THE LOCKER ROOM LIFE

Senior Director of Hockey Operations | NTDP From growing up playing hockey in Detroit to competing at the collegiate level, coaching youth hockey, scouting in the USHL, and eventually earning a role with the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL, Rod Braceful's journey is a powerful reminder that success isn't always a straight line. What started as a passion for the game evolved into a career built on relationships, hard work, taking chances, and recognizing opportunities others might overlook. Today, as Senior Director of Hockey Operations for USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, Rod is helping shape the future of American hockey...

COMMISSIONER | OHL Sometimes the biggest opportunities for growth come from looking beyond the game itself. This week on Locker Room Life, we sit down with OHL Commissioner Bryan Crawford to discuss bringing fresh perspectives, innovative thinking, and leadership experience from across the sports industry into one of hockey's most historic leagues. From playing professional football in the CFL to leadership roles across basketball and golf, Bryan's journey is anything but conventional. His experiences as both an athlete and sports executive have shaped a unique vision for the future of junior hockey. We explore the importance of challenging tradition, embracing change...

Reagan Rust's journey is a reminder that there's so much more to an athlete's story than what we see on the ice. Growing up in Mississippi, where hockey opportunities were limited, Reagan and her family made countless sacrifices to pursue her dream. Long road trips, attending five different high schools, and years of dedication led her to become the first female hockey player from Mississippi to compete at the NCAA Division I level. Her journey took her from RIT to Boston University, where she became a team captain and helped win the 2019 Beanpot, before continuing her career professionally in North...

FULL CIRCLE. FROM PLAYING THE GAME TO HELPING SHAPE ITS FUTURE. Colby Cohen's journey is a reminder that hockey is about so much more than what happens on the ice. From the USHL's Lincoln Stars to scoring the unforgettable overtime winner for Boston University's 2009 National Championship, reaching the NHL, and becoming a respected voice in hockey media, Colby has experienced the game from nearly every perspective. Now, his journey comes FULL CIRCLE. As the new Vice President of Hockey & Player Experience for the USHL, Colby returns to the league that helped shape him, with an opportunity to inspire, mentor, and...

ESPN REPORTER | DEAL BREAKER | MENTOR Some people chase their dreams. Others chase them while inspiring the next generation to do the same. From her early days at Sports Illustrated to becoming one of the most prominent voices in hockey as ESPN's Senior NHL Insider, Emily Kaplan has built an incredible career through passion, perseverance, and authenticity. From covering Stanley Cup Finals and historic NHL moments to breaking major stories, appearing on Around the Horn, and being recognized among hockey's most influential figures, Emily's accomplishments speak for themselves. But what makes Emily truly special goes far beyond her résumé. It's he...

THE GAME DOESN’T END WHEN YOU HANG UP THE SKATES. THE OPPORTUNITY IS JUST BEGINNING. Another installment of LOCKER ROOM LIFE: FOUNDER SERIES, where we spotlight the entrepreneurs, innovators, and visionaries building something bigger than themselves. What happens when the hockey community meets the world of venture capital? HOCKEY STICK VENTURES IS CHANGING THE GAME. Founded by former hockey player and investor Sean Hershman, Hockey Stick Ventures is connecting the hockey community with emerging brands, entrepreneurship, and investment opportunities beyond the rink. From brands like Liquid Death, Recess, and Coconut Cult, the vision goes beyond investing. It's about identifying op...

FOUNDER | CREATOR - EVERYTHING COLLEGE HOCKEY We sat down with James Murray, founder of Everything College Hockey (ECH), to talk about turning a passion for hockey into a thriving media platform, brand, and business. From player interviews and highlights to the Pucks in Deep podcast, original content, merchandise, and partnerships, ECH has become a powerful voice in college hockey, connecting players, programs, and fans while helping grow the game. But behind the success is a story of hard work, sacrifice, persistence, and an unwavering belief in the vision. What stood out most was James's humility. He credits the hockey community...

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike Rabideau’s story is so much bigger than hockey. Mike’s journey through the game has taken him from playing professionally in the FHL, including time with the Brewster Bulldogs, to becoming a shooting consultant, trainer, coach and mentor helping the next generation of players develop their game. But the most powerful part of Mike’s story has nothing to do with goals, statistics or what happened on the ice. It’s what he had to overcome away from it. Mike has openly shared his battle with addiction and the personal challenges that came with it. At some of the lowe...

What happens when you see an outdated problem in sports and decide to completely rethink it? We sat down with Matt Hall, Founder & CEO of TRUFIT Customs, to break down the journey behind building a sports technology company focused on making professional-grade custom-fit products more accessible to athletes at every level. Matt and the TRUFIT team took a process that was traditionally expensive, time-consuming and difficult to scale and built a digitally driven system around 3D scanning, digital design and advanced manufacturing. What started with custom-fit mouthguards has grown into something much bigger. TRUFIT has expanded its presence across the...

Logan Renkowski’s journey is proof that your path doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s to get where you’re supposed to go. From the USHL to the NAHL, back to the USHL, Logan continued to bet on himself. He kept working, kept believing and refused to let adversity define where his career was headed. Then came the breakthrough. 43 goals. 63 points. A Clark Cup Championship with the Sioux Falls Stampede. And now, the next chapter at the University of Vermont. Logan’s story is bigger than the numbers. It’s about staying committed when the journey changes. It’s about b...

BUILD YOUR BRAND!!! In this edition of WORKING IN SPORTS, Nick Bowins breaks down one of the most important lessons for anyone trying to get their foot in the door of the sports industry: YOU are your best marketing tool. Your reputation, your work, your relationships, and the way you present yourself all become part of your brand. Getting the opportunity is only the beginning. Find the right position, prove your value, build relationships, and keep stacking experience from there. You don’t need to start at the top. You need to get in the room and BUILD YOUR BRAND fr...

BE COMFORTABLE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE. For more than 25 years, Brijesh “Coach B” Patel has built athletes, coaches, and cultures around one belief: real growth starts outside your comfort zone. As Associate Athletic Director and Director of Athletic Performance at Quinnipiac University, Coach B has helped build a championship-level environment centered on preparation, accountability, relationships, and developing the person before the athlete. In 2024, he was named the NSCA Collegiate Coach of the Year. On this episode of Locker Room Life, Coach B dives into leadership, embracing adversity, setting standards, and why getting comfortable being uncomfortable can change the trajectory of your life. This...

The work doesn’t stop when things don’t go your way. That’s when it matters most. Cameron Korpi joins Locker Room Life to talk about the journey of a goaltender who has continued to work, adapt and bet on himself through every stage of his career. From AAA hockey to the NTDP, NAHL, four seasons of USHL experience, the University of Michigan and now Union College, Cameron’s path has been built through experience, adversity and a relentless commitment to getting better. We dive into the mentality required to play one of the toughest positions in sports. The pressure...

Nate McBrayer joins Locker Room Life to talk about the journey behind getting to where he is today and the years of work, sacrifice and dedication that people don’t always see. Growing up in Ohio, Nate developed a love for the game early. But wanting something and earning it are two completely different things. We dive into what it took to keep climbing, leaving home, competing at higher levels, learning through adversity, developing confidence in his game and ultimately earning the opportunity to come back home and wear the Ohio State sweater. Nate talks about the importance of putting in...

For Lucas Van Vliet, the mission is simple: focus on becoming the best version of yourself every single day. Not worrying about where everyone else is.
 Not chasing somebody else’s timeline.
 Not letting the outside noise dictate the work. It’s about dedication to the process, belief in yourself, and showing up every day with the intention to improve. The biggest results don’t happen overnight. They’re built through the days nobody sees—the extra work, the setbacks, the sacrifices, and the decision to keep pushing when it would be easier not to. Believe in where you’re going. Stay comm...

