

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!
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Join our Community here!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 15, 2025 • 13min
SHORT SHIFTS - INTANGIBLE THINGS THAT SCOUTS LOOK FOR
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about the intangible things that scouts look for in players - because the scoresheet isn’t the only thing that catches recruiters’ attention.
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.

Oct 13, 2025 • 1h 5min
Rethinking How We Develop Younger Hockey Players to Increase Retention Rates with Guests Judd Stauss & Tyler Palmiscno, East Grand Forks, MN Model - EP 386
This week Topher talks with Judd Stauss and Tyler Palmiscno, of East Grand Forks, Minnesota. Stauss runs the youth hockey program in their area and Palmiscno is the head coach of last year’s boys high school hockey state champion team. Seven years ago, they started a unique squirt-level pilot program that other areas are starting to model. The program does half-ice for ages 10 & below and no travel hockey for the first half of the year.
In this episode we talk about:
— Striving to increase retention rates throughout age groups
— How to structure practices to optimize development
— Finding compromise in the half-ice / full-ice debate by doing both in season
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.

Oct 10, 2025 • 13min
FRIDAY FACEOFF - PAYING TO WATCH YOUR KID PLAY?!
On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph wants to talk about how some tournaments are charging parents to watch their kids play. We’ve heard they’re not only charging an entry fee, but also sometimes a parking fee. We think this is WILD. 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.

Oct 8, 2025 • 11min
SHORT SHIFTS - PENALTY KILL FORECHECK
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about penalty kill forechecks and how to make sure it’s difficult for the opposing team to enter the zone.
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.

Oct 6, 2025 • 1h 40min
The Big Debate: Full-Ice vs Half-Ice Mite Hockey with Guest Uncle Timmy - EP 385
This week Topher and Jeff bring back one of our most polarizing guests, Uncle Timmy, for a huge debate. We asked on our socials if anyone wanted to come on the show and debate whether mite hockey should be played on full or half ice, and who other than our own Uncle Timmy volunteered. Grab your popcorn Think Tankers, this one gets heated!
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.

Oct 3, 2025 • 11min
FRIDAY FACEOFF - BENEFITS OF KEEP AWAY?!
On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph wants to talk about the benefits of including keep away in every practice. We guarantee it will make your players better.
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.

Oct 1, 2025 • 13min
SHORT SHIFTS - GETTING CUT FROM TEAM USA
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph is on the road and wants to tell the story of the time he got cut from Team USA. This is great insight for parents and players navigating adversity.
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.

Sep 29, 2025 • 1h 12min
Developing Thoughtful Hockey Players with Guest Derek Edwardson, Indiana Elite Hockey Director - EP 384
This week Topher and Jeff talk with Derek Edwardson, hockey director of the Indiana Elite Club out of Indianapolis. Edwardson played at Miami University and later played professionally in Europe.
In this episode we talk about:
— How players need to be great decision makers, since the game is so unpredictable
— Developing the players you already have, not just finding the best players
— How the best thing we can do as coaches is make the environment fun
— Doing everything you can to make sure the parents get along
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.

Sep 26, 2025 • 12min
FRIDAY FACEOFF - PRE-SCOUT MEETINGS?!
On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph wants to talk about a topic that came up in our coaching mentorship program the other day: pre-scouts. There are so many opinions on how to execute a pre-scout, so let’s discuss the different ways to make your pre-scouts the most effective.
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.

Sep 24, 2025 • 11min
SHORT SHIFTS - WHERE TO SHOOT TO SCORE
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about where to shoot on goalies to score more goals. Listen as we break down the specifics!
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.


