The Hockey Think Tank Podcast

USA Hockey, Smaller Players, & The Importance of Scanning With Guest Jason Guerriero - EP 337 Nov 04, 2024

This week Topher and Jeff talk with Jason Guerriero, one of the Directors of Player Development at USA Hockey. We discuss Guerriero’s long history with the game as a player, coach, and now as a leader with USA Hockey.

In this episode we talk about:

— The importance of scanning: some of the best players in the world are scanners

— Being a smaller player and how to succeed

— Our common mission to make the hockey world a better place

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, 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!

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NEW SEGMENT - MITES ON FULL ICE?! Nov 01, 2024

On today’s episode… we have a new segment for you guys! Every Friday we’ll be picking a controversial topic in the hockey world and letting the fiery conversation fly. Your mission: help us name this segment. Message us with your ideas on whatever platform you follow us on and we’ll be picking our favorite 🔥

Today we discuss why the heck we’ve got 8U mites playing on full ice.

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SHORT SHIFTS - SHORT SHIFTS ON SHORT SHIFTS Oct 30, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about… short shifts! Time your line changes to win periods and set yourself up for success.

Make sure to tune back in this Friday for something new and fiery hitting the pod 🔥

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Getting Inside The Minds Of NHL GMs With Guest Craig Custance - EP 336 Oct 28, 2024

This week Topher and Jeff talk with Craig Custance, Head of Creative Development for The Athletic and author of The Franchise: The Business of Building Winning Teams. We discuss some of the top general managers of the NHL and their processes to create winning teams and cultures.

In this episode we talk about:

— Craig’s new book about the top NHL general managers

— The difference between keeping your job and doing your job

— That sometimes doing nothing is a bigger move

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Check out Craig Custance’s book: The Franchise: The Business of Building Winning Teams

Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, 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!

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SHORT SHIFTS - BACKUP GOALIES Oct 25, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about advice for backup goalies who are not happy in their role and want to increase their playing time.

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SHORT SHIFTS - WATCH HOW YOUR FAVORITE PLAYERS PLAY Oct 23, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about how to benefit your game by watching your favorite player play. Model your game based on their habits, puck touches, and choices and watch your development skyrocket.

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

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Earn More Ice Time by Being a Tuba Player with Guest Christian Hanson - EP 335 Oct 21, 2024

This week Topher and Jeff talk with Christian Hanson - that’s right HTT fam, you know the name. His dad is one of THE Hanson brothers from the movie Slap Shot. We talk about taking ownership in your hockey career and figuring out how to change your role to earn more ice time.

In this episode we talk about:

— Life with the Hanson name
— “Being a tuba player” - earning more playing time as the unconventional player
— How adversity can benefit your game

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Check out Christian Hanson’s epic hockey camp: O-Town Hockey Camp

Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, 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!

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SHORT SHIFTS - DRIVING MIDDLE OFFENSIVELY Oct 18, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about getting to the middle of the ice offensively in order to create more options of play.

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SHORT SHIFTS - WARMUPS Oct 16, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about warmies and how to get the most out of your on-ice pregame routine.

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

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The Six C's of Hockey Development - Part 1 (Ep 334) Oct 14, 2024

The grind never stops here as Topher calls in from Calgary and joins Jeff to discuss the six C’s of hockey development. There are six traits players should have to succeed. Listen as we dive into the first three of six. Don't miss part two coming soon!

In this episode we talk about:

— Creativity

— Competitiveness

— Coachability

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Please consider donating to support Kelly Deschamps in her battle against Stage III breast cancer: Kelly's Cross Donation

Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, 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!

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SHORT SHIFTS - THE CHALLENGE Oct 11, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about challenging your players and pushing them outside of their comfort zone.

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SHORT SHIFTS - FREE WAYS TO HELP YOUR PLAYER GET BETTER Oct 09, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs is up first again this week, and he wants to talk about some FREE ways that parents can help their players get better. Think outside the box and use what you already have at home!

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

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Kevin Shier Co-Founder of TOP Sports - Ep 333 Oct 07, 2024

This week Toph and Jeff welcome the co-founder of TOP Sports, Kevin Shier, to the podcast. After seeing early specialization, hyper-competitiveness, and toxic sports environments become the norm in Toronto, TOP Sports was founded to create a more balanced youth sports model by focusing on player experience, long-term development, and a seasonal, set schedule that encourages multi-sport play.

In this episode we talk about:

— Importance of playing multiple sports
— Importance of falling in love with the game
— Thriving through adversity
— Character building

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, 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!

This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.

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SHORT SHIFTS - KILLING PLAYS FAST Oct 04, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about killing plays fast, from both a player and a team perspective.

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SHORT SHIFTS - POSTGAME ROUTINES Oct 02, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs is taking over the Wednesday edition this week and wants to talk about postgame routines - what are the non-negotiables, and what are some hacks to maximize recovery?

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

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Jeff & Toph Let It Rip on Youth Hockey (Episode 332) Sep 30, 2024

This week Jeff is back from paternity leave and joins Toph for a full-throttled conversation on some of the biggest issues in youth hockey. We have mentioned some of them before, but today we hit them head-on and offer some insight on how the experience can be better.

In this episode we talk about:

— Recruiting vs. Development

— Disconnect with clubs and parents

— Lack of cohesion within clubs

— Cost

AND SO MUCH MORE!

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

This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.

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SHORT SHIFTS - DECEPTION WHEN SHOOTING Sep 27, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs is happy to be back in the podcast saddle as a NEW DAD, and he’s building on Wednesday’s Short Shifts episode (about tipping pucks) by talking about deception when shooting.

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SHORT SHIFTS - TIPPING PUCKS Sep 26, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, VECHS IS BACK and Toph wants to talk about something Jeff did a lot throughout his career - tipping pucks!

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

Episode 331 - 3 Questions You Must Answer to be a Championship Team Sep 23, 2024

This week Topher is flying solo again as Jeff is on paternity leave this week (WELCOME TO THE WORLD SOPHIE TAYLOR LOVECCHIO), so Toph decided to follow up last week’s episode on individual habits for success and focus this week on what it takes for a team to be great.

In order for a team to win championships, they need to be able to answer “yes” to the following questions:

— Are you the closest team?

— Are you the hardest working team?

— Are you the most resilient team?

Toph dives in to each of these, plus, so much more!

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

This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.

SHORT SHIFTS - COACHES: HANDLING GOALIES Sep 20, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, with Vechs out on paternity leave, Toph is joined once again by his good buddy Nick Petraglia! They coached at Miami together and Trags is now with the AAA Blue Jackets in Columbus. Trags’ brings the topic - and the expertise - and wants to talk about how to help coaches who didn’t play the position themselves, be their best for their goaltender’s development.

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

SHORT SHIFTS: TOPH & TRAGS - GOALIE HOCKEY SENSE Sep 18, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, with Vechs out on paternity leave, Toph is joined by his good buddy Nick Petraglia! They coached at Miami together and Trags is now the Executive VP with the AAA Blue Jackets. As a goalie himself, Toph wants to tap into Trags’ expertise and talk about how coaches can help develop goalie hockey sense.

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

Episode 330 - What it Takes to be Great Sep 16, 2024

This week Topher is flying solo as Jeff is on babywatch (and doing all the nesting things getting ready for her eventual arrival), so Toph decided to share some insight on a topic we get asked about A LOT: What does it take to be great?

Whether it’s on the ice, or in life away from the rink, here are some non-negotiables to be your best:

— Grit and resilience

— The importance of surrounding yourself with the right people

— Learning how to be present and understanding your why

— Responsibility and accountability

AND SO MUCH MORE!

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

Episode 329 - A Tribute to Our Grandpa Scott (Bob Sr.) Sep 09, 2024

This week Topher and Jeff pay tribute to Grandpa Scott, Bob Sr. who was the energy of the family. He lived life to the fullest, he worked hard, loved hard, and was the guy we wanted to be like.

In this episode we share some of our favorite Grandpa stories and we talk about:

— The life lessons he taught us about hard work, sacrifice, and the importance of family

— The impact his energy had on the legacy he leaves behind

— The love he showed our Grandma, always

AND SO MUCH MORE!

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

This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.

SHORT SHIFTS - TEAM RULES FOR CELL PHONES Sep 06, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about team rules for cell phone use. We have talked about this topic before, but Vechs has changed his stance from when he coached, and wants to talk about some strategies coaches can employ to tackle team rules and expectations for cellphone use!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - DRILL PROGRESSIONS Sep 04, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about drill progressions and how important they are in the transfer of what you’re doing in practice translating to your team’s games.

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

Episode 328 - Matt Moulson Sep 02, 2024

This week Topher and Jeff welcome one of Toph’s favorite former teammates to the podcast - Matt Moulson! Not only was he an incredible leader, he is proof that everyone has their own path.

In this episode we talk about:

— Getting cut from midget AAA only to play 650 NHL games

— The art of goal scoring

— Earning confidence through hard work

AND SO MUCH MORE!

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

This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.

SHORT SHIFTS - BLOCKING SHOTS Aug 30, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk all things blocking shots. Ways to do it, ways to practice it, and what that kind of sacrifice says about team culture.

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

SHORT SHIFTS - BATTLE DRILLS Aug 28, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to know some of Vechs’ battle drills. We always talk about how important it is to compete hard in practice, and battle drills are a great way to work on that skill!

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

Episode 327 - Neil Lodin from MyHockeyRankings.com Aug 26, 2024

This week Topher and Jeff welcome Neil Lodin - the founder (and creator) of MyHockeyRankings.com - to the podcast to talk about why he REALLY started the site! We asked a lot of questions and Neil shed some incredible light on so much for us.

In this episode we talk about:

— How the algorithm works

— How teams/coaches/parents are misusing the site

— How the site can (and should) be used for development and retention

AND SO MUCH MORE!

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

This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.

SHORT SHIFTS - HELPING GOALIES WITH THEIR HOCKEY SENSE Aug 23, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about how coaches can help their goalies with hockey sense. *DISCLAIMER: this episode brought to you by two dudes who are neither goalies, nor goalie coaches, but have some pretty solid insight!*

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

SHORT SHIFTS - DEFENDING 3on2s Aug 21, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to continue on his topic from last week focusing on the defensive side of the puck - and this week he asks Vechs about defending 3 on 2s!

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

Episode 326 - Larry Hagner @The Dad Edge Aug 19, 2024

This week Topher and Jeff welcome Larry Hagner from The Dad Edge podcast - and what an impactful episode this was! Truly an amazing conversation that will inspire you to be a better parent, partner, and human being.

In this episode we talk about:

— The curse of “being busy”

— Navigating the harder moments of parenthood

— Importance of taking care of yourself

AND SO MUCH MORE!

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

This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.

SHORT SHIFTS - SHORT SHIFTS: THINGS KIDS CAN DO TO WORK ON CREATIVITY, SKILLS & FUN AT HOME Aug 16, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about the things that kids can do at home to work on creativity, skills, mindset, and having fun. It’s a walk down memory lane for the guys to Toph’s basement and Vechs’ garage!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - DEFENSIVE TRANSITION Aug 14, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about defensive transition and what’s most important when going from offense to defense.

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

Episode 325 - Brian Bonin Aug 12, 2024

This week Topher and Jeff welcome Minnesota Hockey legend, Brian Bonin to the podcast! He grew up in the State of Hockey and lived every Minnesota youth player’s dream; this is an absolutely unreal episode.

In this episode we talk about:

— The MN Hockey mode

— Youth hockey development

— Winning Minnesota Mr Hockey, Hobey, and playing for the Wild

AND SO MUCH MORE!

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

This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.

SHORT SHIFTS - IDEAL GAME DAY SCHEDULE Aug 09, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about what an ideal game day schedule looks like for a player to be at their best.

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

SHORT SHIFTS - 2-on-1s FROM THE D-SIDE Aug 07, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk 2-on-1s, but with a twist - from the D-side. Some awesome tips and tricks when defending a 2-on-1, Vechs gets to drop one of his favorite sayings, “play chess, not checkers," and we tee up the age-old debate on this for defensemen: to slide or not to slide!

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

Episode 324 - Joe Meloni Aug 05, 2024

This week Topher and Jeff welcome NTDP Head Strength Coach, Joe Meloni to the podcast! Awesome, awesome guy and this was a great conversation with some incredible insight into what it’s like working with, motivating, and developing the elite young talent in our game.

In this episode we talk about:

— The development environment they create at NTDP

— How competition breeds excellence

— Attributes of players that give themselves a chance to be the best

AND SO MUCH MORE!

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

This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.

SHORT SHIFTS - NAVIGATING THE REALITY OF MULTI-SPORT ATHLETES IN-SEASON Aug 02, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about how coaches, players and parents navigate the reality of multi-sport athletes, in-season. It’s one thing to say we want our athletes to have a diverse skill set, and to say we encourage players to play multiple sports - but it’s an entirely different thing to manage that as a coach, parent and player.

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

SHORT SHIFTS - THE 1-3-1 POWER PLAY Jul 31, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to break down the 1-3-1 power play. How to be successful if you’re playing it - how to stop it if you’re killing against it.

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

Episode 323 - Jon Francisco Jul 29, 2024

This week Topher and Jeff welcome former UMD captain and eight year pro player, Jon Francisco to the podcast! Following his hockey career, he served as a firefighter for 10 years in California and Wisconsin before leaving the fire service to build Francisco Hockey & 4Check Hockey which make major impacts in hockey, training, skills and safety.

In this episode we talk about:

— Fostering passion as a parent

— Encouraging multi sport athletes and how parents can help navigate the overlap during the season

— Teaching players how to give and receive hits in today’s game

— His experience parenting a player on their journey to the NTDP

AND SO MUCH MORE!

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

This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.

SHORT SHIFTS: SETTING THE TONE WITH YOUR FIRST PRACTICE OF THE SEASON Jul 26, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about what coaches should be doing with their first practice of the season.

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

SHORT SHIFTS - TRYOUT BEST PRACTICES WITH SKILLSHARK CEO NEIL ANDERSON Jul 24, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph welcomes the CEO of SkillShark, Neil Anderson, to talk about the innovative way their product makes the tryout and evaluation process so much easier and more efficient for organizers.

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As a partner of ours, remember to use our discount code Hockey20 when you visit SkillShark.com

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

Episode 322 - Olivier Latendresse Jul 22, 2024

This week Topher and Jeff welcome one of Vechs’ former teammates and 14 year pro, Olivier Latendresse. We dive into so many topics on the game and had an absolute blast!

In this episode we talk about:

— Being present and enjoying the hockey journey

— The importance of versatility & hard work

— Preparing for life after hockey - regardless of how long you play

— An UNREAL Brett Hull story

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Toph’s fundraiser for Team Racker - a team supporting Racker Rivals Big Red 2024:

https://www.givegab.com/p2p/racker-rivals-big-red-2024/topher-scott

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

This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.

SHORT SHIFTS - TIPS FOR TALKING TO YOUR COACH Jul 19, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about not only the importance of players learning how to talk to their coaches, but tips on HOW to effectively navigate initiating them.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - PUCK PROTECTION Jul 17, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about one of the biggest kesy to our game - puck protection!

TEN MINUTES STARTING NOW!

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

Episode 321 - Pushing Yourself in Practice on the Hard Days Jul 15, 2024

This week Topher and Jeff are flying solo and talking about one of the things that every player struggles with at some point: figuring out how to push yourself in practice on the hard days. You’re not going to feel your best every day, developing strategies to still get the best out of yourself on those days is what fosters success - in any endeavor.

In this episode we talk about:

— Realities of a long season

— Goal Setting

— Routine

— Competition breeding excellence

AND SO MUCH MORE!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - LINEUP CONSTRUCTION Jul 12, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about the things coaches need to consider when putting lines together - and the guys sound off on the types of players they liked playing with most.

TEN MINUTES STARTING NOW!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - WHAT WE MISS MOST FROM OUR PLAYING DAYS Jul 10, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, we are switching it up and Vechs is going first this week - he wants to know what Toph misses most from the old playing days!

TEN MINUTES STARTING NOW!

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

Episode 320 - Jacob Newton Jul 08, 2024

This week Topher and Jeff welcome performance coach and former player, Jacob Newton. This is a must listen for some deep perspective on life, mental health, and optimal performance. Some of the topics discussed are sensitive and could be triggering (we do give you a heads up in the episode) - parents, you might want to listen first before hitting play with your kiddo in earshot.

In this episode we talk about:

— The curse of high achievers

— Learning to breathe properly is more important than any other recovery strategy

— The journey of healing

— Learning how to take back your power

AND SO MUCH MORE!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - DEFENSE DEVELOPMENT Jul 05, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about defense development and habits that young defensemen should be focused on to have success in today’s game.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - F1 Jul 03, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk all things F1 and “Crazy Legs LoVecchio” is HERE FOR IT! Tips, tricks, and F1 hacks (play chess, not checkers) and habits is ON THE CLOCK!

TEN MINUTES STARTING NOW!

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

Episode 319 - Andrew Alberts Jul 01, 2024

This week Topher and Jeff welcome former NHL defenseman, Andrew Alberts to the podcast! Such an inspiring episode including playing with Zdeno Chara in Boston, the Sedins in Vancouver, and how a little belief from a mentor after getting cut at 15 changed his life.

In this episode we talk about:

— Playing Midget B at 15 to over 450 NHL games

— How Zdeno Chara changed the Bruins

— Defending the Sedins in practice every day

— Working for NHL Sense Arena

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and, NHL Sense Arena!

Visit NHL Sense Arena and use DISCOUNT CODE TANK-72A36D to get 10% off an annual plan of NHL Sense Arena.

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!

SHORT SHIFTS - ADVISORS Jun 28, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs is bringing his Twitter/X rant to the podcast with some opinions about advisors who don’t actually ADVISE.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - HOW TO COACH TOP PLAYERS WHO DON'T BUY IN Jun 26, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about the challenges of how to coach top players who don’t buy in.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

Episode 318 - Mike Berra & Kevin Muller Jun 24, 2024

This week Topher is flying solo and recorded LIVE from Nashville with Mike Berra and Kevin Muller of the Jr. Preds organization. Both have worked at multiple levels to grow the game and we had a fantastic conversation about community hockey, non-traditional markets, player development, and what it takes to make an impact as a coach in today’s youth hockey environment.

In this episode we talk about:

— The importance of building relationships as a coach

— Defining culture and the role it plays in a team’s success

— Preparation & being a detail-oriented coach

— Taking individual skill and having it translate to team structure & success

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and NHL Sense Arena!

Visit NHL Sense Arena and use DISCOUNT CODE TANK-72A36D to get 10% off an annual plan of NHL Sense Arena.

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!

SHORT SHIFTS - COACHING ROLES Jun 21, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about the roles of a coaching staff, and the differences between head coaches, assistant coaches, and the expectations to grow and develop in each role to be successful.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - FINISHING Jun 19, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about finishing and the importance of players practicing having a finish mentality when it comes to shooting and scoring.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

Episode 317 - Larissa Mills Jun 17, 2024

This week Topher and Jeff welcome Larissa Mills from The Mental Game Academy to the podcast for an eye opening conversation about how phone use and social media is affecting our kids (and adults, too). The data is staggering - from mental health and even to hockey sense and physical ability, this episode with Larissa is going to cause a lot of folks to pause and rethink the routines they employ with respect to “smart” devices.

In this episode we talk about:

— Kids losing their skill sets

— The worst time to check your phone

— Advice for parents on strategies to help mitigate screen use

— Tips for coaches on how to help decrease screen use among their players

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and, our newest sponsor, NHL Sense Arena!

Visit NHL Sense Arena and use DISCOUNT CODE TANK-72A36D to get 10% off an annual plan of NHL Sense Arena.

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!

SHORT SHIFTS - CONTROLLED BREAKOUTS Jun 14, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about controlled breakouts - when, why, and how to use them effectively.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - D ZONE FACEOFFS Jun 12, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about D zone faceoffs (and how important they are for a team).

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

Episode 316 - Trevor Edwards Jun 10, 2024

This week Topher and Jeff welcome newly promoted GM of the Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL), Trevor Edwards, who is also the Program Director for the Pittsburgh Pens Elite youth program! Tremendous conversation about the journey from youth hockey to the elite levels and what the development process should look like for the health of the players and our sport.

In this episode we talk about:

— The pressures that younger players feel today versus years ago

— The value of being patient in the development process

— Helping players develop their passion for the game

— Some unreal advice for parents navigating youth sports

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and, our newest sponsor, NHL Sense Arena!

Visit NHL Sense Arena and use DISCOUNT CODE TANK-72A36D to get 10% off an annual plan of NHL Sense Arena.

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!

SHORT SHIFTS - HELPING YOUR PLAYER WHEN THEIR CONFIDENCE IS LOW Jun 07, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about how parents can help their players when their confidence is low.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - GREAT WAYS TO END A PRACTICE Jun 05, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about some great ways to end a practice.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

Episode 315 - A Hockey Mom's Perspective Jun 03, 2024

This week Topher and Jeff welcome pod producer Steph to join them on the other side of the mics to get a hockey mom’s perspective on the youth hockey journey.

Steph has two kids in hockey (a daughter playing in college and a son playing 18U), a husband that coaches, she worked for her local youth association for 11 seasons, and has experience on the facilities side of our sport as well.

In this episode we talk about:

— Embracing the youth hockey journey

— How best to support your player during the highs and lows

— Staying focused on what’s best for your player’s development amidst the noise

— Acknowledging that FOMO is real, and how to navigate some of the craziness

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and, our newest sponsor, NHL Sense Arena!

Visit NHL Sense Arena and use DISCOUNT CODE TANK-72A36D to get 10% off an annual plan of NHL Sense Arena.

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!

SHORT SHIFTS - OFFENSIVE ATTACK MENTALITY May 31, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about how coaches can instill an offensive attack mentality in younger players.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - PLANNING PRACTICES TO HELP GOALIES (TAKE 2) May 30, 2024

Let's try this again! On the latest SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about how coaches can plan practices better for their goalies.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

Apologies if this episode downloaded twice for you - Apple Podcasts wasn't playing nice the first go-around!

SHORT SHIFTS - PLANNING PRACTICES TO HELP GOALIES May 29, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about how coaches can plan practices to help their goalies.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

Episode 314 - TOPHER & JEFF RANT May 27, 2024

This week Topher and Jeff devote the entire episode to some awesome questions and topics that we have received from the Hockey Think Tank Community.

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

In this episode we talk about:

— Mentorship

— Transparency

— Cultivating your child’s passion while embracing that it’s their journey

— Development, synthetic ice, lazy coaching, problem parents, & the cost of youth hockey

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and, our newest sponsor, NHL Sense Arena!

Visit NHL Sense Arena and use DISCOUNT CODE TANK-72A36D to get 10% off an annual plan of NHL Sense Arena.

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

SHORT SHIFTS - 2-ON-1s May 24, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about 2-on-1s, offensively, and ways to work on them in practice.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - TRACKS & GAPS May 22, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about tracks & gaps! A team that tracks hard is problematic for opponents because it allows the defense to gap up and create more offensive opportunities.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

Episode 313 - Ashlea Jones May 20, 2024

This week Topher and Jeff welcome Ashlea Jones, from Athletes In Training, to the podcast. Toph calls this one “a fantastic hockey nerd episode” - and he means that in the absolute BEST way possible! Ashlea is a phenomenal skating coach in Ontario who works with high level players (junior, college, and pro) as well as youth players with big dreams.

You can’t play hockey at the highest levels without being an incredible skater, and Ashlea gives such tremendous insight to help players of any level.

In this episode we talk about:

— Edgework, Skating stride & mechanics

— Ankles,foot action, and mobility

— How today’s players’ posture is inhibiting loading

— Speed, power, acceleration & becoming a faster player

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and, our newest sponsor, NHL Sense Arena!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - UNDRAFTED/UNTENDERED...NOW WHAT? May 17, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk to all of the players that did not get drafted (or tendered) in the recent USHL Phase I and Phase II drafts (which, by the way, is MOST players); or really ANY player that is dealing with the disappointment of not making the team they wanted to, or at a level they want to play.

(ALERT: There is also a message for players that DID get drafted, and DID make the team they wanted to make. Don’t settle. Don’t stop working. Don’t stop chasing your dream.)

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - CHARACTERISTICS OF ELITE PLAYERS May 15, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about some of the common characteristics of elite players (HINT: successful people in any endeavor tend to share many of the characteristics we talk about here).

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

Episode 312 - Chris Pronger May 13, 2024

This week Topher and Jeff welcome NHL Hall of Famer, Stanley Cup Champion, 2-time Olympic Champion with over 18 years in the NHL - Chris Pronger! Absolutely unreal episode with someone that has found success at every level, and drops knowledge that EVERY player and EVERY player needs to hear!

In this episode we talk about:

— Defining success on your own terms

— The importance of finding balance and taking breaks

— What a championship mindset looks like and how to cultivate it

— What the hockey (and youth hockey) journey should look like and be about

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and, our newest sponsor, NHL Sense Arena!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - SETBACKS & INJURIES May 10, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about how to handle setbacks and injuries. Every player - every person - has to learn how to navigate situations and circumstances that don’t go their way. Setbacks WILL happen, injuries WILL happen. How you deal with them will ultimately define your success 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!

SHORT SHIFTS - BENCH ENERGY May 08, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about BENCH ENERGY! The guys say it all the time - teams with the best bench energy, generally find greater success!

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

Follow us:

IG: @HockeyThinkTank and @HockeyThinkTankPodcast

X (Twitter): @HockeyThinkTank

TikTok: @HockeyThinkTank

Facebook: TheHockeyThinkTank

Episode 311 - Nolan Graham May 06, 2024

This week Topher and Jeff welcome Nolan Graham to the podcast to share his incredibly inspiring story. Nolan grew up on Vancouver Island, played college hockey at RPI, and coached juniors before returning to his alma mater as an assistant coach. In 2018, while at RPI, Nolan suffered an unimaginable tragedy involving a car that changed his life.

Nolan has not spoken in such a public way about his journey since the accident and the effects of his traumatic brain injury, and we are honored that he said yes to us.

In this episode we talk about:

— Resiliency, gratitude, and perspective

— Getting cut by his own dad from Bantam AAA (HOT TAKE: dad said he needed to play where he could play in all situations and get as many puck touches as possible!)

— Some incredible stories that reinforce the need to be authentic and genuine when handling highs and lows in any endeavor

— The accident that changed his life

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and, our newest sponsor, NHL Sense Arena!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - OHL PLAYERS TO THE NCAA... COULD IT HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE? May 03, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to discuss the possibility of OHL (and other major junior) players eventually being granted NCAA eligibility - especially with all of the NIL changes and opportunities for student-athletes. Could it happen? Should it happen? Who would it be good for? So many questions to tackle in this one!

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - LEGENDARY HOCKEY BROADCAST VOICES & CALLS May 01, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to pay tribute to legendary hockey broadcaster, Bob Cole, who recently passed. The guys talk about their favorite/most memorable broadcast calls over the years (and yes, Vechs brings up the call of one of his own goals! EPIC!), as well as some of their favorite broadcasting personalities.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

Episode 310 - Dan O'Donoghue Apr 29, 2024

This week Topher and Jeff welcome Dan O’Donoghue back to the podcast! We recorded this one LIVE from Long Island - and had some minor technical difficulties, but it’s a great episode nonetheless! Dan’s journey through hockey is unique and one that every player (and parent) should hear!