Mike Young knows what it means to bet on yourself. Comedian. Writer. Director. Producer. But behind every title is a story built on the grind, adversity, unwavering belief, and the decision to keep going when the path wasn’t guaranteed. Mike talks about believing he could turn comedy into a career long before the success showed up — trusting his instincts, staying committed to his passion, and having the self-belief to push through the difficult moments. But one of the biggest lessons? Don’t get so focused on what’s next that you forget to enjoy where you are. Success is fun. The...

Noah Powell’s journey was never supposed to be easy. Adversity. Injuries. Setbacks. Doubt. At almost every stop, something stood in the way. But Noah kept finding a way forward. After going undrafted in 2023, he came back and exploded for 43 goals in the USHL, leading the league and forcing the hockey world to take notice. Then came the moment he had been chasing: hearing his name called by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2024 NHL Draft. But getting drafted wasn’t the finish line. The road continued through Ohio State, Oshawa, Arizona State and ultimately into professional hockey with the Lehigh Vall...

FOUNDER | STU MIDDLETON We sit down with the team behind Hockey Gives Blood, a nonprofit founded in 2018 by former hockey players who wanted to use the power of the game to help others. The organization was inspired by deeply personal tragedy, including co-founder and President Stu Middleton losing his father, Tom, and the devastating Humboldt Broncos tragedy that showed the world just how powerful the hockey community can be when it rallies together. Hockey Gives Blood has turned that emotion into action. In partnership with Canadian Blood Services, its mission is to educate, inspire, and mobilize the hockey community around...

Jordan Ray's journey is a story of resilience, perseverance, and unwavering belief. Born and raised in Florida, she carved out an incredible path to Yale University, where she developed into one of college hockey's top competitors while balancing the demands of an elite academic institution. But the road to achieving her dream wasn't smooth. At one of the most critical moments of her collegiate career, Jordan battled through a significant injury that tested her physically, mentally, and emotionally. Rather than allowing adversity to define her, she embraced the challenge, fought through the setbacks, and came out stronger on the other...

For every kid growing up in Minnesota, wearing the Maroon and Gold isn't just a goal... it's the dream. Jackson Nevers didn't get there by chasing hype. He got there by embracing pressure, staying committed to the process, and leading from the front. From becoming captain of the Madison Capitols to earning his opportunity with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Jackson's journey is a reminder that leadership isn't given, it's built through consistency, resilience, and doing the little things right every day. This conversation goes beyond hockey. It's about navigating expectations in the State of Hockey, earning respect through your actions...

What began as unimaginable tragedy has become one of hockey's most powerful movements. This week on Locker Room Life, we sit down with Shoulder Check founder Rob Thorsen for one of the most meaningful conversations we've ever had. After the loss of his son Hayden, Rob chose to build something bigger than grief. Through the #HT40 Foundation and the Shoulder Check movement, he's inspiring a culture rooted in kindness, connection, and the simple acts that can change or even save a life. This isn't just a conversation about mental health. It's about seeing people. It's about being present. It's about...

Some battles happen inside the cage. The hardest ones happen within. On this episode of Locker Room Life, we sit down with Ian Heinisch—President of BK Ice Wars and former UFC middleweight contender—to discuss a life defined by resilience, redemption, and purpose. Ian shares his journey through addiction, incarceration, and the mental battles that nearly broke him before fighting his way to the UFC. We explore the mindset that fueled his comeback, the importance of confronting your demons, and how finding inner peace became his greatest victory. Now leading BK Ice Wars, Ian is using his story to insp...

Success isn't built overnight. It's built through purpose, perseverance, and staying true to who you are. In this episode of the Locker Room Life Podcast, we sit down with Kate Pettersen, one of the most respected voices in sports broadcasting. Her journey is a powerful reminder that authenticity and hard work never go out of style. From her humble beginnings and a lifelong passion for sports inspired by her family, to building an impressive career with organizations like TSN, Sportsnet, MLSE, and the NHL, Kate has earned every opportunity through relentless dedication and an unwavering commitment to her craft. This...

