For more than a decade, Amanda Baldwin has spent countless hours at rinks across Toronto, first as a hockey parent, then as a coach, always as a student of the game she loves. With over a decade of experience behind the bench, now currently with the Under-12 ‘A’ Toronto Eagles, Baldwin’s coaching philosophy extends far beyond systems, drills, and scoreboards.
For her, hockey has always been about the people.
She started coaching with the George Bell Titans when her oldest son started, eventually transitioning to the Toronto Eagles. What began as a way to spend more time with her children quickly grew into something much larger. Encouraged by fellow coach Amy Flynn, Baldwin took the step from house league into competitive (‘A’, ‘AA’, ‘AAA’) hockey, taking on new responsibilities and learning to be in a new position she’d never been in before.
“It was a little bit nerve-wracking,” Baldwin admitted. While she had played hockey her entire life and understood the game, coaching offered a completely different perspective.
That perspective helped her realize that coaching is about much more than teaching hockey skills.
“The biggest thing is that coaching isn’t just about the game of hockey,” said Baldwin. “You’re now a very predominant leadership person in these kids’ lives.”
For Baldwin, some of the most important lessons happen away from the puck. Teaching teamwork, sportsmanship, resilience, and how to win and lose are just as valuable — if not more valuable — than skills you learn on the ice. She believes coaches play an important role in helping young athletes grow and develop into young individuals with the skills to lead them down encouraging pathways.
That mindset has shaped her role as an assistant coach with the Eagles. While she may not always be the primary voice on the bench, she prides herself on observing players closely, learning what motivates each individual, and setting them up for success in their own unique way.
“Every kid has a different way that they need to be motivated,” Baldwin said.
Interestingly, hockey wasn’t the most dominant sport of her youth sports experience. It didn’t become a bigger part of her life until her teenage years. Basketball occupied much of her competitive athletic career when she was younger, although hockey remained her true passion.
Growing up in Guelph, Baldwin fell in love with the game during cold winters. She learned to skate when she was two years old and spent much of her childhood on an outdoor rink near her home. She still has memories of her grandfather playing recreational hockey and spending evenings following the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Today, Baldwin plays multiple times a week whenever her schedule allows.
That ongoing involvement as a player gives her a unique perspective as a coach.
Being on the ice herself allows her to appreciate the speed of the game and the challenges players face in real time. It also reinforces her belief in delivering coaching moments immediately when they happen.
“When kids come off the ice, that’s the biggest opportunity,” Baldwin explained. “Specific, in-the-moment coaching resonates the most.”
Whether its praising a strong effort, or offering a tip after a shift, Baldwin believes those conversations are often more impactful than waiting until after a game.
As a female coach, Baldwin believes she may bring a slightly different perspective to the bench. With that perspective, she strives to create an environment where players feel supported. That sense of support extends to her definition of team success.
For Baldwin, the best teams aren’t built on individual accomplishments. Instead, they are driven by players who genuinely want to support one another, celebrating each other’s achievements and putting the group ahead of themselves.
“The best teams are made up of players that want to play for each other,” she said. “It’s a team-first mentality.”
After more than 10 years of coaching, many of her favourite memories are connected to the places hockey has taken her.
One of those moments came last season during an out-of-town tournament in her hometown of Guelph. Her team was scheduled to play in the same arena where she had watched her grandfather play many years earlier. She hadn’t been back for decades, but the moment she walked through the doors, memories flooded back.
“I hadn’t been in that rink for at least 35 years,” she recalled.
The experience serves as a reminder of hockey’s unique ability to connect generations, create lasting memories, and bring people back to places and communities.
Whether she’s coaching, playing, or sharing hockey lessons in her professional career, the principles remain the same: leadership, teamwork, and relationships.
For Baldwin, the measure of a successful season isn’t found solely in the standings.
“Winning is fun, right? We want to win and we have a drive to succeed,” she stated. “I think the best teams are made up of teammates that genuinely want to be there for each other.”
Success is found in the players who learn to support one another and work together. After 11 years behind the bench, that’s what she tries to facilitate every time she steps into the arena.
