Champs App Podcast

On this episode, we chat with we talk with Mike Sisti who is the first and only head coach of the Mercyhurst women’s ice hockey program. We talk about his long coaching career, why the program has had so much success over the past 23 years and he provides lots of recruiting advice and insights for players and parents. You can connect with Mike either on the team’s website or via Mike Sisti’s Champ...

On this episode, we chat with Carla Pentimone, who is the founder of Women’s College Hockey Recruiting. We discuss Carla’s 6 (or7) Pillars of College Recruiting, her advice on how to address the current state of college recruiting and how advisors add value for players who want to play college or junior hockey. You can connect with Carla on the WCHR website   www.womenscollegehockeyrecruiting...

On this episode, we chat with Jeremy Gunderson, who has been the head coach of the Dodge County girls high school hockey team for the last 16 years. We discuss girls hockey development including setting goals and giving feedback to players, the Minnesota High Performance Camp selection process and getting reference calls from college coaches. You can connect with Jeremy You can learn more about an...

On this episode, we chat with Gretchen Silverman, who was recently named the new head coach of the Post University Eagles Women’s Ice Hockey program. We discuss having Gordie Howe come to her youth hockey practices and her path to becoming an Olympic gold medalist with the 1998 USA women’s hockey team. We also cover her experience as a teacher and coach at the Taft School and then go into detail o...

On this episode, we welcome returning guest, Tara Watchorn. Tara is the head coach with the Stonehill College women’s hockey team that will start their first season at the DI level this fall. She was also recently part of the Hockey Canada coaching staff that won gold in Madison Wisconsin at the U18 Girls world championships. We talk about how Canada was able to win gold after losing to the U.S. t...

On this episode we chat with Jim Scanlan who is the head coach with Bemidji State Women’s ice hockey program. We talk about him winning 2 national championships at Bemidji State as a player, his long coaching career and how the Beavers were the last team to beat the recent national champions, Ohio State Buckeyes, with a remarkable last second goal.   You can learn more about the Bemidji State...

On this episode we chat with John Harrington, who is the Head Coach of the MSU Mankato Women’s Hockey team. We discuss John’s journey to become an Olympian, he shares some stories about Herb Brooks, and of course we discuss the Maverick’s women’s hockey program and the current state of recruiting. You can learn more about the Minnesota State University - Mankato Women’s Hockey Program here : https...

On this episode we chat with Laura Bellamy, who is the Associate Head Coach of the UMD Bulldogs Women’s Hockey team. We discuss how she became a great goalie growing up in Minnesota and then stopping pucks at Harvard University. We also go deep on the University of Minnesota Duluth hockey program. In addition, we discuss the art and science of goaltending and her perspective on how to deal with th...

On this episode we talk with David Stockdale, who is the Head Coach of the Franklin Pierce Women’s Hockey team. We discuss his non-traditional coaching path, go in depth on the Raven’s hockey program and he shares his perspective on the upcoming recruiting season. You can learn more about the Franklin Pierce Women’s Hockey Program here: https://www.fpuravens.com/sports/wice/index You can also conn...

On this episode we talk with 3-time National Champion, Matt Desrosiers of the Clarkson Golden Knights women’s hockey program. We discuss his playing career, how he helped build multiple championship teams and his advice for both players and goaltenders during these uncertain recruiting times. You can learn more about the Clarkson Women’s Ice Hockey program here:   https://clarksonathletics.co...

On this episode we talk with Jim Plumer who is the head coach of the UVM women’s ice hockey program and the all-time winningest coach in program history.  We discuss how he became a DI head coach without ever playing college or pro hockey, what it’s like to play at UVM and his advice on what to do during the spring and summer recruiting season. You can learn more about the Vermont Women’s Ice...

On this episode we talk with Chris Donovan who is the head coach of the St Michaels College women’s ice hockey program where has been their only coach for the last 22 years. We talk about his extensive coaching history in women’s hockey, why student-athletes go to St. Mikes and what he looks for when recruiting players. You can learn more about the St. Michael’s Women’s Ice Hockey program here: ht...

On this episode we talk all things Michigan women’s hockey with Jenna Trubiano. We discuss playing girls hockey in the Detroit area, ACHA Hockey and why there isn’t a DI women’s ice hockey team in the state of Michigan or at the University of Michigan. You can learn more about the ACHA here: https://www.achahockey.org and the Michigan Women’s Ice Hockey program here: https://www.michiganwomenshock...