From dominating the USHL to earning his opportunity with the Ottawa Senators, Stephen Halliday's journey is a masterclass in perseverance, patience, and unwavering self-belief. Despite the accolades and expectations early in his career, the road to the NHL was anything but guaranteed. Stephen opens up about the setbacks, the moments of doubt, and the relentless work ethic that kept him moving forward when others may have stopped believing. This conversation is about much more than hockey. It's about trusting your process, embracing the grind, and understanding that success isn't defined by how quickly you get there, it's defined by your...

Some people chase success. Others chase purpose. On this episode of Locker Room Life, Pat Shea shares his incredible journey from professional hockey to pursuing his true passion—acting. Rather than staying comfortable, Pat bet on himself, embracing uncertainty and creating opportunities where none existed. He dives into the mindset required to leave behind a successful career, the importance of believing in yourself before anyone else does, and why the fear of immediate results should never outweigh the pursuit of long-term fulfillment. Pat's story is a powerful reminder that the greatest achievements often come from having the courage to follow yo...

From Cesis, Latvia to the bright lights of North American hockey, Rudolfs Berzkalns' journey is a testament to what can happen when talent meets relentless dedication. At a young age, he made the bold decision to leave home, embrace a new culture, adapt to a different style of hockey, and chase his dream on the other side of the world. Today, he's become one of the most exciting young prospects in the game, developing into a standout with the Muskegon Lumberjacks and earning a commitment to Boston College Eagles men's ice hockey. In this episode, Rudolfs shares the realities of...

Blake Zielinski joins Locker Room Life to share his incredible hockey journey, from becoming one of the top players in the USHL to representing Team USA on the international stage. A recipient of the prestigious Gaudreau Award, Blake has earned a reputation not only for his accomplishments on the ice, but for the character, humility, leadership, and care for others that define who he is as a person. We discuss his success with Team USA, his achievements and awards in the USHL, his commitment to Providence College, and the mindset that has helped him reach every level of the game...

From a 15-year NHL career spanning more than 800 games to his current role as an NHL media analyst, Nate Thompson has seen the game from every angle. But this conversation goes far beyond hockey. Nate opens up with honesty and vulnerability about one of the most important challenges athletes face: the transition from player to life after the game. We discuss identity, purpose, mental health, finding new passions, and what it really takes to reinvent yourself when the jersey comes off for the last time. A powerful conversation for players, parents, coaches, and anyone navigating change in their own life. ...

LRL “COMMUNITY “ SERIES Money is one of the most important skills athletes are rarely taught. This week on Locker Room Life, we sit down with Dane Burkholder, a wealth advisor with 24 years of experience and co-founder of Financial Athlete, to discuss how athletes, parents, and families can build a healthier relationship with money and create long-term success beyond the game. We dive into the origin story of Financial Athlete, the importance of mindset and identity in wealth building, the four fundamentals of financial success, making better decisions early, and why building the right team around you can change your financial futu...

Coach Vinny Malts is redefining player development. After a successful playing career, he's dedicated his life to helping the next generation reach their full potential—not just physically, but mentally. From youth players to NHL athletes, Vinny understands that elite performance starts long before stepping on the ice. What separates him is his willingness to challenge the status quo. In a game that often resists change, he's implementing new approaches, prioritizing mental development, and creating an environment where players can truly grow as athletes and people. His commitment to innovation, development, and the growth of the hockey community is what ma...

From a storied NHL career to winning 3 Stanley Cups, Jordan Nolan has continued to evolve far beyond the game. Now stepping into the cultural spotlight through the hit show Shoresy, Jordan continues to stay grounded in what matters most… humility, family, community, and pride in his Garden River First Nation heritage. Through 3 Nolans and countless charitable initiatives, he continues giving back to the hockey world that shaped him. A true example for the younger generation that determination, resilience, and staying true to your roots will always matter. Enjoy the journey. Respect the path. Build something bigger than yourself. Hosted by Si...