In this episode we talk about:

— The 50th Annual NYPD vs. FDNY hockey game that Dan is a part of and how Barstool’s support is pivotal to its success

— The importance of giving back to the game

— Ways our game - and the adults in youth hockey, can be better for the kids

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and, our newest sponsor, NHL Sense Arena!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - BREAKAWAY/SHOOTOUT MOVES Apr 26, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about breakaway/shootout moves that work well at the younger ages.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

SHORTS SHIFTS - CENTERS WINNING DRAWS Apr 24, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Topher wants to talk about centers winning draws. Possessing the puck is so important, and winning faceoffs is critical. We run a little long, but it’s because the guys have so much to say! (“If you’re not cheating a little, you’re not trying hard enough.” ~Toph on the art of winning faceoffs)

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

Episode 309 - Luke Croucher Apr 22, 2024

This week Topher and Jeff welcome Luke Croucher to the podcast. Luke plays Division III hockey at Neumann University and is doing some terrific things on social media for young players. We talk a lot about “what’s your why?” on this podcast, and Luke’s “why” is the first line of his social media bio: “Helping the hockey player I once was…”

Always giving back - putting out terrific information for free

In this episode we talk about:

— Life lessons being caught not taught

— How adversity has fueled his journey

— Surrounding yourself with like-minded people to reach your goals

— Building habits and confidence

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and, our newest sponsor, NHL Sense Arena!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - PENALTY KILL FORECHECK Apr 19, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about the penalty kill forecheck!

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - THE CYCLE Apr 17, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Topher wants to talk about the cycle. While it’s not a part of the game like it used to be, we talk about how to use (and defend) it effectively in today’s game.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

Episode 308 - Duante' Abercrombie Apr 15, 2024

This week Topher and Jeff welcome Duante’ Abercrombie to the podcast. Recently nominated for the NHL’s Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award by the Washington Capitals, we talk to Duante’ about his incredible journey in our sport and his work with The Rising Stars Academy in the Washington D.C. area. The Rising Stars Academy was designed to provide minority hockey players with elite on-ice skill development and off-ice training geared toward problem-solving and handling some racist elements in a sport that remains predominantly white.

In this episode we talk about:

— Grassroots hockey and its importance to the health of our game

— The importance of teaching kids the idea of community

— Having the courage the be different

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com - PLUS, our newest sponsor, NHL Sense Arena!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - O ZONE FACEOFF PLAYS Apr 12, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about O-zone faceoff plays. Great stuff in this one!

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - BEING TOUGH TO PLAY AGAINST Apr 10, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Topher asks Vechs what it means to be tough to play against, both individually and as a team.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

Episode 307 - Wendi Irlbeck Apr 08, 2024

This week Topher and Jeff welcome Wendi Irlbeck to the podcast. Wendi is a registered dietitian, certified sports nutritionist, and lifestyle coach with an M.S. in nutrition. Wendi specializes in enhancing health, athletic performance, and injury prevention by focusing on nutrition. A former collegiate athlete, Wendi works closely with teen, collegiate, and adult athletes of all calibers.

In this episode we talk about:

—The importance of having a positive relationship with food

— How nutrition impacts sports performance, what to eat on game days, and what to eat before and after training sessions

— Protein, creatine, supplements

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Link to Wendi's Health & Performance Playbook that folks can purchase

Quick Links

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com - PLUS, our newest sponsor, NHL Sense Arena!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - WALKING THE LINE FOR D MEN Apr 05, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about walking the line for D men, and ten minutes isn’t enough time for they guys to hit on everything!

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! (This episode runs a little long - it’s our week of “Medium Shift” episodes!)

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

SHORT SHIFTS - WALL PLAY FOR WINGERS ON THE BREAKOUT Apr 03, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Topher wants to talk about wall play for wingers on the breakout!

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! (AND WE RUN A LITTLE LONG BECAUSE THE GUYS WERE ROLLIN’!)

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

Episode 306 - Tony Adams Apr 01, 2024

On this week's episode, Topher and Jeff recorded LIVE in St. Louis from Jeff’s “Taj Mahal” of home gyms, with Vechs’ NFL client and NY Jets Safety, Tony Adams. This is one of the best conversations we have ever had - TA went from being an undrafted free agent to an NFL starter in two years, and opens up about adversity and low points throughout his life. A powerful episode that is not sport specific - there is something in here for everyone!

In this episode we talk about:

— Finding mentorship

— Being vulnerable

— Resiliency & gratitude

— Building athleticism

AND SO MUCH MORE!

For information on TA’s charity, the Tony Adams Foundation - a community driven organization dedicated to underserved communities through scholarship and mentorship - follow on Instagram @tonyadamsfoundation and @ta06_

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com - PLUS, our newest sponsor, NHL Sense Arena!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - BEST BUS TRIP MOVIES Mar 29, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, the guys finally get to put all that movie-watching and movie-quoting to good use: Vechs wants to talk about the best bus trip movies of all time!

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A CAPTAIN Mar 27, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Topher wants to talk about what Vechs (and he) thinks is important to look for in a captain.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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Episode 305 - MAILBAG! Mar 25, 2024

This week, it’s a MAILBAG episode with Topher and Jeff! Recorded LIVE in our Hockey Think Tank Community, with questions submitted via social media and from our Community members!

Visit Community.TheHockeyThinkTank.comfor information on joining!

In this episode we talk about:

— Tips for players to handle negative teammates

— A good age to start mental performance coaching

— The importance of teaching kids how to have hard conversations

— Half ice vs. Full ice practices

— Injury prevention strategies

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com - PLUS, our newest sponsor, NHL Sense Arena!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - GROWING WITH YOUR GEAR Mar 22, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about tips, tricks, and hacks for parents to help players grow with their gear.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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SHORT SHIFTS - HANDLING NERVES Mar 20, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about handling nerves. Every player experiences nerves - learning how to channel them to be your best on the ice is a skill.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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Episode 304 - Sean Muncy Mar 18, 2024

On this week’s episode, Topher and Jeff welcome back to the show, one of their best buds, Sean Muncy. Munce was part of the “infamous rags to riches St. Louis ‘85 group” with Vechs, went on to play juniors, Division I college hockey at Brown, and then played pro with Toph. He is now a financial wealth advisor and loves helping young players learn how to make smart decisions to reach their financial goals.

In this episode we talk about:

— Some awesome stories from their early days of hockey together

— Learning the life skill of personal finance

— Increased access to information has led to stress and pressure (and the silly season) that didn’t exist back when they played

—The importance of resilience and adversity for growth in hockey and in life

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com - PLUS, our newest sponsor, NHL Sense Arena!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - TRAVEL MANDATES AT THE YOUTH AGES Mar 15, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about mandatory bus rides, players rooming together, and phone restrictions at the youth levels; what’s a good age (if any) to mandate these things and what are the considerations from a cost and logistics perspective?

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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SHORT SHIFTS: SWAGGER Mar 13, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about swagger. How can teams, how can individual players earn some swagger? Winning teams have it - how can players build it?

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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Episode 303: Bishop Kearney Selects - Chris Collins, Ben McManama & David Arduin Mar 11, 2024

On this week’s episode, Topher is flying solo and recording in person with the leaders of the boys program at Bishop Kearney Selects, from their podcast studio on campus in Rochester, NY! (Vechs says without him on the pod, it was a “slightly less hot” episode.)

Topher is joined by Chris Collins (Sr. Director of Boys Hockey Program Development), Ben McManama (Director of Player Personnel), and David Arduin (Director of Boys Hockey| Head Coach, 18U) for a terrific conversation about the various youth hockey paths.

In this episode we talk about:

— How they’ve built such a successful program in just a few short years (2 national championships in just 4 years)

— The importance of putting players in challenging and competitive situations to develop them on and off the ice

— Common characteristics that players at the highest levels possess

— Helping players and their families navigate the hockey journey

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com - PLUS, our newest sponsor, NHL Sense Arena!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - FAVORITE SUBJECTS IN SCHOOL Mar 08, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about…SCHOOL! Jeff wants to know Toph’s top three subjects in school and how they shaped who he has become.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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SHORT SHIFTS - TIPPING PUCKS Mar 06, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about tipping pucks and this is absolutely in Vechs’ wheelhouse! Toph tees it up and Jeff runs with it! Unreal insight for forwards and defensemen…

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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Episode 302 - Matt Dumouchelle Mar 04, 2024

On this week’s episode, Topher and Jeff welcome Matt Dumouchelle to the podcast! Matt is a contributor to The Coaches Site and wrote the series Hockey Factories, which takes a deep dive into how some of hockey’s top development programs in the world train and develop elite talent.

In this episode we talk about:

— Commonalities among the world’s most successful development programs

— Things that hockey directors and coach can take begin to implement into their own programs right away

— The correlation between having a cohesive club culture and having success on the ice

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

SHORT SHIFTS - MORGAN REILLY-RIDLY GREIG INCIDENT Mar 01, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about the Morgan Reilly - Ridley Greig incident and get Toph’s insight on what happened, as well as the effect it may have on the next game of the Maple Leafs-Senators rivalry.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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SHORT SHIFTS - GAPS Feb 28, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about GAPS and the importance of gapping up; Vechs loves it because he tackles the topic from the standpoint of manipulating the gap. Awesome conversation!

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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Episode 301 - Jeremy Frisch Feb 26, 2024

On this week’s episode, Topher and Jeff welcome athletic development coach, Jeremy Frisch. He’s one of the best follows on social media, and this was an unreal conversation for any parent looking to help their kids become a better athlete. His approach to training kids is truly organic and embraces long term athletic development principles.

In this episode we talk about:

— Movement, Strength & Conditioning

— Building a foundation for kids so they love being in the gym, moving, and competing

— Jeremy gives an INCREDIBLE off-ice workout for coaches of younger players; get your notebooks ready - great stuff!

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

SHORT SHIFTS - MAKING A JOB OUT OF HOCKEY Feb 23, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs and Toph get asked this question A LOT: How can someone make a job for themselves out of hockey? They love the game, and want to make a career out of being involved - how should they attack that goal?

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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SHORT SHIFTS - PRACTICE HABITS Feb 21, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about PRACTICE HABITS and Vechs is here for it! Great stuff, and a terrific reminder for any player looking to get better.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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EPISODE 300! Feb 19, 2024

On this week’s episode, Topher and Jeff are celebrating 300 episodes of the podcast! Like Toph says at the start of each episode - "a little bit of education, a little bit of inspiration," and an unbelievable experience for us each and every week for over five years!

Vechs also has a HUGE announcement at the beginning and we couldn’t be more excited for him!

In this episode we talk about some of the amazing guests we have had the opportunity to have on the podcast over the years, how they’ve impacted us, and the ways they are helping make the hockey community a better place.

As promised, here is a breakdown of some of the guests we referenced in this episode:

HOCKEY DEVELOPMENT: Adam Nicholas, Brian Keane, Adam Oates, Darryl Belfry, Dwayne Blais, Patrick O’Sullivan, Mike Kelly, Jon Lounsbury,

PHYSICAL & MENTAL HEALTH: Mike Boyle, Brian Galivan, Matt Nichol, Don Jupp, Kelli Gast, Dr. Jason Selk, Dr. Cassidy Preston, Jon Gordon, Craig Ballantyne, Matt Caldaroni, Adam Naylor

WOMEN’S GAME: Kendall Coyne Schofield, Jocelyne & Monique Lamoureaux, Jayna Hefford,Theresa Feaster, Maura Crowell, Alyssa Gagliardi, Amanda “Mazz” Alessi, Nicole Hensley, Gordie Stafford

NHL: Alex Tuch, Al Roy, Brian Renfrew, Trent Frederic, Paul Stastny, Danny Dekeyser, Mary St. Louis, Eric Fehr, Brian Gionta, Chris Wideman, Tim Peel, Chris Butler, Chris Lazary, John Buccigross, Mark Dennehy, Ed Olczyk, Daniel Briere, Seth Appert, Ryan Hardy, Rob Schremp

COLLEGE: Pat Ferschweiler, Mike Schafer, Rico Blasi, Brandon Naurato, Brad Berry, Jared DeMichiel, George Gwozdecky, James Marcou, Ben Syer, Juliano Pagliero, Reid Cashman, Ben Barr, Cam Ellsworth, Kris Mayotte, Leon Hayward, Greg Powers, Brent Brekke, Steve Wiedler

YOUTH HOCKEY: Brett Beebe, Bob Mancini, Chris Collins, John O’Sullivan, Mike Terwilliger, Jay Hardwick, Brian Yandle, Nick Petraglia, Roger Grillo, Tobias Johansson, Tommi Niemelä

INSPIRATION: Rickey Mendez, Tyler Parks, Jack Smiley, Josh Pauls, Mike Ratchuk

Our family episodes are some of our favorites because they helped us show you who we are at our core - our triumphs, vulnerabilities, passions, struggles, and life changes - and we would not have it any other way. So thank YOU for being on this journey with us.

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

SHORT SHIFTS - TEAM BUILDING Feb 16, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, the guys talk about Team Building and give some team building exercises ideas for different ages to help with culture and camaraderie in fun and competitive ways. Teams that are close away from the ice are often the most successful on the ice because they’re invested in each other and want to be their best for the team.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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SHORT SHIFTS - LOSING STREAKS Feb 14, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about losing streaks and how teams that are struggling in the win column can work to turn it around, and how players can stay focused on the process to keep developing.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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Episode 299 - Jeff Lobman Feb 12, 2024

On this week’s episode, Topher and Jeff welcome Jeff Lobman from Vanguard Hockey International. Jeff is from the Long Island/Staten Island area and is doing some terrific things to give back to the area where he grew up playing youth hockey.

In this episode we talk about:

— How hockey legitimately saved his life

— Player Development

— The unique experience Vanguard Hockey offers to players giving them access to some terrific coaches from all over the world (including our own JAYHOO)

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

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SHORT SHIFTS - WHAT DO PLAYERS DO BETWEEN PERIODS Feb 09, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, the guys talk about what happens in the locker room during intermissions, and what players do between periods.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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SHORT SHIFTS - BEST HOCKEY CHIRPS Feb 07, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Topher wants to talk about one of the greatest parts of the game - CHIRPS!

The guys talk about the best hockey chirps they’ve given, received, or heard on the ice. We try to keep it PG-13, ish.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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Episode 298 - Blake Geoffrion & Sam Jefferies Feb 05, 2024

On this week’s episode, Topher and Jeff welcome Blake Geoffrion & Sam Jefferies. Sam wrote the book, “Legacy On Ice,” about Blake’s life as a fourth-generation NHLer and hockey royalty. In 2010 Blake became the first University of Wisconsin hockey player to win the Hobey Baker Award, and in 2012, his promising NHL career was cut short by a devastating injury that almost cost him his life. Blake’s ability to storytell is UNMATCHED, and you will not be disappointed!

In this episode we talk about:

— What drove Sam to write the book

— Triumph, tribulation, and resiliency

— Blake’s journey from growing up in Nashville, to playing at Culver and the NTDP before Wisconsin, the Hobey, and his pro career

— Have we mentioned the story telling? (Seriously. Press play now, thank us later.)

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

SHORT SHIFTS - HELIOS & HOCKEY TECHNOLOGY Feb 02, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about the advancements in hockey technology with respect to player development. One of our new podcast sponsors, Helios Hockey, offers an affordable option (don’t forget to use our discount code: THINKTANK) - and the guys talk about how technology in general (and access to it) has changed so much since their playing days.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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SHORT SHIFTS - CREATING BUY-IN Jan 31, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about the importance of creating buy-in and how coaches can go about creating it early to set the team up for success by setting expectations, standards, and accountability structure early.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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Episode 297 - Dr. Jason Selk Jan 29, 2024

On this week’s episode, Topher and Jeff welcome acclaimed author, motivational speaker, and world series champion as a mental performance coach with the St. Louis Cardinals, Dr. Jason Selk. Regarded as one of the top performance coaches in the United States, he’s worked with professional and olympic athletes as well Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 executives and organizations, training individuals and teams to develop the mental toughness necessary for high-level success.

In this episode we talk about:

— Characteristics of high achieving teams

— Effective goal-setting

— Self-confidence

— Any great coach’s biggest responsibility

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

SHORT SHIFTS - SHOULD THERE BE LIMITS FOR YOUTH COACHES? Jan 26, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs brings an awesome topic - should there be limits for youth coaches with respect to the number of years they’re coaching the same team and the same players? Some terrific conversation about the upside of having limits for coaches in youth programs and the potential impact on player development.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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SHORT SHIFTS - SKATING STRIDE Jan 24, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Topher wants to talk about the skating stride! Not only stride mechanics, but Toph wants to hear from Vechs about what players can be doing in the gym and off ice to improve their skating stride.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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Episode 296 - THE HOCKEY THINK TANK COMMUNITY Jan 22, 2024

This week, we finally reveal the project we've been working on for months...

We've built an ONLINE COMMUNITY to connect like-minded and passionate hockey people in our great game. When Topher first started the Hockey Think Tank as a passion project, his dream was to create this type of positive, enthusiastic community...and that dream is finally a reality! Whether you are a coach, parent, or player, this community is here to help enhance your journey in the game of hockey.

As you listen to the episode, we'll reveal all the details. But here are a few things to get you started:

-There's a link at the bottom of this podcast description to take you to where you can enter your information and let us know that you are interested in joining our community. From there we'll send you all of the details on how to register.

-Each day of the week our community will have a theme to get conversations rolling for our members to collaborate and share their perspective and ideas. We will provide thought provoking prompts and then let the conversations fly. The themes include:

Motivation Mondays - How to get the most out of ourselves and our teams

Tactics Tuesdays - Learn the in's and out's of hockey development, habits, structure, drills, etc...

Wellness Wednesdays - All about your physical and mental health

Therapy Thursdays - We'll present a topic we know people find hard to navigate in the hockey world and we'll all provide perspective on the journey

Friday Fundays - We will have fun prompts and discussion topics to increase our love for the game

Wildcard Weekends - We have some fun things planned...

-Some awesome perks for joining the community:

Access to a "10 Questions" segment with our guests that will only be hosted on our community page

Access to watch Topher and Jeff do their "Short Shifts" episodes LIVE on our community page

Access to a monthly Zoom call creating connection within our group and to have some fun

Access to major discounts from the Hockey Think Tank and Jeff's GMBM training (listen to the episode for these details)

-This community is not for people to come on and spread negativity or complain. It's about sharing ideas, gaining perspective, and making the game better one individual at a time through collaboration and positivity. With that, this will be a paid community to make sure people in here want to be here and contribute their ideas and knowledge for the betterment of the group. However...

- We are doing a week-long discount where registration to be a part of this community is 50% off!! We want to support the people who have supported us on our journey and make sure you know we love you and appreciate everything you have done for us. This deal for our Ride-or-Dies will last from Monday 1/22 - Sunday 1/28.

So go to thehockeythinktank.com TODAY, let us know you’re interested, and from there we'll get you everything you need to join our community and help change the game.

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

SHORT SHIFTS - IF YOU WERE THE HEAD OF USA HOCKEY... Jan 19, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs has an intriguing question for Topher: If you, overnight, became the head of USA Hockey, what are the first three things you'd implement?

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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SHORT SHIFTS - FAVORITE HOCKEY MOVIES Jan 17, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Topher's topic is one that brings out ALL the opinions - FAVORITE HOCKEY MOVIES of all time! The guys weigh in on their favorites and why - including some of their favorite lines and characters!

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

Episode 295 - 10 QUESTIONS Jan 15, 2024

This week’s episode is a long time coming! It’s a 10 QUESTIONS episode, and the guys take turns asking each other some hockey and non-hockey related questions - some serious, some hilarious (like fighting duck-sized horses), and some that were supposed to be serious that turned hilarious.

Some topics they touch on:

— Pregame routines & roadtrip roommates

— Best hockey movies

— Greatest fears

— What their tombstones would say

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

SHORT SHIFTS - LOPSIDED GAMES Jan 12, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Topher's topic comes from a listener’s question about how coaches can handle lopsided games - on both sides. Great discussion and ideas on lessons to take away whether you’re winning big, or learning big.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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SHORT SHIFTS - PWHL PK RULE Jan 10, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about the new PWHL PK “jailbreak” rule, which awards the team who scores a shorthanded goal on the PK by ending their penalty.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

Episode 294 - Brett Beebe Jan 08, 2024

One of our best episodes yet! Topher and Jeff welcome Brett Beebe, a Western Michigan University hockey alum and former pro player who is in his 6th season of coaching with the LA Jr Kings. He won the gold medal with Team USA (U17) in 2006 at the 4 Nations tournament, and a USA Hockey National Championship as both a player and coach! We had some great conversation about the state of youth hockey, how our game can be better, as well as terrific perspective on player development and doing things the right way in our sport.

In this episode we talk about:

—The importance of playing multiple sports

—The current culture of our sport

—Organizations collaborating together to enhance development

—Not confusing winning with development

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

SHORT SHIFTS - FAVORITE HOCKEY PRESENTS Jan 05, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs is STILL in the holiday spirit and wants to take a walk down memory lane to talk about some favorite hockey presents he and Toph have received over the years!

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

SHORT SHIFTS - PLAYER FEEDBACK Jan 03, 2024

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Topher wants to talk about player feedback - when and how should messages be delivered for maximum efficiency and player development?

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

Episode 293 - LIFE LESSONS THROUGH HOCKEY Jan 01, 2024

Happy New Year! It’s our first episode of 2024 and it’s a great one! On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, it’s just Topher and Jeff talking about the life lessons they’ve learned through hockey that have helped them earn success off the ice.

In this episode we talk about:

– Teamwork: Understanding you are part of something greater than yourself

– Learning how to compete: To show up every day and give your all is HARD

– Resilience: It's a superpower

– Commitment & Discipline: It's an every day thing; not a sometimes thing

– Confidence: the ONLY way to become confident is by putting in the work to earn it

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

SHORT SHIFTS - DIFFICULT TEAMMATES & BULLYING Dec 29, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about how to handle difficult teammates. The conversation turned to teammates that bully - and it got personal for Topher. This one struck a chord, and goes a little longer than our normal ten minutes - but it’s absolutely worth a listen!

TEN (PLUS) MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

SHORT SHIFTS - WINNING IN TRANSITION Dec 27, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Topher wants to talk about the transition game: what is winning in transition and how important is being good in transition both offensively and defensively?

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

Episode 292 - Jacob Turner Dec 25, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we welcome former Major League pitcher, Jacob Turner. The 9th overall draft pick by the Detroit Tigers now helps young athletes manage their money and mentors them for financial stability after their playing days.

In this episode we talk about:

– The life lessons that sports provides

– Resiliency

– Confidence

– The transition to life after being an elite athlete

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

SHORT SHIFTS - FAVORITE POWER PLAY Dec 22, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk all things Power Play and asks Topher what his favorite PP was and what, specifically, he liked about it.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

SHORT SHIFTS - PK FORECHECK Dec 20, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Topher wants to talk about the penalty kill forecheck and things that worked for Vechs over the years - from speed, vision, pressure, systems, and everything that helps teams have success on the kill.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

Episode 291 - Brad Berry & Mike Schafer Dec 18, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we throw it back to a “10 Questions” episode (from 2020) that Topher did with Brad Berry (North Dakota Head Coach) & Mike Schafer (Cornell Head Coach) - the Co-Winners of the Spencer Penrose award as the top coaches in college hockey to talk about their seasons and their programs!

In this episode Topher asked them:

– What was it about your specific teams this year that made them special and finish 1-2 in the country?

– How important is player leadership and what are some things you do with them to build culture?

– How has investing in relationships lead to you becoming a better coach?

– What are you looking for in players when you’re evaluating on the scouting trail?

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

SHORT SHIFTS - DIFFERENT WAYS TO TIE SKATES Dec 15, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about the different ways that players prefer to tie their skates (for efficiency, speed, comfort, stability, etc.) and why.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

SHORT SHIFTS - DIVVYING UP ICE TIME Dec 13, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Topher wants to tackle a topic that he was asked about recently - divvying up ice time and managing the bench. Everyone has an opinion, so BUCKLE UP!

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

Episode 290 - Jessi Feld Dec 11, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Topher and Jeff welcome Toph’s sister, Jessi Feld, on the podcast. Jessi is a hockey sister, a hockey mom to FOUR boys, and a long-time educator with a passion for identifying the ways kids learn.

Jessi holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education and Master’s Degrees in Curriculum and Instruction as well as Instructional Technology and has some incredible insight on the correlation between teaching and coaching.

In this episode we talk about:

— Embracing the ways kids learn and absorb information to create an environment that’s conducive for them to thrive

— Teaching direct skills, modeling, repetition, & routines

— The importance of teaching self-advocacy, kindness, respect, self-awareness and being proactive to help build a culture of acceptable standards

AND SO MUCH MORE!

CONTEST ALERT: We have partnered with LactiGo for an awesome giveaway for our listeners! Head to the 01:50 mark at the beginning of this episode for details on how to get your hands on some LactiGo for you or your team! It's the @LactiGo Gamechanger contest with the Hockey Think Tank Podcast!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

SHORT SHIFTS - PHONES Dec 08, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs tackles a topic that every coach and parent has an opinion about - PHONES! The guys talk about the reality of players using their phones and how they can affect - negatively or positively - the team culture, productivity, development, and more!

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

SHORT SHIFTS - BODY CHECKING Dec 06, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Topher wants to talk about BODY CHECKING! The guys tackle some of the best ways to teach how to hit, how to take a hit, and when to start introducing those concepts that will translate to success and confidence.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

Episode 289 - Dr. Cassidy Preston Dec 04, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Topher and Jeff welcome back Dr. Cassidy Preston to talk some sports psychology. He is a performance coach, author, and speaker with a new book out called “Mindset First” - and we had a great conversation about a new way elite athletes and high-performers in all areas of life can mentally prepare.

In this episode we talk about:

— Overcoming the fear of failure

— Mental preparation and focusing on the process

— Playing with confidence

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Dr. Cassidy Preston's latest book, Mindset First: Break Free from the Weight of Results, Play with Confidence, and Perform When It Matters Most is available HERE on Amazon.

Visit TheHockeyThinkTank.com

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

SHORT SHIFTS - SHOWCASES vs. TOURNAMENTS Dec 01, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to know what’s up with all the showcases these days?! The guys talk about the overuse of the word “showcase” (especially for the younger ages), and reminisce about how much they loved tournaments and the team camaraderie that comes from competing and winning them.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

SHORT SHIFTS - SMALL AREA GAMES Nov 29, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Topher asks Vechs to share some of his favorite small area games in practices. Since Vechs loves anything that encourages epic battles and competition, there”s some great stuff in here!

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

Episode 288 - A Youth Organization Blueprint Nov 27, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, the boys are flying solo and talking all about building a strong youth organization culture. Topher has (re) kick-started The Hockey Think Tank and is ready to share what the team has been working on to offer support for youth organizations.

