The USA Hockey Podcast: A Youth Sports Conversation (USA Hockey)

In episode 13, we have Manager of the Coaching Education Program Brent Seidel on to talk about the upcoming Level 5 in Falmouth, Massachusetts. If you are attending the upcoming level 5, this will be an excellent preview of what you can expect. If you have never attended a level 5, listen in about how to attend a future level 5 Coaching Symposium.

For more information about this year's level 5: https://www.usahockey.com/level5

This episode is just Zack starting a new segment called "The Coaches Corner." In these segments, it will not be interview style as in previous episodes, but rather quick coaching hits that we can take to our current practices.

In this episode, Zack talks about teaching skating to allow for individuality, adaptability, and developing dynamic skaters. We will touch on...

-What is important for skaters to be able to do?

-How do we make skating fun?

-Practice design on and off the ice

-Incentivizing behaviors we want to see in our skaters

-Stealing from other sports and PE teachers

After listening, if you want to contact a Player Development Manager in your area to have them run a dynamic skating coaching course in your area, follow the link below.

https://www.usahockey.com/districtsandaffiliates

In episode 25, we return for the second installment of Coaches Corner, where we are chatting about a much-requested topic from parents and coaches, which is strategies for coaching kids with different learning needs.

The host of the podcast, Zachary Nowak, is a former Elementary Intervention Specialist who has worked for many years to support kids with mild to intensive learning needs.

Listen in as we chat about different ways we can support each individual kid on their learning journey.

Join the discussion on Twitter @USAHockeycoach

Reach out to Zack at Zachary.nowak@usahockey.org

In episode 21 Zack has Steve Thompson back on the Podcast to talk about psychology in video game design and how we can use it to improve our practices. This is a long conversation, but an insightful one. Tune in and feel free to share your thoughts and ideas on Twitter/X @usahockeycoach

In episode 11, we chat with three people involved in the Dallas Stars Youth Hockey Programming and Development: Dwight Mullins, Director of Hockey Development;  Lucas Reid, Vice President of Business Development; and Eric Silverman, Director of Hockey Ops for Dallas Stars Elite. In this episode, we chat about their unique programming and development model and the impact of USA Hockey's American Development Model on them and their kids.

For more information or to contact them, visit: https://www.nhl.com/stars/starcenters/youth-hockey.

In episode 39, we have USA Hockey's Manager of Player Development Rich Hansen to talk about teaching offense through small-area games. Listen in as we chat about how we can create practice activities with intention and modify them to meet the needs of all our players through progressions and regressions. We also discuss Rich's path through hockey and his time working with USA Hockey.

To contact Rich: richardh@usahockey.org

In Episode 2 with USA Hockey's Player Development Manager of Goaltending, Steve Thompson, we explore USA Hockey's Goaltending Development Model. We also discuss ways people can get involved to help grow goaltending development in our country.

For more information about us: https://www.usahockey.com/

To find a Try Goalie for Free Event: https://www.usahockey.com/page/show/4966147-try-hockey-for-free

To sign up for a Bronze Clinic: https://www.usahockey.com/coachingclinics

New episodes will be dropping twice a month on Tuesdays

Join the discussion on Twitter @USAHockey Coach

In episode 37 we sit down and Chat with Rick Murray Associate Coach in Chief of Goaltending for the Southeast District. Rick is also a professor with Hendrix College.

In this episode, we chat with Rick about some research that he and a few others are diving into regarding the most age-appropriate net and rink sizes for goalies and players alike.

Listen in as we discuss the impacts of net and rink sizing on goalie movements, goal scoring, and much more.

To get in contact with Rick: ⁠murrayr@hendrix.edu⁠ Join the conversation on X: USAHockeyCoach

In episode 14, we are chatting with Dan Jablonic and Katie Holmgren of USA Hockey about the upcoming Hockey Directors and Youth Hockey Leaders course at the 2023 North American Conference Rink and Expo on June 13-16 in Buffalo, NY. We also chatted with three former attendees about their experiences and what they were able to take back to their clubs.

