Defining Moments with Dustin
Defining Moments with Dustin Heise is where leadership meets high-performance sport. Dustin, CEO of Canada Snowboard, sits down with the athletes, coaches, and leaders who know what it takes to build strong teams and values-driven cultures. Expect real conversations, practical insights, and a closer look at the world of snowboarding, from Olympic drama to grassroots beginnings.
Defining Moments with Dustin
Tom Renney - Senior Advisor, HONE Athletics
In this episode of Defining Moments, host Dustin Heise sits down with Tom Renney, senior advisor at Hohen Athletics and former president and CEO of Hockey Canada. Tom has coached at the highest levels of hockey, including the Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers, and the Edmonton Oilers, as well as the Olympic Games.
Together, Dustin and Tom explore how sport has the power to galvanize communities, shape leaders, and leave a lasting impact beyond the scoreboard. From touching small towns across Canada to leading the New York Rangers through challenging times post-9/11, Tom shares firsthand stories of mentorship, resilience, and the responsibility of leadership.
They also discuss the upcoming Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, the potential of sport to unite nations, and how young leaders can rise to meet extraordinary challenges.
This conversation is a testament to the power of sport, leadership, and leaving a positive legacy.
[0:00 - 0:01] Dustin:
Welcome my friend. Thank you.
[0:02 - 0:02] Tom:
It's great to be here.
[0:03 - 0:37] Dustin:
It's great to have you. You've been an incredible mentor for so many years, Tom, and I'm grateful to have you today as a guest. Let me introduce my good friend, Tom Renny.
[0:38 - 1:05] Dustin:
Tom is senior advisor at Hohen Athletics, former president and CEO of Hockey Canada, and former NHL head coach. Welcome.
[1:05 - 1:20] Tom:
Thank you, Dustin. The mentorship goes both ways; we never stop learning.
[1:21 - 1:53] Dustin:
Tom, can you share a firsthand experience where sport made a meaningful impact on a community?
[1:58 - 2:35] Tom:
Too often we measure sport by outcomes, but I measure it by participation, enjoyment, and what’s left behind to inspire others.
[2:35 - 3:09] Tom:
When I coached the Canadian national team, we traveled across small towns in Canada. The excitement in these communities was incredible.
[3:09 - 3:42] Tom:
We included communities through coaching seminars, school visits, and hospitals—leaving behind more than just a game.
[3:42 - 4:16] Tom:
It comes from my DNA, being Canadian and from small-town Canada. Leadership is under more scrutiny than ever. It’s about the participants, not just the coach.
[4:50 - 5:19] Tom:
Success is what you leave behind: in communities, in young minds, in inspiring others to lead.
[6:00 - 6:30] Dustin:
The impact we aim for is always positive: to leave communities better than we found them.
[6:30 - 7:10] Dustin:
Tom, can you share how you and the Rangers made a difference during the post-9/11 period?
[7:27 - 8:03] Tom:
It was incredible. We were in New York, a city still reeling, and we felt an obligation as a team to show up and inspire hope.
[8:04 - 10:51] Tom:
We made players feel important, embraced the city, and even though we were expected to finish last, we made the playoffs and proved the power of leadership and community impact.
[10:51 - 12:55] Dustin & Tom:
Can sport consistently galvanize and unite people?
Tom reflects on its unmatched power and how leadership, transparency, and values drive its impact.
[13:27 - 18:47] Dustin & Tom:
How can the upcoming Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games galvanize Canada and global sport?
Tom shares the potential of sport to create experiences, drive economic impact, and empower young leaders, while Dustin emphasizes collective responsibility to harness this potential.
[19:53 - 22:58] Dustin & Tom:
What opportunities are currently left on the table for sport to create social impact?
They discuss gaps in social connection, technology use, and ethical leadership in sport, emphasizing mentoring, storytelling, and community presence.
[22:58 - 27:13] Dustin & Tom:
Closing reflections on mentorship, the value of authentic conversation, leadership growth, and striving toward our full potential.
