The USA Hockey Podcast: A Youth Sports Conversation

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 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 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 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 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 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

Skill Acquisition Specialist Rob Gray discusses the Constraints Led Approach (CLA) in sports training, its history, benefits, and application in hockey. They explore how environmental factors affect player performance, how constraints influence player behavior, and the evolution of coaching in youth sports. The conversation also covers training for awareness and injury prevention in hockey, and specific tips for applying the CLA in coaching.

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 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: @ajvisekHeather Mannix on X: @Hmannix14 Follow us on X: 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