Ep.4 Mike Sommer. New York, PWHL – Say Yes, Be a Sponge.

Nate Leslie (00:05.515)
Welcome to another episode of Prep Camp Diaries, where we peek behind the curtain and into the lives of amazing alumni of the West Coast Hockey Prep Camp, doing cool things in the world. I’m Nate Leslie. I’m a Certified Executive Coach, and I’m also the executive director of camp. Today we have a really special guest who’s leaving indelible mark on the game, coach Mike Sommer. There is someone listening today who has no idea they might end up in hockey. It’s a full -time career, even when they least expect it in somewhere they never expected being. Mike’s journey through hockey has been as diverse as it has been inspiring. He’s currently serving as the coach of New York in the PWHL, just finishing up the first season, the inaugural season of this incredible league. Mike brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the ice.

Before the PWHL, he spent a significant amount of time at the University of British Columbia, almost 10 years. He won the Canada West championship four times. He’s been to the nationals four times as a silver and two bronze. I’m getting a little tired of pumping this guy’s tires. Mike, welcome to a prep camp diaries.

Mike Sommer (01:17.628)
Thank you very much.

Mike Sommer (01:26.204)
Absolutely happy to be here. That’s a nice intro there. Appreciate it.

Nate Leslie (01:31.051)
I’ve worked pretty hard at it and I had more nice things to say, but it was just so many accolades. It was, it was getting a little old. So I just decided to stop. Hey, let’s, okay. Let’s one of my favorite parts of this podcast is being able to go way back to the beginning of my journey with the guests. And so far, those have been long journeys back. It’s 2023. You’re in, sorry, 2013. It’s 2013.

Mike Sommer (01:40.668)
Crazy.

Nate Leslie (02:00.363)
You’re in Queenstown, New Zealand. You come home from work to a Skype message that your now wife, Keltie, says, Mike, you better read this. Tell us the story.

Mike Sommer (02:11.996)
Mm hmm. Just crazy going back, going back in time here. And especially just seeing the title now on this podcast and being in the PWHL. And yeah, so back in 2013, I was in New Zealand. I’m sure we’ll get to that and spent a couple of years just on a whim, you know, thought hockey career was over.

That wasn’t much of a career to begin with, but was playing hockey, was living life, somehow ended up in New Zealand playing crazy circumstances, you know, of a current coach quitting, you know, the minor hockey association, needing somebody to step in to coach. And anyway, so I’m…

two years into heading up the player development of this youth hockey program in Queenstown, New Zealand on the South Island and had met Nate and your brother Boe a year prior where we had all these crazy small world hockey connections. This was on the heels of…

your second visit to Queenstown where we had started to build a relationship and a friendship and learned a lot through the station style coaching that you and your brother were really passionate about. And as a young coach, I had no real knowledge of this style or anything. And so just to learn.

Nate Leslie (03:40.299)
Yeah.

Mike Sommer (04:05.66)
at that stage again, and I’m sure we’ll talk a lot about learning and opportunities to learn. Anyways, so we had gotten to know each other and my time in New Zealand was coming to an end and I was thinking, man, what am I gonna do for work? Where are we gonna live? My wife being from Prince Edward Island and me being from Vancouver. And I get this message from you and essentially a message that,

really set in motion my life that I know. And it’s crazy to reflect, you know, probably a life -changing reach out. Asking if I would be interested in sort of joining Leslie Global Sports and the coaching team back in Vancouver as you’re starting to build something. And early days of you being with the West Coast Prep Camp and…

Nate Leslie (04:58.571)
Yeah.

Mike Sommer (05:03.772)
And so yeah, like when you’re looking at a road and there is no road and then all of a sudden an opportunity sort of comes and you can see that, see the road start to kind of lay right down in front of you there. And so one thing led to another and yeah, crazy, crazy beginnings. And here we are, and that’s the, man.

Nate Leslie (05:22.539)
Yeah.

Nate Leslie (05:26.891)
And here we are. And here we are. Right. But think about this. So that’s 2013. You land. We worked together for a few months. You’re at prep camp. One full year goes by another prep camp. So your second year at prep camp. Not to forget the one when you were 17 years old in Comox. Right. A long time ago. And then bam.

Mike Sommer (05:48.796)
Throwback. Crazy.

Nate Leslie (05:52.203)
Bram Bam Graham Thomas at UBC says this guy’s got a ton of potential. He’s got his head on his shoulders and he loves this. And off you go to your first season at UBC. Let’s I really want to make sure we spend time on the PWHL. So for another episode, we talk about how you got to Queenstown, New Zealand from, from working at a, you had left the game after a short, very short Junior B career and you’re working in a youth hostel in Sydney, Australia.

Mike Sommer (06:07.484)
Mm -hmm.

Mike Sommer (06:18.716)
Thank you.