In this episode we talk about best practices for:

— Organization leadership & structure

— Culture & Team Building

— Putting “hockey” back in “Hockey Director”

— Leveraging volunteers to match passion and talents to optimize the experience for players, parents and coaches

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Visit TheHockeyThinkTank.com

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

SHORT SHIFTS - TRYOUTS Nov 24, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about tryouts! What the process should look like, how many tryouts are needed, how to handle posting results, what kind of feedback, if any, should coaches give players, and more!

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

SHORT SHIFTS - HOW TO GET FASTER Nov 22, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph’s topic for Vechs is - How To Get Faster? Speed is such a huge part of the game and the guys talk about some of the ways that players can get faster, and things to remember along the way.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

Episode 287 - Gordie Stafford Nov 20, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we welcome Gordie Stafford from Shattuck-St. Mary’s. After a successful professional career, Gordie has built the premier women’s program including 9 national championships, over 250 college players (including 3 Patty Kaz winners), 29 women’s professional players, and 8 olympians in his almost 20 years at the helm.

In this episode we talk about:

— Sports psychology and helping players keep perspective

— His unique perspective going from high end player, to high end coach (both boys and girls), and being a hockey parent

— The importance of gratitude

— Advice for parents navigating the youth hockey world

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

SHORT SHIFTS - INTRODUCING VIDEO Nov 17, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode of The Hockey Think Tank podcast, Vechs wants to talk about using video for development, how and when to introduce it, what it looks like at different ages, and how players can get the most out of a video session.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

SHORT SHIFTS - D RETRIEVALS Nov 15, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph’s topic for Vechs is - D RETRIEVALS! Since having the ability to break the puck out is an important skill, they talk tips and tricks for defensemen to get pucks out of the zone.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

Episode 286 - J.P. Nerbun Nov 13, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on J.P. Nerbun, an executive coach, culture consultant, and author of the new book The Sports Parent Solution, it was an unreal conversation with tangible takeaways for coaches, business leaders, parents and anyone looking to be better.

In this episode we talk about:

— Culture isn’t just a box to check

— Leadership strategies that translate to parenthood

— JP’s Coaching Culture podcast

— Culture building is intentional and requires communication, alignment, and consistent systems to be successful.

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

SHORT SHIFTS - BAG SKATING Nov 10, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs asks Toph his thoughts on bag skates. Are they useful? Necessary? Appropriate?

TEN MINUTES… ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

SHORT SHIFTS - NUTRITION Nov 08, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph’s topic is - NUTRITION. It’s such an important component for any athlete to reach their potential and Vechs HAS THOUGHTS that you’re not going to want to miss!

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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Episode 285 - Mike Ratchuk Nov 06, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Buffalo native and former second round draft pick (Philly), Mike Ratchuk in what turned out to be an incredibly powerful conversation.

In this episode we talk about:

— Playing juniors for the USNTDP

— Winning a National Championship with Michigan State University

— His experience at the NHL draft

— What he’s able to pass along as an assistant coach with SUNY Cortland

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

SHORT SHIFTS - VIDEO Nov 03, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs asks Toph his thoughts on home video sessions and what’s important for a player to focus on when watching their own video to make a positive impact in their development.

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 - CONSISTENCY Nov 01, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about consistency. What players, and coaches, can do individually (with preparation, routines, habits) to help with team consistency.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

Episode 284 - 5 ISSUES PLAGUING YOUTH HOCKEY Oct 30, 2023

This week’s episode marks FIVE YEARS of the Hockey Think Tank podcast! To celebrate, the boys recorded this one LIVE and together in STL! Jeff and Topher reminisce about their start with the pod (while “murdering” protein shakes) before diving deep into five issues that are plaguing youth hockey:

— Early sport specialization

— The disconnect between parents and coaches

— The privatization of rinks

— Remembering that hockey development is a marathon, not a sprint

— FOMO is a real thing

AND MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

SHORT SHIFTS - WHAT AGE IS TOO YOUNG TO LEAVE HOME Oct 27, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs asks Toph his thoughts on what age is “too young” to leave home. So many factors these days in kids deciding to leave home at younger and younger ages and the guys discuss in TEN MINUTES… ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

SHORT SHIFTS - BIGGEST DISTRACTIONS TO REACHING POTENTIAL Oct 25, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about the biggest distractions keeping today’s players from reaching their potential.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network (THPN)

Episode 283 - MAILBAG! Oct 23, 2023

This week it’s a MAILBAG episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast! Jeff and Topher tackle the AWESOME questions sent in by listeners with some bonus (and unreal) stories about their most memorable special jerseys, their first hockey fights, and so much more!

BUCKLE UP (and shoot us a DM if you have a topic or question for our next Mailbag episode)!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

SHORT SHIFTS - FACEOFFS Oct 20, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about how to win faceoffs. Keys, techniques and the importance of understanding it takes more than just the center to win possession.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network.

SHORT SHIFTS - 5 ON 6 Oct 18, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about 5 on 6 situations and how to best set your team up for success.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

Episode 282 - 5 Keys to Getting Recruited Oct 16, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Topher and Jeff sound off on the 5 Keys to Getting Recruited. Some great insight for players and parents trying to navigate the entire process from youth hockey and beyond.

In this episode we discuss:

— Focusing on what YOU can control

— Remembering that it’s a marathon, not a sprint

— The scouting and recruiting process

— What scouts look for in a player

— What players can do to proactively get on the radar

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

SHORT SHIFTS - PLAYERS SHOWING STYLE Oct 13, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about the insurgence of players’ personal style beginning to permeate the game. Love it? Hate it? Good for the game, or not? Here we go…

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - LATE BLOOMERS Oct 11, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph’s topic is all about late bloomers! If you are one, a parent of one, or coaching one (or more) - this episode is for you!

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

Episode 281 - Corey Cumiskey Oct 09, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Topher and Jeff talk to Corey Cumiskey of Humble Hockey. More than just a place to get custom team gear, Humble Hockey exists to celebrate the culture of hockey: grit, discipline, humility and integrity.

In this episode we discuss:

— The reality of youth hockey from a parent perspective

— How Humble Hockey is making a difference in the team gear space

— The unique way Humble Hockey gives back by helping KEEP kids in the game

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

SHORT SHIFTS - ON ICE INSTRUMENTS Oct 06, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs asks Toph about a hot-button topic in the world of player development - the use of on-ice instruments! Do their benefits outweigh some of their limitations? Is there an optimal age to start using them? These questions and MORE…

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - PREGAME PEP TALK Oct 04, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph’s topic is all about the pregame pep talk. Tips, timing, messaging and more!

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

Episode 280 - Common Components of Elite College and Professional Teams Oct 02, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Topher is flying solo! Back in 2011, Toph was on staff at Miami of Ohio as a Graduate Assistant and wrote his Masters Thesis on the Key and Common Elements of Successful College and Professional Programs and Coaches.

Without a ton out (at that time) from a hockey-specific perspective, Toph turned to some of the all-time great coaches and programs: John Wooden, Coach K, Vince Lombardi, Phil Jackson, Tony Dungy, Lou Holtz, Pat Riley, Bill Walsh, Jim Tressel, and more!

In this episode Toph hits on:

— Big emphasis on people and personal relationships

— Always had a look at the bigger picture (forward thinkers)

— Different characteristics that these coaches possessed that set them apart

— Habits (as individuals and what they preaches to their teams)

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

SHORT SHIFTS - PENALTY KILL: AGGRESSIVE OR PASSIVE? Sep 29, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs asks Toph is he’s a fan of the all-out pressure PK, or more of a passive penalty kill. GREAT conversation for coaches and players! (HINT: if you’re not a fan of youth players NOT being able to ice the puck on the kill, THIS IS FOR YOU because… development.)

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - LINE CHANGES Sep 27, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph’s topic is LINE CHANGES! Vechs has opinions and the guys talk about how critical line changes can be - from shift length, how to change to gain an advantage, changing hard, AND SO MUCH MORE!

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

Episode 279 - Mike Radja Sep 25, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher welcome former professional hockey player, Mike Radja. Mike, a former AHL player and Assistant Captain at UNH is now the head instructor at SpeedSkills Hockey doing tremendous things with player development in upstate New York!

In this episode we discuss:

— The absolute grind that being a professional athlete entails

— Chicago youth hockey days of Radja and Toph playing against each other

— Setting goals, being accountable, and finding success in your passion

— Skill development should be FUN

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

SHORT SHIFTS - MIKE BABCOCK FIRING Sep 22, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs asks Toph about a HOT topic in the hockey world - Mike Babcock’s firing. Everyone has an opinion - including our guys!

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - DOGGING IT Sep 20, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph’s topic is from a listener who wants to know how a coach should handle players who start dogging it after making a team.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

Episode 278 - Jimmy & Rutger McGroarty Sep 18, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher welcome the father-son dynamic duo, Jimmy & Rutger McGroarty! Jimmy coached our very own Vechs in juniors and is currently the GM for the Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL). His son, Rutger, played for the USNTDP, was a first-round draft pick for the Winnipeg Jets, and is entering his sophomore year for the University of Michigan.

In this episode we discuss:

— The impact that coaches can have in players’ lives

— The story of Rutger’s NHL draft experience from both of their perspectives

— What strong leadership looks like

— What it was like for Rutger growing up around high level players, and then putting in the work to reach the national team (where he says the REAL work started)

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

SHORT SHIFTS - HOW TO TALK TO REFS Sep 15, 2023

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Jeff’s topic is: How to talk to refs. The shortage of officials in every youth sport is a crisis, and part of the problem is the culture surrounding their treatment in games. Are they always right, and always good? No. But neither are we - and the example we set during the challenging games is critical to team energy and success.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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SHORT SHIFTS - BREAKAWAYS Sep 13, 2023

On this SHORT SHIFTS episode, Topher wants to talk about BREAKAWAYS and Vechs is here for it! Successful breakaways and shootout moves, including tips to increase your chances of scoring. TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

Episode 277 - Gavin McHale Sep 11, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on performance coach Gavin McHale! Gavin grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba where as a goalie he played up through junior hockey before becoming a highly successful performance coach working with many entrepreneurs.

The guys had a great talk with Gavin hitting things like:

Can you use anxiety for good?

What are the commonalities of high achievers?

How can you best set goals for success?

Much More!!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!

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SHORT SHIFTS - BENCH ENERGY Sep 08, 2023

Today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode is all about Bench Energy! Jeff brought the topic and it’s absolutely in Topher’s wheelhouse. We talk about how vitally important positive bench energy is to any team’s success; from the player leading in time-on-ice to the teammate that doesn’t see a shift in a game (and everyone in between) - it’s crucial to set the tone and expectation early.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - NET FRONT PLAY Sep 06, 2023

Welcome to “SHORT SHIFTS” with the Hockey Think Tank Podcast! Each week, we will put out two of these (Wednesdays & Fridays); Toph & Jeff take turns bringing a topic that the other one doesn’t know ahead of time - and the boys get it done in ten minutes!

Toph’s topic today - NET FRONT PLAY! The boys talk about what’s important when playing in front of the net on both sides of the puck.

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

Episode 276 - Technology in Hockey Sep 04, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher bring on some of the best in the game to talk about using technology in hockey!

• Mike Monti, Video Coach for the Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

• Bill Near, founder and CEO of Helios Hockey - our newest podcast sponsor!

• Nils Satterstrom & Scott Goergen from IceHockeySystems

In this episode we discuss:

— IHS: How IceHockeySystems software and content, simply put, makes coaches (and associations) better with increased efficiency and an unbelievable library of resources.

— HELIOS: Stride mechanics & data for players to enhance development, as well as real-time feedback that coaches can utilize IN-GAME, in real time, to enhance bench management. Also, JUST WAIT until you hear about Helios’ “Hustle Score” - it’s a game changer.

— MONTI: Talks about some of the unique things he does using Google Drive as it relates to video and player development

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

SHORT SHIFTS - HOW TO START A PRACTICE Sep 01, 2023

Welcome to “SHORT SHIFTS” with the Hockey Think Tank Podcast! Each week, we will put out two of these (Wednesdays & Fridays); Toph & Jeff take turns bringing a topic that the other one doesn’t know ahead of time - and the boys get it done in ten minutes!

In this episode, Vechs wants to talk about raising the energy level to start practice so players - and the team - get the most out of their time on the ice

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

SHORT SHIFTS - PRESEASON PARENT MEETING Aug 30, 2023

WE HAVE A NAME FOR THE NEW SEGMENTS!

(And THANK YOU to everyone who submitted suggestions. You guys are awesome!)

Welcome to “SHORT SHIFTS” with the Hockey Think Tank Podcast! Each week, we will put out two of these (Wednesdays & Fridays); Toph & Jeff take turns bringing a topic that the other one doesn’t know ahead of time - and the boys get it done in ten minutes!

In this episode, Toph wants to talk about the importance of a preseason parent meeting to set the tone and set the standard to start the season!

TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!

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

Episode 275 - Juliano Pagliero Aug 28, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk to Juliano Pagliero (Pags”), the Associate Head Coach at Penn State. A former goalie who played at Niagara and has been able to work with some terrific college head coaches, shares some terrific insight on things he has learned along his journey.

In this episode we discuss:

— Pags’ experience in juniors playing for 5 different teams and how he used that to learn, grow, and improve.

— How shooters and goalies can help each other in practices, to use to their advantage.

— Learning to believe in your preparation.

— The unreal competition and leader boards for just about ANYTHING outside of hockey among the Penn State team! (It’s seriously epic.)

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

10-MINUTE QUICK HIT - HALF WALL GUY ON THE PP Aug 25, 2023

Welcome to our second 10-minute, quick hit, (as yet) unnamed version of the Hockey Think Tank Podcast! Each week, we will put out two of these, in one Toph brings a topic that Jeff doesn’t know ahead of time, and in the other, Jeff brings the topic!

Up today: Vechs wants to talk about the half wall guy on the power play, and the boys get it done in ten minutes!

WE NEED YOUR HELP! We are still looking for a name for these new segments - DM us @HockeyThinkTankPodcast with your suggestions.

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

10-MINUTE QUICK HIT - 2 ON 1s Aug 23, 2023

Welcome to our very first 10-minute, quick hit, (as yet) unnamed version of the Hockey Think Tank Podcast! Each week, we will put out two of these, in one Toph brings a topic that Jeff doesn’t know ahead of time, and in the other, Jeff brings the topic!

Up first: Toph wants to talk about 2 on 1s from both the offensive side and the defensive side of the puck, and the boys get it done in ten minutes!

WE NEED YOUR HELP! We are still looking for a name for these new segments - DM us @HockeyThinkTankPodcast with your suggestions.

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

Episode 274 - Nick Bootland Aug 21, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk to Nick Bootland, Assistant Coach for the Calder Cup winning Hershey Bears (AHL)! Nick grew up in Shelburne, ONT, played in the OHL and professionally before spending 13 years as Head Coach of the Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL) before joining the staff in Hershey.

In this episode we discuss:

— The opportunity to play for the Memorial Cup (OHL)

— Going from player to coach (from one season to the next), for the same team!

— What it means to be back in Hershey as a coach and winning the Calder Cup

— The importance of gratitude and perspective in the game and in life

AND SO MUCH MORE!

(HINT: want more Hockey Think Tank podcast? How about a couple of ten-minute quick hits each week to bang out on your way to or from the rink! YOU can help us name the new segment!)

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

episode 273 - HOW TO START THE SEASON OFF HOT Aug 14, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk about ways to get a great start to the season! Whether you’ve worked hard all summer or had some bumps along the way (or both), it’s not too late to dial it in and get a great start TODAY! Coaches, setting the tone early with culture and expectations will help your team throughout the season.

In this episode we discuss:

— Strategies to earn your confidence

— Setting a team identity early

— Focusing on small details, consistently

— The importance of goal-setting

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

Episode 272 - Amanda "Mazz" Alessi Aug 07, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher welcome Amanda Mazzotta Alessi, former Cornell goaltender and current Assistant Coach for Quinnipiac Women’s Hockey. Terrific discussion about Quinnipiac’s reputation of being consistently hard to play against and how they maintain that year-to-year.

In this episode we discuss:

— Player accountability, goal setting and developing culture

— An unreal point system that they use to motivate players

— The most epic player success plans that create ownership and tangible metrics from each player’s own goal-setting

AND SO MUCH MORE!

In this episode, Vechs mentions a fundraising event near to him.

The link to donate to Kate is here: https://venmo.com/u/katejohnson10

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

Episode 271 - Zach Metsa Jul 31, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher welcome the captain of the Quinnipiac Bobcats, Zach Metsa. An unreal story of his start in youth hockey, to the culture at Quinnipiac that helped them earn a National Championship this season - it was a terrific conversation with so much for coaches, players and parents alike.

In this episode we discuss:

— Playing Squirt House B and jumping to AAA hockey in Milwaukee

—The difference coaches can make in the lives of their players

—Relationships, resiliency, culture

— Winning a NATTY CHAMPIONSHIP

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

Episode 270 - DEFENSIVE HABITS Jul 24, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher turn to the D side of the puck and talk about Defensive Habits that teams and players must develop for success!

In this episode we discuss:

— COMMUNICATION

— Gaps, Stick pressure, Tracking, and Transition

— D Zone

— Neutral Zone

— Forecheck

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

Episode 269 - Jakub Dobeš Jul 17, 2023

On this week’s episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast we talk to one of Jeff’s longtime clients, Jakub Dobeš who just signed with the Montreal Canadiens after two seasons between the pipes for The Ohio State University.

In this episode we discuss:

— His journey that included leaving his home in the Czech Republic for the U.S.

— His work ethic and outlook through adversity, and the support system he found here in the states

As well as a couple of announcements:

— A cause near and dear to Toph’s heart - his fundraising event at Cornell for Racker, a school for individuals with special needs. Link to donate is here (https://www.givegab.com/p2p/racker-rivals-big-red-2023/topher-scott)

—A HUGE life-changing decision for Top and his family. Bittersweet but exciting too!

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

Episode 268 - OFFENSIVE HABITS (PT. 2) Jul 10, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher continue the talk about offensive habits and the attributes that will lead to success in today’s game. PLAYERS: Learning to do the simple things well, over time, make the biggest difference!

In this episode we discuss:

— Ozone habits

— Neutral zone and entries

— Breakouts

— Puck protection, separation, shoulder checks and scans, and activating your D

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

Episode 267 - Jacob Truscott & Nolan Moyle Jul 03, 2023

On this week’s episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast we talk to two of the leaders from the University of Michigan hockey team - this past season’s captain, Nolan Moyle and the upcoming 23-24 season captain, Jacob Truscott. Their paths to play for the Wolverines were so different - and the conversation is incredible. Their stories are part of what have made them such unbelievable leaders.

In this episode we discuss:

— Learning to overcome adversity

—Creating habits to be successful

—Versatility & knowing your role on a team

— Michigan’s run for the national championship this season

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

Episode 266 - OFFENSIVE HABITS Jun 26, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk about offensive habits and the attributes needed to have success in today’s game.

In this episode we discuss:

— Communication

— Puck support

— Having a finishing mentality

— Positionless hockey

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

Episode 265 - Jack Smiley Jun 19, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher welcome Jack Smiley! You may have heard some of Jack’s story when he suffered a stroke on the ice in 2022 while playing at Endicott College - but its the story of his journey back to hockey that is unbelievably inspiring.

In this episode we discuss:

— Resiliency and motivation

— The impact of your own words, to yourself

— Realizing that someone out there is doing better, with worse

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

Episode 264 - PLAYER LEADERSHIP Jun 12, 2023

On this week’s episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher are talking about all things player leadership and its importance to any team. What does it look like? What do great player leaders do? What characteristics do great leaders they’ve played with (or coached) over the years possess? As Vechs says in this episode, “better leadership equals better everything!”

ALL OF THIS AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

Episode 263 - Ryan Ward & Jason Deskins Jun 05, 2023

This week’s episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast - fresh off of winning the USHL’S Clark Cup Championship (with a Finals sweep) - we talk to Youngstown Phantom’s Head Coach, Ryan Ward and Co-General Manager, Jason Deskins.

In this episode we discuss:

— How team culture & identity impact success

— The pressures that today’s players face

— The importance of earning your players’ trust

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

Episode 262 - MAILBAG! May 29, 2023

This week it’s a MAILBAG episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast! Jeff and Topher tackle the AWESOME questions sent in by listeners, hitting on some of our favorite Inspo follows as well as advice for players and coaches.

In this episode we discuss:

— How much ice is too much during the summer/off-season

— How to reach out to junior or college teams

— How best to empower your leadership group

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

Episode 261 - Danny DeKeyser May 22, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk with long-time Detroit Red Wings defenseman, Danny Dekeyser about his journey through Western Michigan University to a decade in the NHL as an undrafted free agent for his hometown team.

In this episode we discuss:

— His unconventional route in Juniors (he’s proof there is no ONE path)

— Playing for Jeff Blashill at WMU and in Detroit

— Getting to play with and practice against Kronwall, Datsyuk, Zetterberg as a young NHLer

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

Episode 260 - BEING HARD TO PLAY AGAINST May 15, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk about what it means to be hard to play against as both a player and a team.

In this episode we discuss:

— Players who never quit on the puck

— Relentlessness, speed & a good defensive stick

— Discipline, finishing checks

— Tracks, gaps & defending all the way up the ice

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

Episode 259 - D Development with Alyssa Gagliardi May 08, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher welcome back THIRD TIME GUEST Alyssa Gagliardi to talk all things DEFENSE! A stud in her own right (Shattuck, Cornell, Boston Pride), Alyssa offers some unreal insight on D development. An absolute must listen for coaches and players.

In this episode we discuss:

— Manipulating the play without the puck

— Learning what it means to be a defenseman in today’s game

— Creating deception to make plays

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

Episode 258 - EMBRACE THE GRIND May 01, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk about EMBRACING THE GRIND! In life, in hockey, in ANYTHING you do, success requires finding joy in the details, the process - the grind.

In this episode we discuss:

— Strategies to approach the process

— Winning the day with short-term goal setting

— The importance of accountability partners

— Perspective

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

Episode 257 - Brian Renfrew Apr 24, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk to Brian Renfrew! Brian, currently an amateur scout for the Winnipeg Jets, won an NCAA National Championship while coaching at Michigan State, and played for Western Michigan University. He has some terrific stories, unbelievable insight, and absolutely loves our great game!

In this episode we discuss:

— Some UNREAL stories from his coaching days

— Things NHL scouts looks for in players (AND PARENTS) while scouting

— What it was like growing up playing hockey in Alaska

— The importance of competing and his passion for the game

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

Episode 256 - BE PRESENT Apr 17, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk about being present in the moment and living every day, starting TODAY! Tomorrow is not promised, and we talk strategies to help make the most of every day we are given.

The episode gets a little emotional as Toph pays tribute to one of his best friends and college teammate, former NHLer, Ray Sawada, who passed away unexpectedly last week while playing the game he loved. A GoFundMe was set up to help his wife and two daughters during this unimaginably difficult time. If it’s on your heart to do so, please consider donating or sharing:

In memory of Raymond Sawada https://gofund.me/d35db5a4

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

Episode 255 - BIG MOMENTS Apr 10, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk about BIG MOMENTS! In hockey and in life, learning how to get the best out of yourself in the biggest moments is a skill that can - and should - be cultivated.

In this episode we discuss:

— Preparation gives you confidence

— Pressure is a privilege

— Being in the moment

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

Episode 254 - MOTIVATION! Apr 03, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk about MOTIVATION! A deep dive on the topic and how it can affect successful, or not, outcomes.

In this episode we discuss:

— Intention and passion

— Goal-setting

— Action

— And identifying YOUR why

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS;We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

Episode 253 - Robert Novotny Mar 27, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we talk to the founder and CEO of Athletix Testing, Robert Novotny. Athletix offers hockey-specific performance testing and data analysis services to support the development of athletes, teams, and organizations in North America and Europe.

In this conversation we talk:

— How data & analytics have evolved to monitor player development

— The benefits of sport-specific testing for athletes AND coaches

— How standardization and comparable results increase athlete competitiveness

— Entrepreneurship

AND SO MUCH MORE

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS! We appreciate you downloading, rating and sharing our podcast! YOU are the reason we do this and we appreciate your support.

Episode 252 - MAILBAG Mar 20, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher bring another MAILBAG of awesomeness from your questions on social media. They cover:

— When it’s the right time to change teams/coaches

— Advice for coaches on setting expectations & team culture

— How to help foster positive environments for players and organizations

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS! We love doing these episodes - so DM or email us your questions any time and we will get to them on the next MAILBAG!

Episode 251 - TRYOUTS Mar 13, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk about TRYOUTS! Often times called “the silly season” (for good reason), they offer a unique perspective from both the player side as well as the coach’s side, and how to handle the stress, uncertainty and opportunity presented.

In this episode we discuss:

— Players embracing what THEIR strengths are and being their best at THOSE things

— How parents can help kids navigate the stress and pressure they’re feeling

— What coaches look for during a tryout

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS;We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

Lost Episode - Tyler Parks Mar 06, 2023

At 17, he was a high school JV goaltender.

He is now a starting goalie in the AHL.

Tyler Parks is a true inspiration. On our podcast we talk ALL.THE.TIME about the importance of resiliency and sticking to it through all of the failures that come with trying to achieve something great. Tyler Parks is the embodiment of these values.

As a relatively unknown, this podcast episode is one of our most downloaded of all time with how inspirational it was. We wanted to re-release it for anyone with a dream and needs a little bit of motivation. Enjoy!!

Episode 250 - Paul Stastny Feb 27, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Topher and Jeff celebrate their 250th episode with friend, podcast listener, and NHLer, Paul Stastny! Stas and Vechs have been friends since they were playing squirts together - one has over 800 NHL points, has notched over 1100 NHL games, is a US Olympian and an NCAA National Champion (HINT: it’s not Vechs)!

In this episode we discuss:

— What it takes to have the kind of career Stas has had at the highest levels

— How age and maturity change a players’ approach to the game

— Mentorship, curiosity and brotherhood

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS - we do this podcast for YOU and appreciate you listening and sharing with your teams, players, parents and coaches!

Check out our link nordvpn.com/thinktank to protect your online activity.

Episode 249 - ASK ME ANYTHING Feb 20, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, it’s a Topher and Jeff “ASK ME ANYTHING” episode. They ask each other three questions, unrehearsed, with some epic answers.

In this episode we discuss:

— The advice we’d go back and give our parents

— What does “hard to play against” look like? (HINT: relentlessness is key)

— Essential habits to achieve being a high level player

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS - we do this podcast for YOU and appreciate you listening and sharing with your teams, players, parents and coaches!

Check out our link nordvpn.com/thinktank to protect your online activity.

Episode 248 - Brady Leavold Feb 13, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Topher and Jeff talk to Brady Leavold about his INCREDIBLE journey from pro hockey to addiction to prison, and how he is now helping to ignite change in mental health and substance misuse in the hockey world. PARENTAL DISCRETION is advised as the conversation is real, raw and honest.

In this episode we discuss:

— Creating powerful conversations surrounding mental health and substance misuse

— Brady’s response to the trauma of childhood abuse

— Making a difference through The Puck Support Network Non-Profit Organization

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS - we do this podcast for YOU and appreciate you listening and sharing with your teams, players, parents and coaches!

Check out our link nordvpn.com/thinktank to protect your online activity.

Episode 247 - COST Feb 06, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Topher and Jeff talk about one of the most divisive topics in our sport: the cost of playing our great game.

In this episode we discuss:

— The financial barriers that exist in youth hockey

— The costs involved in perpetuating those barriers

— Questions parents can be asking to assess their families ROI

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS - we do this podcast for YOU and appreciate you listening and sharing with your teams, players, parents and coaches!

Check out our link nordvpn.com/thinktank to protect your online activity.

Episode 246 - Sam Cheema Jan 30, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Topher and Jeff talk to Sam Cheema - the Director of the Ironbound Hockey program. Sam, who now lives in NYC, is a former pro player who grew up in the UK and was a member of Great Britain’s National team.

In this episode we discuss:

— Providing opportunities for players in non-traditional markets

— A holistic approach to development

— Motivation, accountability & growth

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS - we do this podcast for YOU and appreciate you listening and sharing with your teams, players, parents and coaches!

Check out our link nordvpn.com/thinktank to protect your online activity.

Episode 245 - So you want to play in the NHL... Jan 23, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Topher and Jeff sound off on what it takes to play in the NHL - and how very improbable, statistically speaking, reaching that level is. A terrific and realistic conversation from two guys that have played, coached, and been around high level hockey their whole lives.

In this episode we discuss:

— The importance of goal-setting and consistency

— Being intentional with your effort, energy and routines

— Staying true to your why

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS - we do this podcast for YOU and appreciate you listening and sharing with your teams, players, parents and coaches!

Check out our link nordvpn.com/thinktank to protect your online activity.

Episode 244 - Kelli Gast Jan 16, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Topher and Jeff talk to Assistant Professor and mental health clinician, Kelli Gast. She’s a hockey mom, a billet mom (with four billets playing pro hockey), with a uniquely qualified perspective on the mental aspects of playing high level hockey.

In this episode we discuss:

— How to help players identify and embrace the mental aspects of sports

— Strategies to handle anxiety, fear and a loss of confidence

— How parents and coaches can help young players develop positive mental health skills

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS - we do this podcast for YOU and appreciate you listening and sharing with your teams, players, parents and coaches!

Check out our link nordvpn.com/thinktank to protect your online activity.

Episode 243 - FINDING THE FUN AGAIN Jan 09, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Topher and Jeff talk openly about the times in their playing days when hockey just wasn’t fun, and how they worked through those obstacles. The reality is, it happens to every player at some point in their career - and there is no shame in asking for help when you’re struggling, on or off the ice.

In this episode we discuss:

— The story behind Topher being called Topher, instead of Christopher (it’s an INSANE story)

— Strategies to grind your way out of a slump and get back to HAVING FUN

— How Topher & Jeff each faced the challenge of wanting to walk away from the game

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS - we do this podcast for YOU and appreciate you listening and sharing with your teams, players, parents and coaches!

Check out our link nordvpn.com/thinktank to protect your online activity.

242 - Eric Fehr Jan 02, 2023

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher welcome Stanley Cup champion and former first round draft pick, Eric Fehr. Some incredible stories on his journey from growing up on a farm to playing over 650 NHL games!

In this episode we discuss:

— What it was like playing alongside BOTH Ovi & Sid

— An UNREAL story about learning a new position AT THE NHL level!

— Eric’s new company and the product that is changing the game for athlete recovery

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS - we hope you had a happy new year and we look forward to bringing you more great guests in 2023!

Check out our link nordvpn.com/thinktank to protect your online activity.

241 - MAILBAG! Dec 26, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher record a LIVE episode from GRANDMA’S BASEMENT!

It’s a MAILBAG episode featuring YOUR questions, and as always, there are some awesome ones!

In this episode we discuss:

— Who was better at knee hockey

— How to encourage communication on-ice

— Creating parody in youth hockey

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We love hearing from you so be sure to reach out on our social sites!

Check out our link nordvpn.com/thinktank to protect your online activity.

Episode 240 - LESSONS LEARNED Dec 19, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk about the lessons they learned throughout their hockey journeys and the impact those lessons have had on their lives after playing.

While each of their top three are similar (they are cousins after all), the ways they arrived at them, and the ways they’ve continued to apply them leads to some insightful discussion.

A GREAT EPISODE TO HAVE ON DURING YOUR RIDE TO OR FROM THE RINK!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS! This episode may have also singlehandedly contained the highest number of movie quotes of any previous pod episode!

Check out our link nordvpn.com/thinktank to protect your online activity.

Episode 239 - Brett Wall Dec 12, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk to former Lake Superior State University player and current Lawrence University (DIII) Head Coach, Brett Wall.

In this conversation we talk about:

— Coaching philosophy & development

— Motivating people

— Leadership styles and their impact

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS! This episode has a little something for everyone and will be a terrific resource for anyone in a leadership role!

Check out our link nordvpn.com/thinktank to protect your online activity.

Episode 238 - MAXIMIZING POTENTIAL Dec 05, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk about the things they believe help maximize potential including:

— Strive to constantly be learning

— Who you surround yourself with matters

— Self reflection/Self awareness

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS! DO NOT fast forward through the sponsor reads - we promise you’re going to want to hear them. Topher & Jeff trade places and hilarity ensues.

Check out our link nordvpn.com/thinktank to protect your online activity.

Episode 237 - MAILBAG Nov 28, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher do another MAILBAG from your questions on social media. They cover:

— The balance between emotion and discipline

— Ways to conquer point slumps

— Training through breaks/weeks off for higher level players

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS! We love doing these episodes - so DM or email us your questions any time and we will get to them on the next MAILBAG!

Check out our link nordvpn.com/thinktank to protect your online activity.

Episode 236 - Chris Collins Nov 21, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we talked with former BC star and current Bishop Kearney Hockey Director, Chris Collins! He has some terrific stories from his playing days as well as his personal journey to giving back to our great game!

In this conversation we talk about:

— Doing what it takes to get better and create success

— Evolve Hockey and the “Just Get Good” motto

— How a kid from Rochester ends up running an elite hockey academy in his hometown

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS! This episode was a long time coming with our good friend Chris and his insight was worth the wait!

Check out our link nordvpn.com/thinktank to protect your online activity.

Episode 235 - DISCIPLINE Nov 14, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff & Toph talk all things DISCIPLINE!

In this conversation we talk about:

— Flipping the script on the negative connotation of the word discipline and instead, using it as your superpower

— Strategies to be disciplined in pursuit of your goals

— a CRAZY parent email that you will not want to miss

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS! This episode is quite the ride - Jeff is HIGH ENERGY and it leads to instant hilarity right from the jump!

Check out our link nordvpn.com/thinktank to protect your online activity.

Episode 234 - James Sixsmith Nov 07, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we talk to former pro hockey player turned futures trader, James Sixsmith who started a company while still playing to set himself up financially for life after the game.

In this conversation we talk:

— Sixer and Vecchs playing against each other overseas

— What smaller players need to be successful at the highest levels

— The work ethic that high level players have translating to success off the ice

AND SO MUCH MORE

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS! This episode is a great reminder that hockey teaches valuable life skills like humility and unmatched work ethic.

Episode 233 - PARENTS Oct 31, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, it’s all about HOCKEY PARENTS! Jeff & Topher talk about what some of the best hockey parents do right and answer questions they’ve received from parents over the years.

In this conversation we talk:

— The car ride home

— Burnout & injury prevention

— Life lessons that the hockey experience teaches

AND SO MUCH MORE

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. Thank you to new sponsor NordVPN - an internet streaming and security company where you can get a great discount by going to nordvpn.com/thinktank.

And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS! This episode is a great reminder that hockey is a journey for the whole family that starts and ends with a love of the game!

Episode 232 - Lee Moffie Oct 24, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we talk to the founder of State and Liberty Clothing Company and former University of Michigan Hockey captain, Lee Moffie.

In this conversation we talk:

— Resiliency

— Leadership & Transparency

— Entrepreneurship

— Culture and communication

AND SO MUCH MORE

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com.

Check out our friends at Nord VPN: nordvpn.com/thinktank

And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS! This episode is another great reminder about the skills and lessons that can be learned through hockey and applied throughout the rest of your life.

Episode 231 - CONFIDENCE Oct 17, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk about confidence: why it’s important, how to achieve it, how to regain it, and why it’s not an easy process.

In this conversation we talk:

—Why confidence is such a huge part of development and success

— Strategies to regain confidence

— Learning to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations

AND SO MUCH MORE (like the boys being confident enough to sing Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger”) THAT YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS! This episode is a great reminder that having confidence is a skill that must be honed consistently on and off the ice.

Episode 230 - Zac Rinaldo Oct 10, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on former NHLer, Zac Rinaldo. Known for his gritty and physical style of play, this was a very raw, very honest, very intense conversation about living life and doing things with no regrets.

In this conversation we talk:

— The people who most influenced Zac growing up around the game

— A competitive mindset and earning every day

— Giving back to the game

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, NordVPN and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS! This episode is a great reminder to work every day to be true to YOU and be your best self.

Check out Nord here: nordvpn.com/thinktank

Episode 229 - Dr. Michael McElhenie, PhD Oct 03, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on sports psychologist, Michael McElhenie, PhD. With years of experience helping bring successful leadership strategies and organizational culture in the corporate world, Michael now works to change the social and emotional intelligence landscape of sports one athlete, team, coach, and parent at a time with his company, Exult Athletics.

In this conversation we talk:

— What’s RIGHT with the youth hockey landscape, and where improvement can happen

— Redefining masculinity (high performance and high compassion can, and should, coexist)

— How visualization and other techniques can be incorporated in the development path both as a player and person

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS! There is something for everyone who wants to be better in this episode.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 228 - Dan O'Donoghue Sep 26, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on former pro player and current NYPD Officer, Dan O’Donoghue. Growing up on Long Island, Dan’s road from youth hockey to DI - and eventually pro - was not a “traditional” path, and we talk about the life lessons learned through hockey that contributed to his success on and off the ice.

In this conversation we talk:

— Community, teamwork, and camaraderie

— Toph and Dan’s coaching days together in Syracuse (and a little about how youth hockey can be better for the kids)

— How playing high level hockey prepared Dan for a life of service in the NYPD

— The spectacle that is the NYPD vs NYFD annual hockey game

AND MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, TrainHeroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS! We know you are going to love this one.

Check out Nord VPN here: nordvpn.com/thinktank

Lost Episode - Mike Boyle Sep 19, 2022

On this LOST episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we re-release our conversation with one of the top hockey strength and conditioning coaches in the world, Mike Boyle! Mike is the legendary strength coach of many of the top Boston University programs and he works with a ton of top level NHL talent as well. In this episode, we talk:

-Coaching with Jack Parker at BU

-Filling up the buckets in development

-Working with top NHL talent

-MUCH MORE

Thank you so much to our sponsors GELSTX, TrainHeroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you most of all to all of our amazing listeners!!

Episode 226 - Mailbag! Sep 12, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher do another MAILBAG from your questions on social media. They cover:

-Earning confidence

-How to make a positive impression at the start of camp

-Building connection

-Jeff eats cookies!!

-SO.MUCH.MORE!!!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, TrainHeroic, CuredNutririon, and IceHockeySystems.com! And thank you most of all to our amazing listeners!!!!!!

Lost Episode - Bob Mancini Sep 05, 2022

On this LOST EPISODE of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on ADM Manager for USA Hockey, one of the top minds in charge of the hockey development for USA Hockey, Bob Mancini! This was such a phenomenal conversation on youth hockey development and the in's and out's of USA Hockey's methods. We put the heat on Bob and asked a lot of tough questions and he was very open and honest about the positives and negatives of youth hockey culture today!

We also talked about changes in the podcast! We are looking to hire a producer to help us take this podcast to the next level - so if you want to be a teammate of Topher and Jeff's reach out to Topher at topher@thehockeythinktank.com.

We also talk about the significance of the "Lost Episodes..."

Thank you to GELSTX, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com!!! Thank. you to all of our AMAZING listeners. We hope you love this episode with Bob!

Lost Episode - Ricky Mendez Aug 29, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring back one of our most downloaded lost episodes and chat with IMPLEMENTATIONAL speaker, Ricky Mendez! Ricky has worked with people and companies around the world and his wisdom and knowledge were AMAZING. We talked:

-Turning negative energy into positive energy

-The power of gratitude

-How to change your mindset and treat yourself better

-MUCH MORE!

This was as motivational and inspirational of a conversations as we've had and we're grateful to be able to share Ricky's perspective with you!

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com. Thank you to BlueWire Pods. And thank you SO MUCH to our amazing listeners!!

Episode 223 - Lee Elias Aug 22, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on a culture and team building expert in Lee Elias!! This was such an amazing conversation on team culture - and we encourage you to get your pens and notebooks ready. On this episode, we talk:

-Topher is going to Michigan!

-Empowering and developing leaders

-The power of accountability and standards

-Defining team identity

-MUCH, MUCH MORE!!

What a conversation this was...we can't wait to bring it to you! We want to thank our sponsors GELSTX, TrainHeroic, IceHockeySystems.com, and CuredNutrition. We want to thank our podcast parent company BlueWire Pods. And we want to thank all of our amazing listeners who support our podcast!!

Lost Episode - Brian Keane Aug 15, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we release a LOST EPISODE and talk with Chicago Blackhawks development coach Brian Keane of Prodigy Hockey. We get REAL in depth on youth development and youth hockey on this episode - it is one of the most downloaded we have ever done.

It's a different type of episode as we use clips from one of the best youth development debates between experts Malcolm Gladwell and David Epstein to talk about what we see in the youth hockey world today. We talk:

-Early sport specialization

-Unstructured vs. structured play

-How to teach anticipatory skills

-The 10,000 hour rule

-Deliberate practices, and so much more!

This was the episode we dive the deepest into the research and we're excited to bring it to you! Thank you for tuning in to our podcasts!!

Thank you to our sponsors, GelStx, TrainHeroic, IceHockeySystems.com, and CuredNutrition. And a special thank you to all of our amazing podcast listeners!!

Episode 221 - Mailbag! Aug 08, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher take on your listener questions!! We love all of you who support our podcast and we want to make sure we're hearing from you and helping you on your hockey journeys whether you are a player, parent, or coach. We tackled SO MANY QUESTIONS serious and funny on this one...here they are:

-What is advice for a first year coach coming into a college locker room, who hasn't recruited the players, and create buy in?

-What are the best things to do in a tryout to get noticed?

-Is Nickelback good music for training?

-What is advice for a head coach moving up to be an assistant coach at a higher level of hockey?

-What are strategies for a player to earn more trust and ice time opportunities on the ice for a junior player?

-What do I do as a parent when I see my kid liking the game but they don't compete hard?

-What is advice for a parent that wants to cultivate a love and passion for the game in their kid?

-What are your thoughts on plus/minus in assessing a player?

-What is your most impactful lesson learned in hockey that you use today in life?

-What are your thoughts on full ice practices for 12u teams?

-Who should play goalie at the youngest ages of hockey?

-How does a player get through the let down of making a team to be an impact player on the team when the season starts?

-What is the number one "trick" for getting through a rut?

-What are your thoughts on staying with one coach for five seasons in youth hockey?

-Why are agents reaching out to kids so young when in Sweden there is a rule that you can't do that until the kids are 16 years old?

-Is the defensive defenseman a thing of the past? Do NHL teams want/need this role anymore?

-What are some tips for in season training?

-What are important traits of a captain and what age should they be named?

-What is more important to gain in transitioning to college hockey - strength or quickness?

-What is the best way to establish my philosophy quickly as a coach of a new program?

WOW we got through all of these!!!!!!!! Thank you to everyone that submitted questions - we really appreciate it!

Thank you to our sponsor GELSTX, TrainHeroic, IceHockeySystems.com, and CuredNutrition. Thank you to Bluewire Pods, our podcast parent company. And thank you so much to all of our amazing listeners!!

Episode 220 - Pat Ouckama Aug 01, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on the Academy Director of DC United Soccer Club, Pat Ouckama! We are huge proponents of playing multiple sports, and it was awesome to bring on someone with both a soccer and hockey background to speak about development. Pat runs one of the top soccer academies in the US, with his 16u team winning the National Championship this year. In this conversations, we talk:

-The similarities of each sports game tactics

-What he sees in players that succeed at the next levels

-The value of studying other sports as a coach

-MUCH MORE!

Thank you to Coach Ouckama for taking time to come on our podcast! Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, TrainHeroic, IceHockeySystems.com, and our podcast company BlueWire Pods. And thank you most of all to all of our amazing listeners! We appreciate you so much and you are going to love this conversation. Enjoy!

Episode 219 - Chris Wideman Jul 25, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on current Montreal Canadiens defenseman Chris Wideman! Chris trains with Jeff in the summers and played for Topher when he was a grad assistant at Miami (Ohio) and this was a really, really fun and insightful conversation. On this episode, they talk:

-Playing for Martin St. Louis in Montreal

-Being grateful for the good and the tough times

-The importance of a support system in reaching your goals

-MUCH, MUCH, MORE!!

Thank you so much to Wides for hopping on the podcast. Thank you to our sponsors GELSTX, TrainHeroic, IceHockeySystems.com, and our podcast company Blue Wire. And thank you most of all to all of our amazing listeners!

Lost Episode - Jeff and Topher's Moms Jul 18, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring back one of your favorite episodes...especially for the hockey moms out there...with Topher and Jeff's Moms!! When we brought our podcast over to the BlueWire Network, we lost a few episodes in the transfer that were some of ours, and our listeners, favorites.

On this episodes, we speak to Debbie Scott and Colleen LoVecchio and share some really fun stories about our childhoods and our moms talk about the joys of being a hockey mom. We had a ton of fun on this episode, we know you are going to love it!!

Thank you so much to our sponsors GELSTX, TrainHeroic, IceHockeySystems.com, and CuredNutrition. Thank you to all of our amazing listeners. And most of all, thank you to all of the amazing hockey moms out there...this one is for you!!!

Episode 217 - Derek Nesbitt Jul 11, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on a veteran of over 1,000 professional hockey games Derek Nesbitt! What a career spanning over 16 seasons. In this conversation, we talk:

-The benefits of growing up in small town Canada

-Playing for both Jared Bednar and Derek Lalonde

-The keys to longevity in the game

-Challenges of being a youth hockey director

-MUCH MORE!

Thank you to all of our sponsors - GELSTX, TrainHeroic, IceHockeySystems.com, and Cured Nutrition. Thank you to our podcast parent company BlueWire Pods. And thank you to all of our amazing listeners for continuing to tune in every week!!

Episode 216 - Laila Anderson Jul 04, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on the girl who stole all of our hearts as the St. Louis Blues went on their Stanley Cup run...Laila Anderson. We all remember Laila as the inspiration for the team as she was going through chemotherapy during the teams championship playoff season in 2019. From the viral videos of her mom letting her know she could attend the games in person, to her on ice celebration with the cup, to the entire city of St. Louis chanting her name at the parade...Laila was an inspiration to us all to keep fighting. In this conversation we talk:

-Her journey through a potential terminal sickness

-Her inspiring relationships with the Blues players, especially Colton Parayko

-Getting to Boston for Game 7 of the Cup Finals

-Bethematch.org, the organization that saved her life

-An UNBELIEVABLE story with Brett Hull and Jon Hamm

-MUCH MORE

Thank you to Laila (who actually trains with Jeff) for coming on the podcast! Thank you also to our sponsors GelStx, TrainHeroic, IceHockeySystems.com, and our podcast parent company BlueWire Pods. And thank you so much to all of our amazing listeners...you are going to LOVE this episode. It's one of our absolute favorites!!

Episode 215 - Ryan Vesce Jun 27, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on 14 year professional player now leading a mentorship program for youth hockey players, Ryan Vesce! Ryan hails from Long Island, NY and played his college hockey at Cornell. He then went on to play 14 years pro over 7 different countries, including a stint with the San Jose Sharks where he scored his first professional goal on an assist from Joe Thornton (we talk about it on the pod). We also talk:

-Developing a mindset for getting out of a slump

-Some incredible prank stories

-Scoring his first NHL goal in his hometown

-The value of mentorship as you go through your journey

-MUCH MORE!

Thank you to Ves for this awesome conversation - you'll get a ton of insight into becoming an elite hockey player. Thank you also to our sponsors GelStx, TrainHeroic, IceHockeySystems.com, and our podcast parent company BlueWire Pods.

To check out Ryan's incredible Mentor Program matching up former and current professional and college players, visit https://matterhornmentors.com/

And thank you to our amazing listeners...you're going to love this episode!

Episode 214 - Jon Gordon Jun 20, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on bestselling author and one of the top motivational speakers and leadership consultants in the world Jon Gordon! Jon has worked with many major companies and professional sports teams on the power of positive leadership. His books have also inspired millions of people and organizations of all sizes all over the world.

On this specific podcast, we speak to Jon about his book "The Hard Hat, 21 Ways to be a Great Teammate." This book chronicles the life of George Boiardi, a Cornell Lacrosse player who died tragically on the field as a senior captain after blocking a shot in his chest. This inspiring story of an amazing leader and the aftermath of his passing of a team trying to honor him by their play on the lacrosse field is one that is going to make you feel all the feels.

For more on Jon's work, visit https://jongordon.com/.

For more on George Boiardi's legacy and his foundation, visit https://www.boiardifoundation.org/

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to all of our amazing listeners, get ready to be inspired from this podcast conversation with one of the most positive leaders in our world - on one of the most positive influences and leaders ever to walk the lacrosse field.

Episode 213 - The 5 P's of Leadership (Part 2) Jun 13, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher riff on Part 2 of Topher's presentation that he gave at the NCAA College Hockey Coaches Convention on the 5 P's of Leadership. The three P's they talk on are:

-Preparation

-Perspective

-Present

We know you're going to take some tidbits out of this episode that you can use in leading your teams!

Thank you to GelStx, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com for supporting our podcast. And thank you to the thousands of listeners who continue to tune in every week!!

Episode 212 - Jared DeMichiel Jun 06, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on the new Associate Head Coach at Michigan State Jared DeMichiel! What an awesome conversation with one of the rising stars in college coaching coming off of a National Championship and turnaround at UMASS. In this conversation, we tackle:

-Turning things around at UMASS leading to a National Championship

-College recruiting and the transfer portal

-The power of earning opportunities instead of guarantees

-MUCH MORE!

Thanks to DeMike for hopping on...and we have some other people to thank as well.

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx (gelstx.com), TrainHeroic, IceHockeySystems.com, and our podcast parent company Blue Wire Pods. Thank you to all of our amazing listeners - if you leave us a review on Apple Podcasts you'll be registered to win one of Jeff's hip mobility workouts for free!

Episode 211 - The 5 P's of Leadership (Part 1) May 30, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk about Topher's 5 P's of Leadership:

-People

-Perseverance

-Perspective

-Preparation

-Present

Although...the two talked so much about PEOPLE that there is going to be a Part 1/Part 2 on these topics. On this specific episode, Jeff and Topher talk about the importance of investing time and effort into PEOPLE and the importance of PERSEVERING in tough times. Great leaders understand these two ideals and work hard to facilitate environments to bring both to the forefront.

We love talking leadership on this podcast, and our goal is to provide you with things you can use in your journey as a leader that can help you be the best you can be!

Thank you to our sponsors - GelStx, TrainHeroic, IceHockeySystems.com. Thank you to Blue Wire Pods. And thank you to our amazing following...we know you'll enjoy this one!

Episode 210 - Aaron Volpatti May 23, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on former NHLer for the Vancouver Canucks and Washington Capitals - and now a visualization coach - Aaron Volpatti! Aaron has such a unique hockey journey...and such an inspiring story. We talk:

-His near death experience with a fire and how it taught him resliency

-How visualization helped him heal and helped him in his career

-His journey to the NHL

-Much more!!

This again was such an inspiring conversation we are so thrilled to bring to you. Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, TrainHeroic, IceHockeySystems.com, and our podcast parent company BlueWire Pods. And thank you to all of our AMAZING listeners!

Episode 209 - Mike Kelly May 16, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on NHL Network host and analytics expert Mike Kelly! This was an amazing conversation on the use of analytics to make teams better and for us to better understand the game. We tackle:

-The use of analytics to form team identity

-The importance of the neutral zone

-Peeling back the onion of how goals are scored

-Some great stories of how players/coaches are using analytics for development

-Much More!!

Thank you to Mike for this awesome conversation...it's one you are going to love. Thank you to our title sponsor GELSTX. Thank you to sponsor TrainHeroic and IceHockeySystems.com.

And thank you to our amazing listeners!!

Episode 208 - Adam Oates May 09, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on NHL Hall of Famer and one of the top development coaches in the world, Adam Oates! Known as one of the best playmakers of all time, it was incredible being able to talk hockey with someone with such an amazing hockey sense as Adam. On the podcast, we talk:

-Playing fast vs. Fast hockey IQ

-Why players like McDavid, Ovechkin, and Crosby are so good

-Building chemistry with teammates

-MUCH MORE!

What an honor getting Adam on the podcast to share his knowledge. We want to the GELSTX (gelstx.com) our title sponsor. We also want to thank TrainHeroic, IceHockeySystems.com, and BlueWire Pods.

Our biggest thank you goes to all of our amazing listeners! Thank you for all of your support for our podcast and we know you are going to get a ton out of this one!

Episode 207 - Joe Kramer May 02, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on West Point graduate and United States Army veteran Joe Kramer! Joe played ACHA Club hockey at West Point and came on to share some of his hockey and leadership experiences with the armed forces. On this episode, we talk:

-Leadership lessons learned in the military

-How to bring a team together and build a bought in unit

-How to create a "relationship with failure"

-The benefits and experience of playing ACHA Club College Hockey

-MUCH.MORE

First and foremost, thank you to Joe for his service. Thank you also to our sponsors GelStx, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com. This week we have another sponsor in Hello Fresh. Thank you to our podcast parent company, BlueWire Pods. And thank you to all of our amazing supporters and listeners!!

Episode 206 - Jason Deskins Apr 25, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on the Co-General Manager of the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL and Detroit Little Caesars' 15O coach Jason Deskins! This was a great conversation as Jason has so much great perspective with all of the hats he wears in the hockey world. The boys tackle:

-Using the downs to motivate you

-What he looks for in players as a GM in junior hockey

-How to get into the business as a young coach

-GOAL SCORING

-LEADERSHIP

-So Much More

Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, TrainHeroic, IceHockeySystems.com...and thank you to all of our AMAZING listeners!

Episode 205 - Matt Plante Apr 18, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Mount St. Charles Hockey Academy Director and 18u Head Coach, Matt Plante! Fresh off winning the National Championship, Topher and Jeff sit down with Planter and go through so many different awesome topics including:

-Their National Championship Run

-Coaching Kids at 18u who have gone on to play in the NHL and what made them special

-A day in the life at a hockey prep academy

-Why surrounding yourself with good people is important

-MUCH MORE!!

