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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 – […]
Why Community Hockey Matters
By Kate Dukat, Boston-area hockey mom… My son’s love for hockey began when he figured out he could play a sport while also wearing a costume. From that moment on, my son was “all in” – learning to skate, pass the puck, stick handle and score. As many other Massachusetts families who have travel hockey […]
Leading Through Adversity
How Coaches Can Motivate Their Team During Tough Times Every team, at some point in the season, will face adversity. Maybe it’s a losing streak, injuries, internal conflicts, or simply the grind of a long season wearing players down. These challenging moments are inevitable, but they also present some of the greatest opportunities for growth. […]
Why Minnesota Hockey Continues to Lead the Way
Last month, I was invited to sit in for a meeting that really opened my eyes even more to why Minnesota continues to lead the way for hockey in the United States. The Minnesota High School Hockey Coaches Association gathered key stakeholders in a room to discuss the game and how collectively they could make […]
Big Changes in College Hockey
Recapping the wildest offseason in college hockey history
The Business of Youth Hockey: Who’s Getting Left Behind?
There’s a hard truth that many in the hockey world are feeling but few are willing to say out loud: youth hockey has become a business – and business is booming. But at what cost? Families are paying tens of thousands of dollars a year for what used to be a community-based sport. Kids are […]
The US Born Players’ Path to the NHL
There were 288 American players that played at least on game in the NHL during the 2023-2024 season. We broke down all the different paths to the top league in the world.