Nate Leslie (06:20.715)
That’s how you get to New Zealand and bam. Now here you are sitting in Connecticut, you know, as coach in the PWHL. So, you know, all of that, USports experience under your belt. I was walking through Disneyland with my children a few months ago and Mike says, Nate, I got news. I’m going to the show, baby. Tell us a little bit about, about now that like to land where you are right now and to be a part of this inaugural season.

Mike Sommer (06:21.18)
Yeah.

Mike Sommer (06:25.66)
Yeah. Crazy. Yeah.

Mike Sommer (06:41.788)
Yeah.

Nate Leslie (06:50.859)
To survive some coaching changes already in a team that decided they needed to make some change. I mean, yeah. What’s, what’s the PWHL like for Mike Sommer?

Mike Sommer (07:01.5)
Well, yeah, just, you know, I think it just starts with being grateful to be a part of this inaugural season and all that it was. And, you know, in reflection, you know, just where women’s sports is at right now and the viewership and the attendance and, you know, so cool just to, you know, millions of views, whether it’s, you know, nationally or, you know,

Nate Leslie (07:19.421)
Yeah.

Mike Sommer (07:30.94)
through YouTube and like just the little bits that you’re taking.

Nate Leslie (07:33.835)
You know, people might not know people might not know that are listening. Tell us some of those highlights that, that some of us don’t know is how well it’s being received.

Mike Sommer (07:40.284)
yeah. I don’t have the stats in front of me, but millions of viewers through all their platforms, you know, tuned in to watch games throughout the year, whether that’s YouTube or, you know, NHL Network or down in the States. And, you know, it’s down on like the MSG Network in New York, in New York, Valley Sports in Minnesota. Obviously the coverage up in Canada on TSN and RDS.

so yeah, it’s, it’s, it’s everywhere in the attendance records, whether it was, you know, American attendance, records for women’s hockey specifically, being broken in, in, in Minnesota for the, the, the home opener. And then, I want to, I don’t know if that record got beaten. It might’ve actually in Utica for the world championships, but again, records being set and then broken.

which felt like almost every two weeks there was a record being set, whether it was in the Scotiabank Centre in Toronto and then at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

Nate Leslie (08:43.691)
Yeah.

Nate Leslie (08:52.203)
And so there it’s even spilled over. You think records might’ve been broke. We tell all sorts of things we’re not entirely certain of on this podcast. So look it up yourselves listeners, but even that idea that perhaps attendance records were broken at an IIHF event. So it’s impacting there. It’s impacting millions of lives around the world, in particular North America. But that is something.

Mike Sommer (09:11.452)
Totally.

Mike Sommer (09:18.684)
Yeah, and…

Nate Leslie (09:19.115)
When you put your head on the pillow and you think about some of those things at night, Mike, like what can you put it into words?

Mike Sommer (09:23.772)
goodness. Yeah. And I think, you know, what’s what’s not lost is like,

Countless people past and present that have worked and sacrificed so much for this league to exist in the way that it does today. Whether it’s volunteers or athletes, I think that’s definitely a feeling that permeates the league. Everyone’s enjoying what this league became.

Nate Leslie (09:41.803)
Yeah.

Nate Leslie (09:55.467)
Hmm.

Mike Sommer (10:02.012)
in a really short sort of window and the league talked about that. Like, hey, you know, it’s, it’s a, we’re doing this really quick because we need to, but it’s not lost on us. Like, you know, the, the, the amount of other leagues that had to exist, the other, you know, players and founders that have sort of gotten us to here. So it’s, it’s definitely just, just, you’re grateful to be a part of it. But, and then,

you know, when you start to think about just like for myself and current day and you know, you’ve got athletes that can just focus on being a full -time athlete and getting to, you know, prepare the right way and getting to practice in the right facilities and, you know, being, you know, travel and all these things that these athletes are so deserving of.

And we’re just gonna, the league was incredibly, incredibly entertaining to follow and watch this year. And it’s just gonna keep getting better and better and better. And so, yeah.

Nate Leslie (11:16.075)
Hey, I want to jump in. I want to jump in there, Mike, with a life lesson, because oftentimes people think they’re starting over. Something doesn’t work out and they say, well, that’s over a hockey career, for example. Now I got to start over. We never start over. We bring all of our past experiences with us into that moment. And some people might look at previous versions of this league or.

There was, you know, the league in the States and the league in Canada might perceive those as failures, but you’re acknowledging now and everybody I can tell, I can hear it in your voice, that all of that led to this. Is that right?

Mike Sommer (11:54.556)
Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. And it’s, it’s really cool. And you just learn it from, you know, obviously different experiences and, and, perspectives is, you know, you, and that’s what you’re sort of searching out in life is to hear in different, different thoughts, different ideas. And, and, again, the, the talent of this league is just going to continue to just get better and better every year. We just had a really exciting draft last week and you see the talent, you know, coming in and.

