Crazy Hockey Dads Podcast

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:

Happy Fourth of July all!  In this episode Scott and Jamie dig into the emotional explosions that come with youth hockey - from player-on-player scuffles to dads losing it in the stands. It’s a red, white, and bruised look at how things blow up… and what to do when they do.

In this episode:

- Teammates getting physical with one another and what adults should do about it
- Dads going toe-to-toe over insecurity, game play, and hurt feelings
- A CHD rant on USA Hockey: what does it actually do, and does...

Episode 16: Keeping Up with the Rink Neighbors
“They’re skating three times a week… should we be?”

This week, Scott and Jamie unpack one of youth hockey’s most exhausting pressures: keeping pace with what everyone else is doing. Whether it's summer camps, new sticks, or secret private sessions, the race to “keep up” is real - and it’s driving families (and bank accounts) into overdrive.

In this episode:
- The mental toll of comparison: when your kid’s rest feels like falling behind
- Why some parents are low-key panicking about “off-season...

This week, Scott and Jamie dig into one of the hardest questions in youth sports: how much is too much when it comes to pushing your kid? From the emotional landmines of summer training to the quiet signs a player might be over it, this episode gets real about what happens when a parent’s passion starts to outweigh the player’s.

In this episode:
- The gut-check moment when your kid wants to quit mid-session
- Why “taking a break” feels harder for parents than players
- The fine line between motivation and meltdown...

What happens when Dad means well… but does too much?

This week, Scott and Jamie break down the complicated role of fathers in youth hockey - from car ride critiques and coach critiques to the quiet moments that actually matter. It’s not just about showing up. It’s about how you show up.

Drawing from real convos and personal experience, the guys dive into:
- Why some kids tense up the second they get in the car
- The invisible line between helping and hovering (and when dads cross it)
- The po...

New team, new coach, new... personality disorder?

This week, Scott and Jamie lace up for one of the wildest corners of youth hockey: crazy coaches. You know the type - micromanaging 10-year-olds like it’s the Stanley Cup and making kids cry over line changes. We’ve seen it, lived it, and now we’re talking about it.

In this episode:
- Red flags that your kid’s coach might be a certified lunatic
- How crazy coaching affects confidence, development, and family sanity

Plus: The CHD boys pitch “The Crazy Hockey Dad...

This one started with a simple question: has youth hockey gotten too soft? But before long Scott and Jamie spiral into full rink chaos, mouth guard drama, neck guard debates, and the rise of refs enforcing rules no one seems to agree on.

Along the way:
- Rant alert: Why skills might be up, but the grit is gone
- Jamie becomes a rinkside mouthguard dealer
- Velcro neck guards vs. shirt style: the great debate
- Plus: CHD goes international - what’s up, London?

New team? New season? Here’s how not to suck at it.

This week, Scott and Jamie tackle one of youth hockey’s great unspoken rules: how to be a decent human when you’re the “new parent” in the building. From locker room etiquette and post-practice weirdness to that awkward “who’s-who” in the TeamSnap chat, this episode is your unofficial guide to not being that parent.

We also revisit the legend of Quesadilla Kid, talk about why your kid might be hovering near the door after practice, and break down the fine line between supporti...

Summer hockey is here, and the dad guilt is real. In Episode 10, Jamie and Scott dive into how much is “enough” for your kid in the offseason, from private skates and college camps to European tournaments and that one time a kid skipped practice to eat tacos.

They also shout out listener Kirk from Ontario for dropping a sick gear hack, roast the rise of pay-to-play showcases, and question how hard parents should push when kids just want to chill. Spoiler: Nobody has it figured out, but we’re all sweating in the same locker room.

Whet...

The gear smells bad, but sometimes the vibes are worse. In this episode, Scott and Jamie dig into the unspoken side of youth hockey, when the locker room dynamic goes sideways and your kid’s stuck dealing with it. From subtle bullying to straight-up bad apples, we talk about what parents can do (and what they probably shouldn’t). Plus: a rant about character, ego, and what it really means to carry yourself the right way on and off the ice.

If you've ever walked out of the rink wondering what the hell just happened in there, this...

Scott and Jamie get real about something youth hockey doesn’t teach enough: integrity. From shady rink politics to secretive skills coaches, they call out the culture of gatekeeping and why too many parents act like sharing info is giving away trade secrets.

They break down the silent rules, the cliques, and the pressure to act like you know what you’re doing, even when you don’t. Whether you're new to the game or deep in the grind, this one’s a gut check on how we treat each other in the stands, the locker room, and ever...

This one’s got range. Scott and Jamie start with NHL playoff chatter, heroes, heartbreaks, and teams that can’t close before flipping the switch to talk about their own kids, and what it really feels like trying to coach effort without crushing spirit.

They get brutally honest about dad guilt, delivery mistakes, and the endless tug-of-war between pushing your kid and just letting them love the game. Then it’s on to managers: the unsung heroes (or cautionary tales) of spring hockey, complete with advice, praise, and a few absolute hotel disasters that’ll make you book you...

It’s NHL playoff time, but off the ice, the real matchups are happening between parents and coaches. Scott and Jamie talk team turnover, how to handle your kid’s role without losing your mind, and why smart communication can make or break a season.

They share an epic youth hockey story, offer hard-earned advice on managing expectations, and remind everyone: don’t ruin it for your kid. Plus, their Stanley Cup picks.

Tryouts are over, spring hockey’s heating up, and some parents are losing their minds. Scott and Jamie touch on Dominic’s tryouts, the awkward exit of good teammates and parent’s who didn’t make the cut, and the chaos that reminds everyone why hockey season is never really over.

In this episode, Scott recaps Otto’s parity event with his new team this past weekend. We also dive into the looming puberty wave for the 2012 birth year players, the some of the cost difference between Tier 1 & Tier 2, and all things youth hockey as tryouts for the older age groups approach next week. And of course, no podcast would be complete without a little Iron Mike Tyson talk.