

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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Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 2, 2023 • 1h 20min
Episode 280 - Common Components of Elite College and Professional Teams
On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Topher is flying solo! Back in 2011, Toph was on staff at Miami of Ohio as a Graduate Assistant and wrote his Masters Thesis on the Key and Common Elements of Successful College and Professional Programs and Coaches.Without a ton out (at that time) from a hockey-specific perspective, Toph turned to some of the all-time great coaches and programs: John Wooden, Coach K, Vince Lombardi, Phil Jackson, Tony Dungy, Lou Holtz, Pat Riley, Bill Walsh, Jim Tressel, and more!In this episode Toph hits on:— Big emphasis on people and personal relationships— Always had a look at the bigger picture (forward thinkers)— Different characteristics that these coaches possessed that set them apart— Habits (as individuals and what they preaches to their teams)AND SO MUCH MORE!Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 29, 2023 • 10min
SHORT SHIFTS - PENALTY KILL: AGGRESSIVE OR PASSIVE?
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs asks Toph is he’s a fan of the all-out pressure PK, or more of a passive penalty kill. GREAT conversation for coaches and players! (HINT: if you’re not a fan of youth players NOT being able to ice the puck on the kill, THIS IS FOR YOU because… development.)TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 27, 2023 • 10min
SHORT SHIFTS - LINE CHANGES
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph’s topic is LINE CHANGES! Vechs has opinions and the guys talk about how critical line changes can be - from shift length, how to change to gain an advantage, changing hard, AND SO MUCH MORE!TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 25, 2023 • 1h 21min
Episode 279 - Mike Radja
On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher welcome former professional hockey player, Mike Radja. Mike, a former AHL player and Assistant Captain at UNH is now the head instructor at SpeedSkills Hockey doing tremendous things with player development in upstate New York!In this episode we discuss:— The absolute grind that being a professional athlete entails— Chicago youth hockey days of Radja and Toph playing against each other— Setting goals, being accountable, and finding success in your passion— Skill development should be FUNAND SO MUCH MORE!Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 22, 2023 • 10min
SHORT SHIFTS - MIKE BABCOCK FIRING
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs asks Toph about a HOT topic in the hockey world - Mike Babcock’s firing. Everyone has an opinion - including our guys!TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 20, 2023 • 10min
SHORT SHIFTS - DOGGING IT
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph’s topic is from a listener who wants to know how a coach should handle players who start dogging it after making a team.TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 18, 2023 • 1h 25min
Episode 278 - Jimmy & Rutger McGroarty
On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher welcome the father-son dynamic duo, Jimmy & Rutger McGroarty! Jimmy coached our very own Vechs in juniors and is currently the GM for the Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL). His son, Rutger, played for the USNTDP, was a first-round draft pick for the Winnipeg Jets, and is entering his sophomore year for the University of Michigan.In this episode we discuss:— The impact that coaches can have in players’ lives— The story of Rutger’s NHL draft experience from both of their perspectives— What strong leadership looks like— What it was like for Rutger growing up around high level players, and then putting in the work to reach the national team (where he says the REAL work started)AND SO MUCH MORE!Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 15, 2023 • 11min
SHORT SHIFTS - HOW TO TALK TO REFS
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Jeff’s topic is: How to talk to refs. The shortage of officials in every youth sport is a crisis, and part of the problem is the culture surrounding their treatment in games. Are they always right, and always good? No. But neither are we - and the example we set during the challenging games is critical to team energy and success.TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 13, 2023 • 10min
SHORT SHIFTS - BREAKAWAYS
On this SHORT SHIFTS episode, Topher wants to talk about BREAKAWAYS and Vechs is here for it! Successful breakaways and shootout moves, including tips to increase your chances of scoring. TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 11, 2023 • 1h 18min
Episode 277 - Gavin McHale
On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on performance coach Gavin McHale! Gavin grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba where as a goalie he played up through junior hockey before becoming a highly successful performance coach working with many entrepreneurs.The guys had a great talk with Gavin hitting things like:Can you use anxiety for good?What are the commonalities of high achievers?How can you best set goals for success?Much More!!Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.


