THE HOCKEY THINK TANK PODCAST
in depth conversations with some of the smartest minds in Sports
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Browse some of our most popular episodes below!
NHL
Episode 312 - Chris Pronger
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!
Episode 63 - Martin St. Louis
On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we talk to Hall of Famer and all-around great guy 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 into talking shop...how to create time and space, the difference between playing fast and rushing it, teaching hockey IQ, and much more.
Episode 100 - John Buccigross
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, the love of being a hockey parent, and much more!
Episode 76 - Alex Tuch
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.
College
Episode 200 - Brandon Naurato
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, and so much more
Episode 102 - Pat Ferschweiler
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.
Episode 291 - Brad Berry & Mike Schafer
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!
Episode 203 - Reid Cashman
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.
Youth
Episode 294 - Brett Beebe
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.
Lost Episode - Bob Mancini
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!
Episode 316 - Trevor Edwards
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.
Episode 178 - John O'Sullivan
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 art of building relationships as a coach, The coach/parent relationship in youth sports, and so much more.
Womens
Episode 259 - Alyssa Gagliardi
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.
Episode 146 - Jocelyne & Monique Lamoureux
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.
Episode 111 - Jayna Hefford
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.
Episode 272 - Amanda "Mazz" Alessi
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.
Development
Episode 208 - Adam Oates
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.
Lost Episode - Brian Keane
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.
Episode 136 - Darryl Belfry
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."
Episode 160 - Adam Nicholas
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!
Hockey
Episode 270 - DEFENSIVE HABITS
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!
Episode 266 - OFFENSIVE HABITS
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.
Episode 187 - Windy City Storm Hockey Roundtable on Positionless Hockey
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.
Episode 177 - Windy City Hockey Roundtable on Power Play
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!
Life skills
Episode 231 - CONFIDENCE
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.
Episode 211 - The 5 P's of Leadership (Part 1)
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, and Present.
Episode 196 - All About Mental Toughness
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.
Episode 238 - MAXIMIZING POTENTIAL
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 much more
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Past Guest
Bob Mancini, Assistant Executive Director of hockey development for USA Hockey.
Past Guest
University of Michigan's head coach, Brandon Naurato.
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