Champs App Podcast

On this episode we talk with Tony Maci, head coach of the Union Women’s hockey team. We discuss his coaching experience and winning a national championship with the Clarkson women’s program, all the changes happening with the hockey programs at Union and of course go into detail about recruiting.  You can connect with Tony Maci either on the Union women’s hockey website: https://unionathletics.com...

On this episode, we talk with Ray Kizzie, head coach of the Salem State women’s hockey team. We discuss his playing and coaching journey in Texas, the competition level in Division III hockey, his plans for the Salem State program and go into detail on the recruiting process. You can connect with Ray Kizzie either on the Salem State women’s hockey website : https://salemstatevikings.com/sports/wic...

On this episode, we talk with Graham Thomas, head coach of the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. We cover a wide range of topics including him helping start the Syracuse women’s hockey team, training with Connor Bedard, the amazing success of the UBC women’s hockey program and his recruiting advice for players. You can connect with Graham Thomas either on the UBC Thunderbird’s website :...

On this episode, we talk with Kris Hogg who is the head coach of the Rink Hockey Academy Girls Prep team.  We discuss his junior and professional playing career, how girls hockey works in western Canada, go into detail on rink hockey academy and discuss recruiting both into RHA and moving on to college hockey. You can connect with Kris either on The RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna Female Prep website...

On this episode, we talk with with Makenna Newkirk, Assistant Coach with the Penn State Women’s Hockey Program. We cover a lot of territory including youth and prep school hockey, Ivy League vs. scholarship schools, what it’s like to play at Penn State and of course lots of information about the recruiting process. You can connect with Makenna either on the Penn State Women’s Hockey website : http...

On this episode, we talk with with Joe Grossman – Head Coach of the Assumption University Women’s Hockey program.  We discuss his playing career as a goalie at Dartmouth College, then go into his time being a youth coach before returning to the Ivy League at Harvard. Joe shares his plans for leading the Greyhounds as they enter their sophomore season playing DI hockey. You can connect with Joe eit...

On today’s very special episode, we look back at the some of the best answers and moments of the first 100 episodes.  We have certainly come a long way since we started the podcast in late 2020. Back then there actually wasn’t any app.  We only introduce the Champs App Profile a few months later – and then the ability to connect directly with college, prep or junior coaches. Since then we have con...

On this episode we talk with USA Hockey legend, Julie Chu – who is also the Head Coach of the Canadian U Sports reigning champion, Concordia Stingers.  We discuss her amazing playing career at Harvard and with 4 Olympic teams and even more World Championship teams.  In addition, she details her coaching career in the NCAA and her incredible success with Concordia in Montreal.  This is our first gu...

On this episode we talk all thing New England prep hockey with Cushing Academy Girls Varsity prep head coach, Valerie Bono Bunker.  She shares her path to being a multi-sport prep and DI college hockey player, how the New England prep school application process works, the path to playing college hockey from the prep school route and the nuances of playing both on prep and club team during the scho...

On this episode we talk with Ryan Vesce, co-founder of Matterhorn Fit and the Ivy League Men’s hockey showcase.  Ryan shares how he was able to leverage his college experience into a 14 year professional career which included a couple of seasons in the NHL.  We also discuss the unique elements of the Ivy League Showcase that allows players and parents to get the most from attending the event.  Rya...

On this episode we talk with Bryan Vines, head coach of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Engineers women’s hockey team. We discuss his college and pro hockey career, then his transition to coaching as an NHL video coach and into college.  Bryan shares his insights on playing defense, improving his team’s offensive production and goes into detail on the summer recruiting process. You can...

This is an amazing episode with Murry Gunty, founder and CEO of Black Bear Sports group. Murry and his company own dozens of ice rinks, runs many youth and girls hockey organizations and own several junior hockey teams. Most importantly, Murray is trying to make major changes to improve the player and parent hockey experience all the way from learn-to-skate until college. We cover topics including...

This is a must-listen episode of the Champs App Podcast. We discuss Brad’s impressive career which includes 4 national championships and coaching countless Olympians.  He shares his principles for coaching team and student-athlete success.  Brad also provides his perspective on the recruiting process and what to expect during the summer months. You can connect with Brad Frost either on the Minneso...

