Crazy Hockey Dads Podcast

Day 1 of CHD Mini-Camp: Resetting your parent brain for the season ahead Welcome to the first-ever Crazy Hockey Dads Mini-Camp!  Five days, five quick hits to help you kick off the season without losing your damn mind. In this episode, Scott and Jamie break down one of the easiest things to forget (and the most important to remember) : why you signed up in the first place. Because before the stand...

A masterclass in pretending not to care (while caring way too much). This week, Scott and Jamie hit that weird in-between space every hockey parent knows: when you want to scream into the glass… but don’t. You stay cool. You say the right things. You nod at the coach and smile at the other parents. But inside? You’re spiraling. In this episode: That quiet guilt when your kid’s ice time sucks and y...

Untangling your identity from your kid’s hockey career - without losing your mind. With the season fast approaching and tryouts in the rearview, it’s the perfect time for a gut check - not for your kid, but for you . Jamie shares a tough but honest reflection on a stretch where Dom's own stress and uncertainty started showing up in his skating.  A humbling reminder of how connected our energy is t...

We’re not saying you should do video review for mites… but we kinda did.  This week, Scott and Jamie welcome Erik Cagnina from Athletic Performance Insight (API) to break down how game film and analytics are changing the youth hockey game - and why more teams (and parents) are leaning into the data. From tagging every offside to breaking down goalie angles, it’s a look at how video tools can actua...

In Part 2 with guest dad Chris Vollmer, we go deeper into the Bantam transition and what it really takes to keep your kid thriving without losing your mind (or your mortgage). From skipping spring to simplifying the schedule, Chris shares how they’re doing it their way this season and why that’s more than enough. In this episode: - Spring? Skipped it. Summer? About that… - What one season, one tea...

In our first-ever guest episode, we sit down with hockey dad Chris Vollmer , whose son is heading into Bantam Minor - and full contact - this fall . We talk through what that shift really means, the emotional and financial toll of chasing elite AAA hockey , and the moments that make it all feel worth it. In this episode: Bodychecking begins: why this stage hits different Growth under pressure: how...

It’s not just about hockey. It’s about who they’re becoming. This week, Scott and Jamie slow it down - just a little - to zoom out on what this sport actually gives back. Yes, the weekends are chaos, and yes, the skates still don’t fit right. But in between the hotel breakfasts and 3v3 tournaments, something bigger is happening. In this episode: - Independence, confidence, and resilience - how hoc...

When private equity meets private lessons... who’s really winning? Scott and Jamie dig into the growing influence of money in youth hockey and how the chase for profit is quietly (and not-so-quietly) warping the game. From $500 “development” weekends to kids being pushed into specialization before they can tie their skates, this episode is a no-filter look at what happens when hockey becomes a bus...

Happy Fourth of July all!  In this episode Scott and Jamie dig into the emotional explosions that come with youth hockey - from player-on-player scuffles to dads losing it in the stands. It’s a red, white, and bruised look at how things blow up… and what to do when they do. In this episode: - Teammates getting physical with one another and what adults should do about it - Dads going toe-to-toe ove...

Episode 16: Keeping Up with the Rink Neighbors “They’re skating three times a week… should we be?” This week, Scott and Jamie unpack one of youth hockey’s most exhausting pressures: keeping pace with what everyone else is doing. Whether it's summer camps, new sticks, or secret private sessions, the race to “keep up” is real - and it’s driving families (and bank accounts) into overdrive. In this ep...

This week, Scott and Jamie dig into one of the hardest questions in youth sports: how much is too much when it comes to pushing your kid? From the emotional landmines of summer training to the quiet signs a player might be over it, this episode gets real about what happens when a parent’s passion starts to outweigh the player’s. In this episode: - The gut-check moment when your kid wants to quit m...

What happens when Dad means well… but does too much? This week, Scott and Jamie break down the complicated role of fathers in youth hockey - from car ride critiques and coach critiques to the quiet moments that actually matter. It’s not just about showing up. It’s about how you show up. Drawing from real convos and personal experience, the guys dive into: - Why some kids tense up the second they g...

