Puck Academy Ryan Kosecki, GM of Youngstown Phantoms, on Hockey Player Development
In this episode of Puck Academy, host Jason Jacobs sits down with Ryan Kosecki, GM of Youngstown Phantoms, Assistant GM for the Maryland Black Bears, Co-General Manager of Junior Hockey at Black Bear Sports Group, and Head Coach for the Fox Motors U16 AAA team. Ryan shares his extensive experience in hockey, discussing his career trajectory and insights into the evolving landscape of the sport. Key topics include the impact of recent rule changes, the role of technology and analytics, the importance of balancing fun with competitiveness in youth hockey, and the intricacies of scouting and player development. Ryan also addresses the challenges of making hockey more accessible and the role of data in enhancing player performance.
00:00 Introduction to Puck Academy
00:15 Meet Ryan Kosecki: A Multifaceted Hockey Manager
04:01 Ryan's Journey in Hockey
05:50 Changes in the Game: Then and Now
08:01 Balancing Fun and Competitiveness in Youth Hockey
11:06 Traits of Impact Players
13:45 Teaching Competitiveness and Hockey IQ
16:20 The Role of Video in Player Development
19:24 The Importance of Skill Coaches
24:05 Late Bloomers and the Path to Success
29:43 Balancing Development and Competition in Youth Hockey
32:47 The Unique Nature of Hockey Scouting
35:21 Evaluating Players: Beyond the Basics
39:06 The Role of GMs and Coaches in Junior Hockey
42:12 Challenges and Trends in Growing the Game
49:04 The Future of Analytics and Technology in Hockey
55:28 Final Thoughts and Parting Words
Note: Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).