Thank you to our sponsors GELSTX, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to all of our amazing supporters out there...we love you!

Episode 204 - Topher & Jeff Ask Me Anything Apr 11, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher come loaded with questions for one another - yet the other person has no idea what the questions are. The non-scripted Q&A between the two guys end up becoming a great resource for all hockey players. Questions include:

-How important is developing a routine?

-How can you develop a goal scoring mentality?

-What is advice for players who are playing a 3rd or 4th line role on a team?

-What does being "hard to play against" mean?

This was a really fun episode for the guys and we think you are going to really enjoy it too! Thank you to all of our amazing sponsors - GELSTX, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to all of our amazing supporters!!

Episode 203 - Reid Cashman Apr 04, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on the Head Coach at Dartmouth College Reid Cashman. Cash is a great coach who came to Dartmouth from being an Assistant Coach with the Washington Capitols and this was a fantastic conversation on hockey development and the hockey journey.

Cash grew up in MN and played his college hockey at Quinnipiac where he was a two-time All-American. He played a few years professionally before going behind the bench at his alma mater Quinnipiac. From there he went on to coach in Hershey of the AHL, followed by Washington and now Dartmouth.

This was an epic conversation where we tackle:

-What defense development looks like

-The importance of habit building in practice

-What it was like coaching the best players in the world in Washington

-MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our sponsors for this podcast - GelStx, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com. Thank you to our Podcast Family BlueWire Pods. And thank you to all of our amazing listeners!

Episode 202 - College Hockey Mailbag Mar 28, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher take YOUR mailbag questions on anything and everything college hockey! With the NCAA Tournament in full swing, they take you behind the scenes of what college hockey is about. Jeff also takes you through his visit with to the USA National Team Development Program at their annual tryout showcase. Some questions the guys tackle on the podcast include:

-What is it like to play in the NCAA Tournament?

-How does University of Minnesota Duluth coach Scott Sandlin do it?

-How do you get recruited and do summer showcases matter?

-What are the best college hockey conferences?

-What is the toughest college hockey rink to play in?

This one was a lot of fun and made the boys really get nostalgic about their time playing college hockey.

We want to thank our awesome sponsors GELSTX, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com. We also want to thank our amazing listeners and supporters! We appreciate you and know you are going to love this conversation on #cawlidgehawkey

Episode 201 - Brian Bicek Mar 21, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on a teammate of BOTH Jeff and Topher...Brian Bicek. Brian is from Chicago and played his college hockey at Western Michigan - before going onto a seven year pro career. He has been a youth hockey coach in Chicago now for almost a decade and we had an awesome conversation on all of our experiences especially coaching at the youth levels. Some of the topics we dove into include:

-How to divvy up ice time and the problems that creates

-How parents can best help their kids (and how not to hurt them)

-Laying out a foundation as a youth coach or parent for the kids

-MUCH MORE!!

Thank you to our sponsors GELSTX (gelstx.com), TrainHeroic, IceHockeySystems.com, and a new sponsor through our podcast company BlueWire pods, HelloFresh. Get an awesome deal by going to hellofresh.com/thinktank16 and use the code thinktank16 to get 16 free meals...pretty sweet.

And most importantly, thank you to all of our amazing listeners!! We love you and know you'll enjoy this one with Brian Bicek

Episode 200 - Brandon Naurato Mar 14, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on our first ever guest to celebrate our 200th episode...Brandon Naurato!! Brandon is the current Assistant Coach for the University of Michigan and this was a conversation that didn't disappoint. We tackle:

-What it's like to coach the best young players in the world.

-Coaching the individual with coaching the team.

-Teaching how to recognize and understand pressure with making plays on the ice

-SO.MUCH.MORE!!!

We want to thank EVERY SINGLE ONE of our amazing supporters and listeners. We honestly can't believe we are at 200 episodes of the Hockey Think Tank podcast. It's incredible and it's all because of your love and support for what we are trying to accomplish in adding some positivity to the hockey world. Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com and thank you to everyone out there that continues to listen from the bottom of our hearts.

You are going to love this hockey coaching masterclass with Brandon Naurato!

Episode 199 - The Season is Over - Now What? Mar 07, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher discuss how to navigate the end of a long season along with the finding the right avenues for spring and summer hockey. It's questions that they get ALL.THE.TIME from parents and thought it would be really beneficial to have a really open and honest conversation on what is happening in the hockey world during the spring and the summer. Some important topics they tackle include:

-Early sport specialization and burnout

-Using feedback as a tool for growth

-The business of youth hockey in the spring/summer

-FOMO

-Much more!!

Thank you to all of our sponsors including GELSTX, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com. And special thank you, thank you, thank you to all of our AMAZING listeners!!

Episode 198 - Cody Lampl Feb 28, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on 13 year professional hockey veteran Cody Lampl! Cody is one of Jeff's former teammates that grew up in a non-traditional hockey market (Idaho) yet has had an incredible hockey career! We talk:

-Cody starting out in figure skating and how that's helped him as a hockey player

-The importance of mobility in your game

-PASSING being an essential skill in hockey

-His unique hockey journey coming from Idaho

Thank you to Cody for a really inspiring episode! Thank you to our sponsors GELSTX, TRAINHEROIC, and ICEHOCKEYSYSTEMS.COM. Thank you to Blue Wire Pods, our podcast parent company. And thank you to all of our amazing listeners!!!

Episode 197 - THROWBACK TO TOPHER'S INTRO EPISODE Feb 21, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we are re-releasing the podcast where you get to know Topher! A few weeks ago, we re-released Episode ONE where Topher interviewed Jeff...and on this one the guys flipped the script and Jeff interviews Topher. Check out his journey through the hockey world...the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Thank you to all of our amazing sponsors including GELSTX, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com!

And thank you to all of our amazing listeners! We wanted to go down memory lane with this episode...hope you enjoy!

Episode 196 - All About Mental Toughness Feb 14, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher dive into MENTAL TOUGHNESS.

-What is it?

-How do you get it?

-Why is it important?

They share stories from their own careers (during and post-hockey), those from others they know, and detail strategies they have learned or seen that could lead to being a more mentally tough hockey player and person. Some of the areas they tackle include:

-Handling adversity and success

-The importance of a routine and preparation

-Creating an accountability structure

-SO MUCH MORE

This conversation had so much for anyone that wants to be more mentally tough!!!

Thank you to all of our supporters and sponsors, including GelStx, IceHockeySystems.com, and TrainHeroic. And thank you most of all to all of our amazing listeners who continue to tune in with us every week!

Episode 195 - THROWBACK TO EPISODE ONE Feb 07, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we are getting nostalgic and throwing it back to EPISODE 1 where Topher interviews Jeff that was the start to this podcast journey. We will be hitting 200 episodes in the next few weeks and we wanted to brink it back to where we started to pay homage to the journey.

For those that have been with us for a large part of our journey, you'll see how hilarious this first episode was where Jeff and Topher have NO CLUE what they are doing...but they get into some great conversation about Jeff's journey. You can see the seeds being laid for what was eventually to come.

We love you guys, hope you enjoy!!

Episode 194 - For the Youth Hockey Players with a Dream Jan 31, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher speak directly to all the youth hockey players with a dream of playing hockey at a high level. They go dive into stories of their own careers and those of others they know to give advice to all the players out there on what the journey may throw at them. Through this podcast episode, they answer three fundamental questions:

When was there a time a coach was hard on you and what did you do to handle it?
Who is a player you know that made it and what was it that got them there?
What specific advice would you give to a kid that wanted to play junior, college, or pro hockey?

This episode comes with a ton of insight for not just the players, but the parents and coaches who will guide those players through their journeys. We know it will be an impactful one for everyone that listens!!

Thank you to all of our amazing listeners. Thank you to our amazing sponsors GelStx, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com. We appreciate all of you!

Episode 193 - Mailbag! Jan 24, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher take on Mailbag questions from YOU! They sent the bat signal out on social media and you guys gave us some great topics to dive into including...

-Is burnout real?

-Are there benefits to playing the off wing

-Thoughts on International Tournaments getting canceled

-Position specific skills for D and F

-The nastiest goal they've ever scored

-What separates good players from the best?

-Much More!!!

We love hearing from you...and thanks to everyone that submitted questions. We want to also thank our sponsors GelStx, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com. We appreciate all the support from all of you and especially all of our amazing listeners!!!

Episode 192 - Windy City Storm Roundtable on Ozone Play Jan 17, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we dive deep into OZONE PLAY! We bring on Ryan Ward, Robbie Murden, and our Director of Skills Karl Linden to talk anything and everything on the Ozone, including:

-Getting the defense involved

-Shot quantity vs quality

-The importance offensively and defensively of F3

-Using analytics to drive tactics

-Puck Protection

-A whole lot more!

This was a fun, in depth look on scoring goals and we know you'll enjoy the banter! Thank you to all of you that continue to support our podcast and we hope you'll be able to take something from this one to use with your teams.

Thank you to our sponsors as well, GELSTX, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com!

Episode 191 - Shane Connelly Jan 10, 2022

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Director of Hockey Operations for the University of Wisconsin and Topher's former junior hockey teammate, Shane Connelly! Shane was a big time goaltender playing in multiple tournaments for Team USA and won a National Championship at the University of Wisconsin. He was a great player and now a great coach, and we dive into some really amazing topics including:

-Coaching Cole Caufield at Wisconsin

-Scoring goals through a goalie's eyes

-The makeup of championship teams and its leadership

-Coaching elite talent

-MUCH MORE!!

Thank you to Shane for coming on and for the awesome conversation! Thank you to our awesome sponsors - GELSTX (gelstx.com), TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you most of all to our amazing listeners!!!

Episode 190 - A Christmas Surprise Dec 27, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher create a podcast surprise Christmas present for a few certain people that have been some of the best role models in their lives. Tune in to find out who and listen to a podcast full of love, family, and of course...hockey.

Episode 189 - "The 10 Tophmandments" Dec 21, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Topher and Jeff talk about what they can do...and what we all can do...to get the most out of our potential. They use the framework of Topher's "10 Commandments" of things he'd like to incorporate into his life....only later to be named the "Tophmandments" by Jeff. This was a really fun episode that will make you laugh, think, and reflect upon how you are getting the most out of yourself in your own life. Some of the Tophmandments include:

-You are defined by your actions, not your experiences

-Physical health is mental health and mental health is physical health

-Perspective is power

-Every day is a series of choices hinging on self-discipline

-And More!!

Thank you to all of our amazing listeners...we hope you have an amazing holiday!

And thank you to our awesome sponsors in GELSTX, TRAINHEROIC, and ICEHOCKEYSYSTEMS.COM!

Episode 188 - Justin Selman Dec 13, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on former University of Michigan standout and current owner of the hockey development company TopLine Hockey Justin Selman! This was a really insightful and candid conversation about the journey to high level hockey with a lot of really open stories about the ups, downs, and everything that goes into the grind of getting better. We talk:

-How being different isn't easy

-How rushing the process comes with a major risk

-Playing on a line with Dylan Larkin and Zach Hyman at Michigan

-How doing the right things all the time can lead to opportunities

-MUCH MORE!!

This was so much fun, we know you are going to love it and learn something along the way. Thank you to our sponsors GELSTX, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you so much to all of our loyal listeners who continue to tune in with us every week!

Episode 187 - Windy City Storm Hockey Roundtable on Positionless Hockey Dec 06, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Rob Rassey and Ryan Ward join Topher on the Windy City Hockey Roundtable to talk POSITIONLESS HOCKEY. We feel like it's a term that is used a lot but under-defined...but can have a positive effect on your team's play and individual player development. Some of the concepts we go over include:

-Getting back and sorting out the Dzone

-Developing versatile players

-Rush and Ozone play

-MUCH MORE!!

Thank you to everyone that takes the time to listen to this episode, we hope that you'll be able to use this with your teams! Thank you to our sponsors GELSTX, IceHockeySystems.com, and TrainHeroic. And thanks the most to all of our amazing listeners!!!!!

Episode 186 - Tim Peel Nov 29, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on former NHL referee Tim Peel! Tim is a veteran of over 1,300 NHL games, he reffed an All-Star game, and he also reffed at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. This was an awesome conversation where we talked:

-How the game has changed in the decades he's reffed

-The difference between reffing players like Gretzky vs. McDavid

-The "Hot Mic" incident that cost him his job

-Refs in youth hockey today

-MUCH MUCH MORE

This was a really cool conversation on what it's like to be a ref in the NHL and building relationships with some of the top players in the world. Thank you to all of our amazing listeners, and thank you to our sponsors GELSTX, TrainHeroic, and MyHockeySystems.com. You're going to love this one!

Episode 185 - Windy City Storm Roundtable on Team Captains Nov 22, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we talk everything TEAM CAPTAINS on the Windy City Storm Hockey Roundtable. We bring on former Asst Coach of Harvard, Detroit Red Wings scout, and current director of TPH Chicago Rob Rassey go detail player leadership and so many ideas and insights relating to team captains. We talk:

-What makes a good captain?

-How do you choose them?

-The importance of secondary leadership

-Best player/role player as captain

-MUCH MORE!

This was a phenomenal conversation we hope can stir up some ideas that you could use with your teams or businesses. Thank you to Rass again for coming on. Thank you to our sponsors GELSTX, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you thank you thank you to all of our amazing listeners who continue to ride this podcast train with us!!

Episode 184 - Sean Coffey & George Hughes Nov 15, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on the two hosts of "NEXT SHIFT" podcast Sean Coffey and George Hughes. Sean is an NHL agent and George was an All-American defenseman and they teamed up to start a podcast on the stories of great people in the hockey world both during their careers and what they're up to afterwards.

With their experiences in the game, we tackle some awesome subjects including:

-Playing to play vs. playing for expectations and external rewards

-Handling pressure - "Playing the game" vs "Thinking the game"

-Lessons for life after hockey

-MUCH MUCH MORE

We get vulnerable and share a bunch of stories that we think will be able to put things into perspective for a lot of hockey players out there, Sean and George are great hockey guys and we know you'll enjoy a lot of their stories!

Thank you to all of our amazing supporters who continue to tune in every week. Thank you to our title sponsor GelStx, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com.

Episode 183 - Windy City Storm Hockey Roundtable on Entries Nov 08, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we talk ENTRIES and RUSH!! What a fun episode this was...we bring on our Robbie Murden and Mike Monti to talk anything and everything regarding having successful entries. We go through...

-How good defense leads to rush chances

-Teaching predictability vs. creativity

-The importance of entering through the middle of the ice

-The give and take of Blueline turnovers

-Net Drive

Much More!!

We know you'll take a ton out of this episode that you can use with your teams....and hopefully get some more goals!

We want to thank the people that support us, including our title sponsor GelStx (gelstx.com), TrainHeroic (app on your phone), and IceHockeySystems.com. And most importantly, thank you to all of our thousands of listeners who tune in with us every week. We so appreciate you!

Episode 182 - Kevin Porter Nov 01, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on firefighter, paramedic and aspiring professional hockey player Kevin Porter! What an inspiring episode with someone who is stopping at nothing to achieve his dreams, even in his 40's. So much positivity and so many uplifting stories of battling adversity on this one...we talk:

-How to drown out the haters

-How a near-death experience sparked his attempt to achieve his dreams

-How a firehouse relates to a hockey locker room and culture

-So.Much.More!!

What a conversation this one was...we know you are going to enjoy the heck out of it. Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, IceHockeySystems.com, and TrainHeroic. Thank you to our podcast platform BlueWire Pods. And thank you to all of our amazing listeners who hang out with us every week!

Episode 181 - Windy City Storm Hockey Roundtable on Building Youth Organization Culture Oct 25, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we have our Windy City Storm roundtable detailing our ORGANIZATIONAL WEEKEND we executed the week prior. This ORGANIZATIONAL WEEKEND was an idea we tried getting all of our youth teams in our rink for a weekend to build our culture and get everyone excited about being part of the Windy City Storm family. Here's what we did:

-Split practices and games with an older team and younger team on the ice at the same time.

-Info sessions for our players and parents with our hockey directors

-Info session with our strength coach on off-ice philosophy

-Intrasquad games with older players coaching younger teams and vice versa.

IT WAS AWESOME!! Our hope by doing this podcast is that other youth organizations take the idea and run with it. I think over the weekend we were able to build a camaraderie with all of our teams and families and taught the players that what the crest in front of the jersey means more than the names on the back.

Check it out!!

Thank you to our sponsors GELSTX, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com. Thank you to our podcast platform BlueWire. And thank you to our amazing listeners. We know you'll get a ton out of this one!!!

Episode 180 - Mike Duco Oct 18, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on one of Jeff's former teammates who had an unbelievable journey to the NHL...going from an undersized and undrafted player to ultimately reaching his dreams of playing in the show. We talk:

-Routine and preparation

-Playing the role of an agitator as a smaller player

-The grind of making it to the NHL.

-MUCH MORE!!

This was such an inspiring episode with a lot of nuggets for all kids that have dreams of playing at the highest levels of hockey.

Thank you to all of our sponsors - GELSTX, TrainHeroic, IceHockeySystems.com, and our podcast platform family BlueWire.

And thank you to all of our amazing listeners!!!! We love you and can't thank you enough for all the support you've given us on our crazy podcast journey!!

Episode 179 - Windy City Storm Hockey Roundtable on Wall Play Oct 11, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we tackle one of the most underrated development habit in hockey:

Wall Play

If you look at a heat map of where the puck is at during a game...much of the game you would see it is close to the boards. That's why it's so important to focus on building skills in our players along the boards. On this podcast Topher, Ryan Ward, and Rob Rassey discuss all things Wall Play...including:

-The art of picking up a rim

-Using the boards on retrievals for defensemen

-Using the boards on the cycle in the offensive zone

-Much More!!

This was a fun roundtable episode that we hope you can take some things to use with your players and teams! Thank you to our sponsors GELSTX, TrainHeroic, ICEHOCKEYSYSTEMS.COM, and thank you to all of our loyal listeners!!

Episode 178 - John O'Sullivan Oct 04, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on the founder of Changing the Game Project, John O'Sullivan. This is a must listen for every coach and parent in sports as John has dedicated his life and business to providing coach and parent education. On this episode, we talk:

-Transformational Leadership

-How to be hard on players in a way that's demanding, not demeaning

-The are of building relationships as a coach

-The coach/parent relationship in youth sports

-SO MUCH MORE

This episode is a game-changer (pun intended) and our listeners are going to get SO MUCH great information from John's experience and perspective.

Thank you to John and Changing the Game Project (changingthegameproject.com) for all that they do. Thank you to our sponsors GELSTX, ICEHOCKEYSYSTEMS.COM, TRAINHEROIC. And thank you so much to all of our listeners and supporters who continue to ride with us on this podcast journey!

Episode 177 - Windy City Hockey Roundtable on Power Play Sep 27, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Topher sits down with former Harvard University coach and Detroit Red Wings scout Rob Rassey to talk about the POWER PLAY. This was an exciting conversation full of talk on strategy, habits, tactics, and much much more on what makes a successful power play. They talk:

-Mentality vs. Tactics

-Skill sets for different roles on the PP

-Data/Analytics of every PP goal scored in an NHL Year

-So. Much. More

Thank you to our sponsors for continuing to support our podcast in GELSTX, TrainHeroic, and icehockeysystems.com. And thank you to all of our amazing listeners!!!

Episode 176 - Zach Jordan Sep 20, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Zach Jordan. Zach growing up NEVER played AAA hockey but is going to his first NHL Main Camp just 7 short years after being cut from AAA Midget hockey. What an inspiring story!

Zach works with Jeff off the ice on his strength and conditioning and has worked extremely hard to play Division One hockey at University of Nebraska-Omaha and just signed a deal in Columbus' organization with their AHL team in Cleveland. After never playing AAA growing up, it shows his perseverance and resiliency to make it to the big leagues.

Thank you to Zach for coming on to our podcast to share your amazing journey! Thank you also to GELSTX (gelstx.com), TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com for supporting our podcast. And a big thank you to all of our amazing listeners!

Episode 175 - Windy City Storm Hockey Roundtable: Tracking Sep 13, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we are starting a new series that will air every couple weeks called the Windy City Storm Hockey Roundtable! In this series, Topher brings on a few people that he works with to really dive into a specific hockey topic. For the inaugural episode, Topher has on Rob Rassey and Ryan Ward!

Rob played his college hockey at Northeastern. He then pursued coaching and had stops at Youngstown (USHL) and Harvard (NCAA). The last two years he has been a scout with the Detroit Red Wings and now Rob is the director of TPH-Chicago hockey academy. Ryan has coached at multiple levels and his stops include the Soo Greyhounds (OHL), New York Islanders (NHL), Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), Selects Academy (Prep) and he is now the Director of Player Development for the Tri City Storm (USHL) and Hockey Director for the Windy City Storm.

On this episode, Topher, Ryan, and Rob talk about TRACKING. The go through:

-Why it's important

-How it can help create team identity

-Getting offensive players to buy into it

-The X's and O's of why it works

-Much More!

We want to provide our listeners so new, fun, and innovative hockey knowledge...so here we go!

We want to thank our sponsors GELSTX, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com! And as always, we want to thank our amazing listeners who continue to support our podcast!

Episode 174 - Jeff and Topher LIVE Riff Sep 06, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher come to you LIVE from Jeff's apartment! It was amazing to get in the same room to riff on what they believe are the most important attributes and actions of leaders in the hockey world. They talk:

-The importance of making it HARD

-Consistency is the key

-What kind of coach would you want to play for?

-MUCH, MUCH MORE!

Thank you to all of our supporters who continue to tune in every week...you guys are going to LOVE this live episode. Thanks you to our sponsors GelStx, IceHockeySystems.com, and TrainHeroic. We love you all!

Episode 173 - Brian Keane Aug 30, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on one of our most popular guests in hockey development coach Brian Keane! Keaner is a development coach to some of the top players in the world including Patrick Kane, and works as a consultant with the Chicago Blackhawks. This was an amazing episode in talking hockey, where we go through:

-How to develop better decision makers

-The curiosity of the best players in the world and why that's one of their top attributes

-Stimulating player development through failure and problem solving

-MUCH MORE!!

Thank you to our sponsors GELSTX, TrainHeroic, IceHockeySystems.com and our podcast platform Blue Wire Pods. And thank you to all of our amazing listeners who tune in each week!

Episode 172 - Mailbag! Aug 23, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we MAILBAG it and take some hockey listener questions! We had a ton of fun with this one, including questions on:

-How much hockey should kids do in the summer?

-How would you approach a coach as a kid regarding an issue you may have?

-As a coach how do you handle a parent asking you about ice time?

-Many More!!

Thank you to our sponsors GELSTX, TrainHeroic, icehockeysystems.com, and to our podcast parent company BlueWire Pods. And thank you to our amazing listeners who continue to support our show!

Episode 171 - Team Canada Women's National Team & Cornell Hockey Aug 16, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we talk to six Cornell Women's hockey alumni playing for Team Canada in this year's World Championships...Rebecca Johnston, Brianne Jenner, Jillian Saulnier, Kristin O'Neill, Jaime Bourbonnais, and Micah Zandee Hart!! Topher got to interview all six women as part of raising awareness for a charity hockey game at Cornell benefitting Racker, a school for kids with special needs in the area. What an inspiring conversation where we talked:

-The thrill of playing for Team Canada

-Importance of leaving the game better than where they found it

-Building camaraderie in an international tournament setting

-Advice for young girls with aspirations of playing for their country

-MUCH MORE!!

Thank you to these amazing women! Thank you also to our title sponsor GELSTX, icehockeysystems.com, TrainHeroic, and BlueWire Pods. You're going to love this episode!!

Episode 170 - Craig Ballantyne Aug 09, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on best selling author and business/leadership coach Craig Ballantyne! Craig has worked with numerous leaders around the world to help grow their businesses and has had incredible success especially with up and coming entrepreneurs. There were so many great parallels between his coaching and what we talk about regarding leadership in sports, and some of the amazing things we talked about include:

-Structuring your day to optimize your time

-"To Do Lists" and "Not-to-Do Lists"

-How less can very much be more

-The best ways to achieve accountability

-So much more

This was a masterclass on leadership and efficiency. We thank Craig so much for hopping on, we know our listeners are going to take a ton from this conversation. You can find Craig's work at craigballantyne.com and pick up his Perfect Day Formula books where you get books today!

Thank you to our sponsors: GELSTX (gelstx.com), TrainHeroic App, Ice Hockey Systems (icehockeysystems.com), and our podcast parent company Blue Wire Pods!

Episode 169 - Justin Dowling Aug 02, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Justin Dowling...who newly signed an NHL contract with the Vancouver Canucks on Free Agent Frenzy Day! We love telling stories like Justin's on this podcast...as he went undrafted in juniors and the NHL but is now going into his 11th year playing professionally. We talk:

-How to make it as a smaller player.

-Playing with the Dallas Stars in the Stanley Cup Finals bubble in 2020.

-Using setbacks to fuel your fire to prove people wrong.

-MUCH MORE!

Thank you so much to all of our amazing listeners! Please if you can, shoot us a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts today. Thank you to our title sponsor GELSTX, TrainHeroic, and icehockeystystems.com for all of your support for what we do. We know you're going to love this conversation of another NHL player that has defied the odds!

Episode 168 - Ben Barr Jul 26, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on the new Head Coach at the University of Maine, Ben Barr! Fresh off a National Championship at UMASS as the Associate Head Coach, Ben comes on to the podcast to share his knowledge and wisdom of what it takes to win at the college level. We talk:

-The recruiting process

-The importance of open, honest conversation

-Creating and changing team culture

-MUCH MORE!

This was such a fun conversation that so many are going to embrace and enjoy. Thank you so much to all of our loyal fans and listeners. Thank you to our sponsors GELSTX, TrainHeroic, IceHockeySystems.com, and our podcast parent company Blue Wire Pods.

Blue Wire is doing a really cool initiative if you're looking to get into podcasting,..If interested, submit your Blue Wire Hustle application here: http://bwhustle.com/join

Episode 167 - Overcoming Adversity Jul 19, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher take us through some of the toughest times in their careers...and how they got through them. We are big believers on this podcast that adversity makes you stronger if you frame it right, and the guys detail their own times of adversity and what it took to overcome it. They talk:

-Getting cut at the youth levels

-Topher narrowly missing out on a childhood dream of playing for Team USA

-Handling long-term injuries during their careers

-Jeff's concussion that kept him out of hockey for over a year after signing an NHL contract

-Much More

This one got deep, and our hope is that it will resonate with all of our listeners to help them get through some of their tough times.

Thank you to all of our supporters and our sponsors. Thank you to GelStx, TrainHeroic, and icehockeysystems. Thank you to BlueWire our podcast platform as well. We know you'll enjoy this episode.

Episode 166 - Coach Jeremy Jul 12, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Coach Jeremy, the founder of How To Hockey and one of the top social media influencers in our game. He does such an amazing job providing content through videos on youtube, social media, his website howtohockey.com that entertains and educates the hockey world at large. On this episode, we talk:

-Spreading and growing passion of the game

-Fundamentals vs. Tactics and systems

-Building a brand through hard work and adversity

-MUCH MORE!!

Thank you to Coach Jeremy for giving us and our listeners some awesome insight into growing the game through awesome content based on teaching hockey fundamentals. Thank you also to our sponsors GELSTX, TrainHeroic, IceHockeySystems.com, and our podcast platform BlueWire pods. And our biggest thank you to all of our listeners who continue to support our podcast. You are going to love this conversation with Coach Jeremy!

Episode 165 - Connor Bizal & Adam Zukowski Jul 05, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on two junior hockey players who started an UNBELIEVABLE mentorship program for other players looking to get into junior, college, or professional hockey. They founded the Fellowship of Hockey Advancement to help younger players navigate the crazy process of higher level hockey. What an amazing gift from these two young men. On this episode, we talk:

-The ups and downs of struggling to try and make it in hockey

-The importance of having a great support system

-The value of mentorship

-Navigating trying to figure out junior hockey

-Much More!!!

Thanks to these two incredible players for starting this organization that will help A TON OF players and their families. The website is https://fellowshiphockeyadvancement.weebly.com/ to check it out

Thank you to our sponsors GELSTX (gelstx.com), ICE HOCKEY SYSTEMS (icehockeysystems.com), and TrainHeroic. Thank you to our podcast family Blue Wire. And thanks to all of our amazing listeners. We think you are going to absolutely love this episode with Connor and Adam!

Episode 164 - Alyssa Gagliardi x2 Jun 28, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Alyssa Gagliardi - Former Team USA national player, Cornell captain, NWHL/PWHPA pro hockey all-star, and now working with the Carolina Hurricanes to grow the sport in Raleigh. This was an UNREAL conversation on player development...while we hardly spoke at all about hockey. Development is so much more than what happens on the ice and Gags gives us a great blueprint on what that should entail. We talk:

Mental Skills

Social Relationships

Nutrition/Sleep

Goal Setting

Learning Skills

SO MUCH MORE

Thank you to our awesome sponsors - GELSTX (gelstx.com), icehockeysystems.com, TrainHeroic, and our podcast platform BlueWire. Thank you also to all of our amazing listeners, you are going to get so much better after listening to Gags!

Episode 163 - Tryout Advice Jun 21, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk about anything and everything hockey tryouts. They give advice to players on how to stand out and prepare, talk about the process of evaluation and scouting, what they would do if they led a tryout, and go through why the process is so complicated in the lower ages of hockey.

Thank you to our title sponsor GelStx (gelstx.com), TrainHeroic, icehockeysystems.com, and our podcast network Blue Wire. And as always, thank you to all of our amazing supporters!!

Episode 162 - Billy Jaffe & Andrew Raycroft Jun 14, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on the hosts of Boston Bruins recap show "Morning Bru with Jaffe and Razor", Billy Jaffe and Andrew Raycroft! This was an awesome episode if you love to get the inside scoop of the Boston Bruins and we talk a lot of hockey as well. Some of the topics include:

-Tuukka Rask

- How the Bergeron/Marchand/Pastrnak line creates their chemistry

-Charlie McAvoy's leadership

-An UNREAL story about Brad Marchand chasing criminals...

Tune in for a fun conversation with two incredible hockey guys. Thank you to our sponsors GELSTX (gelstx.com), TrainHeroic, IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to all of our AMAZING listeners. You're gonna love this one, especially if you are a Bruins fan.

Episode 161 - Topher's Presentation at the AHCA College Coaches Convention Jun 07, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we share Topher's presentation to all college hockey coaches at the AHCA (America Hockey Coaches Association) Coaches Convention. This is the 4th year in a row that Topher has been asked to speak in front of this esteemed group of coaches, and this year he tackles what he's learned from his relationships with coaches at the highest levels of hockey. He goes through five takeaways:

Identity is everything
It's all about the people
Developing leaders
Player accountability
How are you spending your time?

We hope you enjoy this episode! Thank you to all of our sponsors, including GELSTX (gelstx.com), TrainHeroic App, IceHockeySystems.com, and our podcast company we are under Blue Wire Pods. Thank you so much to all of our amazing listeners who continue to push us to be better every episode. And thank you to the ACHA for allowing Topher to speak again at this convention. To get access to more awesome presentations from the convention go to ahcahockey.com.

Episode 160 - Adam Nicholas May 31, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring back on Adam Nicholas of Stride Envy Hockey to talk about player development and his journey with the Chicago Steel as they just hoisted the Clark Cup as the USHL champions. This is the fourth time Adam has been on the podcast, and it doesn't disappoint for a second! We talk:

-Individual Player Development Plans

-Working through relationships between coaches and player development coaches

-Methods of teaching development to high level athletes

-The Chicago Steel Clark Cup run and the development relationships built with their players

Episode 159 - Matt Caldaroni x2 May 24, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on mental performance coach and resiliency expert Matt Caldaroni! Matt and his company Molliteum work with high achieving athletes from the professional to youth levels and is a big part of working with the Chicago Steel who just won the USHL's Clark Cup this weekend. On this episode, we talk:

-The definition of mental toughness
-The benefits of having a performance alter ego
-The importance of being "realistically optimistic"
-MUCH MORE!!

This is a must listen to episode for anyone trying to develop their mental toughness and mental game. Thank you to our title sponsor GELSTX, our drill sponsor icehockeysystems.com - listen to the intro for a HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT from them, TrainHeroic, and BlueWire Pods. And most of all thank you to all of our amazing listeners!!

Episode 158 - Mike Berra May 17, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Sioux City (USHL) Assistant Coach and one of Jeff's former coaching mates, Mike Berra. One of the most frequent questions we get asked is from young coaches trying to break into the business. They want to know what it takes and how to break in to coach at the higher levels. Well, we thought we'd bring someone on who has done it. Mike started coaching Bantam AA Hockey and is now coaching in the top junior league in the USA and one of the top in the world.

This podcast has so many lessons for young coaches and it was awesome getting the chance to hear Mike's journey and all the things he's learned along the way. Thank you to our all of our sponsors, including GELSTX.COM, TrainHeroic, ICEHOCKEYSYSTEMS.COM, and thank you to our podcast platform Bluewire Pods. And most of all, thank you to all of our awesome listeners for tuning in with us each week. You are going to love this one!

Episode 157 - Reflections on a Year as a Youth Hockey Director May 10, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher navigate the last year of Topher being a youth hockey director. They don't hold back and talk about the good, bad, and the ugly side of youth hockey. They tackle:

-Parents
-Setting a Culture
-Dealing with Covid
-What went well, what didn't, and what was learned
-Much More!

Take a listen to get into the nitty gritty of what is great...and what is broken about the youth hockey system. Thank you to our sponsors GELSTX, TrainHeroic, IceHockeySystems.com, and BlueWire Pods. And as always, thank you to all of our amazing listeners!!

Episode 156 - Evan Rankin May 03, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Evan Rankin, a former teammate who played over 500 professional games. This was an awesome conversation that covered:

-Playing for Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper in midget hockey
-How to score as a net-front player
-The value of a team that has each other's backs
-Much, Much More!

Thank you to all of our sponsors, GELSTX, TRAINHEROIC, ICEHOCKEYSYSTEMS.COM. And thank you to our thousands of amazing listeners who continue on this awesome podcast ride with us!

Episode 155 - Jen Baker Apr 26, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, get ready for a Masterclass on Leadership from Jen Baker – Athletic Director at Johns Hopkins University. Jen went to college at Navy where she was a National Champion Club Lacrosse player and graduated with a degree in aerospace engineering. She then spent 7 years in the Navy as a pilot and facilities manager before going to Cornell University to get her MBA.

At Cornell, Jen worked her way from graduate student to Associate Athletic Director and implemented the “Big Red Leadership Institute” which taught athletes how to become better leaders. After returning home to Baltimore to run the facilities for corporate giant Under Armor, Jen now has taken the job as Athletic Director with Johns Hopkins. Quite the resume!!

This was such an amazing conversation on leadership where we tackle:

-The value of self-awareness
-The value of player leadership in a locker room (and why more coaches should invest in this)
-The importance of followership
-What it means to be a great teammate
-So Much More!

Jen is the best and we know you are going to take a lot from this episode. Thank you to our sponsors GelStx (gelstx.com), icehockeysystems.com, and TrainHeroic. And our biggest thank you to all of our listeners who continue to ride this podcast wave with us every week!

Episode 154 - Cam Ellsworth Apr 19, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Head Coach of Norwich University, Cam Ellsworth! Cam is the reining D3 NCAA Coach of the Year after leading Norwich to being a runner up in the National Championship and breaking 9 NCAA D3 records including having a GAA under 1.00!!! Prior to being at Norwich, Cam helped lead the resurgence at UMASS Lowell. On this podcast, we talk:

-His team's unreal defensive prowess
-Coaching goalies including Connor Hellebuyck
-The life of a college hockey recruiter
-D3 Hockey
-Much More!!!

Thank you to all of our listeners, you are going to love this episode with a great human being. Thank you to our sponsors GELSTX, icehockeysystems.com, TrainHeroic, and thank you to BlueWire Pods!

Episode 153 - Brian Riley Apr 12, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on the Head Coach of Army Hockey, Brian Riley. The Riley family has held the Head Coach position at Army for the last 70 years, and to hear Brian talk about the passion he and his family have for the program is nothing short of amazing. We also talk:

-Creating a culture of family
-The legacies Derek Hines and Thomas "TK" Kennedy, two of his players killed in action
-What makes an "Army kind of player" on the recruiting trail
-The importance of adversity

This was one of the most inspiring episodes that we've done, amazing. Thank you to Coach Riley for sharing his wisdom and thank you to our sponsors GelStx, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to all of our amazing listeners, you are going to love this conversation!

Episode 152 - Matt Fornataro Apr 05, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Matt Fornataro - former professional hockey player that started a multimedia company (torchpro.com) taking you behind the scenes of some of the best players in the world. In this conversation, we talk:

-Why Joe Pavelski is so great
-Playing for Jon Cooper
-How repetition leads to excellence
-The importance of always adding skills to your game
-Much More!

Thank you to all of our incredible sponsors, including GELSTX (gelstx.com), icehockeysystems.com, and TrainHeroic. Thank you to Blue Wire Pods for welcoming us into their podcast family. And thank you to our awesome listeners who continue to help us spread positivity to the hockey world!

Episode 151 - Chris Peters Mar 29, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on NHL Draft writer and one of the top hockey journalists in the game, Chris Peters! Chris has done some awesome work writing for companies like CBS Sports and ESPN. On this episode, we cover all things NHL draft including...

-Old school vs. New school scouting
-Learning from your mistakes
-How important is character when drafting?
-Skill vs. impact
-Much more on the NHL Draft

This was an awesome conversation! Thank you to our title sponsor GELSTX (gelstx.com), our drill sponsor icehockeysystems.com, our training sponsor TrainHeroic, and all of our amazing listeners!!

Episode 150 - Dwayne Blais Mar 22, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring recognized skill development coach, Dwayne Blais! In this conversation we talk:

-The most important skills in hockey and breaking them down
-Unstructured play
-Isolated vs. transferrable skills
-Being a development coach for the Washington Capitols
-Much More!!

Thanks to our sponsors GELSTX (gelstx.com), icehockeysystems.com, TrainHeroic, and all our awesome listeners. For some great hockey content from Dwayne, visit thensda.com!

Episode 149 - Triggering Jeff & Topher Mar 15, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we reached out to YOU to see what your hot button topics are in the game of hockey and you delivered with some awesome questions and issues! We addressed what triggers you about the hockey world and got a little heated ourselves! We talked:

-The "Me" Attitude of players today
-Coaching communication struggles
-Anonymous message boards (really?)
-Lack of preparation from players and coaches
-Participation trophies
-MUCH MORE

This was a fun episode as we always love interacting with our listeners and hearing what you want us to talk about. We had SO MANY people reach out, THANK YOU!

Thank you to our sponsors GELSTX.COM, ICEHOCKEYSYSTEMS.COM, and TRAINHEROIC training app!

Episode 148 - Trent Frederic Mar 10, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Boston Bruins forward Trent Frederic! Jeff is Trent's strength coach during the summer and we had a blast catching up with him. In this conversation, we talk:

-The "Cup Check" from Ovi

-Being 1 of 5 first round draft picks from St. Louis in one year

-Boston Bruins culture

-Adapting to different roles as a player

-Much More!

Thank you to our title sponsor GELSTX (gelstx.com), our drill sponsor icehockeysystems.com, our training sponsor TrainHeroic, and thank you to all of our awesome listeners!

Episode 147 - Brian Yandle Mar 01, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Brian Yandle...awesome hockey guy and the #rinkshrink you've heard on his podcast and Spittin Chiclets. This was an awesome conversation that will resonate with a lot of parents and coaches talking about the most important aspects of youth hockey development. We talk:

-It's a marathon, not a sprint.

-The importance of playing multiple sports

-Being a parent coach

-SO MUCH MORE

This was a really informative conversation on everything youth hockey...we know you'll enjoy! Thanks to Brian for hopping on the podcast...our title sponsor GELSTX, our drill sponsor icehockeysystems.com, our training sponsor TrainHeroic, and all of our amazing listeners for continuing along this podcast journey with us!

Episode 146 - Jocelyne & Monique Lamoureux Feb 22, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring 6x World Champion and 3x Olympic Medalists Jocelyne and Monique Lamoureux! They will go down as two of the top Women's Hockey players of all time, but their impact on the game of hockey, especially for women, has been game-changing.

On this podcast, we talked...

-Growing up in a hockey-crazy household.

-How they became top 5 women's college hockey scorers of all-time.

-The potential 2017 World Championship boycott

-The 2018 Gold Medal at the Olympics

-Their passion for changing the game for the next generation of women.

Check out their new book - "Dare to Make History: Chasing a Dream and Fighting for Equality" Their journey is so inspiring and you'll get a great view into their impact from our podcast and their book.

Thank you to our title sponsor GelStx (gelstx.com), our drill sponsor icehockeysystems.com, TrainHeroic, and to all of our awesome listeners. We can't wait for you to be inspired from this podcast episode!

Episode 145 - Project Hockey Feb 15, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on the creators of the App and website PROJECT HOCKEY, Danny Heath and Evan Karambelas. This was a fun episode where we talk...

-Growing up playing in non-traditional areas

-How to "do the extra work"

-How competition breeds excellence

-Danny and Evan's PROJECT HOCKEY community of players pushing each other to get better.

Check out projecthockey.com for more details!

Thank you to our title sponsor GELSTX (gelstx.com), our drill sponsor icehockeysystems.com, and our training sponsor TrainHeroic. And thank you to all of our awesome listeners every week!

Episode 144 - Todd Woodcroft Feb 08, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Head Coach at the University of Vermont, Todd Woodcroft! Todd has worn so many hats during his career coaching and scouting at the highest levels of hockey including stints with the Minnesota Wild, Winnipeg Jets, Calgary Flames, Washington Capitals, LA Kinds, KHL, Team Sweden, Switzerland, and Belarus!! Quite the resume!

We talk about his journey, some of his influences like Paul Maurice, Mike Babcock, and Jacques Lemaire, and his transition into becoming the Head Coach at UVM. We talk leadership, mentorship, building teams, and so much more.

Thank you to our sponsors GELSTX (gelstx.com), TrainHeroic, IceHockeySystems.com, and to all of our listeners!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 143 - Rich Cohen Feb 01, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Rich Cohen...a New York Times best selling author who just came out with his latest book book "Pee-Wee: Confessions of a Hockey Parent". This episode was a lot of fun where we discuss the craziness and hilarity of being a hockey parent through the lens of Rich's book where he chronicled an entire youth hockey season.

This episode was full of laughs, hilarious stories, along with some great insight and perspective on being a hockey parent. We think you are going to absolutely love this episode!

Thank you to our title sponsor, GELSTX (gelstx.com), our drill sponsor icehockeysystems.com, our training sponsor TrainHeroic...and thank you to all of our listeners! Have fun with this one!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 142 - Chris Lazary Jan 25, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank Podcast, we bring on Head Coach of the OHL's Saginaw Spirit Chris Lazary! This conversation was absolute GOLD! We talk:

-Development vs. Winning Games

-Player and relationship centered coaching

-Coaching the top young players in the world

-MUCH MUCH MORE

We LOVED this conversation with Chris, and we think everyone will take a ton out of his experiences working his way up into one of the top coaches in the Ontario Hockey League.

Thank you to our title sponsor, GELSTX...our drill sponsor icehockeysystems.com, our training sponsor TrainHeroic, and to all of our AMAZING listeners who continue to rock it with us every week!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 141 - JB Spisso Jan 18, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on former Army Ranger and now Team Building and Leadership consultant JB Spisso. JB has worked with many organizations and teams, including the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, and Montreal Canadiens, on building culture and leadership. This was an awesome conversation where we dive into:

-Building Leaders

-Defining and building mental toughness

-Parallels of military leadership and training to hockey

-Much more

Thanks to JB and all members of the Armed Forces for everything they do protecting our country and freedoms! We truly would not have these freedoms without the selfless sacrifice of these warriors and their families.

Thank you to our title sponsor, GELSTX...our drill sponsor icehockeysystems.com, our training sponsor TrainHeroic, and all of our awesome listeners who are along for this podcast ride with us.

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 140 - Dr. Cassidy Preston Jan 11, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Sport Psychologist Dr. Cassidy Preston to talk about the mental game as a player and how to get the best out of your team as a coach. This was a really informative conversation where we cover:

-Mental Toughness

-The importance of building resiliency

-How to make "Getting 1% Better" sexy

-Optimal Levels of Energy/Arousal

-The importance of self-awareness and reflection

-MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our title sponsor, GELSTX, our training sponsor TrainHeroic, our drill sponsor icehockeysystems.com, and to all of our great listeners! This will be an episode that you can take with you on your journey!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 139 - Philipp Pinter Jan 04, 2021

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Assistant Coach with the Austrian National Team currently at the World Junior Championships...Philipp Pinter. It was great going behind the scenes with an underdog coaching staff during their quest to upset the bigger named countries during the International Championships. In this conversation, we talk:

-Austrian Development

-The difficulties of the European Model in a smaller country

-World Junior adjustments of play

-Being an underdog playing against the top players in the world

This was a fun conversation we hope you will enjoy! Thanks to our title sponsor GELSTX, our drill sponsor icehockeysystems.com, our training sponsor TrainHeroic, and all of our awesome, loyal listeners!!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 138- Kris Mayotte Dec 21, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on current University of Michigan Assistant Coach...and Assistant Coach for Team USA at this year's World Junior Championship...Kris Mayotte! With World Juniors starting this week, Kris brings us inside Team USA's walls to show us what it's like being a part of the experience at the tournament. In this episode, we tackle:

-Coaching the best players in the world at 18-19 years old, including Team USA and also 3 potential Top 10 NHL picks in next year's draft at Michigan.

-Winning the World Junior Gold Medal a few years ago against Canada on Canadian soil.

-The importance of team Building at a tournament where you're only there for a few weeks.

-MUCH MORE!

This was an awesome episode, we're looking forward to sharing it with all of you. Thank you to our title sponsor GELSTX, our drill sponsor icehockeysystems.com, our training sponsor TrainHeroic...and thank you to all of our listeners!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 137 - Mailbag Episode Dec 14, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we answer your questions! Thanks to everyone who submitted questions on social media...and here's what we covered:

-When should my kid make the jump to AAA?

-How can I keep my kid engaged during Covid so they don't feel like they're getting left behind?

-How can we build team culture with the player point of view at the forefront?

-What is our favorite part of doing the podcast?

-How early should we think about using a sport psychologist for our kid?

This was a lot of fun being able to hear from YOU and talk about the topics you are looking for answers for. Hopefully we gave you some insight from our own experiences!

This podcast's title sponsor is GELSTX, our drill sponsor is icehockeysystems.com, our training sponsor is TrainHeroic. Thank you to our sponsors and thank you to our listeners for all of your support!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 136 - Darryl Belfry Dec 07, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on hockey development pioneer who works with some of the top names in the game, Darryl Belfry. Darryl's client list includes the likes of Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane, Auston Matthews, John Tavares...among other of the NHL's elite. Darryl also just came out with a book, "Belfry Hockey: Strategies to Teach the World's Best Athletes."

On this podcast we cover so great topics, including:

-Darryl's journey to working with the top players in the world.

-Can you teach offense?

-Manipulating failure and success rates in your coaching.

-Linking transition hockey with hockey sense.

Lot of great hockey we cover on this one, we're really excited to bring it to all of our listeners. Thank you to our title sponsor GELSTX, Jeff's training app sponsor TrainHeroic, our newest sponsor icehockeysystems.com and our drill of the week, "Picket Fence Drill", and thank you to all of our listeners who continue to support our mission each week to bring a little more positivity to the hockey world!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 135 - Brent Walton Nov 30, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on 10 year pro and one of Jeff's college teammates Brent Walton. Brent comes from a small town in Ontario and he takes us through his journey into becoming one of the top scorers in the NCAA and then a long professional career. We talk:

-When to make the move to AAA

-The ups and downs of transitioning to professional hockey

-The decision to stay in North America to try and "make it" or go over to Europe

-Off ice training education importance

-MUCH MORE

This was a fun one! Thank you to our title sponsor, GELSTX. Go to GELSTX.COM to get an awesome weighted training stick used by many pros...and use the coupon code "THINKTANK to get a little discount. Thank you to our drill sponsor icehockeysystems.com...this week's drill we cover is 3v3 handball! Thank you to all of our listeners, we appreciate your support for us trying to make the hockey world a better place!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 134 - Cole Bardreau Nov 23, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on one of my favorite players that I've had the opportunity to coach in Cole Bardreau. Cole's story is one of major ups and downs throughout his career, and it culminated last year getting his first NHL call up with the New York Islanders and scoring his first career goal on a penalty shot.

Cole played for the USA NTDP, then came to Cornell where I coached him. While there, he was asked to play for the US World Junior team where he won a gold medal. The next weekend...his world almost fell apart. He got hit from behind into the boards and broke his neck, very close to paralyzing him. He missed the rest of the season, but worked his tail off to get back. After his senior year on sheer grit and determination he signed an NHL contract, but not until four years later did he receive his first call up to the NHL. The resiliency is such an incredible story.

Now, even as an NHL player, he has started a company "Bardreau Mentoring Group" where he aims to mentor young hockey players as a professional player himself. This is such an awesome initiative...visit bardreaumentoringgroup.com to find out more.

On top of our title sponsor in GELSTX (gelstx.com) we have a new sponsor in icehockeysystems.com as well! At the beginning of every episode, we will talk about a drill on their website and on this episode we chose the 3v3 Gates of Buffalo!

Thank you to all of our listeners who continue to support our podcast, you are going to love this one with Cole Bardreau!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 133 - Katie Strang Nov 16, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Katie Strang, a fantastic hockey and investigative reporter for The Athletic. Katie is a prominent figure in hockey journalism, and we spend most of this podcast talking about a story she has written extensively on regarding a youth hockey coach's history with sexual abuse of youth hockey players.

Katie wrote her first article on this subject in February which brought to the public the scandal of this coach's misconducts, along with how people in hockey leadership failed to handle the situation. This is a podcast that contains language about sexual abuse, so disclaimer for any families that typically listen to our podcast with their kids.

While a tough subject to speak on, we believe that this episode will provide some positive change.

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 132 - Hockey Memories & NiceRink Giveaway! Nov 09, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher go through their greatest hockey memories. From skating on the backyard rink at their Grandma and Grandpa's house, to their first college and professional games, to overtime winners, to favorite off-ice memories with their teammates...this episode has a lot of heart and is full of fun.

And speaking of backyard rinks...

We bring onto the podcast for the second half Jim and Tyler Stoller of NiceRink, a top backyard rink company in North America. Jim and Tyler answer all of your listener questions submitted to social media about the best ways to build a backyard rink, and then we give a secret hashtag to be entered to win a FREE 24x44 backyard rink from NiceRink!!

Details of the contest are in the podcast episode and a random winner will be named on 11/20 from those who use the secret hashtag on our social media channels. Listen to a great episode and get entered into this amazing contest today!!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 131 - Matt Nichol Nov 02, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on one of the top hockey strength and conditioning coaches in the world, Matt Nichol. Matt is based out of Ontario and trains some of the top players in hockey, along with Olympic athletes in many other sports.

This was an awesome conversation where we hit on the importance of strength and conditioning, but Matt also brings us into the mind of elite level athletes...and the top athletes in the world. If you want to know what it takes to be at that level, and how to find a way to get as close to your potential as you can, this episode will be a great one for you.

Big thanks to Matt for coming on the podcast, and big thanks to our sponsors GELSTX and TrainHeroic as well. And as always, thank you to our supporters and fans who continue to inspire us to bring the best guests on we can! Matt is at the top of that list, hope you enjoy this episode!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 130 - Bryan Allen Oct 26, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on NHL veteran of over 700 games and a former 4th overall draft Bryan Allen! Bryan has some amazing hockey experience and is bringing that as a passionate youth hockey coach now, and we get into some really thought-provoking conversations around the state of youth hockey today. This is a great episode for all involved in the youth hockey experience!

Thanks to Bryan, and thank you to our title sponsor GELSTX, Jeff's training App TrainHeroic, and all of our great listeners in the hockey world!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 129 - Craig Cunningham Oct 19, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on one of the most inspiring guests we've ever had on in so many different ways, Craig Cunningham. Craig defied the odds to make it to the NHL as an undersized player, but an incident while he was playing in the AHL for the Tucson Roadrunners changed his life forever.

During a game, he suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed on the ice. Miraculously, he was revived due to the incredible work by doctors. Craig has persevered through that challenge, including losing part of one of his legs in a surgery, to be an inspiration to so many, including those he works with in player development.

We touch on his recovery, but this was an AWESOME talk on hockey and hockey development. Craig is as passionate as they come about the game, and you are going to love this episode!

Thank you to GELSTX our title sponsor...visit gelstx.com and use the coupon code "THINKTANK" for a discount off a training stick.

Thank you to TrainHeroic, Jeff's slick training app that houses all his workouts.

And thank you to our listeners for all of your support for our podcast. This is a special episode, let us know what you think by shooting us a review wherever you get your podcasts today!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 128 - Patrick O'Sullivan x2 Oct 12, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring back on Patrick O'Sullivan, former NHL player now working in hockey development with youth all the way up to the NHL levels. Patrick is one of the smartest hockey minds in the game, and we all will get better from listening to this one! We talk:

-How to find space on the ice

-What it really means to play well defensively

-Developing to a role vs. developing the player

-Teaching the importance of the players without the puck

-MUCH MORE

Thanks to GELSTX our title sponsor who has the best training sticks in the game! Thanks to TrainHeroic, the App where you can find Jeff's training regimens. And thank you to our loyal listeners! Shoot us a rating or review wherever you get your podcast today to provide us some feedback as well!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 127 - HOCKEY PARENT SURVIVAL GUIDE Oct 05, 2020

HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE HOCKEY THINK TANK!!!