On this episode we talk all things Robert Morris University hockey with Logan Bittle. We discuss Logan being a part of the inaugural RMU men's hockey team, returning as an assistant coach and the suspending and reinstatement of the women’s team. We also talk about his recruiting plans for fielding a team to start the 2023 season. You can learn more about the RMU Women’s Ice Hockey program here: ht...

On this episode we talk with Olivia Soares, who is the former captain of the Ohio State women’s hockey team and current Assistant Coach at Colby college. We discuss diversity in hockey, what made her captain material at OSU and why she chose to become a coach. You can learn more about the Colby College Womens’s Ice Hockey program here: https://colbyathletics.com/sports/womens-ice-hockey Follow Oli...

On this episode we talk with Jon Cara and Dwayne Gylywoychuk from the Rink Hockey Academy. Jon Cara is the Director of On-Ice Programming for the RINK Training Centre in Winnipeg. In addition he is the Skating & Skills Coach with the Winnipeg Ice junior hockey team. Jon has been a skills coach for close to 20 years, and has worked with a number NHL, AHL, Canadian university and WHL hockey play...

On this episode we talk with Minnesota women’s hockey legend, Winny Brodt-Brown. Hailing from Roseville, Minnesota, Winny was the first winner of the Minnesota Ms. Hockey Award in 1996. She went on to win two 2 national championships with the University of New Hampshire and the Minnesota Golden Gophers. She started playing for the Minnesota Whitecaps in 2002 and is still playing for them as their...

On this episode we talk with Lee-J Mirasolo who is the associate coach of the Harvard Crimson women’s hockey team. Originally from Wakefield, Massachusetts, Lee-J played her college hockey at Boston College and was the captain of the team in her senior year.  After BC, Lee-J coached at Phillips Academy and UMass Boston before heading to the Ivy League where she was assistant coach at Princeto...

On this episode we talk with Melanie Ruzzi who is the head coach of the Brown Bears women’s hockey team. Originally from Burnsville, Minnesota, she played her college hockey at Providence College in Rhode Island. After that she has had a 16-year career as an assistant coach with multiple top programs including Amherst College, Harvard University, Providence, Yale and Princeton before landing the H...

This is a must-listen episode of the Champs App Podcast. In this show we talk with Natalie Darwitz who is currently the Assistant Coach with the Minnesota Golden Gophers women’s hockey team and was elected to the US Hockey Hall of Fame after an illustrious college and national team career. She goes into great detail about her youth hockey development and how she became an Olympic captain. We also...

On this episode we talk with Rob Morgan who is the head coach with the Long Island University women’s hockey program. We talk about his lengthy coaching career in Canada, China and the U.S., starting the LIU women’s program from scratch and his advice on the current recruiting environment. You can learn more about the LIU Women’s Hockey program here: https://www.liuathletics.com/sports/womens-ice-...

On this episode we talk with Celeste Brown who is the head coach with the Rochester Institute of Technology women’s hockey program. At 29 years old, Celeste is the youngest Division I women’s hockey coach. We talk about her playing college and pro hockey, her coaching history and development. And of course we discuss the RIT program and what it’s like to coach a very young team. You can learn more...

On this episode we have our first interview with two guests. They are Cari Coen and Jake Anderson, who are both coaches at the Bishop Kearney Selects Girls hockey academy in Rochester New York. Of course we dive deep into the Selects academy program, what it’s like to coach with your spouse and we also discuss their role as coaches in the women’s college recruiting process. Plus they give their pe...

On this episode we talk with Josh Sciba who is the head coach with the Union College women’s ice hockey program in Schenectady, New York. We discuss his playing with the U.S. National Development team and college hockey at Notre Dame University. We also talk about his coaching experience with the USA Hockey women’s program and development camps. In addition, we go into great detail on the Union wo...

On this episode we talk with Bethany Brausen who is an assistant coach with the brand new DI women’s ice hockey program at the University of St Thomas in Minnesota. We discuss her playing career with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, her being a coach at the USA Hockey summer development camps and of course she goes into detail about transitioning the women’s hockey program from DIII to DI this coming...