The Hockey Think Tank Podcast

Latest Episodes:

SHORT SHIFTS - THE CAR RIDE HOME FOR COACHES Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about the car ride home for coaches. We talk a lot about what parents should say to their kids on the way home from the rink; but coaches, what should you tell yourselves on the way home from a game?

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!

Shout out to this Short Shifts supporter: SkateTech Skate Sharpening & Equipment Repair

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Chasing More than Just Wins on the Scoreboard with Guest Bobby Scott, Topher’s Dad - EP 392 Nov 24, 2025

Show notes

This week Topher and Jeff talk with Bobby Scott, Toph’s dad. As a former D1 hockey player and someone who has been around youth hockey for years, Scott joins us to share his wealth of knowledge regarding the game.

In this episode we talk about:

— Not only chasing wins in youth hockey

— What scale are you using to measure how hard your kids are working

— Raising go-getters

— How you have a choice in everything you do

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, Helios Hockey, and Crossbar!

And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!

JOIN HTTU TODAY!

HTT MERCH

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

FRIDAY FACEOFF - COACHING WHEN THINGS AREN'T GOING WELL?! Nov 21, 2025

Show notes

On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph wants to discuss a listener's question about coaching when things aren’t going well. Sometimes things aren’t connecting with your players, and instead of writing them off, let’s figure out how to help.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

SHORT SHIFTS - WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A SMART HOCKEY PLAYER Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about what it means to be a smart hockey player. What do we see in players that have a high hockey IQ?

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!

Shout out to this Short Shifts supporter: SkateTech Skate Sharpening & Equipment Repair

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Advice for Parent Coaches & How to Create a Challenging, but Fun Environment with Guest Jason Guerriero, USA Hockey Player Development Manager - EP 391 Nov 17, 2025

Show notes

This week Topher talks with Jason Guerriero, USA Hockey Player Development Manager. We brought Guerriero back on for round two to talk about creating a challenging environment that also facilitates a love for the game.

In this episode we talk about:

— Setting clear boundaries as a parent coach

— How being challenged is what makes the game fun for kids

— That failure is inevitable, but it’s about how you get through it

— How we’re creating more stress than we need to for players

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, Helios Hockey, and Crossbar!

And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!

JOIN HTTU TODAY!

HTT MERCH

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

FRIDAY FACEOFF - SHOULD KIDS PAY THE PRICE FOR BAD PARENTS?! Nov 14, 2025

Show notes

On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph wants to talk about a controversial topic in the hockey world: should kids/players have to pay the price for their bad parents? We posted on our socials an example of a Division One Head Coach not recruiting a player because his dad was yelling from the stands. This one got you guys fired up, so let’s talk about it!

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

SHORT SHIFTS - CROSSOVERS Nov 12, 2025

Show notes

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about crossovers and the importance of them in the game. Vechs explains how to master this element of your skating, on and off the ice.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!

Shout out to this Short Shifts supporter: SkateTech Skate Sharpening & Equipment Repair

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Building a Thriving Hockey Organization that Prioritizes Development with Guest Josh Levine, Fortis Academy Founder - EP 390 Nov 10, 2025

Show notes

This week Topher and Jeff talk with Josh Levine, founder of Fortis Academy in Minnesota. With over a decade of experience training and coaching athletes at all age levels, Levine helped revive a dormant community organization. We talk about building an organization that is efficient and prioritizes development over profits.

In this episode we talk about:

— How players inhibit themselves by not being good people off the ice

— Utilizing volunteers to coach the age groups below them

— Letting the kids swim at hockey tournaments

— The effect of screens on depth perception and how kids play

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, Helios Hockey, and Crossbar!

And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!

JOIN HTTU TODAY!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

FRIDAY FACEOFF - WHAT’S YOUR WHY?! Nov 07, 2025

Show notes

On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph brings on Jon Francisco of 4Check Hockey to talk about finding our why - why do we play the game, why do we put our kids in youth hockey, etc. It’s a simple, but great question to help keep everything in perspective; so we encourage you to reflect on your why.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

SHORT SHIFTS - 2-3 POWER PLAY SET UP Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph brings on USA Hockey’s Jason Guerriero to talk about the trending 2-3 power play set up. Also known as the spread or box-and-1, this power play system is becoming more and more popular at the highest levels.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!

Shout out to this Short Shifts supporter: SkateTech Skate Sharpening & Equipment Repair

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Hockey Think Tank Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected