The Hockey Think Tank Podcast

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

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

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

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 coachesAND SO MUCH MORE!Visit TheHockeyThinkTank.comThank 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! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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

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!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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

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

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

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 iceTEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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-settingAND 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/katejohnson10Thank 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! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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

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