THE HOCKEY THINK TANK
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Youth Organization Blueprint
The Hockey Think Tank’s Organizational Blueprint is a comprehensive and holistic approach to your program. With a broad mix of services, resources, and deliverable tools, the Organizational Blueprint is designed to give clubs clear direction, purpose, and organization. No matter how you measure success — on-ice performance, player development, enthusiastic retention, or satisfied families and coaches — the Organizational Blueprint provides the map to spark positive changes, today.
Prep/Academy Services
The Hockey Think Tank was founded on culture-building, leadership training, and the idea that hockey provides valuable life lessons on and off the ice. The Prep/Academy Services concept is built upon decades of experience, perspective, and an understanding of the student-athlete lifestyle. Our on-site services and virtual training are tailored to fit your needs, challenges, and resources - we’ve conducted impactful seminars and activities with student- athletes, captains, and coaches from all sports, as well as entire student bodies and faculty.
About Us
At the Hockey Think Tank, we are an organization dedicated to educating and inspiring hockey players, parents, coaches, and organizations through a variety of resources. What started as a passion project in 2017 has turned into a movement in building community and creating change in the hockey landscape.
Through free resources like our industry leading podcast that has been downloaded over one million times, to our grassroots work with youth hockey organizations, our mission is to make the youth hockey experience better for those that love and are passionate about our game.
Navigating the youth hockey world can be stressful and confusing at times. As a former Division One college coach recruiting all over North America, I had the opportunity to speak with so many of you about that reality in the rinks. And through those conversations I learned that there is a huge need for way more education for players, parents, coaches, and organizations as a whole. I started the Hockey Think Tank to provide that much needed perspective and improve the game I fell in love with as a kid.
The Hockey Think Tank Community
Join us every week
Available, for free, everywhere you listen to podcasts
- New episodes every Monday!
- Short shifts live every Wednesday!
- Hot takes released every Friday!
Featured Episodes
Topher and Jeff welcomed NHL Hall of Famer, Stanley Cup Champion, and 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!
We brought on our first-ever guest, Brandon Naurato, to celebrate our 200th episode! We had a great conversation about what it's like to coach at the University of Michigan with some of the best young players in the world, how to coach the individual while still coaching the team, and so much more!
What a thrill to talk hockey with Hall of Famer Martin St. Louis! We spoke about battling setbacks and adversity, his Cup team in Tampa Bay, and his massive tree-trunk legs. We also got to talk shop: creating time and space, the difference between playing fast and rushing it, & teaching hockey IQ!
For EP 100 we brought on ESPN SportsCenter Anchor and huge #cawlidgehockey advocate John Buccigross! Bucci brings so much passion...we had an absolute blast talking about his early career, the NHL2night days, being a hockey parent, and much more!
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 - and playing fast vs. fast hockey IQ - with someone who has such amazing hockey sense.
On this episode 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. We touch on why confidence is such a huge part of development, strategies to regain it, and learning to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations!
Community Calls
Get direct, exclusive access to some of the brightest minds in sports.
Past Guest
Bob Mancini, Assistant Executive Director of hockey development for USA Hockey.
Past Guest
University of Michigan's head coach, Brandon Naurato.
Blog
Helping Goalie Lessons Carry Over to Team Practice
Here’s a great post from Mike Rask, founder of CreaseOS on how coaches can be on the same page with their goaltenders who are taking lessons with separate goalie coaches. A private goalie lesson can give a player a clear focus. At the next team
It’s a Long Season: How to Be a Grounded Hockey Parent
Every hockey season starts with a story, and by now your family probably has one. Maybe your player is flying. The coach loves them, the team is winning, and everyone in your house is on cloud nine. Maybe it’s the opposite: a slow start, less
USA Hockey’s New Development League
USA Hockey’s new Development League is the biggest structural change to American youth hockey in over a decade. It’s the third of three big swings by USA Hockey after creating the NTDP in the late 90’s and the ADM in the late 2000’s. Both of
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