The Hockey Think Tank Podcast
The Hockey Think Tank Podcast brings incredible stories, interviews, and great perspective from some of the top hockey minds in the game. Hosted by Topher Scott & Jeff LoVecchio, our podcast will educate and inspire all those that love the game! For all the players, coaches, and hockey parents out there...make this your Go-To show on your way to the rink! Join our Community here!
SHORT SHIFTS - BUBBLE HOCKEY
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about his prized custom Super Chexx Bubble Hockey game. We bring on Greg Kania, Director of Home Games of Innovative Concepts in Entertainment (ICE) to talk about the famous game we grew up with.
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Implications of the New College Hockey Rules & Building a Life Outside of the Rink, with Guest Alexios Georgaklis, NCAA D3 Connecticut College Commit - EP 429
This week Topher and Jeff talk with Alexios Georgaklis, Surrounded by Good People CEO and Connecticut College commit. Georgaklis was expected to play NCAA Division 1 college hockey, but because of what has recently changed in college hockey, is now committed to Connecticut College’s Men's Ice Hockey team (D3). He joins us to not only talk about his hockey journey so far, but also the company he started while in juniors. This episode is for all the kids out there thinking about playing junior or college hockey.
In this episode we talk about:
— What the pros...
FRIDAY FACEOFF - THE SHIFTING LANDSCAPE OF CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph wants to talk about the wild off season we have had. The narrative is changing, and lately players seem to have more leverage when it comes to their contracts. Vechs gives the inside scoop from the NHL players he works with.
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SHORT SHIFTS - ADVICE FOR THE TALL, LANKY PLAYERS
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk to the players that haven’t quite hit puberty yet. Maybe you’re not getting drafted or making teams because of your size; we're here to give you our best advice and guide you through the next couple years of your journey.
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5 Attributes of Great Hockey Players - EP 428
This week Topher and Jeff fly solo to talk about the 5 attributes of great hockey players. Between the two of us, we have coached players of all skill levels, from just beginning, to the NHL and PWHL level. Although all of these athletes are uniquely incredible, we have found commonalities between the best of the best. Listen for our top 5 traits that the best share.
In this episode we talk about:
— The power of self belief
— That it’s perfectly okay to “sulk” and feel failure
— Finding your tribe: people that you can be c...
FRIDAY FACEOFF - COMMON TRAITS OF THE TOP YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS
On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph brings on HTT teammates Matt and Steph to talk about what the top youth hockey organizations across North America have in common.
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SHORT SHIFTS - FAVORITE PUCK TOUCH DRILLS
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about our favorite puck touch drills to include in practice. At the younger ages, we like to call them skill drills and at the higher levels, we refer to them as flow drills.
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3 Biggest Things We’ve Learned in Youth Hockey This Year - EP 427
This week Topher and Jeff fly solo to talk about the 3 biggest things they’ve each learned in youth hockey this year. With the Hockey Think Tank, we travel all over North America to work with youth hockey organizations. In this episode, we share what we’ve learned this past season.
In this episode we talk about:
— Organizations working with strategic partnerships
— How there is limited opportunity for players to step away and miss the game
— The rapid increase in kids with anxiety
— The need to evaluate programs where kids aren’t...
FRIDAY FACEOFF - TRANSITIONING FROM PLAYING HIGH LEVEL TO COACHING YOUTH HOCKEY
On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph wants to talk about former higher level players that want to make the transition to coaching youth hockey. We talk about all of the obstacles and things you might not realize when making the switch.
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SHORT SHIFTS - TOPH’S BIGGEST PET PEEVE
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about one of his biggest pet peeves in hockey; when the puck carrier turns an odd man rush into a 1-on-1 situation. Let’s talk about what you should do instead.
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Live With No Quit & Chip Away Every Day, with Guest Jake Thibeault, Babson College Student Who Suffered Paralyzing Hockey Accident - EP 426
This week Topher and Jeff talk with Jake Thibeault, an incredible young hockey player that was paralyzed by an injury on the ice. At the time of his injury, Thibeault was in the recruiting process with Jamie Rice, head coach of Babson College. Even though Thibeault’s hockey career ended, Rice still brought on Thibeault to join the team. Thibeault just graduated from Babson and joins us to talk about his inspiring story.
In this episode we talk about:
— Thibeault’s hockey journey & the injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down
— Comparin...
FRIDAY FACEOFF - INCONSISTENT EXPERIENCES WITHIN A CLUB
On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph brings on HTT teammates Matt and Steph to talk about how so many youth hockey organizations are only tied by wearing the same jersey. With that, families can have wildly different experiences within the same club. We discuss why this can happen, and what orgs can do to create a consistent experience for everyone.
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SHORT SHIFTS - PRE / POST PRACTICE ICE
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about our advice for the players that are first on the ice and last off the ice.
