Nolan Horbach is the Founder and Owner of Mind Body Hockey, a performance-based training environment dedicated to developing complete athletes through physical skill development, cognitive training and mental performance.
With experience as a player, coach, educator and leader, Nolan brings a comprehensive perspective to athlete development. His approach is grounded in the belief that developing athletes involves more than improving their technical and physical abilities. It requires understanding the individual, creating meaningful learning opportunities and helping athletes develop the confidence, awareness and skills to navigate the challenges of competitive sport.
Nolan currently serves as the Head Coach and General Manager of the Battlefords Sharks Female U18AAA hockey program, a position he has held since 2023. During his tenure, the Sharks have experienced significant team and individual success, including capturing the program's first league championship in 2026.
His coaching experience extends from minor hockey to provincial, national and university competition. From 2018 to 2023, Nolan served as an Assistant Coach with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Women's Hockey program, contributing to the team's bronze medal at the 2022 U SPORTS National Championship. He has also held several leadership roles within Hockey Saskatchewan's Program of Excellence, including Head Coach of Team Saskatchewan's Female U16 and U18 programs, highlighted by a historic silver medal at the 2019 Hockey Canada National Women's U18 Championship.
His leadership experience extends beyond the ice, bringing a broader perspective to athlete development, education and personal growth. Nolan holds a Master of Arts in Leadership from Royal Roads University, Hockey Canada's High Performance 1 certification and additional professional and coaching credentials. His background in education and leadership continues to influence how he creates learning environments, communicates with athletes and approaches individual development.
Central to Nolan's coaching philosophy is the importance of helping athletes understand not only what they're being asked to do, but why. Whether working on skating mechanics, decision-making, mental performance, or broader aspects of personal development, he emphasizes purposeful practice, problem-solving, self-awareness, and practical strategies that athletes can apply independently.
Through Mind Body Hockey, Nolan brings these experiences together to provide individualized development opportunities that recognize the connection between physical skills, cognitive abilities and mental performance.
His goal is not simply to help athletes become better players, but to support their growth as people—equipping them with skills, understanding and experiences that extend beyond the game.