Testimonials
Jen - Parent - Barrie
Ed has coached my nine year old son for the past 6 months, and my son is now enjoying the skills sessions.
Coach Ed has been an amazing and positive influence on my son who has gone from being a shy quiet hockey player to a confident athlete who loves hockey and now understands the game.
As a parent watching rink-side and not being able to hear what is being said on ice, my son will spend an hour afterwards telling me all the amazing things he’s learned, or what Coach Ed sees, corrects and praises. And when I asked him what he likes most about Coach, he said “he’s just the best at giving advice, all the kids listen to him and he’s so polite and fun”. Big praise from a 9 year old! Ed is a parents dream and it’s not often you find a coach or instructor that cares about every single kid on the ice.
Aaron - Parent - Alliston
Just wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for putting on such a great skills development program over the summer.
Our son thoroughly enjoyed it, and he definitely learned so much. Most importantly his love for the game and his passion for goaltending grew immensely under your tutelage and the help of the other coaches.
We were very impressed with your sessions, so organized and dynamic.
If the opportunity presented itself in the future we would certainly look to have him be coached under you again!
Connor - Player - Newmarket
Being a goaltender your relationship with your coach is absolutely critical. Being able to play under Ed was by far the best hockey experience I have had.
Ed is a players coach, extremely knowledgeable about the game and understands not only the ups and downs of a hockey season but what you go through as a player. It was always reassuring knowing that no matter what Ed had my back and believed in not only me as a goaltender but also as a person.
If you have the chance to work with Ed you won’t just get a coach. You’ll get a mentor, a friend and someone who genuinely wants to get you to the next level. He always looks out for your best interest, protects his players, and breeds a winning mentality.
I looked to Ed as a player for advice. Now out of hockey I still find myself going to Ed for advice in life and soon in coaching. I can’t thank him enough for what he has done for me as both a player and a person.
Dave - Coach, Parent - Alliston
Ed is not so much a hockey coach as a hockey educator. I’ve never met anyone who knows as much about the game, who can also explain it in a way that is easy to comprehend. He is able to break the game down into its component parts, and teach not just how to do something, but why it’s being done. This attention to detail allows his players to grow their understanding of the game while becoming better players.
In addition to that, Ed has taught me how to be a better coach. His conversations with me about different practice drills, as well as how to motivate players so they perform at their best, has been a big help to me and the players I coach. I have not been coaching hockey long, but thanks to Ed’s help and his un-ending patience, I’ve become a much better coach.
What I admire most about Ed is his commitment to his players both on the ice and off. He is always striving to develop good citizen hockey players. By that I mean, he develops the players on his team to be good hockey players and responsible citizens. The players he coaches know that there are expectations attached to playing on a team he coaches that go beyond the ice. He genuinely wants the people he coaches to be not only better hockey players, but better people as well. He has high expectations of those he coaches, and as a result, the people on his teams grow to be not only better hockey players, but better people as well. I think it’s important that attitude be the center of a coach’s philosophy, and it is Ed who taught me that.
Matt - Player, Coach - Orillia
I had the pleasure of being coached by Ed in one of Midland’s most successful years in decades. He really taught me more than just the game, but how to evolve as an individual and be successful as a team. He always went out of his way to ensure his players were reaching that next level and his winning mentality rubbed off on everybody.
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I have also had the opportunity to assist Ed in the Hockey Canada Skills Academy at Bear Creek High School. As I plan to coach one day, I often look to Ed for advice. Again, he is always going out of his way to teach me more about the game and to help me become a better person and coach.
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I highly recommend to jump on the opportunity if anybody has the chance to work with or be coached by Ed. He will bring your game to that next level with his knowledge and drive you to be the best that you can be.
Tommy - Player - Barrie
I just finished my 3rd year of Canadian University hockey at the University of Waterloo and I aspire to play professional hockey.
I have known Ed Garinger for about 10 years and he has always been someone I could look to for support and help. When I first met him he was my Grade 9 English teacher but since then he became my coach and now I consider him a good friend. One thing I have come to know about Ed is that he is professional and committed in his work.
When he was my coach in hockey it was with the Bear Creek Hockey team and he was all in. We had team meetings and our practices were great, we were very well prepared, much more so than other teams at that same level. This dedication he showed for our team demonstrates the kind of person he is and the work ethic he has.
Outside of high school I competed against teams he coached and I have also trained with him and some of his other players, in every instance his dedication and commitment were obvious. He has seen me go from a kid struggling to make a high school hockey team to a Junior A hockey player to a University hockey player and throughout this journey he has always been there if I needed support or to help guide me along.
Sometimes we go months without speaking but I know if I ever needed help with anything he would be there. I think the fact that he is a teacher and has coached hockey exemplifies his character traits perfectly, he has always been a great mentor for me and I know I can always count on him.