Nate Leslie (12:10.827)
Yeah.

Nate Leslie (12:23.211)
to inaugural guest, Jen Gardiner episode one, getting drafted by Montreal girls, listening, you’ll get to meet Jen, work with her at week one prep camp and Mike Sommer come into week one prep camp and week two, making time for us. It’s just what a time to be, to be in the game. Fantastic. So Mike, there’s a college player like Jen listening to this episode, wondering what does this league feel like?

Mike Sommer (12:30.524)
incredible.

Mike Sommer (12:36.412)
Hehehehe

Mike Sommer (12:40.668)
Very cool.

Mm -hmm.

Nate Leslie (12:53.419)
After such a long time with so much success at U Sports at UBC and seeing the game at its top university level for a decade, what do you see when you’re on the ice and players are swirling around you now in practice that a listener might be interested in if you could compare?

Mike Sommer (13:15.58)
Yeah,

Well, I think just like any jump to the next level is the speed. The speed is definitely there and the skill. I’ve been a consistent demo speed for 10 years, so that’s all good. No, this is… Hey, exactly. No pressure in a demo at 75%. I’m dialed in.

Nate Leslie (13:28.875)
Are they making you look slow? Is that are they making you look slow? Is that what you’re saying?

Nate Leslie (13:37.899)
You’re a great demo player. You’re a great demo player. Yeah. Yeah.

Mike Sommer (13:48.956)
Yeah, the speed is definitely there. The skill that everybody possesses, right? Like that’s, and not to say like, you know, it’s there at every level as you move through, but just some of the, some of the talent that you’re on the ice with on a daily basis, or you’re preparing to play against, it’s the best of the best. Like it’s incredible. So you, and then you learn,

Nate Leslie (14:10.795)
Yeah.

Mike Sommer (14:18.652)
what makes those players the best and whether it’s their preparation, you know, it’s the consistency, it’s their work ethic away from the rink, like it’s all the little things, like everyone is at pretty like, pretty consistent level and then it’s what separates, like within, you know, it’s like those small little separators that make the best the best.

Nate Leslie (14:37.163)
Yeah, yeah.

Nate Leslie (14:44.651)
I am not interested in right now in this moment with you, you know, a gender comparison. So this is a comparison I’m about to make is me, my own personal comparison. I absolutely love watching these games as someone who got to play pro hockey for almost a decade and see goals and plays and think there is absolutely no way that I could do that 20 years ago when I was at the top of my game. I mean, the level of play full stop is, is just.

Awesome. And just if you’re, if you’re a student of the game, this, the subtle plays that you see players making, it’s just been an honor to watch. Mike, I want to ask about, you mentioned the word learning before. Let’s, let’s get back to you for, for a couple of minutes and then a few minutes about prep camp and then, and then some thoughts to, to send our listeners with you. One of your core values is clearly learning.

you soak up things as much as anybody that I’ve had the pleasure of working with in this game. What is it about being humble and assuming always that you have lots to learn that’s important to you?

Mike Sommer (16:05.628)
That’s a great question.

Mike Sommer (16:14.684)
I think there’s like no matter what room you’re in, like there’s somebody to learn from and you know, like every opportunity presents, like every moment you’re in coaching, you know, presents an opportunity for you to take something away. You know, like, and I sort of reflect back on prep camp.

Nate Leslie (16:23.403)
Hmm.

Mike Sommer (16:42.364)
you know, as as being a like just such a rich like training ground for me and and I’m sure countless others, you know, to to hone.

Mike Sommer (17:04.092)
to hone and refine their skills. Like, right. And…

Nate Leslie (17:06.795)
Yeah, which can’t come without practice, right? I’m hearing you’re willing to take risks. You’re willing to try stuff. Take an idea, hone it, practice it, try it, make it your own, share it, right?

Mike Sommer (17:14.3)
Totally. Right.

Mike Sommer (17:20.764)
Right. Cause I think like, for example, like, you know, as, as a place that I’ve been going to for years and like every, with every year you’re going to learn from every session that you’re a part of, whether you’re, you’re leading it or you’re assisting. and, and, and that’s, I think like back to your question about, about always being a learner is like, it’s just taking, taking every opportunity you have. It’s saying yes, it’s.

It’s sort of just jumping in with two feet, being open to it. And I’ve had such a crazy run of opportunity at prep camp, but it gave me at different stages of my coaching career, it gave me the hours or the reps that I needed to refine and learn or whatever. And, you know,

Nate Leslie (18:12.299)
Mmm. Mmm.

Mike Sommer (18:19.868)
I think it’s the little details that you’re observing or you’re building. And it’s all there for you at prep camp, right? Like the little things about like punctuality. Just the little details to become a professional or just as you grow up, preparation, timing.

