The Hockey Think Tank Podcast

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher continue the talk about offensive habits and the attributes that will lead to success in today’s game. PLAYERS: Learning to do the simple things well, over time, make the biggest difference!In this episode we discuss:— Ozone habits— Neutral zone and entries— Breakouts— Puck protection, separation, shoulder checks and scans, and activating your DAND SO MUCH MORE!Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

On this week’s episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast we talk to two of the leaders from the University of Michigan hockey team - this past season’s captain, Nolan Moyle and the upcoming 23-24 season captain, Jacob Truscott. Their paths to play for the Wolverines were so different - and the conversation is incredible. Their stories are part of what have made them such unbelievable leaders.In this episode we discuss:— Learning to overcome adversity—Creating habits to be successful —Versatility & knowing your role on a team— Michigan’s run for the national championship this seasonAND SO MUCH MORE!Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk about offensive habits and the attributes needed to have success in today’s game. In this episode we discuss:— Communication— Puck support— Having a finishing mentality— Positionless hockeyAND SO MUCH MORE!Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher welcome Jack Smiley! You may have heard some of Jack’s story when he suffered a stroke on the ice in 2022 while playing at Endicott College - but its the story of his journey back to hockey that is unbelievably inspiring.In this episode we discuss:— Resiliency and motivation— The impact of your own words, to yourself— Realizing that someone out there is doing better, with worseAND SO MUCH MORE!Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

On this week’s episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher are talking about all things player leadership and its importance to any team. What does it look like? What do great player leaders do? What characteristics do great leaders they’ve played with (or coached) over the years possess? As Vechs says in this episode, “better leadership equals better everything!”ALL OF THIS AND SO MUCH MORE!Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

This week’s episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast - fresh off of winning the USHL’S Clark Cup Championship (with a Finals sweep) - we talk to Youngstown Phantom’s Head Coach, Ryan Ward and Co-General Manager, Jason Deskins.In this episode we discuss:— How team culture & identity impact success— The pressures that today’s players face— The importance of earning your players’ trustAND SO MUCH MORE!Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

This week it’s a MAILBAG episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast! Jeff and Topher tackle the AWESOME questions sent in by listeners, hitting on some of our favorite Inspo follows as well as advice for players and coaches.In this episode we discuss:— How much ice is too much during the summer/off-season— How to reach out to junior or college teams — How best to empower your leadership groupAND SO MUCH MORE!Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk with long-time Detroit Red Wings defenseman, Danny Dekeyser about his journey through Western Michigan University to a decade in the NHL as an undrafted free agent for his hometown team.In this episode we discuss:— His unconventional route in Juniors (he’s proof there is no ONE path)— Playing for Jeff Blashill at WMU and in Detroit— Getting to play with and practice against Kronwall, Datsyuk, Zetterberg as a young NHLerAND SO MUCH MORE!Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk about what it means to be hard to play against as both a player and a team.In this episode we discuss:— Players who never quit on the puck— Relentlessness, speed & a good defensive stick— Discipline, finishing checks— Tracks, gaps & defending all the way up the iceAND SO MUCH MORE!Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! 

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher welcome back THIRD TIME GUEST Alyssa Gagliardi to talk all things DEFENSE! A stud in her own right (Shattuck, Cornell, Boston Pride), Alyssa offers some unreal insight on D development. An absolute must listen for coaches and players.In this episode we discuss:— Manipulating the play without the puck— Learning what it means to be a defenseman in today’s game— Creating deception to make playsAND SO MUCH MORE!Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!