Andrew - Player, Coach - Huntsville
I first met Ed Garinger about 6 years ago as a coach. Unfortunately it was short lived, as I was traded to my hometown junior team in my over age year. Even though I was now playing against Ed, I still felt comfortable contacting him or sitting down with him before our teams met, to talk about my game and what I could do to excel. That’s the type of person Ed is, he doesn’t care who you are, how old you are, or who you play for; he just wants to help everyone succeed and be the best player they can be, and even more important to him, the best person they can be.
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This past year, I was lucky enough to help Ed with the Hockey Canada Skills Academy at Bear Creek Secondary School. In this program we worked with players from house league to AAA. From the beginning of the semester to the end of the semester, the development in not only skill, but skating, knowledge, and attitude of all the players was outstanding! By the end of the program you wouldn’t believe that some of the players were in their 2nd year of hockey. I really feel that I took as much, if not, more, out of this program from just watching and listening to Ed. Everyday Ed would pull me aside and ask “What could you add to this drill?”, not to tell me that I’m doing anything wrong, but to test me and make me think on my feet, what could I now add to this drill to take it to the next level. I feel that Ed wasn’t out there to only help the players get to the next level, but also to take me as a coach to the next level.
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I’m currently in my second year of coaching, and I don’t know if I could have gotten through my first year if I didn’t have access to Ed’s vast knowledge of the game of hockey. One of the largest areas I needed help with was the transition from player to coach, and how to take something that is so simple to me and to teach it to someone who is just learning for the first time. Ed was able to help me with that and so much more. I have found myself going to Ed on multiple occasions for help and advice about teaching the game of hockey and about life in general.
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As a player, I wish I had more of an opportunity to work and grow with Ed. Now, as a coach, I am glad that I have him to help me grow as a coach, and now pass that knowledge down to the next stars of hockey.
Tye - Player, Coach - Oro
Over the past five years I have had the privilege to know Ed in two very distinct roles, first as my coach and second as my mentor. While these roles are quite similar they carry distinct differences.
The Coach:
Following a trade at the start of the 2012-13 season I found myself entering a change room where I knew only a few faces at the start of camp, Ed wasn't one of them. It only took a couple minutes on the ice for me to understand exactly what kind of coach I was playing in front of and I couldn't have been more excited. A clear game plan, and open line of communication, and a no excuses attitude was the way Ed led us and expected nothing less. It was with these tools Ed was able to pull the best numbers of my career out of me and lead his team to the league finals. Anyone who hopes to play or develop under Ed better bring their best day in and day out because you know he will be giving you his.
The Mentor:
Since my days of junior hockey have come and gone I've found myself turning to the other side of the bench. Working at Canadian Goaltending Academy I have often found myself in difficult situations whether it be coming up with a training plan, dealing with a difficult athlete or any number of other dilemmas. In times like these I find it best to refer to the way Ed handled his room in difficult times: A clear game plan, and open line of communication, and a no excuses attitude. These 3 fundamentals have always steered me in the right direction and whether Ed knows it or not he has continued to mentor my life both on and off the ice. A clear game plan allows no room for confusion, we must simply set our goals and steps to achieve them. With an open line of communication we can build trust not only with our players but with anyone in our lives. The no excuses attitude speaks for itself, if you want the best out of anything hang your excuses at the door and get to work.
Any athlete will consider themselves lucky to work with Ed, you may not notice it when you're huffing and puffing for air at the end of a long workout, but he pushes you to be your best and won't let you quit. I look forward to the next time I get to work along side Ed, I still always find myself learning something new and adding to my coaches notebook. I wish him nothing but the best with any and all future endeavours!
Brad - Broadcaster, Manager of Community & Game Day Operations - Alliston
I had the opportunity to work with and alongside Ed for a number of years in the hockey industry. Whether it be me interviewing him as a coach of a local junior team or working alongside him calling local hockey games, Ed always showed true professionalism in everything he did.
Scott - Coach - Barrie
I have had the pleasure of working with Ed…. Over this time it became evident to me that Ed is extremely passionate about hockey and has an extensive knowledge of the sport from both a coaching and playing perspective.
Last winter I decided to apply for [a]…Head Coach position…. The application process required written documentation outlining my hockey and coaching background as well as my general coaching philosophies. I initially sought Ed’s advice at this point in the application process and we have been meeting regularly in order to gain insight and perspective on the many topics that have surfaced as the season progressed.
Our meetings have reconfirmed that Ed has accumulated a wealth of hockey knowledge that he graciously shares…. I am grateful and appreciative for the information that Ed has willingly shared with me this year and I feel that my entire team and coaching staff have also benefitted from this relationship.