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Elite Edge Hockey Camp Interview with Guests Filip Forsberg & Chris Mason, Professional Hockey Players - EP 425
This week Topher talks with Filip Forsberg and Chris Mason at the Elite Edge Hockey Camp in Nashville. Forsberg currently plays for the Nashville Predators of the NHL and Mason is a 300+ game NHL veteran goaltender.
In this episode we talk about:
— Forsberg’s and Mason’s journeys to the NHL
— Going from being the worst player to the best player
— The importance of using the gym to support your on-ice performance
— Having self belief no matter the outside noise
AND SO MUCH MORE!
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FRIDAY FACEOFF - LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph wants to talk about his biggest takeaways from the recent Minnesota Wild’s Leadership Development Conference. Every year, the Wild invites captains from each high school in Minnesota to teach them about leadership. This year, Topher was asked to be one of their guest speakers and, in this episode, shares what he learned from the conference.
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SHORT SHIFTS - NEW WAYS TO DEVELOP SPEED & POWER
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about the new things Vechs is doing with his dryland athletes to develop their speed and power over the summer.
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Summer Hockey & a Deep Dive into Skills, with Guest Justin Selman, Topline Hockey - EP 424
This week Topher and Jeff talk with Justin Selman, one of the owners of Topline Hockey. Selman played junior hockey in the USHL, college hockey at the University of Michigan, and finally a couple of years professionally. Now, he is a youth coach and joins us to absolutely nerd out on some hockey.
In this episode we talk about:
— Putting your money into what is actually going to make your kid better
— What you should be doing over the summer
— Flow drills = conditioning. Things that make you scratch your head = development
...
FRIDAY FACEOFF - ADHD IN HOCKEY PLAYERS
On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph wants to talk about a listener’s question regarding their son’s ADHD and the struggles he faces in hockey because of it. Most coaches are not trained in properly supporting ADHD players, yet ADHD diagnoses are rapidly rising. Listen as we discuss how to better help our players that have, or may have, ADHD.
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SHORT SHIFTS - HOW TO DEFEND 2-ON-1s
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk all about defending 2-on-1s. Last week, we discussed 2-on-1s from an offensive standpoint, so this week we’re talking how to defend a dangerous 2-on-1. Let’s go!
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Major Juniors & the Goals You Need to Set to Play at the Higher Levels of Hockey, with Guest Tony DeHart, Former Pro Hockey Player - EP 423
This week Topher and Jeff talk with Tony DeHart, former OHL player, NHL New York Islanders’ draft pick, and professional hockey player. DeHart now works with youth hockey players in the St. Louis area on their hockey development at Stride and Celly Training Facility.
In this episode we talk about:
— The Ontario Hockey League and the experience of playing in major juniors
— Breaking down the difference between dreams and goals
— Getting back into hockey after taking a break
— Advice for players wanting to play higher-level hockey
AND SO MUCH MO...
FRIDAY FACEOFF - VOLUNTEER BURNOUT?!
On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph wants to talk about volunteer burnout. Our sport wouldn’t be anything without every single person who gives their time in some capacity. With that said, volunteering can often be a thankless job and burnout is common. The problem is not that people don’t care enough, it’s that we keep asking caring people to carry too much.
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SHORT SHIFTS - 2-ON-1S
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk all about 2-on-1s. If you get a 2-on-1 opportunity, you have to bury the puck. Let’s talk about how to increase your chances of scoring.
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Everyone Has a Different Path: The Youth Hockey Journey That Got Me to the NHL, with Guest Dave Moss, Former NHL Player - EP 422
This week Topher and Jeff talk with Dave Moss, former 500+ game NHL player and University of Michigan alum. Moss was drafted to the NHL as a 7th rounder, but didn’t play Tier 1 hockey growing up - he only played AA and high school. Now as a youth hockey coach himself, he joins us to talk about his path to the NHL.
In this episode we talk about:
— Being careful to not strip confidence from young players
— Asking the kids what they truly want
— The innate resiliency of young athletes
— The...
FRIDAY FACEOFF - NEW SCHOOL VS OLD SCHOOL COACHING
On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph wants to talk about new school vs old school styles of coaching. The best coaches incorporate a mix of both, so that they can lead their teams with high standards while creating great relationships with their players.
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SHORT SHIFTS - THE POLITICS PROBLEM IN YOUTH HOCKEY
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about something that most people don’t like to talk about: politics in youth hockey. Sometimes politics are real, but often the perception of politics is the bigger issue. Join us to discuss the things you can do as a parent, coach, or organization to make the experience better for everyone involved.
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Be a Thermostat, Not a Thermometer: How to Be a Great Leader, with Guest John O’Sullivan, Changing the Game Project Founder - EP 421
This week Topher and Jeff talk with John O’Sullivan, founder of Changing the Game Project. O’Sullivan’s new book, “Captain: The Athlete’s Guide to Being an Exceptional Team Leader,” is designed to help athletes learn how to lead. He joins the podcast to explain that leadership is a skill that can be obtained through hard work.