We have made a Hockey Parent Survival Guide for all hockey parents out there looking for some guidance on the craziness that is youth hockey. As a former college recruiter, I've gotten the chance to speak with hundreds of families...and one of the biggest sources of their stress is that they all have trouble navigating their son or daughter's youth hockey journey. So...we made this easy-to-use Survival Guide to help all families put their kids in the best position to achieve their dreams while also helping them to destress and enjoy the process as well!

On this podcast, we preview the Hockey Parent Survival Guide by talking about all 12 topics represented in the course. Those topics include:

Choosing a Team
The Car Ride Home
Life Skills Built in Hockey
Playing Multiple Sports vs Specialization
Parent Culture
Parent/Coach Communication
Off Ice Insight (w/ Jeff LoVecchio)
Breaking Down the Costs of Hockey
What's Your Why?
Advisors 101
Junior Hockey - Explained
Pathway to College Hockey

If you'd like to purchase this survival guide, it's only $25 and because we love you if you use the coupon code "HOCKEY" at checkout you can get it for $19.99. 20 bucks for peace of mind on the youth hockey process...that's a deal!

Visit: http://thehockeythinktank.teachable.com/p/parent-survival-guide to purchase today!!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 126 - Drew Laine Sep 28, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Drew Laine...and get educated about the world of hockey equipment. We live at a time where the cost of equipment is pricing people out of the sport, but Drew and his colleagues created a company to combat the problem and creatively brought the hockey world together in the process. This was an inspiring conversation in so many ways, and the meaning of service and compassion come full swing. Thank you for listening!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 125 - Ben Eaves Sep 21, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on one of our most inspiring guests, Ben Eaves. Ben comes from an amazing hockey family and lead an incredible hockey career that included National Championships at the youth level with Shattuck St. Mary's and in college at Boston College. In this episode, we talked to Ben about:

-Growing up and having support from a great hockey family.

-Using adversity as an opportunity to learn and grow.

-Playing through injuries (WHAT A STORY ABOUT SENDING BC TO THE FROZEN FOUR PLAYING ON ONE LEG)

-Much, much more.

We got better as hosts from learning from Ben and his enthusiasm on this podcast, and we know our listeners will too. He might be the most well-liked people in the hockey industry, and it will come to no surprise for anyone that listens to this episode. Check it out!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 124 - Casey Borer Sep 14, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on former NHL player and one of Jeff's old teammates Casey Borer! This was an awesome conversation where we talked:

-Growing up in MN

-Playing at Shattuck St. Mary's with so many future NHL players

-Persevering through a possible career ending injury to come back and play in the NHL

-Playing professional hockey around the world

This was a fun and insightful conversation...enjoy!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 123 - Ozone & Dzone Play Sep 07, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff & Topher get in depth on the structures, skills, habits, and principles of effective Offensive and Defensive Zone play. Another episode of some pure hockey talk...hope you enjoy!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 122 - Nick Petraglia Aug 31, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on one of my best friends in the business and the most positive person I know, Nick Petraglia. Trags and I coached together for one year at Miami-Ohio and we've stayed close ever since...going through the many ups, downs, and amazing times together through our journeys coaching college hockey. We talk:

-The powerhouse of Shattuck St. Mary's

-The transition from playing to coaching

-The building championship cultures (we won the CCHA championship and coached Hobey Baker winner Andy Miele our year coaching together)

-Transitioning into youth hockey from coaching in college

This is one of my favorite episodes we've done...guaranteed to uplift your spirits!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 121 - Tom Chorske Aug 24, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Stanley Cup champion and Minnesota Hockey Hall of Famer Tom Chorske! We had a great conversation with Tom who has great perspective on the game from being:

-Minnesota High School Hockey player

-Stanley Cup Champion NHL player

-NHL Hockey Analyst

-Current GM of a NAHL team

We talked a lot of hockey, he told a lot of stories about his days in the NHL...including about Scott Stevens, Jacques Lemaire, Wayne Gretzky, and Mike Milbury. This one was a lot of fun, we hope you enjoy!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 120 - Julia Cole Aug 17, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on country music star Julia Cole! This was such a fun episode where we talked about so many of the parallels between "making it" in country music and "making it" in hockey. We also talked a lot about how sports is such a great teacher of life lessons, and Julia was fantastic giving us some awesome perspective on the grind it takes to be successful in her line of work.

Thank you to Julia for taking the time to come on our podcast. She has a new EP out called HONEY CHILD...we encourage everyone to check it out!!

Thank you to GELSTX our title sponsor...thank you to TrainHeroic Jeff's workout app...and thanks the most to all of our listeners who support us week after week!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 119 - Brady Flachs Aug 10, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on a pHD and Professor of Educational Leadership at Ferris State University, Brady Flachs. We always talk about how so much of coaching isn't the X's and O's...it's about teaching. And bringing Brady on to talk about Leadership, motivation, and the parallels between teaching and coaching...this was an UNREAL conversation. We talk:

-Teaching Creativity

-Preparation and Intentionality

-Empowering Students in their own Learning

-Creating the right Environment

-MUCH MORE!

This episode we learned a ton! Thank you to our title sponsor GELSTX, Jeff's training app TRAINHEROIC, and thank you to all of our loyal listeners!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 118 - Playoff Hockey Aug 03, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk PLAYOFF HOCKEY. They go through what makes it so special, how it's different from the regular season, how to prepare as a player or coach, and much more.

Jeff and Topher also go through the TOP 10 most downloaded episodes of the podcast for all of the new listeners to go back to. Very interesting to see which episodes have been the most popular and have had the greatest impact!

Thank you to GELSTX our title sponsor, TrainHeroic another sponsor, and thank you to all of our amazing listeners who continue to support our podcast.

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 117 - Max Scott Jul 27, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we have an incredibly powerful conversation and one of the most inspirational guests we've had with Topher's little brother, Max Scott. Max lives with intellectual and social disabilities through a genetic disorder called Fragile X, and while it's not always easy it hasn't deterred Max from accomplishing some amazing things in his life.

We talk about how from a young age Max played hockey but was bullied and didn't have the best experience. But as an adult, Max has taken on a new love for the game as he mentors/coaches many kids to the absolute best of his abilities.

This episode has some laughs, some emotional moments, and a lot of life lessons for all kids that are around hockey locker rooms today. It's our can't miss episode and we are so excited to bring it to you.

Thank you to our title sponsor GelStx and our supporting sponsor TrainHeroic. And thank you to all of our loyal listeners who continue to amaze us. This will be an extremely special podcast episode.

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 116 - Patrick O'Sullivan Jul 20, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on former NHL player Patrick O'Sullivan to talk some hockey and his journey through the game! This was an extremely open and honest conversation that any hockey player, parent, or coach will be able to take a lot from. We talk:

-Growing up with a physically abusive father

-Being a phenom at the younger ages (Played junior hockey at 13!)

-Scoring the game winning goal to help secure USA's first ever gold medal at the World Junior Championships

-An unreal encounter with Wayne Gretzky at the NHL draft

-The human side of the NHL journey

-Falling back in love with the game and helping youth hockey players today

Thanks so much again to Patrick for hopping on the podcast! Thank you also to GELSTX, our title sponsor. And thank you to all of our loyal listeners who continue to make our podcast one of the top hockey podcasts out there!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 115 - Hockey Habits Jul 13, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk about HOCKEY HABITS that are essential for hockey players in the game today. They break it down through:

1. Team Offensive Habits

2. Team Defensive Habits

3. Individual Forward Habits

4. Individual Defensemen Habits

5. Attitude Habits

Topher also talks about the charity hockey "game" he is chairing this summer. If you'd like to donate to the cause, visit: https://www.givegab.com/p2p/RRBR2020/topher-scott

Thank you to our title sponsor, GelStx, for continuing to support our podcast. Thank you to TrainHerioc, the training app that Jeff uses to make his workouts available to the masses. And thank you to our passionate listeners, we love you!

Episode 114 - Patrik Stefan Jul 06, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on former #1 overall NHL draft pick Patrik Stefan. What a journey filled with ups and downs for the incredibly skilled forward from Czech Republic, and we go through many of those ups and downs in this conversation...which many can be great lessons for players coming up in the game today. We talk:

-Coming over to the USA at the age of 16 to play pro hockey.

-The thrill and pressures of being drafted #1 overall in the NHL.

-Advice to his younger self.

-Handling the ups and downs of an NHL career.

-Mentoring up and coming players today.

This was an awesome, candid, honest conversation with a great player and now mentor. We're looking forward to all young players listening!

Thank you to all of our listeners for continuing to support our podcast and mission to make the game of hockey better. Thank you to our title sponsor, GELSTX, and also Jeff's workout app sponsor TrainHeroic.

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 113 - Theresa Feaster Jul 01, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on current Director of Hockey Operations for the Providence College Men's team and first ever woman hired to be on a USA World Junior Coaching Staff...Theresa Feaster!

Theresa is an incredible hockey mind with a lot of knowledge to share, and on this episode we talk:

-Her finding love for the game with her Dad.

-Her role with Providence and her love for video work.

-Prescouts, scouting players, and the grind of hockey ops.

-Representing Team USA as their first female coach.

What a great conversation this was as part of our OUTSTANDING WOMEN IN HOCKEY week presented by the PWHPA! Thank you also to our title sponsor, GELSTX...and Trainheroic as well. And most importantly, thank you to all of our loyal listeners...we appreciate your support for our mission to make the game of hockey better!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 112 - Maura Crowell Jun 29, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Head Coach for the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs Women's team...Maura Crowell. Maura also coaches USA Hockey's Under 18 team that won the gold medal in the U18 championships last year. This was an awesome conversation for any coach looking to get better, or any player looking to find out more information about the college recruiting process for girls hockey. We talk:

-The art of teaching

-College recruiting

-Filling in as Interim Head Coach at Harvard for legend Katy Stone

-The biggest turnaround in UMD history after being hired there

-Winning the Gold Medal at the U18 championships with Team USA

-The importance of mentorship from National Team and pro players in women's hockey

-Much more!

This was a fantastic conversation that made us all better, and is part of our continuing OUTSTANDING WOMEN IN HOCKEY series sponsored by the PWHPA. We want to take this chance to thank our title sponsor, GELSTX and also TrainHeroic for supporting our podcast. And most of all, thank you to all of our loyal listeners who tune in to our podcast every week!

Episode 111 - Jayna Hefford Jun 24, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we continue our OUTSTANDING WOMEN IN HOCKEY series by bringing on Canadian Royalty and one of the best players to ever play the game...Jayna Hefford. She's a 4x Olympic Gold Medalist, one of the leading scorers of all time in professional women's hockey, was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, and awarded into the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2019. On top of that, she has been a major advocate for women's hockey through the PWHPA and has won numerous awards for her service to her community and the game. In this awesome conversation, we talk:

-The origins of internal motivation and drive

-The importance in having passion for what you do

-ALLLLLL the Olympics and what it means to play for Team Canada

-Her continued pursuit to better the game of women's hockey for the next generation of girls coming up.

This conversation was so much fun and so inspiring...you are going to love hearing about the journey and mindset of one of the best to ever play the game. Thank you to the PWHPA for sponsoring this OUTSTANDING WOMEN IN HOCKEY series! Thank you to GelStx our title sponsor, Trainheroic, and to all of our listeners who support our mission to provide a little bit of education and inspiration regarding the GREATEST GAME ON THE PLANET!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 110 - Nicole Hensley Jun 22, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast...we start off our OUTSTANDING WOMEN IN HOCKEY SERIES by bringing on gold medal winning Olympian with Team USA Nicole Hensley. This is an amazing conversation about that spans Nicole's inspiring career to what is happening with the women's game today. We talk:

-Her incredible story to become a D1 starting goalie.

-What it means to have "hockey sense" as a goalie.

-Winning Olympic Gold.

-The PWHPA and the Dream Gap Tour.

-Sacrificing her own career for the next generation of women coming up.

We are so excited to have our OUTSTANDING WOMEN IN HOCKEY series sponsored by the PWHPA! Thank you also to our title sponsor GelStx, Trainheroic, and to all of our loyal listeners who tune in to our podcast. You are going to love this highly inspiring conversation with one of the top women's goalies in the world!!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 109 - 5 C's of Youth Player Development Jun 15, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk some youth hockey development! Their conversation centers around 5 cornerstone, which they label the "5 C's"

-Creativity

-Competitiveness

-Coachability

-Community

-Charisma

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

*Which leads to CONFIDENCE!

We talk why these attributes are important, how to improve them in players, and give basic fundamental principles of youth hockey development. We hope you'll enjoy!

Thank you to our title sponsor in GELSTX. Head over to gelstx.com and use the coupon code "Thinktank" to receive a discount on hockey training sticks. And thank you to all of our listeners who continue to be the oxygen for us in our show!

Episode 108 - Leon Hayward Jun 08, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Assistant Coach for Colorado College Leon Hayward. As one of only two African American coaches in D1 Hockey, we speak with Leon about the current state of our country and our hockey world as it pertains to race relations and racism. In this conversation Leon gives us a great window into what it is like as an African American in our sport. With this incredibly open and honest dialogue about a really tough topic to talk about in racism, we hope to bring some much needed awareness and perspective to our listeners. Thank you.

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 107 - Phil McRae Jun 01, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Phil McRae...an awesome guest with a great hockey pedigree along with some great things that he has going on in the hockey world right now. Phil was highly recognizable even at a younger age...as he was granted a spot on the USA NTDP as an underager. He then went on to play for London in the OHL with players like Patrick Kane and John Tavares. He was a second round draft pick by the St. Louis Blues and played a lot of years of pro hockey. Now Phil is the director of TPH St. Louis' Center of Excellence. We got into a lot of great topics on this podcast:

-The art and importance of passing

-Being a phenom growing up

-What we all would have done differently in our hockey journeys

-Mentoring the youth hockey players of today

-MUCH more.

This was a really thought provoking interview, we think you'll really enjoy it. Thank you to GELSTX, our title sponsor. Thank you to TrainHeroic. And thank you to all our listeners who continue to make this one of the top hockey podcasts in the world!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 106 - Rob Schremp x2 May 25, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring back on former first round NHL draft pick, 12th leading scorer all time in the OHL, and 600+ professional game veteran Rob Schremp! This was a great conversation where we talked:

-How Rob has changed the way he sees hockey post retirement.

-How to teach Hockey Sense/IQ

-Seeing the game from the net out

-Positionless Hockey

-Relating sports to business

We are thrilled to support Rob and Jeff's new venture with 44 Vision Hockey, where Rob has former pro players, and women's Olympians, teaching kids the game of hockey through video. Thank you to GELSTX, our title sponsor...and TrainHeroic, the app where Jeff stores his workouts. And thank you, as always, to all of our listeners and fans for continuing to support our mission in the greatest game on the planet!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 105 - Bill Martinov May 18, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring the Athletic Director for Long Island University Bill Martinov. LIU shocked the hockey world with the announcement of adding a Division One men's hockey team, and we talk to Bill about the process that lead to this all coming to fruition. We go through:

-Long Island University and Athletics

-The process of making the decision to go Division One in men's hockey

-Questions surrounding the coach, facilities, scheduling

-Much more!

Thank you to GELSTX, our title sponsor for the podcast. And thank you to all of our listeners who continue to make this one of the most listened to hockey podcasts out there!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 104 - Adam Naylor May 11, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Sports Psychologist and mental game coach Dr. Adam Naylor. This was a great conversation with Adam centered around the mental aspects of the game and we cover some really insightful topics:

-Good vs. Bad Compliments

-The importance of resiliency and being challenged

-The difference between fun and enjoyment

-How to develop passion

-Much more!

We absolutely loved this really insightful talk with Adam and we know that you will too! Thank you to all of our supporters who continue to drive this podcast into one of the fastest growing hockey podcasts in the world. And thank you to our title sponsor, GelStx, for your continued support of our mission to provide some education and inspiration to the hockey universe.

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 103 - Greg Powers May 04, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Head Coach of Arizona State University Greg Powers. This was a powerful conversation where we talk to Greg about the blueprint of bringing ASU from a club program to a Division One power. ASU made their first tournament last season (and would have made it this season without Covid) and their staff has done an incredible job making ASU a nationally recognized team in so few years. We talk:

-Greg's powerful childhood story

-The process, ups, and downs of bringing ASU to Division 1

-Building his team through recruiting and culture

-No Excuses, Ever

This was an awesome conversation that brings you inside access into one of college hockey's best stories over the past few years. Thank you to all of our listeners for continuing to support our mission of providing the hockey world with a little bit of education and a little bit of inspiration regarding the greatest game on the planet. And thank you to our title sponsor, GELSTX, for continuing to believe in our podcast as well!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 102 - Pat Ferschweiler Apr 27, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Associate Head Coach of the Western Michigan Broncos Pat Ferschweiler. If you are a kid that wants to play college hockey...this is the episode to listen to!

In this episode we give you an inside look into college hockey recruiting. What it takes to get there, what coaches look for, and we bring you behind the scenes of what coaches do in identifying and landing players.

Fersch also spent times as an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings...and he has an UNREAL story about Pavel Datsyuk that will knock your socks off (HINT: he works really hard). This is an inspiring episode, that really peels back the onion of youth hockey, college hockey, pro hockey, and more.

Thank you to all of our supporters out there following us...and thank you to our title sponsor, GELSTX Sports... and our episode sponsor Train Heroic!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 101 - Gabe Polsky Apr 20, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on acclaimed filmmaker Gabe Polsky...who produced and directed two major hockey films that have circulated the hockey world with "In Search of Greatness" and "Red Army". Gabe also was a hockey player himself, having played growing up in Chicago and then Division One at Yale University. In this conversation, we talk a lot about the film "In Search of Greatness" where Gabe interviews Wayne Gretzky, Jerry Rice, Pele, and other academic authors on why/how the Greatest of All Time became that way. We talk:

-Sport Specialization

-Passion

-Building Hockey Sense/Game Sense

-Providing the right environment for development

-Much More!!

This is a film that is a must-watch for any parent, player, or coach with dreams of achieving great things. Gabe does such an amazing job with this movie, and it was enlightening talking to him about it on our podcast.

Thank you to all of our listeners for continuing to tune in, and thank you to our title sponsor GelStx for supporting our podcast!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 100 - John Buccigross Apr 13, 2020

On this 100th(!) episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on ESPN Sportscenter Anchor and huge #cawlidgehockey advocate John Buccigross!!!! This was a phenomenal conversation and Bucci brings so much passion...we had an absolute blast. On this episode we talk:

-His early career in getting to ESPN

-The NHL2night days

-His love for hockey, especially #cawlidgehockey

-The origin of the #bucciotchallenge

-The love of being a hockey parent

-The unbelievably inspiring story of Brendan Burke

We want to take this chance to thank all of you listeners. We literally can't believe we are at 100 episodes of this podcast. Your support has driven us to keep this thing rolling, and we really wanted a special guest for you for our 100th. Bucci absolutely brings it, and we're so honored to continue bringing you a little bit of education, and a little bit of inspiration, regarding THE GREATEST GAME ON THE PLANET. And thanks always for the support from GelStx as well...you guys are the best.

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 99 - Tobias Johansson Apr 06, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Head of Player Development for Frolunda in the top Swedish league overseas. Frolunda is highly regarded as one of the top programs in Sweden, and getting the chance to speak with Tobias did not disappoint! He has coached and developed the likes of Rasmus Dahlin, the number one draft pick overall to Buffalo a few years ago...and Lucas Raymond who is projected to go in the Top 5 of next year's NHL draft. In this conversation, we talk to Tobias about:

-Sweden's development model for developing players.

-Communicating with today's athlete and building trust.

-The importance of competition and small area games.

-What sets the truly elite talents apart from their peers.

-Coaching the individual within a team structure.

-Much, much more!!!

Thank you to all of our listeners for your continued support for our podcast. Can't believe we're on episode Gretzky (99)! Thank you to our title sponsor, GelStx as well for your continued support for what we do.

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 98 - Tommi Niemelä Mar 30, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we go across the pond and speak to a Finland National Team Coach, Tommi Niemelä. This was such an amazing conversation speaking about Finland's philosophy on hockey development, and think it will be one of the most influential episodes that we've done. It's amazing what Finland has done in the number of NHL players it has developed...and also what they have done in International Play in winning some of the top world tournaments...with so much fewer numbers of players than their competition. In this episode, we talk:

-Sport Specialization

-An incredible view of coach education

-Servant leadership vs. Authoritative leadership

-Development of intrinsic motivation

-Winning vs. Developing players

-Playing with "rhythms" during a game

-So.So.Much.More

We are so excited to bring this episode to you and feel like you will learn A TON. Thank you to all our listeners for supporting our mission to educate and inspire the hockey world! And thank you to our title sponsor, GelStx, for supporting our mission as well!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 97 - James Marcou Mar 23, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on current Harvard University Assistant Coach, James Marcou. James was an unreal player, who broke the career assists record for UMASS Amherst. After his junior year there, he signed with the San Jose Sharks before concussions unfortunately ended his career after his first season. He is a rising star in the coaching ranks and is currently in his first year at Harvard. In this conversation, we cover:

-Playing for another crazy Russian coach growing up and the impact that had.

-What it takes to make it as a smaller player.

-What it means to "make players around you better."

-The importance of honesty in recruiting.

-Battling concussions as a hockey player.

-The Cornell/Harvard rivalry.

James is a great guy and a great coach, we know you'll enjoy this one! And as always, thank you to our title sponsor, GelStx...and thank you to all of our loyal fans for tuning in!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 96 - Brandon Wong Mar 16, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we take you out to Western Canada and speak to former college star and 9+ year professional player, Brandon Wong. Brandon grew up in beautiful Victoria, BC and played his college hockey at Quinnipiac University where he was a Hobey Baker candidate (he scored A LOT of points). After his career there he played almost a decade of pro hockey before returning to Western Canada to become a dedicated hockey skills coach. We talk a lot of great topics including:

-The benefits of playing junior hockey

-What differentiates the kids that "make it"

-How much coaching to do on the bench during the game

-Much more!

Thank you to GELSTX, our title sponsor for supporting our show! And thank you to all of our listeners for keeping us going on this fun hockey podcast journey!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 95 - Ken Baker Mar 09, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we have what might have been the deepest conversation yet with acclaimed author and former college/professional hockey player, Ken Baker. Ken played college hockey at Colgate before figuring out that he had a debilitating physical disease that attacked his hormone levels. But after recognizing what was wrong...he put everything on hold (he was a celebrity reporter in Los Angeles and tells a few cool stories about that) to pursue his dream of being a professional hockey player! It's a really inspiring story, and we talk about:

-Falling in love with hockey because of the Miracle on Ice in 1980.

-The trap of the comparison culture.

-The importance of having BIG dreams and goals.

-The difference of being a dad to a girl and boy hockey player.

-Celebrity culture and how it relates to hockey.

This episode is brought to you by our title sponsor, GelStx! Head on over to gelstx.com, use the discount code "THINKTANK" and get a discount on the best training stick out there!

Thank you to all of our hockey player, parent, and coach supporters...we couldn't do this without you!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 94 - Stan Stiopkin Mar 02, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on the person you've all been waiting for...

Topher's crazy Russian youth hockey coach, Stan Stopkin. This was an INCREDIBLE episode full of youth hockey gold...from a coaching, player, and parent perspectives. We talk about:

-Coaching development in Russia (insane!)

-Stan's first impressions of North American Hockey.

-How to teach competitiveness and puck support (what we think are two of the most important attributes of a good hockey player).

-Pushing kids outside their comfort zones and interesting ways to do it.

-Reminiscing back on a year we won a youth hockey National Championship. And es, we talked about when we beat Jeff's St. Louis team where we played the entire game without a goalie too...

This was an unforgettable episode that we are so excited to share with you. Thank you to all of our listeners for supporting our podcast, and thank you to GelStx for being our title sponsor!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 93 - Tyler Parks Feb 24, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on current goaltender for the Tuscon Roadrunners (AHL affiliate of the Arizona Coyotes), Tyler Parks. Get ready to be inspired...because this guy's story is UNREAL. His resume includes being cut from AAA, his HS team as a junior in high school, junior teams...spent a year playing Division 3 hockey, cut in the ECHL and SPHL...but he absolutely persevered and now has earned his first callup to the AHL!!!!!!! Parsky's story is incredible and should be a must listen for any kid out there looking to follow their dreams! Thank you to Parksy for being so open with this conversation, we think it is going to change lives. Thank you also to all of our listeners for supporting our podcast, we couldn't do it without you. And thank you to our title sponsor, GELSTX...the best shooting training aid in the business!!!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 92 - Forecheck Feb 17, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk a little hockey! With the overwhelming positive feedback we got from the episode where we broke down the Power Play and Penalty Kill...we wanted to take another opportunity to talk about another concept in hockey that people are starving for information, THE FORECHECK. We go through different habits and reads, different structures and concepts, and how the forecheck vs. the breakout is one of the more fascinating chess matches in hockey. We hope you enjoy, thanks for tuning in and for supporting our podcast!! And thank you as always to our title sponsor, GelStx sports!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 91 - Mike Terwilliger Feb 12, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we continue with our Minnesota week and bring on Bloomington HS coach and New Programs Director for Minnesota Hockey (arm of USA Hockey) Mike Terwilliger. This was another great conversation into the depths of the state that produces the most players. We get into:

-Playing on the ponds and building creativity

-Playing for Pierre McGuire

-Coaching and Teaching parallels

-Community based models

So much great information from Mike in this episode, thank you to everyone who tunes in! Thank you also to our title sponsor, GelStx.com...use the coupon code "THINKTANK" at checkout to get a discount on unreal weighted training sticks!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 90 - Jay Hardwick Feb 10, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we kick off a two-episode week dedicated to Minnesota Hockey and bring on the Head Coach of Warroad High School, a powerhouse in the state. Jay grew up in Warroad, played at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, and went on to a long pro career in the minor leagues before coming back home and becoming the head high school coach. Warroad is a town of close to 1800 people but has produced 5 NHL players, 7 Olympians, 80+ Division One players, and more. In this episode, we cover...

-What makes the city of Warroad so special.

-Playing for 2x defending National Champion Scott Sandelin at Minnesota-Duluth.

-How big of an influence TJ Oshie, Brock Nelson, GiGi Marvin, and other great players have been on the kids in the town.

-Much more!!

Thank you to all of you that have tuned in, we love bringing you these conversations with awesome hockey people! And thank you to our Title Sponsor, GELSTX Sports!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 89 - Mark Dennehy Feb 03, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on the Head Coach of the AHL's Binghamton Devils and one of the best people in the game of hockey, Mark Dennehy. Mark is widely known as one of the most respected coaches in the game. He spent 13 years as the Head Coach at Merrimack before now taking the Head Coaching job in Binghamton. On this episode we talk about:

-Growing up outside of Boston in the Bobby Orr days

-Hockey serving as a vehicle to teach life lessons

-The importance of playing meaningful games in youth hockey

-The difference between coaching in college and the pros

-What private rinks can do in the summer to keep the lights on but not have the kids be on the ice all year.

This was an awesome conversation! Thank you to all of the listeners for tuning in and thank you to our title sponsor, GelStx for your support of the podcast.