For more information or to sign up, visit: https://www.usicerinks.com/

To get in contact with Katie Holmgren: katieh@usahockey.org To get in contact with Dan Jablonic: dan.jablonic@usahockey.org

In episode 17, we have on former president of USA Hockey, Ron Degregorio. Ron served as president of USA Hockey from 2003 - 2015 before his retirement. After his retirement as the president, Ron is still continuing to help USA Hockey in many capacities. In this podcast, we discuss what he is doing to help grow goaltending at the grassroots and master levels.

He was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015 and distinguished with the National Hockey League’s Lester Patrick Trophy in 2002, recognizing his outstanding service to hockey in the United States.

Most recently, Ron received the Builders Award, which has only been given out seven times in its history and most recently in 2015. Tune in for some amazing conversation from "The Godfather of USA Hockey Goaltending"

To donate to the Goaltending Fund: https://www.usahockeyfoundation.com/page/show/1910601-goaltending-development-fund

In episode 23 we are chatting with Ken Martel of USA Hockey about how to better develop on-ice awareness in our players. In this episode we answer a few of the following questions around this topic.

-What can we learn from the research?

-What do the best players do?

-What is scanning?

-How do we get our players to look around?

-What is next in the scanning world?

Follow us on Twitter at @USAHockeyCoach

In episode 38, we chat with TC Lewis General Manager of Aerodrome Ice Skating Complex, about what brought him to hockey and what his facility and community does to bring the same enjoyment to kids playing hockey.

TC discusses how we can create more engaging experiences to our communities from jerseys, to halloween on ice. He also talks about his experiences working as a Team Leader for many of our National Teams.

TC Lewis: tlewis@aerodromes.com

Aerodrome Website: https://aerodromes.com/

Aerodrome Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aerodromeice/?hl=en

Join the discussion on X: USAHockeyCoach

In episode 8, we chat with Matt Leaf and Heather Mannix from USA Hockey. Matt Leaf currently serves as the Director of the Officiating Education Program, and Heather as the Manager of Education. In this episode, we talk about how coaches and officials can work together to bridge the gap and build relationships for the betterment of youth hockey around the country. 

To get involved in coaching: https://www.usahockey.com/coaches

To get involved in officiating: https://www.usahockey.com/officials

Make sure to subscribe to the podcast for new episode notifications on Tuesdays. Join the discussion on Twitter @USAHockeyCoach.

In episode 29, we chat with USA Hockey's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Michael Stuart, and Manager of Player Safety, Kevin Margarucci, about the changes in neck laceration protectors, other types of lacerations, and reactive ways that players, parents, and coaches can keep the sport of ice hockey safer for everyone.

Stop The Bleed: https://www.stopthebleed.org/

US Council for Athletes Health: https://uscah.com/

Red Cross First Aid Training: https://uscah.com/

Make sure to join the discussion on Twitter @USAHockeyCoach

In episode 32, we have Jean Cote on the podcast to talk about transformational leadership and coaching. Jean is a Professor and researcher in the areas of children in sport, coaching, sports expertise, and positive youth development. He works in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Queens University in Canada. He has also published quite a bit of research in the area of sport, one of which is the idea of Transformational Coaching and Leadership.

Reach out to Jean:

Email: jc46@queensu.ca

X: @jeancote46

Learn more about Transformational Leadership:

Webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWTsPcaebKo

Applying transformational leadership theory to coaching research in youth sport: A systematic literature review: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1612197X.2016.1189948

Join the discussion on X at @USAHockeyCoach

In episode 27, we talk about resiliency with Dr. Larry Lauer. Dr. Lauer is the Director of Mental Performance at United States Tennis Association Player Development. He has a history of working with USA Hockey's NTDP program and presenting at many USA Hockey events.

In this episode, we chat about...

-What is resiliency?

-Is it trainable?

-The 3 pillars of resiliency

-How can we support our players

Compete Like a Champion Podcast: http://www.playerdevelopment.usta.com/podcasts/

USA Hockey Webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZFSkETx0FY

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/larrylauer?lang=en

In episode 19, we chat with the USA 5 Nations Head Coach Scott Paluch. Not only is Scott the Head coach for the upcoming tournament, but he is also USA Hockey's Director of Player Development.

Listen in as we chat about Scott's youth hockey history, then dive into the 5 Nations tournament, his staff, the players on the team, and what we can expect from the tournament.

