Crazy Hockey Dads Podcast

Scott and Jamie sit down with Scott Bartlett, NHLPA-certified agent at Bartlett Hockey, for a behind-the-scenes look at how the hockey development path actually works. Bartlett represents more than 30 NHL players, including stars like Cale Makar. 

Scott explains why most families rush the process, especially when it comes to agents and exposure, and why most players don’t need an advisor before junior hockey age. Instead, he believes the focus should be on development, not exposure, and letting opportunities happen naturally if a player is on the right track. 

He also breaks down common youth hock...

Scott and Jamie sit down with Topher Scott of The Hockey Think Tank for a candid conversation about the pressure surrounding modern youth hockey.

Topher explains how tryout season and early recruiting have shifted the focus away from development, creating stress for families and players. He shares why youth hockey can feel more like a recruiting culture than a development culture, why parents need to help kids live in the moment, and how to actually evaluate whether a coach or program is helping a player grow.

In this episode:

The system isn’t as simple as you think.

Scott and James sit down with Matt Dumouchelle, who spent over a decade working inside junior hockey, for a candid look at how the development ladder really works.

Matt explains why families often misunderstand the pathway, how junior teams actually evaluate and move players, and why “exposure” doesn’t guarantee opportunity. The conversation dives into how perception, timing, fit, and relationships shape careers just as much as talent and why blindly chasing the next level can create more problems than it solves.

In this...

Scott and James sit down with Andries de Villiers, CEO of Titan Battlegear, for a blunt breakdown of what cut protection in hockey really means and why a lot of gear parents trust may create a false sense of security.

After a tragic local on-ice incident, Andries dove deep into testing standards and discovered that many products marketed as protective weren’t stopping skate blades at meaningful levels. He explains the ANSI A1–A9 scale, why he calls A6 the “Mendoza line” for real protection, and why safety comes down to two things: cut resistance and coverage.

The...

The Miracle on Ice captain delivers a youth-hockey reality check and then drops the “missing chapter” of 1980.

Scott and Jamie sit down with Mike Eruzione, and the conversation goes way past the headline everyone already knows. Mike starts with a story that’ll make today’s hockey parents wince: he didn’t start skating until age nine, wearing his sister’s white figure skates with blue pom-poms. 

From there, he hits modern youth hockey straight on: the cost, the entitlement that comes with it, and why he literally stands alone at the rink. He tells an a...

Scott and Jamie sit down with Jim Dowd for a no-nonsense conversation that cuts straight through modern youth hockey panic. From growing up a true rink rat to winning a Stanley Cup, Jim explains why early AAA, nonstop showcases, and year-round hockey aren’t what actually separate players.

Dowd shares how he developed on free ice with buckets of pucks, why he didn’t play AAA until midgets, and how his own kids followed a similar slower, multi-sport path and still earned college opportunities. He also gets real about pro hockey: the mindset it takes to survive, the...

The must-listen follow-up to Episode 50

Scott and Jamie sit down with Ken Martel, Senior Director of Player & Coach Development at USA Hockey, to clear up some confusion surrounding the new USA Hockey Development League and directly follow up on their conversation with Bob Mancini in Episode 50.

Ken explains what the Development League is actually designed to do, why “open borders” matter, and why USA Hockey believes long-term scouting and accountability, not a single combine or draft, should determine where players belong. He also addresses misconceptions around control, outlines how clubs are selected, and why...

What it is, why it exists, and how it’s about to change the path.

Scott and Jamie welcome back Bob Mancini, Assistant Executive Director of Hockey Development at USA Hockey, for a rare, detailed breakdown of the USA Hockey Development League straight from one of the people building it.

Bob explains why the league was created, what problems it’s designed to fix, and why it’s not a replacement for Tier 1, high school, prep school, or juniors - but a reorganization of the development path. He walks through the thinking behind the 15...

How intentional reps, decision-making, and efficiency drive real improvement.

Scott and Jamie sit down with Ryan Murphy, Skills Coach for the New Jersey Devils, to break down how development actually works at the NHL level.

Ryan walks through his path from New Jersey youth hockey to prep school, the U.S. National Team, Boston College, pro hockey, and now working daily with NHL players. His message is simple and consistent: when time is limited, every rep has to matter.

In this episode:

Why doing less - more often - actually works

Scott and Jamie sit down with Coach Kevin, founder of hockeytraining.com, for a much-needed reset on youth hockey training. Kevin shares his own winding path getting cut late from AAA, stepping away to play football, finally breaking through at 20  and how those experiences shaped his no-nonsense approach to development.

The conversation centers on one simple idea: most kids don’t need more sessions, more teams, or more chaos...they need consistent, manageable work they’ll actually stick with.

In this episode:

- Why...

Why building it from the rink up is the reason this thing worked.

Scott and Jamie sit down for a reflective, end-of-season check-in after nine months of Crazy Hockey Dads - a podcast that started as two dads venting and turned into a global conversation with hockey parents in 38 countries. From forgotten skates and waxed-lace debates to the lessons pulled from guests and listener stories, this episode is about how the pod (and the community around it) grew by keeping things real.