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 88 - Justin Lewandowski Jan 27, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on the Director of Hockey Operations for the company 200x85, Justin Lewandowski. Many of you have probably been to one of their events or tournaments like the CCM Invite which brings in teams from all over the world to compete. We talk to Lewy about all things in youth and high level hockey, including:

-Is toughness gone from the game today?

-How are we teaching kids to handle adversity?

-What to look for in a successful coach/educator?

-How do you run a business in youth sports the right way?

-Much, much more!

This was an awesome conversation with one of the best hockey guys in the game who is running one of the biggest youth hockey businesses around. Tune it today, and thank you as always to our title sponsor GELSTX!

Episode 87 - Kane Van Gate Jan 20, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on social media sensation Kane Van Gate (his real name is Keith Van Gels...) With over 30,000 subscribers on Youtube and over 40,000 followers on Instagram, Kane has made a name for himself as a hilarious Beer League goalie. His passion for the game is incredible and we have a great conversation about how his character started and how he's been able to grow the game. He has a new movie coming out shortly, "Hockey Journey," documenting a trip around the US and Canada showing the love of the game.

Thank you to all of our listeners and thank you to our title sponsor, GelStx. We wouldn't be where we are without all of you!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 86 - Bob Mancini x2 Jan 13, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring back USA Hockey ADM Manager Bob Mancini. Bob comes back on the podcast to talk about all things USA Hockey...and he surely didn't disappoint. Some of the topics include how to build a youth organizational culture, what makes other countries development models so good, and a passionate back and forth about what happened to the US at the World Juniors this year along with some insight into the decision making at the higher levels of USA Hockey. This is one you don't want to miss...and Topher reveals a HUGE announcement that is going to continue to put the Hockey Think Tank on the map! Thank you so much to GelStx our title sponsor, and thank you to all of our listeners and supporters who continue to make this an incredible ride for us!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 85 - Our Dads Jan 06, 2020

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on OUR DADS!! Hockey Dads are so critical to any player's career and enjoyment of the game and it was great to speak to our dads and reminisce about our journeys. We go through the ups, the downs, the lessons, and everything in between. They also provide some invaluable advice for any parent looking to guide their kid through the youth hockey process (mostly slow down and have fun with it!). We had a great time telling some fun and hilarious stories about how our dads shaped our own careers, and we certainly wouldn't be here without them. As always, thank you to all of our listeners who continue to go above and beyond in supporting our podcast and helping us grow. And thank you to GelStx our title sponsor...home of the best training hockey stick in the game!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 84 - Mailbag x4 Dec 30, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we have our latest installment of our mailbag where we got questions from our listeners via social media...and our listeners didn't disappoint. Some of the topics we discussed include:

-Ways to grow the game of hockey.

-Coaching kids with ADHD or other behavior/developmental disabilities.

-How to teach kids to not take shifts off.

-How to develop a scoring mentality.

-Evaluating your kid's coach.

-Some of our best (and worst) hockey memories.

And much, much more. We also had a guest host for the podcast in Topher's dad, Bobby Scott. For our last episode of 2019, we want to thank everyone who has supported this podcast! And we'd like to thank our title sponsor GelStx as well. Go to gelstx.com and use coupon "THINKTANK" to get a discount on the top training stick in the game. Happy 2020!!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 83 - Andy Strickland Dec 23, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on media personality on everything St. Louis Blues...Andy Strickland. Andy covered one of the most amazing playoff runs and turnarounds we've ever seen last year, and he shares some great insight into an incredible season. Andy also tells us some great stories about being a youth hockey coach, what he learned from covering Jon Cooper when he was just a junior coach, and we discuss why we hate "NO BALL HOCKEY" signs in the rinks. Thank you to GelStx our title sponsor...if you'd like one of their training sticks go to gelstx.com and use the coupon code "THINKTANK" for a discount. And as always, thank you to all of our listeners for supporting our mission to make the hockey world a better place!!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 82 - Uncle Tim Dec 16, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on our Uncle Tim...Tim Scott. Uncle Tim has a lot of different opinions on hockey development and we're excited to have him on to debate them. Cross ice vs. Full ice...Structure vs. Letting them play, we have a great back and forth while also talking about our experiences in the game. Uncle Tim has been coaching hockey at the youngest levels for over 20 years and has a lot of opinions on the game...and isn't afraid to share them! On this podcast, we bring you inside the Scott Family holiday party hockey conversations! As always, thank you to our title sponsor GelStx. If you'd like to purchase the top training stick in the game...go to gelstx.com and use the promo code "THINKTANK" to receive a discount on your order. Thank you to everyone tuning in as well, we appreciate your support for our podcast!!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 81 - Reed Low Dec 09, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on former tough guy for the St. Louis Blues, Reed Low. Here is his roster of players that he went toe-to-toe with in his career:

Probert. Domi. Larocque. McCarty. Brashear. Fedoruk. Stock. Manson. Worrell. Godard. Parker. Downey. Dingman...that's a pretty heavy list and it's only the half of it.

We have a great discussion on Reed's role as an enforcer, protector, glue guy, and how that role played such a big part in his teams' successes. We also talk about the role of fighting in the game today. It's a spirited discussion to say the least, and brings incredible perspective into a topic so hotly debated in the hockey world.

Reed is an unreal guy, and you're sure to laugh a lot, think a lot, and reflect a lot during this episode. As always, thank you to everyone for tuning in, and thank you to our title sponsor GelStx for your support as well. If you're looking for a great training aid to help your shot, go to gelstx.com and enter the promo code "THINKTANK" for a discount on your next stick.

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 80 - Power Play and Penalty Kill Dec 02, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher do things a little bit differently and go IN DEPTH on the power play and penalty kill. It's an awesome conversation that dissects what makes each successful, what makes players on each successful, and the different habits and skills that are important in each game situation. Thank you to everyone that tunes in, and we hope you enjoy this talk on special teams! And as always, thank you to our title sponsor, GelStx. Go to gelstx.com and use the promo code "THINKTANK" for a discount on your next order!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 79 - Jon Lounsbury Nov 25, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Jon Lounsbury...one of the harder working guys we know in hockey. He is a skills coach in the Boston area along with being a Volunteer Assistant Coach at Division One Holy Cross and a Partner with our title sponsor, GelStx Sports. This was an awesome conversation where we get into a lot of great hockey topics. Here's a sneak peek:

24:05 – Power of community.

28:35 – What’s wrong with youth hockey in Boston?

44:00 – Switching positions at the college level.

48:00 – Is Tier 3 junior hockey a money grab?

56:15 – Benefits of playing an extra year of junior hockey.

1:01:50 – Thinking about the game differently through analogies

1:10:15 – How GelStx formed and how it can transform your shot.

As always, we want to thank all of you for tuning in to the podcast...if you think it will help someone else in the hockey world please share and help to spread the positivity. If you also would like to purchase a training stick from GelStx, visit GelStx.com and put in the promo code "thinktank" for a discount!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 78 - Kelly Springer Nov 18, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on certified nutritionist and owner of nutritional company, Kelly’s Choice…Kelly Springer. This was an unreal conversation on the power of nutrition, not just for your health but for performance too. We cover…

14:35 – The overall power of nutrition

19:30 – Knowing where are food comes from and knowing how to read labels

30:35 – Food testing

34:00 – Advice for families on the go that may not have time to cook big, healthy meals

38:00 – How to make smoothies

41:00 – A great discussion on sugar

43:15 – When you eat for athlete performance

46:50 – Are probiotics beneficial?

50:55 – How to buy and do research on supplements

53:10 – How important is hydration?

56:35 – Is Gatorade good or bad for us?

1:04:25 – What should athletes be eating before and after performance?

1:09:50 – What’s the deal with plant based diets?

Thank you again to all our listeners, and if you can, please leave us some feedback in a rating or review wherever you get your podcasts! We also want to thank the sponsor for our podcast, GelStx…go to gelstx.com and get the top training stick on the market right now with a discount if you use the promo code “thinktank”.

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 77 - Alyssa Gagliardi Nov 11, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on women's professional hockey player Alyssa Gagliardi. Alyssa has literally won a championship at every level she's played...including a National Championship at Shattuck St. Mary's, 4 Nations Cup with USA Hockey, 3 ECAC Championships with Cornell, a CWHL Championship with the Boston Blades, an NWHL Championship with the Boston Pride...and now she is giving back as well to the hockey community in her hometown of Raleigh NC with her AG2 Hockey Camps. She currently is on the "Dream Gap" tour with other high level women's players promoting the game. We had some great topics on this podcast episode, including:

25:10 - Playing Girls vs. Boys hockey growing up.

30:20 - Playing at National Powerhouse Shattuck St. Mary’s (she had a class with Nathan MacKinnon.

37:35 - The recruiting process to college hockey for girls hockey players.

42:05 - The incredible culture turnaround at Cornell.

45:05 The importance of experience in hockey (we discussed what's going on in San Jose & Toronto).

53:00 - Playing professional womens hockey.

55:25 - The inspiration of Denna Laing.

58:20 - The state of Pro Hockey for women today.

1:03:15 - Sexism in hockey, at multiple levels.

We want to thank all of the listeners of this podcast, and we want to thank GelStx, the official sponsor of the Hockey Think Tank podcast. Go to gelstx.com and enter the promo code "thinktank" to get a reduced price on their training sticks.

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 76 - Alex Tuch Nov 04, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast we bring on one of the top young players in the NHL, Alex Tuch. Al has had a great young career that spanned the USA NTDP, 2 years at Boston College, a first round draft pick of the Minnesota Wild, and now playing a pivotal role for the Vegas Golden Knights. This was an incredible conversation into the mind of an elite hockey player, and here were a few of the highlights:

25:10 - Growing up playing against older competition in NY.

33:10 - The ups and downs of playing for the National Team Development Program

37:45 - Playing on a line with Jack Eichel

47:40 - His time playing at Boston College and choosing BC over Cornell!

58:00 - A few great Auston Matthews stories and his experience at Darryl Belfry's 88 summit over the summer.

1:07:10 - The magical run for Vegas to the Stanley Cup finals as an expansion team.

This podcast is sponsored by GELSTX...which is not the official training aid of The Hockey Think Tank podcast! Go to gelstx.com and enter the coupon code "thinktank" to receive a discount on training sticks used by top programs including the Tuchy's

NTDP! We really enjoyed this conversation and are confident that you will too. Thank you for tuning into the podcast, we appreciate it!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 75 - Joe Birch Oct 28, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on VP of Development for the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Joe Birch. This was an awesome, really informative conversation on a wide range of topics, including:

12:36 - Importance of SLOWING DOWN the youth hockey process

14:30 - Parents, coaches, or entrepreneurs...who's driving youth hockey crazy?

20:50 - How do parents get educated about the process?

26:45 - The foundation of teaching in hockey

30:40 - Birchy's roles and responsibilities with the OHL

35:55 - OHL education packages

49:55 - Advice for parents and players in their minor midget draft years for the OHL and USHL

57:00 - Advice for parents and players for what to do after their draft years

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 74 - Steve Wiedler Oct 21, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Assistant Coach of American International College, Steve Wiedler. Steve comes on to talk about their storybook season last year, going from NCAA basement to winning not only their league regular season and playoff titles, but also upending #1 team in the country St. Cloud in the NCAA Tournament. Here are some the highlights:

30:35 - The process to becoming an NCAA Coach

37:40 - Growing up training with Russian coaches and how they got the best out of us

44:15 - Playing in Knoxville in the SPHL

51:30 - How AIC changed the culture (they coached to the culture) and became a champion

1:02:00 - Recruiting mentally tough players

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 73 - Colin Fraser Oct 14, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on multiple time Stanley Cup Champion, Colin Fraser. Colin won Cups with both Chicago and LA as a defensive forward who was awesome on the PK and one of the best guy in the business in the room. Here are a few of the highlights from the conversation:

25:45 - What it was like playing for both Brent and Darryl Sutter

38:00 - Winning a World Junior Gold Medal for Team Canada

44:35 - Winning Stanley Cups with two teams (Chicago and LA) with differing styles of play

50:15 - The camaraderie of the Blackhawks team that won in 2010 (and how crazy the celebration was afterwards)

58:15 - Colin explains his "Make em Pay" growl...

1:04:55 - A great conversation about habits on the penalty kill

1:11:20 - Colin discusses a new venture he's working with, scoolu.com.

Colin is known as an unbelievable teammate and that shines through in the episode. You don't win 3 Stanley Cup without it!! Thank you to everyone that has tuned in, if you like the conversations please shoot us a rating and review on your podcast app and share with those in the hockey world you think would take something out of it. Have a great week!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 72 - Brent Brekke Oct 07, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Head Coach at St. Lawrence University, Brent Brekke. It was a great conversation about hockey, and with Topher having played for and coached with Brekks we all got to get real in depth on certain aspects about the game, coaching, and leadership in general. Here were some of the highlights:

5:10 - The give and take between coaches and refs during games.

27:35 - In depth dialogue on self and player accountability within a team.

39:45 - How Brekks has evolved in his 20 years of coaching and how much information to give players today.

56:00 - Remote control parents and how a parent can affect their kid's recruiting prospects for NCAA Hockey.

1:05:49 - Brekks' three main priorities for setting the culture while taking over the Head Coaching job at St. Lawrence.

1:08:02 - A great discussion on the integrity of the NCAA recruiting landscape today.

Thank you to everyone that has tuned in! If you like the podcast and think it will provide value for other people in your hockey network, please share us with your peeps through social media, email, or however you want! We so enjoy providing this show to the hockey world and want to reach and help as many people as we can. We appreciate your support...and if you can please leave us a rating or review so we can make the podcast even better. Have a great week!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 71 - Brant Berglund Sep 30, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on a leader in the video editing software industry, Brant Berglund. Brant started his career as a video coach with Boston University, before landing a job in the same role with the Boston Bruins for a long time. He now works for a company XoS, which is a video editing software that most high level teams in professional, college, and even junior hockey use. We had a great conversation about technology in hockey and how to use it as a benefit to not only the highest levels, but the youth levels as well. Brant is also a great youth coach in the Boston area and has spoken at USA Hockey coaching clinics...and we had a great discussion about the relevance of "positionless" hockey. It was a really informative conversation with a really knowledgeable person in the hockey industry, and thank you for everyone that tunes in!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 70 - Mark Wick Sep 23, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on former D3 Head Coach and now motivational speaker, Mark Wick. This episode is dedicated to speaking about mental health today...and it is a POWERFUL one. Mark has an incredible story with a lot of ups and downs, and he is incredibly vulnerable and inspiring in sharing some of the tougher events he's had in his life. September is also National Suicide Prevention month. With the rise in youth suicides and mental health issues, we talk about a lot of different topics that will shed light into a topic that is very rarely talked about. Thank you to everyone that tunes in!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 69 - Brian Gionta Sep 16, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on one of the best American Born players to ever play the game in Brian Gionta. Brian has won an NCAA National Championship, a Stanley Cup, had a 16 year NHL career playing of 1,000 games and scoring close to 600 points. And he did it while standing as one of the smallest players in the game. He was also a seven year captain for both the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres. This was an awesome conversation about development, the importance of preparation, leadership...and we dive into some youth hockey as Brian is not coaching his two sons in retirement. Awesome guy, and thank you to everyone who is tuning in!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 68 - Josh Pauls Sep 09, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on the captain of the Team USA Sled Hockey team and 3x Gold Medal Olympic champion...Josh Pauls. Josh is one of the most inspirational speakers we have met. His journey as a double amputee to Gold Medal champion is amazing, and the lessons and stories he brought to this podcast were unreal. We talked about team culture, battling adversity, perspective, and all of the values that he thinks leads to success on and off the ice. Josh is now a motivational speaker and a published author...and an awesome podcast guest. Thank you for tuning in...if you want to provide us some feedback please shoot us a rating or review where you get your podcasts today!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 67 - Derek Whitmore Sep 03, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on long time professional player of over 500 games...Derek Whitmore. We go through Derek's journey that had a lot of stops and talked some great hockey throughout the way. Derek was a pure goal scorer, and we had an amazing conversation into the mindset of what it takes to score. We also dove deep into the importance of communication, as Derek is now a coach with Division 3 Bowdoin College for their women's team. We get a great cameo from Derek's four year old daughter, and tell some fun personal stories about our families. Thank you again for tuning in to our podcast!!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 66 - Josh Boyer Aug 26, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on a younger point of view with incoming University of Nebraska-Omaha freshman, Josh Boyer. We have been fortunate to talk to people that are NHL Hall of Famers, but this is the first time on our show that we've brought a kid on to talk hockey from their point of view. And what a perspective Josh Gave us! We talked about the youth hockey journey, the stresses that go with trying to make it in junior hockey and get to college, the ups and downs that many kids face during their seasons...and so much more. Josh is an absolute stud of a kid and we learned a ton being able to speak with him. We think you're going to love this conversation and what Josh has to say...and thank you for tuning in to another one of our podcasts episodes!!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 65 - Chris Butler Aug 18, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Stanley Cup champion from the St. Louis Blues Chris Butler. What an amazing conversation covering some important learning curves during his journey to some hilarious stories that spanned his long career. We talked mentorship, resiliency, and his battle to become an NHLer from a non-traditional market to playing over 400 games in the show. We talked about the line brawl between Vancouver and Calgary (that he was in) where John Tortorella tried to charge through to the Flames' locker room. We talk about the improbable run to the Stanley Cup by the Blues this year and why he thought the team turned around (HINT: Binnington and Berube). There are so many great topics for all people involved in the game, and we're thrilled to bring this to you. Thank you again for tuning in!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 64 - Cody Barra Aug 12, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we take it all the way down to the grassroots level and bring on Jeff and Topher's cousin and mite/squirt youth hockey coach, Cody Barra. Cody is a passionate young coach looking to make a difference in the youth hockey world and brought on a lot of great insight and opinions on the youth hockey culture today. We talked about parent/coach communication, the importance of feedback, the difference in how the game is played from the younger and older levels, and much, much more. We also talked a lot about the development of passion and life skills...the most important job for any youth coach or teacher today. This was a fun one, thanks for tuning in!!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 63 - Martin St. Louis Aug 07, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we talk to Hall of Famer and all-around great guy Martin St. Louis. It was a thrill to talk to him about his journey and then we got into some unreal hockey talk. We spoke about battling setbacks and adversity, his Cup team in Tampa Bay, and his massive tree-trunk legs. We also got into talking shop...how to create time and space, the difference between playing fast and rushing it, teaching hockey IQ, and much more. Such an amazing conversation, thanks again for tuning in!!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 62 - Brian Galivan Jul 29, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast we bring on one of the top strength and conditioning coaches in the game, Brian Galivan. Brian runs GVN Performance in Chicago where he trains players from the NHL to youth levels. He just got named the Head Strength Coach for the USA NTDP as well. He worked his way up from the bottom through hard word and a positive attitude, which radiated throughout our entire conversation. We talk leadership in hockey, recognizing the importance of individual differences in a team environment, old school vs. new school off ice training, and much more! What a genuine guy and an unreal conversation. Thanks for tuning in!!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 61 - Matt Herr Jul 22, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on someone with one of the best resumes in hockey we've ever seen...Matt Herr. Matt is a 2x national champion at the University of Michigan where he also played baseball as well. He then went on to have a very successful pro career including playing in the NHL and being an AHL Allstar. After his playing days, he's gone on to coach prep school, be an ADM Manager for USA Hockey, was executive director for the Pittsburgh Pens elite program, and now he is the Senior Director for Youth Hockey and Growth for the NHL. It was an awesome conversation spanning his hockey journey, to his job now where he travels around growing the game from the grassroots levels. Such amazing perspective on the game, we learned a ton from this episode. Thank you again to everyone that is tuning in!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 60 - Mailbag x3 Jul 15, 2019

It's been a while since we took some listener questions from social media...so here we go with our latest mailbag episode! Thank you to everyone who sent us their questions, we had a lot of really good things to talk about. We discussed some great topics, including what we would do if we started a youth hockey organization...what to do with the zillion emails you get for camps and tryouts in the summer...underrated skills we should be teaching...and even our favorite wedding songs! It was a blast answering your questions, we love hearing your feedback. Thank you again for tuning in to our podcast!!!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 59 - Kirk MacDonald Jul 11, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we chat with Head Coach of the Reading Royals of the ECHL, Kirk MacDonald. His hockey journey is incredible and has come with a few really big ups and downs. In 2005, as captain of RPI, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and missed an entire season. He beat it, came back better than ever, and went on to signing an NHL contract and played 6 years pro. We talk about his battle...and then get into some great hockey talk including the importance of building willpower, what he's learned going from player to coach, and much more! Thanks for tuning in!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 58 - Vinny Smith Jul 01, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Vinny Smith, who helps run one of the most successful midget programs in the US in the North Jersey Avalanche. Under Vinny and his team's watch, North Jersey has moved an incredible amount of kids to the junior and college ranks through their emphasis on player development. In this episode, we talk about many topics relating to high level youth hockey including Exposure vs. Development, Coaching the Individual AND the team, the college commitment process, and even the new emphasis on USA Hockey's "no banging on the boards" rule. It was a great conversation with a lot of insight...thank you for tuning in!!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 57 - Nick Petrecki Jun 24, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we welcome on Nick Petrecki a former first round draft pick of the San Jose Sharks. With the NHL draft coming last weekend, we talk about the exciting lead up to the draft, the pressures of being a first rounder, and the difficult journey of becoming an NHL player. We go through Nick's journey from junior, to winning a national championship at Boston College, to signing early and struggling to find his way to being an NHL player. We also talk about the importance of mental health and the difficulties of transitioning outside of hockey. It was a great conversation with a great guy, thank you again for tuning in to the podcast!!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 56 - Connor Carrick Jun 17, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on current NHL player Connor Carrick! Connor grew up in Chicago and then played his junior days at the US National Development Program. We talk about the ups and downs of playing there, and then we go into Connor's choice to play in the OHL, where he played for AHL Calder Cup winning coach Mike Vellucci, and what it was like to play for him. Connor was extremely open and candid about the game we love and where he sees it right now, the all-so-important coach athlete relationship, and ways to better yourself on and off the ice...especially as a defenseman. Connor is a great ambassador for our game, and this was an incredibly insightful conversation! Thanks again to everyone for tuning in!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 55 - Travis Turnbull Jun 10, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Travis Turnbull...on of Jeff's best friends and currently playing his 10th year professionally in Europe. We go through Travis' amazing hockey journey...from growing up in St. Louis to the University of Michigan where he tells us why that program is so great and throws in a few hilarious Red Berenson stories. Travis tells us about his time playing pro in the USA, including his brief stint with the Buffalo Sabres where he scored his first goal at Madison Square Garden on Henrik Lundqvist. We go through the ups and downs of playing pro, getting called up and sent down, and Travis talks about the grind of trying to make it in the game we all love. This was an insightful and hilarious conversation with a true workhorse and amazing teammate (and shower guy). A great listen for everyone out there that loves the game. Thank you again to everyone that tunes in!!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 54 - Duncan Fletcher Jun 03, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we chat with Duncan Fletcher who is the founder of a company called Game Change. Duncan and his team put in a lot of time researching athlete development from the youth all the way to professional levels. One of their current projects deals with "behavioral analytics" which we think is one of the waves of the future in sports. Duncan lets us know that one of the best things to do for an athlete is have other interests, even for the pros at the highest levels. Game Change also works closely with the NHL and NHLPA on the player transition to the real world. We talk a lot about this transition and how difficult it can be. This was an awesome conversation with one of the most knowledgable guests we've had on...we think you're going to really enjoy it! Thank you again for tuning in!!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 53 - Seth Appert May 27, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast we have a great conversation with Head Coach of the USA National Development Team Program, Seth Appert. Seth grew up in Minnesota, played hockey at Ferris State, and then has gone on to be a great coach in the college ranks. He made a name for himself as an assistant coach at Denver University where he won two national championships. After Denver, he became Head Coach at RPI for a decade before taking his current role with the NTDP. We talk a lot of great hockey including what it's like coaching at the NTDP, how to build relationships with players, building a team of coaches, and the joys of coaching a kid like Jack Hughes who will be the number one pick in this year's draft. Thanks again for tuning into the podcast!!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 52 - Anthony Noreen May 20, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Head Coach of the Tri City Storm of the USHL, Anthony Noreen. Anthony is one of the top young coaches in the game, having won the USHL Coach of the Year award while coaching in Youngstown a few years ago and this year he won the Anderson Cup in Tri City. We talk about the importance of following your moral compass, having a great mentor, how to coach and get the most out of your best players, and the difficulties/rewards/balance of coaching to develop vs. coaching to win. This was an awesome conversation with one of the great people in the game...and thank you for tuning in!!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 51 - Paul Stastny May 13, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on NHL Superstar and one of our good friends Paul Stastny. Paul grew up playing hockey in St. Louis where he and Jeff became best friends. The two then went on to play for Omaha in the USHL where Paul was one of the top players in the league. He then went to Denver University, won a National Championship, and then began an NHL career that has spanned 13 seasons and 4 teams. He also is a two-time Olympian and silver medalist. In our conversation, we talk about growing up with an NHL Hall of Fame dad, the importance of playing multiple sports growing up, how NHL coaching and playing has changed over his career, and much more. We also talk intimately about the legendary gold medal game against Canada in Vancouver. Such a great talk with such a great joy, thank you for tuning in!!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 50 - Wacey Rabbit May 06, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Wacey Rabbit who is one of Jeff's favorite teammates of all time. Wacey grew up on a reserve in Alberta and is very involved and proud of his First Nation, Native American culture. Wacey was the first in his culture to get drafted into the NHL...and tells a great story about it. He played 5 years in the WHL where he won a Memorial Cup championship with the Vancouver Giants and he also won the leagues Humanitarian award as well. He has played pro hockey now for 13 years and had some great stories along the way...including being the team "Scare Guy" at hotels. We talk a lot of great hockey too, including the importance of faceoffs, finding your role on a team, and the importance of a "glue guy" in the locker room. Great conversation with a great guy...thanks for tuning in!!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 49 - Adam Nicholas & Brandon Naurato Apr 29, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we chat with your two favorite guests Adam Nicholas and Brandon Naurato. Passion development has been a topic we have been talking about for a while, and we wanted to get right into where our obsession with hockey and helping others comes from. We talk a lot about our wanting to prove people wrong, the importance of failing forward and learning how to be resilient, and some of our personal stories that has given us scars that has allowed us to have that mentality. We got pretty deep and we think you'll enjoy this one for sure...and as always thank you for tuning in to our podcast!!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

Episode 48 - Al Roy Apr 22, 2019

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast we bring on NHL certified agent, Al Roy of the Roy Sports Group. Al has been in the business over 20 years now and talks about how his profession and responsibilities has changed in that time. It was a great conversation that got into some great topics including how players and teams deal with mental health in the NHL, how and why the recruitment of kids has gotten so young, and what he does as an agent to prepare his clients for the real world. He also shares a few great stories about a few of his big time clients, including what it was like being with Nico Hischier the day he was drafted Number 1 overall in the NHL Draft. We're happy to bring you some great perspective, and thank you again for tuning in to the podcast!!

*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)

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