The Hockey Think Tank Podcast

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on NHL Network host and analytics expert Mike Kelly! This was an amazing conversation on the use of analytics to make teams better and for us to better understand the game. We tackle:-The use of analytics to form team identity-The importance of the neutral zone-Peeling back the onion of how goals are scored-Some great stories of how players/coaches are using analytics for development-Much More!!Thank you to Mike for this awesome conversation...it's one you are going to love. Thank you to our title sponsor GELSTX. Thank you to sponsor TrainHeroic and IceHockeySystems.com.And thank you to our amazing listeners!!

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on NHL Hall of Famer and one of the top development coaches in the world, Adam Oates! Known as one of the best playmakers of all time, it was incredible being able to talk hockey with someone with such an amazing hockey sense as Adam. On the podcast, we talk:-Playing fast vs. Fast hockey IQ-Why players like McDavid, Ovechkin, and Crosby are so good-Building chemistry with teammates-MUCH MORE!What an honor getting Adam on the podcast to share his knowledge. We want to the GELSTX (gelstx.com) our title sponsor. We also want to thank TrainHeroic, IceHockeySystems.com, and BlueWire Pods.Our biggest thank you goes to all of our amazing listeners! Thank you for all of your support for our podcast and we know you are going to get a ton out of this one!

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on West Point graduate and United States Army veteran Joe Kramer! Joe played ACHA Club hockey at West Point and came on to share some of his hockey and leadership experiences with the armed forces. On this episode, we talk:-Leadership lessons learned in the military-How to bring a team together and build a bought in unit-How to create a "relationship with failure"-The benefits and experience of playing ACHA Club College Hockey-MUCH.MOREFirst and foremost, thank you to Joe for his service. Thank you also to our sponsors GelStx, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com. This week we have another sponsor in Hello Fresh. Thank you to our podcast parent company, BlueWire Pods. And thank you to all of our amazing supporters and listeners!!

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on the Co-General Manager of the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL and Detroit Little Caesars' 15O coach Jason Deskins! This was a great conversation as Jason has so much great perspective with all of the hats he wears in the hockey world. The boys tackle:-Using the downs to motivate you-What he looks for in players as a GM in junior hockey-How to get into the business as a young coach-GOAL SCORING-LEADERSHIP-So Much MoreThank you to our sponsors GelStx, TrainHeroic, IceHockeySystems.com...and thank you to all of our AMAZING listeners!

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Mount St. Charles Hockey Academy Director and 18u Head Coach, Matt Plante! Fresh off winning the National Championship, Topher and Jeff sit down with Planter and go through so many different awesome topics including:-Their National Championship Run-Coaching Kids at 18u who have gone on to play in the NHL and what made them special-A day in the life at a hockey prep academy-Why surrounding yourself with good people is important-MUCH MORE!!Thank you to our sponsors GELSTX, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to all of our amazing supporters out there...we love you!

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher come loaded with questions for one another - yet the other person has no idea what the questions are. The non-scripted Q&A between the two guys end up becoming a great resource for all hockey players. Questions include:-How important is developing a routine?-How can you develop a goal scoring mentality?-What is advice for players who are playing a 3rd or 4th line role on a team?-What does being "hard to play against" mean?This was a really fun episode for the guys and we think you are going to really enjoy it too! Thank you to all of our amazing sponsors - GELSTX, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com. And thank you to all of our amazing supporters!!

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on the Head Coach at Dartmouth College Reid Cashman. Cash is a great coach who came to Dartmouth from being an Assistant Coach with the Washington Capitols and this was a fantastic conversation on hockey development and the hockey journey.Cash grew up in MN and played his college hockey at Quinnipiac where he was a two-time All-American. He played a few years professionally before going behind the bench at his alma mater Quinnipiac. From there he went on to coach in Hershey of the AHL, followed by Washington and now Dartmouth.This was an epic conversation where we tackle:-What defense development looks like-The importance of habit building in practice-What it was like coaching the best players in the world in Washington-MUCH MORE!Thank you to our sponsors for this podcast - GelStx, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com. Thank you to our Podcast Family BlueWire Pods. And thank you to all of our amazing listeners!

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher take YOUR mailbag questions on anything and everything college hockey! With the NCAA Tournament in full swing, they take you behind the scenes of what college hockey is about. Jeff also takes you through his visit with to the USA National Team Development Program at their annual tryout showcase. Some questions the guys tackle on the podcast include:-What is it like to play in the NCAA Tournament?-How does University of Minnesota Duluth coach Scott Sandlin do it?-How do you get recruited and do summer showcases matter?-What are the best college hockey conferences?-What is the toughest college hockey rink to play in?This one was a lot of fun and made the boys really get nostalgic about their time playing college hockey.We want to thank our awesome sponsors GELSTX, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com. We also want to thank our amazing listeners and supporters! We appreciate you and know you are going to love this conversation on #cawlidgehawkey

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on a teammate of BOTH Jeff and Topher...Brian Bicek. Brian is from Chicago and played his college hockey at Western Michigan - before going onto a seven year pro career. He has been a youth hockey coach in Chicago now for almost a decade and we had an awesome conversation on all of our experiences especially coaching at the youth levels. Some of the topics we dove into include:-How to divvy up ice time and the problems that creates-How parents can best help their kids (and how not to hurt them)-Laying out a foundation as a youth coach or parent for the kids-MUCH MORE!!Thank you to our sponsors GELSTX (gelstx.com), TrainHeroic, IceHockeySystems.com, and a new sponsor through our podcast company BlueWire pods, HelloFresh. Get an awesome deal by going to hellofresh.com/thinktank16 and use the code thinktank16 to get 16 free meals...pretty sweet.And most importantly, thank you to all of our amazing listeners!! We love you and know you'll enjoy this one with Brian Bicek

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on our first ever guest to celebrate our 200th episode...Brandon Naurato!! Brandon is the current Assistant Coach for the University of Michigan and this was a conversation that didn't disappoint. We tackle:-What it's like to coach the best young players in the world.-Coaching the individual with coaching the team.-Teaching how to recognize and understand pressure with making plays on the ice-SO.MUCH.MORE!!!We want to thank EVERY SINGLE ONE of our amazing supporters and listeners. We honestly can't believe we are at 200 episodes of the Hockey Think Tank podcast. It's incredible and it's all because of your love and support for what we are trying to accomplish in adding some positivity to the hockey world. Thank you to our sponsors GelStx, TrainHeroic, and IceHockeySystems.com and thank you to everyone out there that continues to listen from the bottom of our hearts.You are going to love this hockey coaching masterclass with Brandon Naurato!