USA Hockey: Next Generation

Episode Description: In this episode, Ken Martel, Senior Director of Player and Coach Development at USA Hockey, shares his extensive experience on building a resilient, versatile, and player-centered hockey culture. We dive into how development strategies have evolved, the importance of multi-sport participation, and the future of hockey player development. Key Points From This Episode:00:00 - In...

In this episode of theUSA Hockey Next Gen podcast, Lyndsey Fry and Drew Shore are joined by Kevin Delaney, USA Hockey’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing representative and president of the American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association. Kevin shares his personal journeygrowing up in the game with hearing loss and how that led to a lifelong commitment to growing accessibility in hockey. The conversation exam...

Key Points From This Episode:[ 00:00 ] Introduction to the USA Hockey Next Generation Podcast and overview of the episode. [ 00:00:26 ] Host Lindsay Fry introduces guest Laura Verheranta. [ 00:00:50 ] Laura shares a look into her team, the LA Lions, and their Nationals experience. [ 00:01:04 ] Discussion of team vibe, fun, and the benefits of the one‑game‑per‑day schedule. [ 00:01:24 ] What motiva...

In this episode of USA Hockey’s Next Generation Podcast, hosts Drew Shore and Lyndsey Fry sit down with Bob Mancini, Assistant Executive Director of Hockey Development at USA Hockey. Bob shares his journey from high-performance coaching to leading grassroots development and helping launch the American Development Model (ADM). The conversation covers the evolution of the ADM, the long-term approach...

In this episode of the USA Hockey Next Generation Podcast, Drew Shore and Lyndsey Fry host the official 2026 Chipotle-USA Hockey Youth National Championship Youth Selection Show . The episode walks through the bracket reveal for both Tier I and Tier II youth divisions, highlighting teams from across the country that will compete for a national title. Along the way, USA Hockey’s Rich Hansen joins t...

In this episode of the USA Hockey Next Generation Podcast, Drew Shore and Lyndsey Fry host the official 2026 Chipotle USA Hockey Girls National Championship Selection Show . Joined by USA Hockey’s Kristen Saegert, the group reveals the teams competing across Tier I and Tier II divisions at the 14U, 16U, and 19U levels. The show breaks down key matchups, highlights emerging programs from across the...

In this episode of the USA Hockey Next Generation Podcast, Drew Shore and Lyndsey Fry sit down with Pat Kelleher, Executive Director of USA Hockey. Pat reflects on the organization’s recent international success, including Team USA’s Olympic achievements, and explains the collaboration and preparation that goes into building championship programs. The conversation also examines the continued growt...

In this episode of the USA Hockey Next Gen Podcast, Lindsey Fry and Drew Shore sit down with four-time Olympian and 1998 gold medalist Angela Ruggiero. Angela reflects on her Olympic experiences, the evolution of Team USA’s mindset against Canada, and the growth of women’s hockey from 5,000 players in 1990 to nearly 100,000 today. She also shares insights on leadership, retirement transition, entr...

In this episode of the USA Hockey Next Gen Podcast, hosts Drew Shore and Lyndsey Fry sit down with NHL veteran and Team USA centerman Vincent Trocheck as he prepares to head to Milan for the Olympic Games. Trocheck reflects on the return of NHL players to the Olympics, the intensity of best-on-best international competition, and the lessons learned from the Four Nations tournament. He shares his y...

In this episode of the USA Hockey Next Gen Podcast, Lyndsey Fry and Drew Shore sit down with Kendall Coyne Schofield as she prepares for her fourth Olympic Games. Kendall reflects on her development path with the Chicago Mission, her collegiate experience at Northeastern, and how speed became a defining part of her game. She shares advice for young players, emphasizing fearlessness, skill developm...

In this episode of the USA Hockey Next Gen Podcast, hosts Drew Shore and Lyndsey Fry sit down with Drew Garza, founder of the Dented Puck Foundation and USA Hockey’s Blind Hockey representative. Drew shares his personal journey from lifelong hockey player to losing his vision, and ultimately rediscovering the game through blind hockey. The conversation examines how blind hockey works, from equipme...

In this episode of the USA Hockey Next Gen podcast, hosts Drew Shore and Lyndsey Fry sit down with three-time Paralympic gold medalist Declan Farmer to explore his path from discovering sled hockey in Tampa to becoming one of the sport’s most accomplished athletes. Declan shares how early exposure to adaptive hockey, steady development, and a growing training community shaped his career. The conve...

In this episode of the USA Hockey Next Generation Podcast, hosts Drew Shore and Lyndsey Fry are joined by John Vanbiesbrouck, Assistant Executive Director of USA Hockey and General Manager of the U.S. World Junior Team. The conversation centers on the upcoming World Junior Championship, USA Hockey’s recent international success, and what has driven sustained growth across the development pipeline....

In this episode of the USA Hockey Next Gen Podcast, hosts Lyndsey Fry and Drew Shore sit down with Tony Granato to examine a lifetime spent in the game. Tony reflects on how hockey shaped his family, his journey as a player, coach, and broadcaster, and what USA Hockey has meant throughout each stage of his career. The conversation explores Olympic roster decision-making, the value of adaptability...

In this episode of USA Hockey’s Next Gen podcast, hosts Lyndsey Fry and Drew Shore sit down with Annie Camins, VP at the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), to explore how the league went from concept to puck drop in just four months. Annie shares what it took to launch a professional league with high standards, including facilities, community engagement, and a historic CBA. The conversatio...

In this episode of USA Hockey’s Next Generation podcast, hosts Lyndsey Fry and Drew Shore speak with Bill Duffy, USA Hockey’s Warrior Hockey representative and president of the Philadelphia Flyers Warrior program. Bill shares how Warrior Hockey has expanded nationwide, offering veterans a renewed sense of camaraderie, purpose, and community through the sport. He discusses the program’s rapid growt...

In this episode of the USA Hockey Next Generation Podcast, hosts Lyndsey Fry and Drew Shore sit down with Chicago Mission president and U15 head coach Gino Cavallini. Gino shares stories from his NHL career, including his connection to the “Soul on Fire” film, and reflects on the culture and coaching philosophy that have shaped Chicago Mission into one of the nation’s premier youth programs. He di...

In this premiere episode of the USA Hockey Next Gen podcast , hosts Drew Shore and Lyndsey Fry take a deep dive into the National Team Development Program (NTDP) with assistant executive director Scott Monaghan. They explore the program's mission to elevate the development of young hockey players, the unique challenges faced by athletes, and the successes that have emerged from the program. Scott...

USA Hockey: Next Generation Presented by USA Hockey. Step into the future of the game with USA Hockey: Next Generation  — the official podcast spotlighting the rising stars, innovative minds, and evolving culture of hockey across the country. Each episode dives into the stories shaping tomorrow’s game, from youth and adult players to coaches, officials, and trailblazers driving change at every lev...