Follow the link below to check for the tournament schedule and streams: https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2023u17fivenations

In episode 26, we sit down and chat with the Youth Olympic Coaching Staff to discuss the upcoming tournament. The 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games are set to be played from Jan. 19 - Feb. 1 in Gangwon, South Korea.

From the Youth Olympic Coaching Staff, we chat with Head Coach Joe Bonnett (Player Development Manager, USA Hockey) and Assistant Coaches Matt Gilroy (Asst. Coach NTDP), Jason Guerriero (Asst. Coach Northeastern) and Dave Caruso (Columbus Blue Jackets)

In this episode, we chat about the coaching staff and their backgrounds in hockey, the difficulty in the selection process, how to manage a young team with high expectations, keeping the team in the moment, and much more.

Episodes are live on Spotify, Amazon, and Apple Podcasts.

In this episode, we chat with the GM of the Minnesota Whitecaps, Chi-Yin Tse. Before working for the Whitecaps, Chi focused much of his time on growing the game in Oakland, California, for the San Jose Sharks organization. This fantastic episode focused on Chi's background in hockey, what programs he implemented at the Oakland Ice Center, and advice for those looking to grow the game in their area.

Get involved with Try Hockey for Free: https://www.tryhockeyforfree.com/

Follow Chi on Twitter @CTSEHockey

In episode 34, we have on Maureen Monte. Maureen is a leadership practitioner who was a multi-sport athlete, Engineer of the Year for IBM, and now two-time author of "Destination Unstoppable" and "Win like a Girl." Both stories are dedicated to telling stories of successful male and female teams and what it took for success.

With a B.S./M.S. in Mechanical Engineering and an M.S. in Leadership and Business Ethics, Maureen is dedicated to solving the toughest people problems. Frustrated by the confidence struggles many women face, she launched the Win Like a Girl® program (and book!) to inspire people of all ages to be bold and extraordinary.

Information discussed in the podcast:

Website: https://maureenmonte.com/

Win Like a Girl Youtube: (including 5 Fears) https://www.youtube.com/@WinLikeAGirlBook

Destination Unstoppable Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@destinationunstoppable

StrengthsFinder: https://store.gallup.com/p/en-us/10108/cliftonstrengths-top-5?c=1

Jocko’s Good video: https://youtu.be/IdTMDpizis8

Jocko’s “Tell Yourself the Truth” video: https://twitter.com/jockowillink/status/1745962393136742888

Join the discussion on Twitter @USAHockeyCoach

In episode 12, we chat with Roger Grillo, the Director of Player Development with USA Hockey. Roger has a lot of experience coaching experience, and in this chat, he shares a lot about how we can increase player development through small area games and other coaching techniques.

For more information about the USA Hockey Webinar with Bill Beaney: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgQ2HhgSJWI&t=3065s

To get in contact with Roger: Rogerg@usahockey.org

In episode 22, we have Manager of Coaching Education Brent Seidel on to discuss why you should become a coach, what it takes to become a coach, and some frequently asked questions about coaching in USA Hockey.

Coaching Requirements: https://www.usahockey.com/coachingcertification

For your CEP information: https://cepsearch.usahockey.com/

Find a Clinic: https://www.usahockey.com/coachingclinics

Continuing Education: https://www.usahockey.com/coaching-continuingeducation

In episode 40, we have Executive Director of College Hockey Inc. Sean Hogan on the podcast to talk about College Hockey Inc. and what they do.

In the episode:

-What players, parents and coaches need to know about the recruiting process

-How college hockey changed over time

-What the future looks like for college hockey

To learn more about College Hockey Inc. or get in contact with Sean visit https://www.collegehockeyinc.com/

In episode 5 of the USA Hockey Podcast, we chat with Dave Caruso of the Columbus Blues Jackets. Dave shares his story through hockey, and then we do a deep dive into the Blue Jackets Hockey League and how they aim to develop more players and excellent coaches. 

To get in contact with Dave: dcaruso@bluejackets.com

To learn more about the Blue Jackets Hockey League: www.bluejacketshockeyleague.com

For more information from the NHL: https://www.nhl.com/bluejackets

In episode 41, we chat with Josh Holmes who is the Director of Adult Hockey with USA Hockey.

In this episode, we discuss the many benefits of playing Adult Hockey through USA Hockey and the fun and exciting events that are held across the country.

