Crazy Hockey Dads Podcast

The hands look great on Instagram. What happens when your kid has to read the ice, move the puck, and earn a coach’s trust?Two-time Stanley Cup champion and Chicago Steel head coach Scott Gomez joins Scott and Jamie for a conversation about what actually helps players move up. His message: there’s more to hockey than beating someone one-on-one or piling up points.Gomez explains why passing, backhand skills, imagination, and playing other sports matter. He challenges the chase for exposure when it means sitting on the bench, and explains why accepting a different role can keep a player moving forward.There are plenty of laughs, too: a Devils skate prank that became a career-long habit, an $1,100 phone bill from a homesick teenager, and lessons from Scott Stevens and Bobby Holik. Gomez also shares how his parents supported him without coaching from the stands, and how former teammates helped him through his struggles in Montreal.In this episode:Hockey sense versus highlight-reel skillsPlaying time versus the prestige of a leagueDevils practice habits, leadership, and locker-room storiesCoaching different personalities without losing the funLearn the game, embrace your role, and remember why you started.Chicago Steel Hockey IG: https://www.instagram.com/chicagosteel/Chicago Steel Website: https://chicagosteelhockeyteam.comPartners:https://www.pacificrink.com/https://hockeytraining.com/https://sparxhockey.com/https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydadshttps://howieshockeytape.com/https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/Socials:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazyhockeydadspodcastX: https://x.com/CrazyhockeydadsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Crazy-Hockey-Dads-Podcast/61578631923150/

From B-level youth hockey in Texas to running a Division I program at Brown University.Scott and Jamie sit down with Brown University head coach Tom Upton to talk about his unconventional hockey journey, coaching philosophy, and what he looks for in players at the college level.Tom shares how he started organized hockey at nine years old, played B-level hockey in Austin, and showed up at a USHL tryout without knowing what junior hockey even was. After getting completely overwhelmed, he returned the following year, made the camp's All-Star Game, and eventually played juniors, Division III college hockey, and professionally before finding his calling behind the bench.The conversation also gets into why hockey IQ matters more than flashy skills, why recruiting timelines are different for every player, the importance of youth coaching, and what Tom has learned as both a Division I coach and hockey dad.In this episode:Going from B-level hockey in Texas to a USHL tryoutWhy getting humbled became a turning point in his developmentThe path from D3 hockey to coaching at BrownWhy recruiting at 16 isn't necessarily better than recruiting at 19This one is a reminder that where your kid starts in hockey doesn't have to determine where the game takes them.Brown Men's Ice Hockey IG: https://www.instagram.com/brownu_mhockey/ Brown Men's Ice Hockey Website: https://brownbears.com/sports/mens-ice-hockeyhttps://brownbears.com/sports/mens-ice-hockeyECAC IG: https://www.instagram.com/ecachockey/Partners:https://www.pacificrink.com/https://hockeytraining.com/https://sparxhockey.com/https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydadshttps://howieshockeytape.com/https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/Socials:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazyhockeydadspodcastX: https://x.com/CrazyhockeydadsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Crazy-Hockey-Dads-Podcast/61578631923150/

Making the highest-level team is not always the same thing as making the best developmental choice.Scott and Jamie welcome Bob Mancini back for his third appearance to discuss the launch of USA Hockey’s new Development League, what it means for Tier 1 hockey, and why parents should resist treating the DL label as the only path forward.Bob explains why a 14-year-old may develop more by playing major minutes, running the power play, and handling the puck on a Tier 1 team than by becoming the twelfth forward on a DL roster. He also breaks down the league’s plans for games, rest, off-ice training, video, championships, roster limits, and multiple entry and exit points.The conversation also tackles the Brick Tournament argument, late development, puberty, high school and prep hockey, officiating, and the one thing that should remain part of every level of the game: fun.In this episode:Why Tier 1 remains essential alongside the DLThe danger of chasing a label instead of the right environmentOne game per day, recovery, video, and player developmentMultiple paths through DL, Tier 1, prep and high school hockeyThe jersey matters less than the environment where your player can develop, take ownership, and keep loving the game.USA Hockey DL FAQ: https://www.usahockey.com/news_article/show/1333125Partners:https://www.pacificrink.com/https://hockeytraining.com/https://sparxhockey.com/https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydadshttps://howieshockeytape.com/https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/Socials:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazyhockeydadspodcastX: https://x.com/CrazyhockeydadsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Crazy-Hockey-Dads-Podcast/61578631923150/

The best team isn't always the best place for your kid to develop.Scott and Jamie sit down with Mike Busconi, Islanders Hockey Club - East Director and coach at The Winchendon School, to talk about youth hockey development, team selection, and the increasingly competitive road to higher levels of hockey.Mike explains why being a bottom-line player on a top AAA team isn't always the best situation, especially when kids aren't getting enough puck touches or meaningful reps in practice. He also gets into parents chasing status over development, the pressure of year-round hockey, and why sometimes taking a step back is the smartest move.The conversation also covers AAA hockey becoming watered down, navigating tryouts and getting cut, the benefits of prep school, and why families need to look beyond Division I when considering their child's hockey future.In this episode:Why the best team isn't always the best fitWhy AAA hockey is becoming watered downNavigating tryouts, cuts, and crazy hockey parentsPrep school, D1, D3, and alternative hockey pathsThis one is a reminder for hockey parents: the goal isn't to get your kid on the best team today. It's to put them in the best position to keep getting better.Islanders Hockey Club IG: https://www.instagram.com/ihc.hockey/Islanders Hockey Club website: https://islandershockeyclub.com/Partners:https://www.pacificrink.com/https://hockeytraining.com/https://sparxhockey.com/https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydadshttps://howieshockeytape.com/https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/Socials:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazyhockeydadspodcastX: https://x.com/CrazyhockeydadsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Crazy-Hockey-Dads-Podcast/61578631923150/

The pressure meant to help a young player succeed may be the very thing holding them back.Scott and Jamie sit down with Princeton women’s hockey head coach Courtney Kessel to talk development, recruiting, team culture, and the role parents should play as the game gets more serious.Courtney shares her path from multi-sport athlete to Team Canada, including being the final cut from the 2014 Olympic team and returning to practice with the players who were going. She explains how that experience shaped the way she helps athletes handle disappointment, separate hockey performance from personal identity, and respond productively when they are not getting the role they want.She also gets into what Princeton evaluates beyond talent, why culture matters more than winning, and why being the best player at a lower level may offer more development than sitting at the bottom of a stronger team. For parents, her message is direct: give players a voice, let them take ownership, and recognize when pressure is taking the joy out of the game.In this episode:Why taking time away from hockey can renew a player’s love for itWhat Princeton evaluates beyond skill and statisticsBeing a top-six player versus the twelfth forwardWhy character and kindness matter during recruitingSupport the player, protect the joy, and let them own the journey.Princeton Womens Ice Hockey: https://www.instagram.com/princetonwhockey/Partners:https://www.pacificrink.com/https://hockeytraining.com/https://sparxhockey.com/https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydadshttps://howieshockeytape.com/https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/Socials:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazyhockeydadspodcastX: https://x.com/CrazyhockeydadsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Crazy-Hockey-Dads-Podcast/61578631923150/

The best development does not always come from the best team, the most expensive lesson, or the loudest car ride home.Recorded live at The Hockey Barn in Atlanta, Scott and Jamie sit down with founder and longtime coach Kyle Kinze. Kyle explains how a pulmonary embolism ended his playing career at 19, why he turned to coaching, and why he built a place centered on access, creativity, free play, and community.Kyle gets honest about growing up with a perfectionist father, changing the car ride home with his own kids, and learning that coaching a player starts with understanding the person. Scott and Jamie add their own hard-earned mistakes about expensive training, chasing higher-level teams, and pushing kids toward a version of hockey they may not want.The conversation also tackles choosing the coach over the jersey, valuing puck touches and ice time, watching for burnout, and giving kids enough room to fall in love with the game on their own terms.In this episode:Why free play and creativity are essential to developmentBetter questions for the car ride homeChoosing the right coach over the best teamBuilding The Hockey Barn around training, competing, and belongingLive questions on speed, endurance, coachability, and tournament hockeyCoach the human, protect the love of the game, and let development follow.The Hockey Barn: https://thehockeybarnatl.com/The Hockey Barn IG: https://www.instagram.com/thehockeybarnatl/Partners:https://www.pacificrink.com/https://hockeytraining.com/https://sparxhockey.com/https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydadshttps://howieshockeytape.com/https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/Socials:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazyhockeydadspodcastX: https://x.com/CrazyhockeydadsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Crazy-Hockey-Dads-Podcast/61578631923150/

Your young athlete may not need another workout. They may need better recovery and a smarter definition of strength.Bill Parisi went from an undersized high school athlete to a two-time Division I All-American and Olympic Trials javelin competitor. He later built the Parisi Speed School from a van and his parents’ basement into a youth performance system that has trained athletes for more than three decades.Bill explains why sleep, hydration, nutrition, and tissue care can matter as much as the next practice. He also shares why recovery is one of the biggest things parents miss. Then he challenges the idea that strength is simply a bigger squat or bench press. For hockey players trying to become harder to move around the puck, traditional lifting is only part of the equation.In this episode:Why Bill tells athletes to make sleep more important than practiceWhat parents misunderstand about overuse and recoveryHow properly coached resistance training can benefit kids before pubertyWhy bodyweight exercises aren’t automatically safer than weightsHow “farm-boy strength” prepares players to stay strong in awkward, off-balance positionsMore training isn’t automatically better. The right stress, recovery, and coaching are what move an athlete forward.Bill Parisi IG: https://www.instagram.com/bill_parisiParisi Speed School: https://www.parisischool.com/Parisi Speed School IG: https://www.instagram.com/parisispeedschoolParisi Speed School YT: https://www.youtube.com/user/ParisiSpeedSchool1Partners:https://www.pacificrink.com/https://hockeytraining.com/https://sparxhockey.com/https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydadshttps://howieshockeytape.com/https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/Socials:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazyhockeydadspodcastX: https://x.com/CrazyhockeydadsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Crazy-Hockey-Dads-Podcast/61578631923150/

Getting cut didn’t end Guy Hebert’s hockey journey. It helped shape it.Scott and Jamie sit down with former Mighty Ducks of Anaheim goaltender and NHL All-Star Guy Hebert to talk about an unlikely path from Troy, New York, to Hamilton College and eventually more than a decade in the NHL. Guy shares what happened when he was cut from his high school team as a freshman and instead found a team where he could play every game, see more shots and keep developing. He also talks about growing up without private goalie coaching, the sacrifices his parents made, and their simple approach: they’d support his hockey as long as he was the one asking to play.  The conversation gets into how goaltending has changed, what youth coaches often get wrong with goalies, why young goalies need ice time and edge work, and Guy’s experiences with the Mighty Ducks, Team USA and some of the biggest names in hockey.In this episode: What goalie parents should know  How goaltending and goalie development have changed  Going from Hamilton College to the NHL  Stories from the Mighty Ducks and Team USA Guy’s advice to young goalies is pretty simple: get as much ice time as you can, play against better players when you get the chance, and enjoy each step instead of obsessing over the top of the ladder.Guy Hebert: https://www.instagram.com/guyhebert31The Mask & The Mic Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/themaskandthemicMo's Smile: https://mosmilefoundation.org/CHD/MSK Donation Page: http://mskcc.convio.net/goto/chdmsc2026Partners:https://www.pacificrink.com/https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/https://hockeytraining.com/https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydadshttps://howieshockeytape.com/https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/Socials:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazyhockeydadspodcastX: https://x.com/CrazyhockeydadsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Crazy-Hockey-Dads-Podcast/61578631923150/

What does a coach who’s spent decades developing elite players actually look for?Scott and Jamie sit down with longtime North Jersey Avalanche coach Jamie Cahill to talk player development, hockey IQ, coaching, and what separates players as they move into the highest levels of youth hockey. Jamie gets into why he’ll take hockey IQ over size, why players need the freedom to make mistakes, and how coaches can teach creativity instead of creating robots. He also explains why developing the person matters just as much as developing the player and why kids need to learn to advocate for themselves instead of having their parents do it for them.  The conversation also gets into body checking, puberty and development, position specialization, video work, player advancement, crazy hockey parents, and the changing path from youth hockey to juniors and college. In this episode: Teaching hockey IQ by allowing players to fail  When kids should start learning body contact  Developing the person - not just the hockey player  Navigating the changing path through elite youth hockey This one gets right to the heart of development: give players room to think, make mistakes, and learn how to play the game.North Jersey Avalanche: https://www.icehousenj.com/north-jersey-avalanchehttps://www.instagram.com/nj_avalanche/Mo's Smile: https://mosmilefoundation.org/CHD/MSK Donation Page: http://mskcc.convio.net/goto/chdmsc2026Partners:https://www.pacificrink.com/https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/https://hockeytraining.com/https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydadshttps://howieshockeytape.com/https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/Socials:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazyhockeydadspodcastX: https://x.com/CrazyhockeydadsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Crazy-Hockey-Dads-Podcast/61578631923150/

NTDP, USHL, Ivy League baseball and a path that was anything but straightforward.Scott and Jamie sit down with Subject founder Mike Vilardo to talk about a unique athletic journey that took him through AAA hockey, the U.S. National Team Development Program, the USHL, and Division I baseball at Penn and Purdue. Mike talks candidly about struggling when he went from a top-line player to a fourth-line role, walking away from hockey, coming back to the USHL, and the decisions he’d make differently today. He also gets into why his dad prioritized ice time and puck touches over chasing the best team, and the value of letting kids work through adversity themselves. The conversation also gets into playing multiple sports, navigating seven schools in five years, and how Mike’s experience as a student-athlete eventually helped shape Subject and its work in education.In this episode: Making the jump to the NTDP  Going from a top player to a fourth-line role  Choosing ice time over the “best” team  The value of playing multiple sports  How Mike’s athletic and academic path helped shape Subject This one is about adversity, second chances, and realizing there’s rarely one right path.Subject: https://subject.com Mo's Smile: https://mosmilefoundation.org/CHD/MSK Donation Page: http://mskcc.convio.net/goto/chdmsc2026Partners:https://www.pacificrink.com/https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/https://hockeytraining.com/https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydadshttps://howieshockeytape.com/https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/Socials:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazyhockeydadspodcastX: https://x.com/CrazyhockeydadsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Crazy-Hockey-Dads-Podcast/61578631923150/