Hockey Canada Vice President of Hockey Operations/Oilers Coaching Consultant Misha Donskov (9/2/26)

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Oilers NOW with Bob Stauffer 22 min 1 speaker 8 chapters transcribed 16 days ago

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Who is Misha Donskov and what is his new role with the Edmonton Oilers?

Bob Stauffer 0:00

Hey, it's Bob Stoffer. I just wanted to let you know that you can listen to Oilers Now ad-free on Amazon Music, included with Prime. Welcome back, everybody. It is 434 in Oil Country. Bob Stoffer with you. And uh we'll tell you that guests on our show received guest certificates to Japanese Village. It's a true celebration for the census, quality ingredients, and unmatched grill site experience. Book your seat at uh JVEmonton.cno every year. Uh the AHL staff, and those guys are all gonna be roaring into town here shortly because we got the rookie camp uh that goes next week. Um But we have a wrap up event every year at Japanese uh Village and it's awesome. Don and his staff will look after you. Our next guest has done something that some people would say is improbable or to paraphrase uh one of the un the underrated uh nineteen eighties classic, The Princess Bride

Bob Stauffer 0:50

Inconceivable. He's technically a uh a a a government employee who bans like in the province of Alberta. I was I was stunned at how positive everybody was on Twitter when the Oiders announced that Misha Donskov uh is uh gonna be joining the Oiders as a coaching consultant and he is our Oiders Now headliner brought to you by Will Hawk Beef Jerky. Others can try to imitate, but nobody can duplicate the great flavor of Will Hawk Beef Jerky. It is only available in LA in Leduc, Alberta. Hello Shirts, Bob,

Misha Donskov 1:24

how you

Bob Stauffer 1:24

doing?

Misha Donskov 1:25

Bob, I'm doing well. Thanks a lot for having me on and appreciate the opportunity to talk hockey with you.

Bob Stauffer 1:30

Yeah. Uh it was good briefly uh seeing you guys this morning, uh down there. You're part of the uh coaching uh summit over the last couple of days. Maybe uh just uh I guess first off, just help educate our listeners. Um, 'cause you've had a r i I I I think it's a great story in perseverance and rising up and touching all of the basis in your coaching journey. But if you could maybe from a chronological perspective, uh tell everybody sort of how a guy ends up uh becoming the head coach of Team Canada's world junior and world championship team and now a coaching consultant uh for the Oilers.

Misha Donskov 2:12

Well, as you said, uh Bob, it's been a long journey, but it's certainly been uh a lot of fun. Um when I finished uh playing I was fortunate to play two years overseas, uh in Europe and Sweden and Norway. And when I finished playing I went to work for uh a medical device company called Cardinal Health and at that time uh I was positioned uh in Columbus, Ohio. I did some part time work uh with the Columbus Blue Jackets on the community development side leading uh their community development programs on behalf of the Columbus Blue Jackets. I was transferred to Atlanta, Georgia with Cardinal Health in the medical device role, was promoted to manager, a regional sales manager at the time with Cardinal.

Misha Donskov 2:56

I got on part time with the Atlanta Thrashers in a similar uh role leading community development programs. uh really enjoyed my time in Atlanta, enjoyed my time working with the Atlanta Thrashers. I remember at the time uh it was about two thousand eight, two thousand nine, begging Don Waddell, who was the GM uh of the team at the time for a full time role and it just

How did Misha’s early playing career lead to his coaching path?

Misha Donskov 3:18

It wasn't able to materialize or happen based on the team, you know, having some ownership issues and ultimately moving. Uh so at the time I made the conscious decision to pursue my passion and and work in hockey full time. I'm originally from London, Ontario, and I moved back to London to do my master's degree at the University of Western Ontario, it required a practicum. Was fortunate to work with Clark Singer at the University of Western Ontario uh with the university team there and then ultimately get on with Dale and Mark Hunter and the London Knights, who gave me my first big opportunity. I was in London as an assistant coach uh from two thousand nine to two thousand twelve. My last year I was an assistant GM there as well.

Misha Donskov 3:58

Was fortunate to win an OHL championship there uh in two thousand twelve and then from there going on to the Ottawa sixty sevens as an associate coach, just more opportunity, uh an opportunity to run a position, uh run the penalty kill.