
Episode #87
Bobby Sanguinetti on the Transition of Going From Hockey Player to Coach
Nick Bowins is joined by Bobby Sanguinetti, assistant coach of the AHL's Charlotte Checkers, to share his transition from a pro playing career to coaching at the pro level, offering valuable insights for aspiring coaches and hockey professionals alike.Bobby Sanguinetti's playing career ended abruptly during COVID while he was overseas in Europe, forcing him to figure out his next step almost overnight; a series of calls to former teammates and coaches eventually reconnected him with his old assistant coach, Geordie Kinnear, who brought him on board when the Charlotte Checkers split with Seattle, giving him his first opportunity behind the bench. We talk about the mental shift from thinking only about his own game to managing 20-plus players, how he balances development and winning with prospects moving in and out of the lineup, what he learned from veteran leaders during his own playing days, and what a real week looks like for an AHL coaching staff. If you're trying to break into coaching, player development, or hockey operations, this conversation is packed with real, valuable insight. In this episode:- How his playing career ending during COVID led him into coaching- The mental shift from playing for yourself to coaching a full roster- Balancing prospect development with the pressure to win in the AHL- A breakdown of a typical week for an AHL coaching staff- His advice for young professionals trying to break into coaching Subscribe to Working in Hockey for more conversations with the people building careers in the game. #Hockey #AHL #WorkinginHockey #SportsCareers #BobbySanguinetti #CharlotteCheckers #HockeyOperations #Coaching