From underdog to the NHL. Andrew Alberts carved out a career through grit, sacrifice, and belief when the odds weren’t in his favor. Now he’s helping shape the future of hockey as Hockey Development Director at Sense Arena. Building a new lane for player development through VR training, hockey IQ, and next-gen technology. The game is changing. Development is evolving. And the next generation of players may be built just as much off the ice as on it. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data...

From the early days of the social media grind to building a brand completely on his own terms, Rob Gucci aka “Heat Daddy” has stayed unapologetically unique through it all. Co host of the Home By 3 podcast, aspiring comedian, creator, innovator and someone who understands that real success isn’t always measured by numbers — it’s measured by fulfillment, belief, and staying true to who you are. Rob opens up about trusting the process, creating without fear, building a loyal community, and why the real beauty is in embracing what makes you different. True originality can’t be copied. Chin Always tucke...

Kurtis Gabriel joins us for one of the most powerful conversations we’ve had yet. A hockey journey sparked by tragedy, built through adversity, and carried all the way to the NHL against all odds. Known as one of the game’s toughest heavyweight fighters, Kurtis opens up about the reality that the mental battles off the ice were often heavier than the opponents he fought on it. From the pressure of carrying an identity in professional hockey, to navigating mental health, purpose, and life after the game, this episode is raw, honest, and real. What makes Kurtis’ story so impact...

JANE AND GUY GAUDREAU Honored doesn’t even begin to cover this one. We’re joined by Guy and Jane Gaudreau for a deeply moving and unforgettable conversation—one rooted in love, legacy, and the true meaning of community. They open up and share incredible memories of their sons, Matthew and Johnny Gaudreau. Stories that go far beyond the rink. Moments that define who they were not just as elite hockey players, but as people, teammates, brothers, and sons. The impact they made on the game is undeniable… but the impact they made on those around them is what truly lasts. T...

LIVE FROM MOOSE JAW Some episodes stay on track… this one never had a chance. We sat down with Lindy McLeod, the personality behind Live From Moose Jaw, and were honored to be joined by a voice straight out of the great north—Saskatchewan. The conversation instantly turned into pure chaos—in the best way. No script, no filter, no structure… just real hockey talk, wild stories, and the kind of energy that feels like you’re back in the locker room with the guys. Lindy has built something different. It’s raw, unpredictable, and unapologetically honest—leaning into the moments most p...

MENTAL HEALTH HOCKEY

Brady Leavold’s story goes way deeper than the game.

In this episode, Brady Leavold takes you through the full journey — from chasing the dream at the highest level to facing the reality of what comes after. The pressure to perform. The identity tied to the game. And the adversity that hits when everything you’ve built your life around starts to shift.

He opens up about the moments people don’t see — the internal battles, the self-reflection, and the struggle of figuring out who you are without the jersey. It’s an ho...

HOCKEY HALL OF FAME | USA OLYMPIAN | NATIONAL CHAMPION | PIONEER

On this episode, we sit down with Natalie Darwitz — a true pioneer who didn’t just shape women’s hockey, but helped redefine the game itself.

From dominating at the University of Minnesota and capturing NCAA National Championships, to leading Team USA as an Olympic Captain and competing on the world’s biggest stage, her career is nothing short of legendary. A three-time Olympic medalist and multiple-time World Champion, Darwitz built a résumé that ultimately earned her induction into both the Hockey Hall of Fame and the II...

NORTH DAKOTA FIGHTING HAWKS

Ian Engel didn’t take the straight path — he built it. Grinding through the NAHL with the Bismarck Bobcats, earning every shift, every opportunity… and finishing it the right way as a Robertson Cup Champion.

Originally committed to Division III — a path many would’ve accepted — but he didn’t settle. He stayed patient. Stayed committed. Believed in something bigger.

That belief turned into an opportunity at the University of North Dakota — one of the top programs in college hockey.

This is what it looks like when you trust the pr...