#BCSportConference ’17: Stanley Cup Champion on Multi-Sport Learning and Leading the SHIFT

Friday, December 2, 2016 –

There is no doubt that leadership is a key component of building a strong team, but how we influence as leaders may be the most important aspect. Stanley Cup Champion and former Vancouver Canuck Ryan Walter is no stranger to leadership, and he’ll be highlighting some of his experiences and more as the key speaker at the 3^rd Annual BC Sport Conference on January 14, 2017 in Burnaby, BC.

“John Maxwell said, leadership is influence, every coach has influence,” said Walter.

Walter had to learn on the fly at an early age but gained valuable experience that helped him to become the humble leader that he is today.

ryan-walter-young “Early in my career I was a young 22-year-old captain and I really just led with passion because I didn’t have a lot of expertise. I am 58 now and I still don’t have it all figured out but I think you learn things over the years on how to influence different personalities and how to pull a team together.”

Walter not only influenced on the ice but he also went on to coach and work more behind the scenes as far up as a President of a Professional Hockey Team. Each level of leadership that Ryan experienced posed a new challenge and an opportunity to further his learnings. It even made him rethink the hockey world,

“I think hockey is a great example of sport in business,” Walter expressed.

“You have the players who lead within the room, coaching staff leads from the next, and the manager or general manager leads outside those rooms.”

To lead in different roles or levels requires the ability to adapt and grow. Ryan did this during his 17 years in the NHL as a player and coach, and has since carried on that experience into his career away from the rink. He did not just become a famous local hockey player, he also learned how to give back, and preparing future leaders just scratches the surface of what Walter has been able to accomplish off the ice.

Walter continues to learn and broaden his mindset on how to best prepare our leaders for the future, and he believes John Wooden had one the best approaches that goes far beyond being an student-athlete,

“He was priming his players to have a great life as well as being great athletes. When a coach can use empathy towards a player on and off the court, it’s very powerful.”

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To learn more about Ryan Walter and what else you can expect from the 3^rd Annual BC Sport Conference visit http://bcsportconference.ca/

The BC Sport Conference is leadership conference designed to help you become the best coach you can be for each of the athletes you work with. Check out this year’s speakers and read about their presentation topics.

The BC Sport Conference is an initiative of Volleyball BC in partnership with British Columbia Golf, Softball BC, and BC School Sports. It is proudly sponsored by Sport Burnaby and Belairdirect Insurance. Building the BC Sport community through leadership, learning and development.

For more Information Contact; [email protected]