on discipline, sacrifice, and longevity in the sport
---
WHO YOU ARE
• Ex-professional ice hockey player — NHL, KHL, SHL, Liiga, DEL, NLA, or equivalent top European league
• Passionate about the game and about helping others improve
• Able to break down complex hockey concepts into actionable advice
• Direct and honest — tell me what I need to hear, not what I want to hear
• Comfortable with video analysis and remote coaching
• Patient but demanding — you push me to improve
Bonus:
• Coaching experience (any level) after playing career
• Experience mentoring adult players (not just juniors)
• Experience with players who started late or came from smaller hockey nations
• Understanding of Dutch/European hockey landscape
• Experience balancing hockey with life outside the sport
• National team experience
---
HOW WE WORK
• Primarily remote — video calls, game film review, training plans
• Occasional in-person sessions possible depending on your location
• Regular sessions — frequency based on what works (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly)
• Async communication for quick questions and feedback between sessions
• Long-term mentorship — this is a relationship, not a one-off consultation
---
TO APPLY
1. Your playing career — where you played, at what level, how long
2. Any coaching or mentoring experience after your playing career
3. Your approach to developing a player remotely
4. What you think separates a good mentor from a great one
5. Fee structure (per session or monthly)
6. Availability to start