To sign up for this years Adult Classic Tournaments: https://www.usahockey.com/classictournamentsnew

To learn more about Adult Hockey opportunities: https://www.usahockey.com/adulthockey

To get in contact with Josh and the team: adulthockey@usahockey.org

In this week's episode, we chat with Stuart Armstrong, the Head of Coaching for Sport England and the Host of the Talent Equations Podcast, one of the most popular coaching podcasts on the market now. Listen in as we chat about improving practice design, what a drill is and how we get away from them, and how we can design practices for higher transfer of training. 

Make sure to follow Stuart on Twitter @Stu_arm.

For more information about Stuart, make sure to check out the Talent Equation Podcast on all major podcast hosts.

In episode 31, we examine recent research on who makes it to the NHL early, on time, or late developers. To have this discussion, we have John Lind on the podcast. John is the Head of Education and Research for the Swedish Ice Hockey Association. John worked firsthand on this research project and shared his insights on their process, what they learned, and how we can use this data for future projects.

To get in contact with John: john.lind@swehockey.se

Resources discussed:

The Research: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-023-01985-z

Khamis–Roche method Calculator: https://www.calculator.net/height-calculator.html

In episode 35 of the USA Hockey Podcast, we are starting a new segment called Driving Excellence where we sit down with Youth Clubs around the country to hear what makes them unique and drives their player development and retention.

In this episode of Driving Excellence, we sit down with Gino Cavallini, Club President of the Chicago Mission AAA Youth Hockey Club, to explore what makes this elite program one of the top youth hockey associations in the country. Gino shares his insights on how the Chicago Mission has built a culture of success, focusing on player development, teamwork, and a relentless pursuit of excellence on and off the ice. Listen in as we discuss the journey of shaping young athletes into the next generation of hockey stars, the importance of strong leadership, and how the association’s commitment to excellence has driven their sustained success. Whether you're a coach, parent, or hockey fan, this episode offers a deep dive into the dedication it takes to create a powerhouse youth hockey program.

To contact Gino: https://chicagomission.com/contacts/

In this episode, we chat with the Assistant Executive Director of Membership for USA Hockey, Kevin Erlenbach. The theme for this episode is around the 100,000th 8U participant, what this means for USA Hockey now, and where membership will go in the future. Tune in for another fantastic episode. For more information or ways to get involved, below are some links discussed throughout the episode. Follow us on Twitter @USAHockeyCoach for more resources.

Program Services: https://www.usahockey.com/page/show/4965656-program-services-resources

This is just a preview of what is to come with the USA Hockey Podcast. We are very excited to get started in the next few months!

In episode 16, we welcome on two-time Olympic medalist Katherine Reutter-Adamek to talk about developing a performance mindset. In this episode, we talk about meditation and mindfulness, developing great human beings and how parents can support their kids in sport.

To get in contact with Katherine: https://www.fixyourmindset.com/

I love to watch you play: https://ilovetowatchyouplay.com/

For the 1 year anniversary episode, we are pleased to welcome Joe Bertagna. Joe has served in many capacities in hockey, from NCAA D1 goalie to NHL Goalie Coach and the longest-serving commissioner in college hockey.

In episode 24, we chat with Joe about his journey and how he got to this point. We also chat about the state of goalie coaching and where the future lies in encouraging creativity.

In episode 33, we have Gillian Jackson. Gillian is a Neighborhood leader/senior coordinator at the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation, whose mission is to create opportunities for under-resourced youth of the Greater Philadelphia Region to prosper in life.

Gillian comes on the podcast here to talk about what she is currently doing with the foundation, how hockey saved her life, and how YOU can give back

For more information on the foundation: https://sniderhockey.org/

To get in contact with Gillian: gjackson@sniderhockey.org

Continue the conversation on X: @USAHockeyCoach

In episode 18, we have Assistant Executive Director of Hockey Department Bob Mancini talk about his path through youth sport into coaching.

We also talk about what USA Hockey is doing to create cohesion between the many different groups like youth, coaching, and officiating.

To learn more, visit: www.usahockey.com

In Episode 1 with our Executive Director Pat Kelleher, We dive deep into where youth hockey was and where it is going with USA Hockey. We also discuss what makes being a member special and how you can get involved.