On this episode we talk with Bill Mandigo, he longtime head coach of the Middlebury Panthers women’s hockey team. We discuss him being both a multi-sport athlete and coach, the benefits of a liberal arts education at Middlebury, how the program continues to be a powerhouse in DIII hockey and of course the recruiting process. You can connect with Bill Mandigo either on the Middlebury women’s hockey...

On this episode we talk with Maura Crowell, the head coach of the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs. We discuss her lengthy coaching career at the prep, DIII and DI levels, go into detail about Minnesota Duluth and do a deep dive on the recruiting process including the upcoming June 15th call date.  Maura also tells an amazing recruiting story. You can connect with Maura Crowell either on the Minnesota-Du...

On this episode we talk with Erik Strand who is the head coach of the Wisconsin Eau-Claire women’s hockey team. We discuss playing at the highest level of DIII hockey, compare playing DI vs DIII, and go into detail on the recruiting process. You can connect with Erik Strand either on the Wisconsin Eau-Claire women’s hockey  website : https://blugolds.com/sports/womens-ice-hockey/roster/coaches/eri...

On this episode we talk with Allison Coomey who is the inaugural head coach of the Delaware University women’s hockey program.  We discuss her plans to start the Blue Hen program in 2025 including her thoughts on the coaching staff, her recruiting strategy and what she is looking for when she forms the team. Also, listen Ep 12 where Allison Coomey discussed her being a 2-sport athlete in college a...

On this episode we talk with Tim Crowley, who is the assistant head coach with the Cornell Big Red women’s hockey team. We discuss his coaching history in DIII and the Ivy League,  go into detail on the Cornell women’s hockey experience and discuss his perspective on the women’s hockey recruiting process. You can connect with Tim Crowley either on the Cornell women’s hockey  website :  https://cor...

On this episode we talk with Peter Elander who is the Associate Head Coach of The Ohio State Women’s Hockey program.  We discuss his tremendous international hockey experience, including the “Swedish Miracle on Ice” of 2006, how Buckeyes have become the powerhouse of women’s college hockey and his perspective on the recruiting & development process. You can connect with Peter Elander either on...

On this episode we talk with Sadie Lundquist, who is newly appointed Director of Women’s Hockey at College Hockey Inc.  We discuss the mission of College Hockey Inc, her priorities for growing women’s college hockey and getting a DI women’s hockey team in the state of Michigan.  You can connect with Sadie Lundquist on the College Hockey Inc. website: https://collegehockeyinc.com/sadie-lundquist.ph...

On this episode we talk with Dr. Colleen Hacker, who is a professor of sport and performance psychology at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma Washington. In addition, Dr Hacker has been a mental performance coach at the professional, international and Olympic level for countless athletes, teams and leagues, but they do include the US Women’s National Soccer Team that won the 1996 gold medal tea...

On this episode we talk with Brian Idalski, head coach of the St Cloud State women’s hockey team. We talk about his lengthy hockey coaching career, including what happened with the North Dakota Women’s hockey program, coaching the Chinese women’s hockey team at the Olympics and how he has turned the St Cloud State program into a Top 10 team in his first 2 years. You can connect with Brian Idalski...

On this episode we talk with Mark Bolding, head coach of the Yale women’s hockey team. We talk about his playing and coaching journey in DIII hockey, go into great detail about the Ivy League recruiting process and discuss how he has taken the Bulldogs program to new heights over the last 4 years. You can connect with Mark Bolding either on the Yale Bulldogs  website :  https://yalebulldogs.com/st...

On this episode we talk with Dave Flint, head coach of the Northeastern Huskies women’s hockey team. We talk about him growing up as a goalie and how he became a hockey coach. He also shares how he was able to recruit Kendall Coyne Schofield to Northeastern,  the challenge of managing a large roster and his advice on the college recruiting process. You can connect with Dave Flint either on the Nor...

On this episode we talk with Elizabeth Wulf who is the assistant coach with the University of Connecticut women’s hockey program. We discuss her journey through Division III hockey as a player and coach, go into detail about UConn, their new facilities and their current success. And of course we also discuss the recruiting process. You can connect with Elizabeth Wulf either on the UConn website : ...