In this episode we talk about:
— How coaches can develop their leaders in the locker room
— Setting a competitive standard as a coach
— Captains operating as the “middleman” between the coach and players
— Being...
FRIDAY FACEOFF - COACHING WITH LIMITED PLAYING EXPERIENCE?!
On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph wants to talk about our advice and perspective for coaches that don’t have higher-level playing experience. We use Jon Cooper, head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning and recent winner of the Jack Adams Award, as an example of the success you can have, even if you feel like your playing experience is an obstacle.
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SHORT SHIFTS - KEEP AWAY
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about incorporating keep away into your practices and how valuable it is as a development tool.
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Ways to Improve Your Game & Lengthen Your Hockey Career, with Guest Sam Gagner, Former NHL Player - EP 420
This week Topher and Jeff talk with Sam Gagner, current Ottawa Senators’ Director of Player Development and former National Hockey League player with over 1000 games in the league. Gagner is what we call a “hockey lifer;” he consistently found new ways throughout his career to improve his game and remain valuable in the NHL for 17 seasons.
In this episode we talk about:
— Making every aspect of the game as fun & competitive as possible
— Always keeping development over winning in mind
— At what age you should introduce systems
— Coaching the players away f...
FRIDAY FACEOFF - YOUTH HOCKEY HAS A RETENTION PROBLEM?!
On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph brings on HTT team members Matt & Steph to talk about how youth hockey doesn’t have a recruitment problem, it has a retention problem. Organizations spend a lot of energy recruiting new players, but then face challenges with loyalty from their families. We find that families more often leave because of the experience, rather than hockey reasons. The good news is we have a ton of solutions for you to improve your retention rates.
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SHORT SHIFTS - MOMENTUM
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about momentum and its role in winning games. Listen for our best advice, whether you’re a player or a coach, on how to bring energy to your team and make sure the momentum swings in your favor.
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<...Dialed & Driven Mentality, with Guest Jeff Lerg, Former Professional Goalie - EP 419
This week Topher and Jeff talk with one of our favorite guests of all time, Jeff Lerg. Lerg is the epitome of what this podcast is all about: he battled through adversity as a 5’6” goalie and came out the other side, not only as a National Champion with Michigan State University, but more importantly as an incredible human. After 10+ years of playing professionally, he now runs his own goalie school and loves helping players with their mindset.
In this episode we talk about:
— How kids are growing up with way more pressure now
— Why athl...
FRIDAY FACEOFF - TO THE PARENTS OF PLAYERS THAT GOT CUT THIS SEASON
On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph wants to talk directly to the parents of players that got cut from a team this season, in any capacity. We understand that tryouts can be extremely emotional, so let us help you navigate this stressful time.
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SHORT SHIFTS - JAKUB DOBEŠ
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about Jakub Dobeš, who trained with Vechs, and has an incredible story on how he got to where he is now. We talk all about what makes Dobeš special to highlight that everyone has a different path.
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The Value & Power of Relationships in Coaching, with Guest Nate DiCasmirro, ICEHL Champion Coach - EP 418
This week Topher and Jeff talk with Nate DiCasmirro, assistant coach of the recent Austrian ICEHL champion team EC Graz99ers. DiCasmirro played 17 years professionally, with 7 years in the AHL and 10 years in multiple European hockey leagues. He joins the pod to discuss the value in prioritizing relationships in coaching.
In this episode we talk about:
— Finding your niche at every level
— The tighter the team, the more likely you are to win
— The importance of having conversations with your players away from the game
— Why skilled players don’t necessar...
FRIDAY FACEOFF - HOW YOUTH ORGS CAN BETTER SUPPORT COACHES
On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph brings on HTT teammate Matt Thomas to talk about how youth hockey organizations can better support their coaching staff. We discuss everything from communication and setting boundaries, to implementing standards and protection. Coaches are the backbone of youth hockey, and supporting them properly will help orgs be more successful.
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...SHORT SHIFTS - DELAY GAME
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about how important delays can be in creating offense on the rush. All elite players have an elite delay game, so let’s talk about this incredibly valuable skill.
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Team Defense: Be Hard to Play Against & Keep Pucks Out of Your Net - EP 417
This week Topher and Jeff fly solo to talk about how to play defense. A couple of weeks ago, we did an episode on how to score more goals, so now it’s time to talk about keeping pucks out of the net.
In this episode we talk about:
— Getting players to buy in to playing defensively
— The importance of communication & effort
— How defense is not just in the defensive zone
— How to take time and space away from really good players
AND SO MUCH MORE!
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FRIDAY FACEOFF - MENTAL HEALTH IN HOCKEY
On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph wants to talk about Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman’s recent statement on his leave of absence from the team due to mental health. Listen for our reactions to his statement and our thoughts on the importance of discussing mental health in hockey.
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<...SHORT SHIFTS - QUICKSAND
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about what we call quicksand, which is when things don’t seem to be going well as a player and you start to lose confidence in yourself and your abilities. Listen as we give our best advice and tools to navigate through it.
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