Nate Leslie (18:31.819)
Yeah.

Nate Leslie (18:37.611)
Yeah.

Nate Leslie (18:48.139)
Yeah. It’s like at prep camp, no matter how, no, no matter how you come early, Mike Johnson beat you by five minutes. Barry Smith beat you by 20 minutes, right? The, the, the, the professionals. I remember about you a moment in your first year of coaching at the Richmond Oval with me. I had drawn a drill in one practice and I made a mistake drawing it, but whatever, I just sort of covered up the mistake and kept drawing it.

Mike Sommer (18:49.5)
You know.

Mike Sommer (18:56.7)
Right. Totally.

Nate Leslie (19:14.891)
And then you ran the next practice. We were running the same thing and you drew it the exact same way that I did. And I certainly didn’t need to, but it was just this moment where I thought this guy is paying attention. He switched on. I hope he’s following the right leader. That’s up to you to figure out, but, but that, that you’re, you’re, you’re always paying attention. And I know when another club is in a rink practicing or your time volunteering with the Vancouver Canucks in the video coach room.

Mike Sommer (19:29.18)
Yeah.

Nate Leslie (19:42.731)
You know, you could have been at home with your family instead you were, you were, you were volunteering your time. If there’s athletes listening, and I know there is right now, what’s the shareable for a 13 to 18 year old girl listening to this right now.

Mike Sommer (19:47.996)
Mm -hmm.

Mike Sommer (20:03.772)
I think saying yes, I think saying yes, maybe jumping in, even if even if you might not have the the the all the requirements, you know, and taking that risk, you know, figuring it out, figuring out on the fly. Part of part of it is kind of faking it until you make it and in, you know, just every stage of life like.

you know, always ask yourself, like, are you ready for this? Like, can I handle this? And then you finally get either you get it or you get trusted into it. And, you know, within a couple of months, you’re like, okay, I found a way I found a way to get this done. So I think I think just saying yes, if you’re passionate about something, you know, to figure it out on the fly, and then just to be a sponge, I think, just taking it in.

Nate Leslie (20:58.859)
Yeah.

Mike Sommer (21:02.716)
There’s always something that you can be learning, whether it’s observing and maybe you’re learning, you don’t agree with that or maybe that’s not your style. Right, totally. And also like, it allows you to, if you’re always listening, you’re always absorbing, it then allows you to, at your own time, sort of formulate your own.

Nate Leslie (21:15.819)
Hmm. Also useful information. Also useful information. Yeah. Yeah.

Mike Sommer (21:31.644)
thoughts, style, and sort of exactly.

Nate Leslie (21:32.667)
Yeah. That becomes your brand, right? That becomes your brand. Know it. You learn what you absorb your sponge. You get more, you meet, you learn new things and you get committed on what you’re also not both useful. I want to leave the audience with a visual. My nine year old daughter, dad, I could care less about hockey. Cool. Aidan. That’s I love that. I love that. You don’t, you’re not pretending to like it. Cause I like it.

But it’s January 1st, 2024, and Mike Sommer is on the bench for New York. His brother’s wife, Blair Turnbull, is starting for Toronto. I’m on the couch at the cabin with my daughter, who doesn’t like hockey, my son, who loves it, and…

Aiden looks at my wife and I and we’ve got a tear in our eye watching that first puck being dropped. And she had a thousand questions that day for us. She doesn’t love it any more. And that’s also cool, but just, we had a family moment watching that first game and super proud of everything you’ve accomplished.

Mike Sommer (22:49.276)
wow, yeah, that’s pretty cool to hear. I appreciate that. Yeah. boy, the places we go and to see where we all are, man, it’s pretty cool. That’s a pretty special moment and one that, you know, it’s hard to pass up that January 1st game as the highlight from the year, you know,

Nate Leslie (23:03.307)
Yeah.

Mike Sommer (23:18.076)
building that is absolutely rocking and shaken. I know I’ve got my, geez, I don’t even know, two and a half month old son up behind me in the stands with my wife, and we got some family in town, and my brother’s there, and I’m just trying to get through both anthems, and my sister -in -law’s captain for the other team, and it’s really cool, but I appreciate you sharing that.

Nate Leslie (23:31.083)
Yeah.

Nate Leslie (23:39.659)
Hahaha.

Nate Leslie (23:47.435)
Yeah. I know there are a lot of families doing the same thing around British Columbia. You’re in Connecticut right now. You’re on your way to Prince Edward Island and then making the 9 ,000 kilometer journey to join us and all of our listeners week one and two at prep camp listeners. Mike’s approachable. Come say hi, tell them you heard the episode and see what you can learn from him. Mike, thanks for your time.

Mike Sommer (23:47.708)
That story, that’s really cool.

Mike Sommer (24:12.54)
Thanks Nate, appreciate it.