In this episode:

Why rushing hockey is the fastest way to get it wrong.

Scott and Jamie sit down with Sadie Lundquist - Minnesota-grown, former college and pro player, and now Deputy Director of College Hockey, Inc. - to talk about what development looks like when you don’t rush it. From growing up in Cloquet and playing with her brothers to choosing fit over flash in college, Sadie brings lived experience and real data to a conversation full of unnecessary panic.

In this episode:

Why the kids who struggle early often last the longest.

Scott and Jamie sit down with Jeff LoVecchio -  former D1 and pro player, longtime Hockey Think Tank co-host, and founder of GMBM: Give More Be More to unpack a hockey journey built on getting cut, staying patient and learning how to own your development.

Jeff walks through growing up in St. Louis with grounded parents who refused to fight his battles, getting cut from teams, playing one or two shifts a game his first year of AAA, and being forced to look in the m...

How a COVID accident became the biggest vibes-driven hockey brand in the game.

Scott and Jamie sit down with Jonny and Austin, two of the original Hockey Guys, to break down how a group of college teammates stuck in online classes accidentally built a brand that now partners with more than half the NHL.

They walk through the real story: Ontario and Manitoba childhoods, leaving home early, billet adventures, injuries, and the mental grind that shaped them long before TikTok. Then they explain why their content works, why fans who never played hockey connect with...

From Queens to the NHL - and why most of youth hockey is overthinking it.

Scott and Jamie sit down with Angelo Serse - ProStride Elite founder, New Jersey Devils skating coach, U14 Youth Devils national champion, and Ozone Park kid who nearly quit hockey on Day 1.

Angelo shares his unique path: immigrant parents staring at a $2,500 AAA bill, his mom driving to Plattsburgh in snowstorms because he loved the game, and a late-blooming college opportunity that didn’t hit until his senior year. From there, he breaks down what families misunderstand about skating, development, an...

Scott and Jamie sit down with Vinny Malts - founder of Bloodline Hockey, longtime pro, and the first mental-performance coach ever hired by the NHL to dig into the side of development nobody sees but every kid feels.

Vinny walks through his wild rise from Philadelphia street hockey, to being drafted by the Vancouver Canucks, to a career-altering ankle injury that eventually pushed him toward mindset work. He also opens up about the depression he battled every postseason, the nervous-system science parents overlook, and why so many young players fall apart long before they fall behind.

Surviving one of the wildest hockey paths you’ll ever hear.

Scott and Jamie sit down with Alex Kim - former pro, Colorado College standout, and now Director of the Jr. Ducks to unpack a hockey journey unlike anything in the sport.

Alex walks through growing up in non-hockey Southern California under a tiger-mom who preferred harpsichord, abacus, and speed-reading over slapshots, negotiating just to play the sport, and leaving home at 15 for the Soo - where culture shock, racism, and sheer grit shaped everything that came next.

He also shares the twists th...

Why real development takes patience, perspective, and a lot less panic.

Scott and Jamie sit down with Bob Mancini - one of USA Hockey’s most influential minds and a key architect of the American Development Model (ADM) - to talk about what it really means to develop players the right way.

Mancini breaks down how small-area games, delayed checking, and skill-first systems aren’t just buzzwords, they’re the building blocks of a generation that can think the game, not just play it. He also gets candid about the cultural challenges holding youth hockey back...

Real stories. Real questions. Real hockey chaos.

This week, Scott and Jamie open up the inbox for a round of listener write-ins - the unfiltered questions and confessions from hockey parents everywhere. From kids getting moved to defense mid-season to dealing with burnout, overthinking, and team drama, this one’s part advice column, part group therapy.

In this episode:
- When your kid’s position changes and it messes with both your heads
- The parent who realized they needed a reset more than their player
- How to stay supportive when the...

How compete, chaos, and balance actually build better athletes.

Scott and Jamie sit down with Anthony LoSauro - longtime North Jersey Avalanche dad, Bergen Catholic fooball alum, and founder of Towermen Lacrosse - for a straight-shooting talk on raising kids who love to compete without turning them into mini-pros. From never giving up on his passion to driving development through curiosity (not clinics), Anthony shares how he’s built a foundation rooted in work, fun, and real life - not hype.

In this episode:

Two months in, and the dust is finally settling. Systems are clicking(ish), rides are less chaotic (maybe), and your kid might even be tying their own skates! Progress?

Scott and Jamie sit down for an early season pulse check - the highs, the lows, and the subtle wins you only notice when you zoom out. From dealing with performance lulls to celebrating quiet growth, this one’s about seeing the full picture of development (yours and theirs).

In this episode:
- Why “less is more” is the secret weapon of more “seasoned” parents
- When...

What matters, what doesn’t, and what’s actually next.

