The Evolution of Hockey with Steve Quailer and Doug Smail

August 2026

With the new hockey season just weeks away, I sat down with longtime Rocky Mountain RoughRiders Tier I coaches Steve Quailer and Doug Smail to discuss how the game has evolved over the years. From coaching styles and player development to the culture surrounding today's athletes, our conversation explored how hockey has changed both on and off the ice.

One of the biggest differences lies in how players train. Doug Smail, who played in the NHL from 1980 to 1993, reflected on his era where formal development was far less structured. Players were expected to show up and find ways to win. Today, Steve Quailer explained, athletes spend hours on off-ice conditioning, video review, skating mechanics, stickhandling, and specialized skills training.

The conversation also touched on how the culture surrounding young athletes has changed. Social media has become a constant presence in the lives of today's players, bringing both opportunities and challenges. Quailer and Smail noted that many young athletes become captivated by the highlight-reel goals and creative handling that are widespread on social media. While those moments are exciting, they emphasized that hockey is still built on fundamentals such as protecting the puck, winning battles along the boards, backchecking, and driving hard to the net. Quailer explained that while these details may not always be the most glamorous, they are often what creates success for his teams.

Finally, the coaches also reflected on how expectations have shifted for players. Access to elite coaching, skills camps, and advanced technology has created more opportunities than ever before, but it has also raised the standard. Players are expected to absorb more information, train more frequently, and compete at a higher level from a younger age than previous generations.

Despite the challenges that come with these changes, both coaches agreed that today's players benefit from resources that didn't exist decades ago. Equipment is safer and more advanced, coaching is more specialized, and there is a much greater understanding of athlete wellness. Increased awareness of mental health, concussion protocols, nutrition, and recovery has helped create a healthier environment for young athletes to develop both on and off the ice.

While the game itself continues to evolve, the habits that build successful hockey players have not. Hard work, discipline, teamwork, and a commitment to the fundamentals remain just as important today as they were when Smail and Quailer were on the ice.