The Hockey Think Tank Podcast

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring back one of our most downloaded lost episodes and chat with IMPLEMENTATIONAL speaker, Ricky Mendez! Ricky has worked with people and companies around the world and his wisdom and knowledge were AMAZING. We talked: -Turning negative energy into positive energy -The power of gratitude -How to change your mindset and treat yourself better -MU...

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on a culture and team building expert in Lee Elias!! This was such an amazing conversation on team culture - and we encourage you to get your pens and notebooks ready. On this episode, we talk: -Topher is going to Michigan! -Empowering and developing leaders -The power of accountability and standards -Defining team identity -MUCH, MUCH MOR...

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we release a LOST EPISODE and talk with Chicago Blackhawks development coach Brian Keane of Prodigy Hockey. We get REAL in depth on youth development and youth hockey on this episode - it is one of the most downloaded we have ever done. It's a different type of episode as we use clips from one of the best youth development debates between experts M...

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher take on your listener questions!! We love all of you who support our podcast and we want to make sure we're hearing from you and helping you on your hockey journeys whether you are a player, parent, or coach. We tackled SO MANY QUESTIONS serious and funny on this one...here they are: -What is advice for a first year coach coming int...

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on the Academy Director of DC United Soccer Club, Pat Ouckama! We are huge proponents of playing multiple sports, and it was awesome to bring on someone with both a soccer and hockey background to speak about development. Pat runs one of the top soccer academies in the US, with his 16u team winning the National Championship this year. In t...

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on current Montreal Canadiens defenseman Chris Wideman! Chris trains with Jeff in the summers and played for Topher when he was a grad assistant at Miami (Ohio) and this was a really, really fun and insightful conversation. On this episode, they talk: -Playing for Martin St. Louis in Montreal -Being grateful for the good and the tough time...

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring back one of your favorite episodes...especially for the hockey moms out there...with Topher and Jeff's Moms!! When we brought our podcast over to the BlueWire Network, we lost a few episodes in the transfer that were some of ours, and our listeners, favorites. On this episodes, we speak to Debbie Scott and Colleen LoVecchio and share some...

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on a veteran of over 1,000 professional hockey games Derek Nesbitt! What a career spanning over 16 seasons. In this conversation, we talk: -The benefits of growing up in small town Canada -Playing for both Jared Bednar and Derek Lalonde -The keys to longevity in the game -Challenges of being a youth hockey director -MUCH MORE! Thank you to...

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on the girl who stole all of our hearts as the St. Louis Blues went on their Stanley Cup run...Laila Anderson. We all remember Laila as the inspiration for the team as she was going through chemotherapy during the teams championship playoff season in 2019. From the viral videos of her mom letting her know she could attend the games in pers...

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on 14 year professional player now leading a mentorship program for youth hockey players, Ryan Vesce! Ryan hails from Long Island, NY and played his college hockey at Cornell. He then went on to play 14 years pro over 7 different countries, including a stint with the San Jose Sharks where he scored his first professional goal on an assist...

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on bestselling author and one of the top motivational speakers and leadership consultants in the world Jon Gordon! Jon has worked with many major companies and professional sports teams on the power of positive leadership. His books have also inspired millions of people and organizations of all sizes all over the world. On this specific po...

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher riff on Part 2 of Topher's presentation that he gave at the NCAA College Hockey Coaches Convention on the 5 P's of Leadership. The three P's they talk on are: -Preparation -Perspective -Present We know you're going to take some tidbits out of this episode that you can use in leading your teams! Thank you to GelStx, TrainHeroic, and...

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on the new Associate Head Coach at Michigan State Jared DeMichiel! What an awesome conversation with one of the rising stars in college coaching coming off of a National Championship and turnaround at UMASS. In this conversation, we tackle: -Turning things around at UMASS leading to a National Championship -College recruiting and the trans...

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk about Topher's 5 P's of Leadership: -People -Perseverance -Perspective -Preparation -Present Although...the two talked so much about PEOPLE that there is going to be a Part 1/Part 2 on these topics. On this specific episode, Jeff and Topher talk about the importance of investing time and effort into PEOPLE and the importance of...

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on former NHLer for the Vancouver Canucks and Washington Capitals - and now a visualization coach - Aaron Volpatti! Aaron has such a unique hockey journey...and such an inspiring story. We talk: -His near death experience with a fire and how it taught him resliency -How visualization helped him heal and helped him in his career -His journe...

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on NHL Network host and analytics expert Mike Kelly! This was an amazing conversation on the use of analytics to make teams better and for us to better understand the game. We tackle: -The use of analytics to form team identity -The importance of the neutral zone -Peeling back the onion of how goals are scored -Some great stories of how pl...

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on NHL Hall of Famer and one of the top development coaches in the world, Adam Oates! Known as one of the best playmakers of all time, it was incredible being able to talk hockey with someone with such an amazing hockey sense as Adam. On the podcast, we talk: -Playing fast vs. Fast hockey IQ -Why players like McDavid, Ovechkin, and Crosby...

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on West Point graduate and United States Army veteran Joe Kramer! Joe played ACHA Club hockey at West Point and came on to share some of his hockey and leadership experiences with the armed forces. On this episode, we talk: -Leadership lessons learned in the military -How to bring a team together and build a bought in unit -How to create a...

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on the Co-General Manager of the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL and Detroit Little Caesars' 15O coach Jason Deskins! This was a great conversation as Jason has so much great perspective with all of the hats he wears in the hockey world. The boys tackle: -Using the downs to motivate you -What he looks for in players as a GM in junior hocke...

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Mount St. Charles Hockey Academy Director and 18u Head Coach, Matt Plante! Fresh off winning the National Championship, Topher and Jeff sit down with Planter and go through so many different awesome topics including: -Their National Championship Run -Coaching Kids at 18u who have gone on to play in the NHL and what made them special -A...

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher come loaded with questions for one another - yet the other person has no idea what the questions are. The non-scripted Q&A between the two guys end up becoming a great resource for all hockey players. Questions include: -How important is developing a routine? -How can you develop a goal scoring mentality? -What is advice for players...

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on the Head Coach at Dartmouth College Reid Cashman. Cash is a great coach who came to Dartmouth from being an Assistant Coach with the Washington Capitols and this was a fantastic conversation on hockey development and the hockey journey. Cash grew up in MN and played his college hockey at Quinnipiac where he was a two-time All-American....

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher take YOUR mailbag questions on anything and everything college hockey! With the NCAA Tournament in full swing, they take you behind the scenes of what college hockey is about. Jeff also takes you through his visit with to the USA National Team Development Program at their annual tryout showcase. Some questions the guys tackle on the...

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on a teammate of BOTH Jeff and Topher...Brian Bicek. Brian is from Chicago and played his college hockey at Western Michigan - before going onto a seven year pro career. He has been a youth hockey coach in Chicago now for almost a decade and we had an awesome conversation on all of our experiences especially coaching at the youth levels. S...

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on our first ever guest to celebrate our 200th episode...Brandon Naurato!! Brandon is the current Assistant Coach for the University of Michigan and this was a conversation that didn't disappoint. We tackle: -What it's like to coach the best young players in the world. -Coaching the individual with coaching the team. -Teaching how to recog...