The New Jersey Devils’ summer development camp welcomed two new faces behind the bench this year: Tara Watchorn, head coach of Boston University’s women’s ice hockey team, and Venla Hovi, assistant coach at Harvard University’s women’s ice hockey team. Both coaches participated as part of the NHL Coaching Association’s Female Coaches Program, offering them a unique opportunity to observe and learn from the Devils’ developmental strategies.
For Hovi, the experience was driven by her curiosity and eagerness to absorb new knowledge. “Learning obviously is the major point of the experience,” she expressed enthusiastically. “I was really interested and excited to see the practices and how they’re structured, some of the pre-practice routines that the coaches are running, and I’ve met more people than I ever imagine I would of so that’s another bonus along the way.”
Watchorn, who described herself as a newer head coach, saw the camp as a chance to glean insights on team management and staff utilization. “When you come to this level, you have amazing people who are experts in their field at every area,” she noted. “Watching the group of coaches and how they delegate, how they lean on each other’s strengths, and how they work with the players—those are the things I’m really trying to absorb.”
During the four-day camp, both coaches immersed themselves in a variety of activities, from on-ice drills to off-ice nutrition counseling. The holistic approach to player development impressed Watchorn, who saw parallels with her experiences at Hockey Canada. “It just shows that it’s everything in terms of supporting your athletes to be the best people and athletes they can be,” she remarked. “The biggest thing at these camps is getting athletes exposed to it all. This is what it’s like, this is what it will be like, and give them all the resources they need to have success.”
For Hovi, the camp provided practical insights that she could apply immediately to her coaching at Harvard. “There’s a lot of structural things I can bring back,” she explained. “And think about our team and preparing for the season and even camps. Some things we can utilize for practice planning as well.”
The exposure at the Devils’ camp also gave both coaches the opportunity to observe different coaching styles and approaches. Watchorn appreciated the diversity of perspectives present among the coaches. “When you get amazing coaches in the room and athletes it’s just different ways of saying things,” she reflected. “It’s been really cool to be ingrained in it all.”
Looking ahead, both coaches expressed excitement about continuing their involvement with the Devils. They will stay connected with the team’s staff over the next two years, attending future camps and maintaining ongoing dialogue. This sustained interaction promises to deepen their understanding and application of NHL-level coaching practices.
Watchorn, in particular, highlighted the importance of building relationships and fostering dialogue within the coaching community. “Having that dialogue and being able to lean on each other and talk through things,” she emphasized, “I’m just so excited for what the opportunities are ahead.”
For Hovi, participating in programs like these is a step towards her ultimate goal of coaching in the NHL. “I would love to coach in the NHL one day,” she revealed. “Being here and being able to connect with these people is one step closer to that. I want to be able to coach the best players in the world and I think just learning from every aspect of the game.”
In conclusion, the Devils’ development camp not only provided valuable learning experiences for Tara Watchorn and Venla Hovi but also fostered connections that will shape their coaching careers. Their participation underscores the NHL Coaching Association’s commitment to diversity and growth within hockey coaching, paving the way for future opportunities and innovations in the sport.