New team, new coach, new... personality disorder? This week, Scott and Jamie lace up for one of the wildest corners of youth hockey: crazy coaches. You know the type - micromanaging 10-year-olds like it’s the Stanley Cup and making kids cry over line changes. We’ve seen it, lived it, and now we’re talking about it. In this episode: - Red flags that your kid’s coach might be a certified lunatic - H...

This one started with a simple question: has youth hockey gotten too soft? But before long Scott and Jamie spiral into full rink chaos, mouth guard drama, neck guard debates, and the rise of refs enforcing rules no one seems to agree on. Along the way: - Rant alert: Why skills might be up, but the grit is gone - Jamie becomes a rinkside mouthguard dealer - Velcro neck guards vs. shirt style: the g...

New team? New season? Here’s how not to suck at it. This week, Scott and Jamie tackle one of youth hockey’s great unspoken rules: how to be a decent human when you’re the “new parent” in the building. From locker room etiquette and post-practice weirdness to that awkward “who’s-who” in the TeamSnap chat, this episode is your unofficial guide to not being that parent . We also revisit the legend of...

Summer hockey is here, and the dad guilt is real. In Episode 10, Jamie and Scott dive into how much is “enough” for your kid in the offseason, from private skates and college camps to European tournaments and that one time a kid skipped practice to eat tacos. They also shout out listener Kirk from Ontario for dropping a sick gear hack, roast the rise of pay-to-play showcases, and question how hard...

The gear smells bad, but sometimes the vibes are worse. In this episode, Scott and Jamie dig into the unspoken side of youth hockey, when the locker room dynamic goes sideways and your kid’s stuck dealing with it. From subtle bullying to straight-up bad apples, we talk about what parents can do (and what they probably shouldn’t). Plus: a rant about character, ego, and what it really means to carry...

Scott and Jamie get real about something youth hockey doesn’t teach enough: integrity. From shady rink politics to secretive skills coaches, they call out the culture of gatekeeping and why too many parents act like sharing info is giving away trade secrets. They break down the silent rules, the cliques, and the pressure to act like you know what you’re doing, even when you don’t. Whether you're n...

This one’s got range. Scott and Jamie start with NHL playoff chatter, heroes, heartbreaks, and teams that can’t close before flipping the switch to talk about their own kids, and what it really feels like trying to coach effort without crushing spirit. They get brutally honest about dad guilt, delivery mistakes, and the endless tug-of-war between pushing your kid and just letting them love the gam...

It’s NHL playoff time, but off the ice, the real matchups are happening between parents and coaches. Scott and Jamie talk team turnover, how to handle your kid’s role without losing your mind, and why smart communication can make or break a season. They share an epic youth hockey story, offer hard-earned advice on managing expectations, and remind everyone: don’t ruin it for your kid. Plus, their...

Tryouts are over, spring hockey’s heating up, and some parents are losing their minds. Scott and Jamie touch on Dominic’s tryouts, the awkward exit of good teammates and parent’s who didn’t make the cut, and the chaos that reminds everyone why hockey season is never really over.

In this episode, Scott recaps Otto’s parity event with his new team this past weekend. We also dive into the looming puberty wave for the 2012 birth year players, the some of the cost difference between Tier 1 & Tier 2, and all things youth hockey as tryouts for the older age groups approach next week. And of course, no podcast would be complete without a little Iron Mike Tyson talk.

In this episode, we dive into Domer’s challenges at a middle school showcase as he prepares for high school hockey. Plus, some Frozen Four discussion and a few hilarious stories from around the rink!

In this episode, Jamie and Scott talk tryouts, and dig into coaching to win vs. coaching to develop . Plus, a quick dive into the college hockey and the Frozen Four.

All aboard the wild ride that is youth hockey! Join us for the pilot episode of the Crazy Hockey Dads Podcast , where we dive headfirst into the highs, lows, and absolutely hilarious moments we’ve encountered along the way. If you have a child in hockey—boy or girl, beginner or seasoned player—this podcast is for you. Between the two of us, Scott and I have racked up 12 years navigating the unpred...