This week, Scott and Jamie sit down with Doug Christiansen, former D1 and pro player, ECHL GM/Head Coach, Team USA U17 Coach, USHL Deputy Commissioner, and current ECAC Hockey Commissioner, to dig into the real layers of youth hockey development - not the fantasy version parents like to believe. From the myths of early exposure to the truth about who’s really watching, Doug lays out a grounded, honest roadmap for families who want to support their player without losing the plot.

In this episod...

One hell of a commute and a front-row seat to growing up.

This week, Scott and Jamie sit down with Ben DeBlock, a hockey dad who's clocked the hours, booked the hotels, and still wonders if he's getting it right. From navigating long drives and tryout stress to realizing when to pull back, Ben offers a grounded, honest look at what it really means to support your kid through the hockey grind.

In this episode:
- How Ben rethought the “more is more” mindset
- What structure gave their family and where it back...

Are we trying to win… or just trying too hard?

This week, Scott and Jamie unspool the madness of “win-at-all-costs” youth hockey, from kids ripping smelling salts in the locker room to coaches and parents acting like every weekend’s the Stanley Cup. What started as a joke turns into a serious question: when did we decide effort wasn’t enough?

In this episode:
- Smelling salts at 10U - what are we even doing?
- Why kids are mimicking intensity without understanding it
- When coaches push too far and confuse chaos for...

A player’s journey. A coach’s perspective. A parent’s wake-up call.

This week, Scott and Jamie sit down with Alec Marsh, former Penn State hockey forward and current assistant coach at Hobart College, for one of the most honest, insightful interviews CHD has ever aired.

Alec walks through his own path from elite youth hockey to college then pro.  Now as a coach, he’s on the other side of the glass, helping kids chase their goals without losing who they are.

In this episode:
- What kids actually remember about the...

New routines, new teams, big emotions - here’s how to show up.

This week, Scott and Jamie open up about the quiet signs that something might be off - not with the game, but with the kid. From sudden shifts in attitude to the moments where effort just disappears, this episode is about how to support your player when they’re struggling in ways they can’t explain yet.

In this episode:
- Jamie breaks down how outside stress can sneak into the rink 
- Why early-season emotions are real and how to not...

A team, a town, a letter on the jersey and why it still matters.

This week, Scott and Jamie bring on CHD dad and coach Brad for a conversation that flips the usual script. Instead of chasing the “next level,” they ask: what if the best thing for your kid is right in front of them?

It’s not about exposure. It’s not about rankings. It’s about belonging, identity, and the kind of growth that happens when you play for more than just yourself.

In this episode:

- Why high schoo...

When the season shows up and punches you in the mouth.

The puck has dropped, emotions are high, and reality is… well, real. This week, Scott and Jamie debrief their opening weekends full of highs, lows, quiet panic, and that familiar reminder: this is going to be a ride.

In this episode:

No bi...

And its a marathon not a sprint...

Day 5 of CHD Mini-Camp: Be the Chill You Want to See

It’s one thing to tell your kid to stay composed, it’s another to actually model it. In the final day of Mini-Camp, Scott and Jamie talk about staying calm when emotions spike, mistakes pile up, and your parent brain wants to explode in the parking lot.

Because your kid doesn’t just need feedback, they need an anchor. And your energy sets the tone.

In this episode:

Day 4 of CHD Mini-Camp: Mindset & Mental Recovery

One bad shift. One rough weekend. One emotional post-game chirp from the backseat. That’s all it takes to send a kid’s confidence into a spiral.

In Day 4 of Mini-Camp, Scott and Jamie go deep on what it really takes to keep your player mentally upright when things get messy. From post-game meltdowns to “two stars and a wish” feedback, this episode is your guide to protecting confidence without sugarcoating or making it worse.

In this episode:

Day 3 of CHD Mini-Camp: Managing Expectations

If you've ever told your kid, “Why can’t you skate like Johnny?”, this one’s for you.

Today, Scott and Jamie get honest about the silent killer of youth hockey joy: comparison. From slapshot envy to AAA pressure spirals, this episode is a call to stop parenting the imaginary prodigy in your head… and start supporting the actual human in your house.

In this episode:

Because bottling it up never helped anyone.

Day 2 of CHD Mini-Camp is here, and today’s tool might just save your sanity: communication.

Scott and Jamie break down what happens when parents don’t say the thing they’re dying to say and what usually happens when they say it too soon. From 24-hour rules to sideline showdowns, this is your guide to keeping it together, getting it out, and doing it the right way.

In this episode:

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 standings, the car rides, and the goalie drama... there was a good reason you said yes to youth hockey.

In this one:

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:

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 to theirs.

In this episode:

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 actually help kids develop, when used with a little perspective. 

In this episode:

- Yes, there was film review at 8U. Yes, it...

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 team looks like in Tier 1
- Why trusting your gut matters more than following the herd

If you're staring down anothe...

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:

...

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 hockey shapes kids for life
- The hidden wins: tying skates, bouncing back from cuts, finding your crew
- What p...

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 business first.

In this episode: