The Hockey Think Tank Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Mental Performance Training & How it Can Improve Your Game with Guests Nick Johnson & Dustin Kohn, Mental Performance Coaches - EP 379 Aug 25, 2025

Show notes

This week Topher and Jeff talk with Nick Johnson and Dustin Kohn, owners of R&D Performance and providers of mental performance training for athletes and coaches. Both Johnson and Kohn played professionally and use that experience combined with their sports psychology backgrounds to train top athletes.

In this episode we talk about:

— How facing adversity is a completely normal part of growth

— Reflecting on why you’re training a certain way

— Having the awareness as a parent to back off & not live through your child’s sport

— How external results shouldn’t be what drives you

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!

R&D Performance Website

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FRIDAY FACEOFF - HOW TO PICK AN ADVISOR?! Aug 22, 2025

Show notes

On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph wants to talk about how to pick an advisor. When is the right time to get one? And what should you ask them to determine if they are the right fit for you and your family?

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

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SHORT SHIFTS - SETTING THE TONE AS A PLAYER Aug 20, 2025

Show notes

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about setting the tone for the beginning of the season as a player. Last week we talked about it from a coach’s perspective, this time we’re talking from the player’s point of view. What’s your mindset going into the first practice?

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

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Finding Genuineness in Hockey & Staying True to Yourself No Matter the Journey with Guest Brock Sheahan, Notre Dame Head Coach - EP 378 Aug 18, 2025

Show notes

This week Topher and Jeff talk with Brock Sheahan, the new head coach for Notre Dame’s Men’s Ice Hockey team. After playing for Notre Dame when he was younger, playing professionally, and then serving two seasons as the associate head coach, he has been named as the head coach for the upcoming 2025-26 season.

In this episode we talk about:

— Understanding where your coaches are coming from and how much they care

— Setting expectations at the beginning of the season

— Not changing who you are when you become a coach & letting your players get to know you

— The biggest consistencies top players have

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!

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FRIDAY FACEOFF - COLLEGE HOCKEY MAJOR JUNIOR?! Aug 15, 2025

Show notes

On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph wants to talk about the changing college hockey landscape. This is the last week in our three part series, and this time we’re talking about how players from the Canadian Hockey League (a.k.a Major Junior) are now eligible to play college hockey at the Division I level. This will completely change the college hockey experience, 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!

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SHORT SHIFTS - SETTING THE TONE FOR THE SEASON Aug 13, 2025

Show notes

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about setting the tone for the beginning of the season. What should you do as a coach on the first day to set the standard?

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

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An Honest Conversation on the Balance in Youth Hockey (Part 2) - EP 377 Aug 11, 2025

Show notes

This week Topher and Jeff fly solo again for part two in this two week series to discuss some of the common polarizing questions we hear about in youth hockey. Listen as we go back and forth about what is best for today's players.

In this episode we talk about:

— Is it best to be the top kid or bottom kid on a team

— Coaching to the skill of the top or bottom players

— All fun & games or all challenging

— Practice to game ratio

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!

If you’d like to join our Hockey Think Tank Community, head over to Community.TheHockeyThinkTank.com and check it out!

PARENTS & RECRUITING 101 COURSES

BLUEPRINT ORGANIZATION REFERRAL

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FRIDAY FACEOFF - COLLEGE HOCKEY NIL MONEY?! Aug 08, 2025

Show notes

On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph wants to talk about the changing college hockey landscape. This is week two in our three part series, and we’re here to talk about NIL money - “Name, Image, & Likeness.” Listen for our thoughts on whether or not it is beneficial to college hockey.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

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SHORT SHIFTS - FACEOFF PLAYS Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about our favorite faceoff plays, both offensively and defensively.

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.

An Honest Conversation on the Balance in Youth Hockey (Part 1) - EP 376 Aug 04, 2025

Show notes

This week Topher and Jeff fly solo in this two part series to discuss some of the common polarizing questions we hear about in youth hockey. Listen as we go back and forth about what is best for today's players.

In this episode we talk about:

— Development vs winning

— Professional model vs community model

— Structure vs letting kids play

— Hard coaching vs not coaching

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!

If you’d like to join our Hockey Think Tank Community, head over to Community.TheHockeyThinkTank.com and check it out!

PARENTS & RECRUITING 101 COURSES

BLUEPRINT ORGANIZATION REFERRAL

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