

The Hockey Think Tank Podcast
thehockeythinktank
The Hockey Think Tank Podcast brings incredible stories, interviews, and great perspective from some of the top hockey minds in the game. Hosted by Topher Scott & Jeff LoVecchio, our podcast will educate and inspire all those that love the game! For all the players, coaches, and hockey parents out there...make this your Go-To show on your way to the rink!
Join our Community here!
Join our Community here!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 1, 2025 • 1h 41min
A Deep Dive into Coaching with Guest Darryl Belfry, NHL Player Development Author, Analyst, & Consultant (Rerun) - EP 393
On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on hockey development pioneer who works with some of the top names in the game, Darryl Belfry. Darryl's client list includes the likes of Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane, Auston Matthews, John Tavares… among others of the NHL's elite. Darryl also just came out with a book, "Belfry Hockey: Strategies to Teach the World's Best Athletes."
On this podcast we cover so many great topics, including:
— Darryl's journey to working with the top players in the world
— Can you teach offense?
— Manipulating failure and success rates in your coaching
— Linking transition hockey with hockey sense
AND SO MUCH MORE!
Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, Helios Hockey, and Crossbar!
And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!
JOIN HTTU TODAY!
HTT MERCH
Follow us:
IG: @HockeyThinkTank
X (Twitter): @HockeyThinkTank
TikTok: @HockeyThinkTank
Facebook: TheHockeyThinkTank Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 28, 2025 • 13min
FRIDAY FACEOFF - ADVANCED 3 YEAR OLDS?!
On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph wants to discuss a marketing flyer we shared to our socials. The flyer is from a Toronto club advertising a 2021 birth year identification skate that is open to “advanced 2022 birth years.” Yep, that means advanced 3 year olds. As you can imagine, we just HAD to talk about it.
TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!
We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!
Follow us:
IG: @HockeyThinkTank
X (Twitter): @HockeyThinkTank
TikTok: @HockeyThinkTank
Facebook: TheHockeyThinkTank Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 26, 2025 • 11min
SHORT SHIFTS - THE CAR RIDE HOME FOR COACHES
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about the car ride home for coaches. We talk a lot about what parents should say to their kids on the way home from the rink; but coaches, what should you tell yourselves on the way home from a game?
TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!
We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!
Shout out to this Short Shifts supporter: SkateTech Skate Sharpening & Equipment Repair
Follow us:
IG: @HockeyThinkTank
X (Twitter): @HockeyThinkTank
TikTok: @HockeyThinkTank
Facebook: TheHockeyThinkTank Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 24, 2025 • 1h 3min
Chasing More than Just Wins on the Scoreboard with Guest Bobby Scott, Topher’s Dad - EP 392
This week Topher and Jeff talk with Bobby Scott, Toph’s dad. As a former D1 hockey player and someone who has been around youth hockey for years, Scott joins us to share his wealth of knowledge regarding the game.
In this episode we talk about:
— Not only chasing wins in youth hockey
— What scale are you using to measure how hard your kids are working
— Raising go-getters
— How you have a choice in everything you do
AND SO MUCH MORE!
Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, Helios Hockey, and Crossbar!
And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!
JOIN HTTU TODAY!
HTT MERCH
Follow us:
IG: @HockeyThinkTank
X (Twitter): @HockeyThinkTank
TikTok: @HockeyThinkTank
Facebook: TheHockeyThinkTank Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 21, 2025 • 12min
FRIDAY FACEOFF - COACHING WHEN THINGS AREN'T GOING WELL?!
On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph wants to discuss a listener's question about coaching when things aren’t going well. Sometimes things aren’t connecting with your players, and instead of writing them off, let’s figure out how to help.
TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!
We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!
Follow us:
IG: @HockeyThinkTank
X (Twitter): @HockeyThinkTank
TikTok: @HockeyThinkTank
Facebook: TheHockeyThinkTank Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 19, 2025 • 11min
SHORT SHIFTS - WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A SMART HOCKEY PLAYER
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about what it means to be a smart hockey player. What do we see in players that have a high hockey IQ?
TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!
We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!
Shout out to this Short Shifts supporter: SkateTech Skate Sharpening & Equipment Repair
Follow us:
IG: @HockeyThinkTank
X (Twitter): @HockeyThinkTank
TikTok: @HockeyThinkTank
Facebook: TheHockeyThinkTank Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 17, 2025 • 1h 13min
Advice for Parent Coaches & How to Create a Challenging, but Fun Environment with Guest Jason Guerriero, USA Hockey Player Development Manager - EP 391
This week Topher talks with Jason Guerriero, USA Hockey Player Development Manager. We brought Guerriero back on for round two to talk about creating a challenging environment that also facilitates a love for the game.
In this episode we talk about:
— Setting clear boundaries as a parent coach
— How being challenged is what makes the game fun for kids
— That failure is inevitable, but it’s about how you get through it
— How we’re creating more stress than we need to for players
AND SO MUCH MORE!
Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, Helios Hockey, and Crossbar!
And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!
JOIN HTTU TODAY!
HTT MERCH
Follow us:
IG: @HockeyThinkTank
X (Twitter): @HockeyThinkTank
TikTok: @HockeyThinkTank
Facebook: TheHockeyThinkTank Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 14, 2025 • 15min
FRIDAY FACEOFF - SHOULD KIDS PAY THE PRICE FOR BAD PARENTS?!
On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph wants to talk about a controversial topic in the hockey world: should kids/players have to pay the price for their bad parents? We posted on our socials an example of a Division One Head Coach not recruiting a player because his dad was yelling from the stands. This one got you guys fired up, so let’s talk about it!
TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!
We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!
Follow us:
IG: @HockeyThinkTank
X (Twitter): @HockeyThinkTank
TikTok: @HockeyThinkTank
Facebook: TheHockeyThinkTank Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 12, 2025 • 11min
SHORT SHIFTS - CROSSOVERS
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about crossovers and the importance of them in the game. Vechs explains how to master this element of your skating, on and off the ice.
TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!
We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!
Shout out to this Short Shifts supporter: SkateTech Skate Sharpening & Equipment Repair
Follow us:
IG: @HockeyThinkTank
X (Twitter): @HockeyThinkTank
TikTok: @HockeyThinkTank
Facebook: TheHockeyThinkTank Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 10, 2025 • 1h 12min
Building a Thriving Hockey Organization that Prioritizes Development with Guest Josh Levine, Fortis Academy Founder - EP 390
This week Topher and Jeff talk with Josh Levine, founder of Fortis Academy in Minnesota. With over a decade of experience training and coaching athletes at all age levels, Levine helped revive a dormant community organization. We talk about building an organization that is efficient and prioritizes development over profits.
In this episode we talk about:
— How players inhibit themselves by not being good people off the ice
— Utilizing volunteers to coach the age groups below them
— Letting the kids swim at hockey tournaments
— The effect of screens on depth perception and how kids play
AND SO MUCH MORE!
Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, Helios Hockey, and Crossbar!
And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!
JOIN HTTU TODAY!
Follow us:
IG: @HockeyThinkTank
X (Twitter): @HockeyThinkTank
TikTok: @HockeyThinkTank
Facebook: TheHockeyThinkTank Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.


