Elevating the Game: Insights from Jon Lounsbury, NHL Player Development Coach
Host Jason Jacobs welcomes Jon Lounsbury to Puck Academy. Jon is the owner of 11 Hockey, a player development coach who works with multiple NHL players, and a youth coach for his daughters. Jon shares his journey from youth and high school hockey in Winthrop to prep school at Bridgeton Academy, college hockey at the University of Southern Maine, and six years of professional hockey before transitioning into coaching. After coaching at Bridgeton and in the EHL, he eventually moved into full-time player development, where he now works with players at all levels, including the NHL. In the conversation, Jon discusses how injuries helped him rediscover his love for the game and shaped his coaching philosophy. He explains the importance of building trust and strong relationships with players, and how he uses video to highlight missed opportunities while respecting team systems. While he uses some analytics tools, such as heat maps, his approach remains primarily rooted in observation and experience. Jason and Jon also dive into the current youth hockey landscape, including the risks of early professionalization, overscheduling, and the constant “chasing” of teams, showcases, and tournaments. They discuss the importance of giving the game back to kids, encouraging multi-sport participation, allowing space for boredom and creativity, and helping parents and coaches strike the right balance between discipline, patience, and realistic expectations.
Puck Academy · Jason Jacobs, Jon Lounsbury
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Show Notes
In this episode of Puck Academy, host Jason Jacobs sits down with Jon Lounsbury, owner of 11 Hockey and a player development coach who works with players from youth hockey through the NHL.
Jon shares his journey from youth and high school hockey in Winthrop, Massachusetts, to Bridgeton Academy, University of Southern Maine hockey, and six years of professional hockey before transitioning into coaching and player development. Today, through 11 Hockey, he works with players across youth, junior, college, and pro levels.
Jason and Jon discuss what actually drives player development, how video can be used effectively without undermining team systems, and why relationships and trust are central to helping players improve.
The conversation also dives into the current youth hockey environment — including overscheduling, tournament chasing, early specialization, and the pressures facing families — and why giving the game back to kids through creativity, multi-sport participation, and realistic expectations may be the healthiest path forward.
They also discuss analytics in player development, the importance of observational coaching, and how recent CHL–NCAA eligibility changes could reshape the college hockey landscape.
Episode Breakdown
00:00 Welcome to Puck Academy
02:25 Why Youth Hockey Feels Toxic
03:59 Jon’s Hockey Origins
07:23 Falling Out and Back In
10:36 Coaching Path and Mentors
13:20 Inside 11 Hockey Today
16:32 Parenting vs Pushing Kids
22:47 Boredom and Street Hockey Lessons
26:46 Discipline Without Burnout
30:25 What Pros Actually Need
33:13 Trust and Pressure
34:10 Can Hockey IQ Be Developed?
35:05 Breaking Comfort Zones
38:00 Using Video the Right Way
40:22 Analytics and the Eye Test
43:55 What Pros Can Teach Youth Players
47:32 Tryouts, Cuts, and Parents
49:14 Shifts in the College Hockey Path
53:16 Academies, Advisors, and Juniors
58:59 Hope, Patience, or Delusion
01:02:59 Final Thoughts and Farewell
Note: Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).