Blog
The Stick Fit Audit: A Data-Backed Framework for Landing Your Perfect Specs
By Justin Lafleur, HSF founder Most stick advice is either too generic (“get what the pros use”), too technical without explaining why it works for a specific player, or it doesn’t translate to what models you can actually consider to buy in stock. This is the alternative: a simple audit you can run on yourself that turns your next stick purchase into a repeatable decision, not a guess. If you want to run the interactive version, I built a free fitter at HockeyStickFittings.com (no phone, no email, no credit card). The Stick Fit Audit (in 5 steps) 1) Define your shot profile (your ‘why’) Before you touch flex or curves, answer these: – Your two most-used shots: snap shot, wrist shot, one-timer, slap shot, backhand, tips – Your two most-used locations: off the rush, low slot, high slot, point, in-tight – Your #1 priority: quickest release, hardest shot, accuracy, puck
Parents Aren’t the Problem…Confusion Is
Recently, we posted a clip on social media from a podcast episode where I said: “Parents aren’t the problem… confusion is.” And holy cow, it’s taken on a life of its own. Some people heard it exactly as it was intended. Others took that line in a vacuum and assumed it meant I was (or, we were) blaming coaches for everything – or worse, excusing toxic parent behavior. That’s not the message. At all. The Real Point: This Is About Organizational Communication That clip wasn’t about a single coach-parent interaction. That clip – and the whole podcast episode, actually – was about how organizations operate and communicate as a whole. Because when you step back and look at the healthiest, most functional clubs we’ve worked with across North America, there’s a clear pattern: They communicate really, really well. They are intentional about making sure everyone in their organization understands: And
What’s the Biggest Issue in Youth Hockey Today?
I had a conversation yesterday with one of my best buddies in the game, a former college coach now involved in youth hockey, and he asked me a simple question: “What do you think is the biggest issue in youth hockey today?” I think the obvious one that most people would agree on is cost. But let’s put that aside for now. The biggest issue is the narrowing of the talent pyramid at way too young of an age and the ripple effect it has on so many facets of the game and youth hockey itself. Most notably, the FOMO and pressure both associations and families feel having to operate in a recruiting and business landscape rather than a development one. My friend actually had his own answer that intersects pretty well with mine. His answer was summer hockey. And here’s where the two overlap: His stance was basically that
5 Takeaways from USA’s Gold Medals
The players chose to put the flag and each other above everything else. They were one collective group pulling the same rope, sacrificing for each other, and leaving it all out there for our country. And contrary to what our politicians and the corporate media tell us, THAT is as American as it gets.
The 5 Things I Wish Everyone Knew About Youth Hockey Boards
I’ve learned so much about the youth hockey ecosystem over the past few years since going all-in with the Hockey Think Tank. A lot of our focus has been on coach and parent education along with building player life skills, but one thing I’m realizing as I dive deeper into what makes youth hockey go round is the role of what could be the most important entity in hockey: The Youth Hockey Association Board. Not knowing much about the role a board plays previously, the conversations I’ve had over the past 3+ years have been extremely eye-opening. I’ve learned that the functionality, makeup, and operational efficiency of the board plays such an important role in the success of any youth hockey association. The tough part though: I speak with a lot of board members that are burnt out. Volunteers that raise their hand with the best intentions realize that getting
The ABC’s of Winning Playoff Hockey
What does it take to win at playoff time?
When the Buzzer is About to Sound for the Last Time
I’ve known this season would feel different. I just didn’t know how different. In the next several weeks, my daughter will play the final games of her hockey career. She’s a senior playing NCAA Division III, and when the season ends, so does a chapter that’s been open for most of her life. She fell in love with hockey long before she ever put on a jersey. Her uncle—my brother—played at Western Michigan University. We had season tickets. She went to every game. And I mean every game. Even as a toddler, hand to God, she actually watched the play. Not the mascot. Not the crowd. The game. She’s been skating since she was four. She’s 21 now. Typing that out feels surreal. At the same time, my son is finishing his youth hockey journey. He’s playing 18U AAA, and like so many families right now, we’re staring down the
The New Year Crunch: Is January Hockey’s Most Important Month?
Happy New Year — and welcome to January, the most chaotic, exhilarating, emotionally charged stretch of the hockey calendar. For most of the world, January represents calm after the holiday rush. A reset. A fresh start. A chance to breathe. But in youth hockey? January is where everything ramps up. Teams are fighting for playoff positions. Coaches are pushing to sharpen details. Parents are juggling schedules, travel, bills, and stress. Players are trying to navigate school, expectations, pressure, and fatigue. And for athletes aging out? This is the moment when the noise of the junior world becomes deafening—showcases, camps, calls, rumors, promises, “opportunities,” pressure, and panic. Some are still wearing their holiday pajamas. Others are already thinking about where they’ll be playing next fall. Many are somewhere in between—stuck in the mental tug-of-war between finishing this season strong and wondering what’s next? And it’s not just the players. January exposes
Individual Player Meetings are the Gift that Keeps on Giving
By Marty Rubin Oh, the dog days of hockey are here. The cold sets in, the routine solidifies, and every week feels like another rink, another car ride. At this point in the season, the distance between coaches and parents can grow—often without reason. The holidays, however, create a natural chance to reconnect and include parents in their child’s long-term development in a meaningful, productive way. Mid-season individual check-ins offer more than a simple show of care. They give coaches a chance to understand each player more deeply, with parents as partners and witnesses. These conversations reveal helpful insights for the second half of the season: learning styles, life changes, home dynamics, and what the player is looking forward to as they finish the year. It’s also an ideal moment to reinforce ongoing coach–player conversations in front of parents—self-belief (you have more in you, I know it!), core values (this
The Realest Post I’ll Probably Ever Write
I feel very fortunate and blessed to have built the following we’ve built at the Hockey Think Tank. I feel like part of the reason I’ve been able to connect with so many of you is I try my best to speak from the heart. I have always worn my heart on my sleeve – it’s how I played as a player, how I coached as a coach, and how I’ve tried to live my life outside of the arena. I am not living to my fullest when I’m not. When I’m plagued by the fear of judgment or the fear of failure – as many of us can be – we tend to hide our true selves. We’re scared of what people might think about our scars and bring a shell of ourselves to the world to please the masses rather than living freely and fully for the people
5 Takeaways from USA’s Gold Medals
The players chose to put the flag and each other above everything else. They were one collective group pulling the same rope, sacrificing for each other, and leaving it all out there for our country. And contrary to what our politicians and the corporate media tell us, THAT is as American as it gets.
The ABC’s of Winning Playoff Hockey
What does it take to win at playoff time?
If you like our podcast, then you'll LOVE
The Hockey Think Tank Community
Private Guest Access
Exclusive Content
Collaboration
Community Deals & Discounts
Monthly community calls
Private Guest Access
Don't miss a single post
Sign up below to get FREE weekly tips, game analyses, podcast recaps, and other tools to make you a better hockey player, coach or parent
@hockeythinktank
Follow us on Instagram for regular guidance, tips, and techniques for how to get the most out of your hockey experience.
