The Hockey Think Tank Podcast

Latest Episodes:

You Asked, Toph & Jeff Answered: Mailbag Episode - EP 359 Apr 07, 2025

Show notes

This week Topher and Jeff sit down for a mailbag episode to answer some of the questions our listeners have submitted recently. If you have a question you’d like for us to answer, DM us on our socials and we’ll include it in our next mailbag episode!

In this episode we talk about:

— “Should I post my kid’s clips to social media to get seen?”

— “How do you deal with toxic teammates?”

— “How do you encourage smaller players when others underestimate them?”

— The changing landscape of college hockey

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!

USA HOCKEY'S NDL FAQS

PARENTS & RECRUITING 101 COURSES

BLUEPRINT ORGANIZATION REFERRAL

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FRIDAY FACEOFF - WHAT TO SAY TO YOUR KID WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW THE GAME?! Apr 04, 2025

Show notes

On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph wants to talk about how to support and talk to your player when you don’t have a hockey background or know the game.

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 - RACES & BATTLES Apr 02, 2025

Show notes

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about the importance of incorporating races and battles to make your practices better and more game-like.

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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How to Improve Game Performance With Guest Barry Smith, 7 Time Stanley Cup Winning Coach - EP 358 Mar 31, 2025

Show notes

This week Topher talks with Barry Smith, 7 time Stanley Cup winning NHL coach. Smith shared some of his extensive hockey knowledge with us and what he’s learned in his years working with Scotty Bowman and numerous other NHL Hall of Famers.

In this episode we talk about:

— Improving game performance by replicating the game in practice

— Introducing contact younger, so that players don’t have to think about it later

— How there are a lot of skilled players, but not smart players

— Smith’s personal experience in the NHL

— How players can’t be fearful of losing & the need to find ways to reward players other than winning the game

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.

FRIDAY FACEOFF - FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY IN YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS?! Mar 28, 2025

Show notes

On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph wants to talk about the biggest taboo topic in youth hockey: the money. One of our listeners asked what the normal practice is for financial transparency in youth organizations, so let’s get to 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 - HABITS FOR WHEN THE PUCK GOES LOW TO HIGH Mar 26, 2025

Show notes

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about the important habits and concepts you need to know when the puck goes low to high in the zone, 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.

The Art of Coaching With Guest Jesse Hale, Calgary Northstars General Manager - EP 357 Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

This week Topher and Jeff talk with Jesse Hale, the general manager of the Calgary Northstars, a Tier 1 organization in Calgary, Alberta. Hale has worked with Hockey Canada and Hockey Alberta, and now runs one of the youth organizations that we work with in our Youth Organization Blueprint.

In this episode we talk about:

— How to get your foot in the door professionally

— Not just running a drill to run a drill

— Coaching the coaches and the importance of having your coaching team on the same page

— Hockey Alberta’s commitment to development for not only the players, but also the coaches

— The importance of parent education

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.

FRIDAY FACEOFF - INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM DURING THE TRADE DEADLINE?! Mar 21, 2025

Show notes

On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph wants to talk about the exciting and contentious landscape of the NHL trade deadline. We discuss some of the most recent trades this season and get an inside look of the emotions behind the trade deadline.

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 - WHEN TO PULL YOUR GOALIE Mar 19, 2025

Show notes

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about the crucial timing of pulling your goalie to help win the 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.

Top 10 Things We Learned About Youth Hockey This Season - EP 356 Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

As we begin to wrap up our second season of working with multiple youth hockey organizations across North America, this week Topher and Jeff talk about the top 10 things they’ve learned about youth hockey this year. Special thanks to all of the organizations we have worked with in our Youth Hockey Organization Blueprint. If you feel like your organization or team could benefit from working with us, check out the referral link below!

BLUEPRINT ORGANIZATION REFERRAL

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!

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

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