For more information about us: https://www.usahockey.com/

To get involved in Try Hockey for Free: https://www.usahockey.com/page/show/4966147-try-hockey-for-free

To find a rink near you: https://findhockey.usahockey.com/

New episodes will be dropping twice a month on Tuesdays

Join the discussion on Twitter @USAHockey Coach

In episode 30, we chat with Rob Gray, a professor at Arizona State, a Skill Acquisition Specialist with the Boston Red Sox, producer and host of the Perception-Action Podcast, author of multiple books, researcher, and much more.

Listen in as we chat about...

-What is the Constraints Led Approach (CLA)?

-What is the history of the CLA?

-What are the benefits?

-How can we use this in hockey?

For more information, to purchase his books, and to get in contact with Rob, visit: https://perceptionaction.com/

Other resources discussed

Talent Equation Podcast: https://www.thetalentequation.co.uk/podcasts

Opposite Direction YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsVkH7793RMAhYqKLXle_vQ

Follow us on Twitter/X: @USAHockeyCoaches

#42 Supporting Every Skater (Pt. 1): Common Errors with Dr. Brady Flachs

In Episode 42, we kick off a new series exploring the connections between education and hockey with Dr. Brady Flachs, a Professor of Education at Ferris State University.

Brady, a father of four hockey-playing boys, brings over 20 years of teaching experience to the conversation. Host Zack Nowak, a former Special Education teacher, joins him to bridge the gap between classroom strategies and coaching on the ice.

Each episode, we’ll tackle one key question, drawing from education research and teaching strategies to help coaches develop their teams more effectively.

In this episode, we answer the question of what the common errors are in coaching and education when working with kids with learning needs.

Join the discussion on X at USAHockeyCoach

In episode 9, we chat with Pierre Debar, who is the Director of Culture & High-Performance HAP Training, Inc - Emotional Intelligence Trainer, HeartMath Certified Trainer, and Director of Training at Biosysco, Inc. In this episode, we talk about breathing and its impact on Emotional regulation for team and individual performance. Pierre walks us through different pre, mid, and post-game breathing strategies, leaving us with various resources to help your team now.

Resources

-Poize App

-Unbeatable mind Box Breathing

Ways to contact Pierre

-SigmaqClinic.com

-HAPTraining.com

-Instagram: @Thementalskillscoach

Make sure to subscribe for notifications when episodes drop on Tuesday. Join the discussion on Twitter at @USAHockeyCoach

In episode 4 of the USA Hockey Podcast, we chat with Katelyn Parker of the Seattle Kraken. Katelyn is a former NCAA D1 player and coach who has moved back to her hometown area to work with the Kraken in player development. In this episode, we talk about Katelyn’s youth hockey story all the way through coaching and now what she is doing to grow hockey and develop players through the Kraken. Stick around to the end as Katelyn shares some tips about how you can do the same in your area.

Follow Katelyn on Twitter: @KatelynParker16

In episode 36 of the USA Hockey Podcast, we sit down with Culver Hockey to discuss what makes Culver unique from a school, hockey, and leadership perspective.

Nathan Phillips (Goalie Coach), Kevin Patrick (Boys Coach), and Cory Whitaker (Girls Coach) walk through a day in the life of a Culver Hockey player, from their leadership training to their on-ice training.

For more information on Culver or to get in contact with any of these coaches, visit https://culverathletics.com/

In episode 28, returning guest Heather Mannix discusses the #1 reason kids play sports: to have FUN! This is also the number 1 reason kids drop out of sports. In this episode, we explore what kids find fun in sports and how we, as coaches, can encourage a more fun environment for better retention and player development.

For information on Fun Integration Theory: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4201634/

USA Hockey Webinar with Dr. Amanda Visek: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rF4XGWO8Jro

Dr. Visek on X: @ajvisek
Heather Mannix on X: @Hmannix14

Follow us on X: USAHockeycoach

This week, we chatted with Frank Serratore, Head Coach of the Air Force Academy Hockey Team. Listen in as we chat about his late start in hockey and how he continued his playing career straight into coaching and 40 years later he is still in the game. A few of the topics we chat about are how his coaching has changed over time, how he builds relationships with his players, and how he works with his staff to make sure they are providing the best experience for every Air Force hockey player. Make sure to follow us on Twitter @USAHockeycoach to give us some feedback, and let us know who you would like to see on a future episode.