Episode 79 Jason Labarbera
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Jason LaBarbera, who spent 16 seasons in the NHL before retiring in 2016, transitioned to goalie coaching with the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL and helped Canada win gold at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships. In this InGoal Radio interview, LaBarbera discusses how he has blended the distinct approaches of elite coaches including Bill Ranford (Los Angeles Kings), Ian Clark (Vancouver Canucks), Benoit Allaire (New York Rangers), and Sean Burke (Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes) into his own coaching philosophy.
- LaBarbera drew from four elite goaltending coaches during his playing career — Bill Ranford, Ian Clark, Benoit Allaire, and Sean Burke — and describes how he has synthesized their distinct philosophies into his own coaching approach.
- After retiring from a 16-season NHL career in 2016, LaBarbera moved into goalie coaching with the WHL's Calgary Hitmen and contributed to Canada's gold medal at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships.
- LaBarbera shares his favorite goaltender drills developed through his combined experience as both an NHL player and a development coach.
- An errant stick toss after being pulled in an ECHL game — which prompted a visit from police to the bench — directly led to LaBarbera's first NHL call-up, a story he recounts in full.
- The episode was recorded at the inaugural WHL / Hockey Canada Goaltending Symposium presented by InGoal Magazine, alongside a separate conversation with Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart.
Jason LaBarbera joined Carter Hart as featured guests when the first WHL / Hockey Canada Goaltending Symposium presented by InGoal Magazine wrapped up with a two-part Hot Stove hosted by our own Daren Millard.
We already included the exclusive half hour interview with Hart in last week’s podcast, which was loaded with valuable insights from the impressive young Philadelphia Flyers goaltender, and now we are excited to share our 30-minute conversation with LaBarbera, who has transitioned to goalie coaching since ending his 16-season NHL career in 2016, working with the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL and helping Canada win gold at last year’s IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships.
LaBarbera worked with a lot of elite goaltending coaches during his playing days, including Bill Ranford with the Los Angeles Kings, Ian Clark with the Vancouver Canucks, Benoit Allaire with the New York Rangers, and Sean Burke with the Arizona (then Phoenix) Coyotes. The 40-year-old shared insights from both worlds, including lessons from his playing days, and how he’s learned to blend those coaches’ unique approaches with his own strengths now.
Loaded with insights from off and on the ice, including his favorite drills, make sure you stay right to the end to hear how an errant stick toss after getting pulled in the ECHL led to a visit on the bench from local police, and played a direct role to his first call up to the NHL.
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