In this episode I have an incredible conversation with Sunaya Sapurji about youth hockey development models around the world. Sunaya is a senior editor at The Athletic who has covered hockey for many years and written insightful pieces comparing different countries' approaches. We discussed the similarities and differences between programs in North America and Europe. Some of the main takeaways from our discussion included the challenges of cost and participation rates, as well as the importance of coaching education to ensure development frameworks are properly implemented.   01:15 Hockey development models in the US and Canada.  08:45 Hockey development and retention strategies for youth growing up in the sport. 11:15 What challenges is the sport of ice hockey facing with cost across the globe? 18:30 Hockey development in Scandinavia.  26:45 What are the differences between the club model in places like Denmark vs the free market you see in the US? 32:30 Hockey coaching, player development, and retention today.  Resources + Links:   Check out Anthony’s Masterclass -  The High Performance Hockey Masterclass   Follow Anthony on Instagram | @anthonydonskov Follow Anthony on Twitter | Anthony Donskov, PhD Subscribe to our YouTube Channel | The HPH Podcast with Anthony Donskov   Follow HPH Podcast on Instagram | @hph_podcast Follow HPH Podcast on Twitter | @TheHPH_Podcast   Learn more on our Website | https://www.donskovsc.com/   Check out Anthony’s Books Physical Preparations for Ice Hockey: Biological Principles and Practical Solutions The Gain, Go, and Grow Manual: Programming for High Performance Hockey Players    

In This Episode, You Will Learn: The importance of generalist knowledge in sports medicine.  Periodization of treatment for optimal athlete performance. How Dr. Jeff Cubos creates a collaborative high performance culture.   Resources + Links:   Check out Anthony’s Masterclass -  The High Performance Hockey Masterclass   Follow Anthony on Instagram | @anthonydonskov Follow Anthony on Twitter | Anthony Donskov, PhD Subscribe to our YouTube Channel | The HPH Podcast with Anthony Donskov   Follow HPH Podcast on Instagram | @hph_podcast Follow HPH Podcast on Twitter | @TheHPH_Podcast   Learn more on our Website | https://www.donskovsc.com/   Check out Anthony’s Books Physical Preparations for Ice Hockey: Biological Principles and Practical Solutions The Gain, Go, and Grow Manual: Programming for High Performance Hockey Players   Show Notes: In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Jeff Cubos. Dr. Cubos is a consulting chiropractor for the Edmonton Oilers and has over 20 years of experience working with athletes at all levels. We had a great discussion about the importance of being a generalist in sports medicine and understanding principles from different fields. Jeff also shared insights into his daily role with the Oilers, from morning meetings to game day preparations. Tune in to hear us cover the emphasis on regular assessments for asymptomatic players to ensure optimal performance and prevent potential issues down the road.    01:30 Curiosity, communication, and interdisciplinary connections.  04:15 What is your treatment philosophy and information you consider for assessments in sports medicine? 13:00 Athlete care and focusing on player driven decision making. 19:15 Periodization and communication in sports performance.  25:30 How do you approach hockey player development and high performance culture? 35:00 Athlete monitoring and injury management in hockey.  40:45 Are there any objective measures from the medical staff that you look at and measure? 48:00 Teaching curiosity and self-directed learning. 

In This Episode, You Will Learn: How to build trust with players through open communication Managing training loads to prevent overtraining during season Using objective metrics and testing for return to play decisions Resources + Links:   Check out Anthony’s Masterclass -  The High Performance Hockey Masterclass   Follow Anthony on Instagram | @anthonydonskov Follow Anthony on Twitter | Anthony Donskov, PhD Subscribe to our YouTube Channel | The HPH Podcast with Anthony Donskov   Follow HPH Podcast on Instagram | @hph_podcast Follow HPH Podcast on Twitter | @TheHPH_Podcast   Learn more on our Website | https://www.donskovsc.com/   Check out Anthony’s Books Physical Preparations for Ice Hockey: Biological Principles and Practical Solutions The Gain, Go, and Grow Manual: Programming for High Performance Hockey Players   Show Notes: I'm here with Mike Donohue, the head strength coach of the Dallas Stars, and we had a great discussion about building a performance program at the NHL level. Mike shared his experiences in the AHL and how that prepared him for the challenges of the NHL. We talked about the importance of building trust with players, monitoring training loads, and using objective data to guide return to play. It was fascinating to hear Mike's perspective on balancing theory with practical application in professional sports. Whether you're a coach or player, I think you'll find a lot of valuable insights on building an effective long-term development program.   01:30 Building a strength conditioning program for a professional hockey team.  05:45 Building trust and providing valuable insights as a strength and conditioning coach. 09:15 Impact of first gig in American Hockey League.  13:15 Coaching in the NHL and AHL.  19:45 Managing stress and recovery in professional ice hockey players.  23:15 Training loads and recovery for professional hockey players.  27:00 Athlete autonomy in training programs.  32:15 Using data and metrics in sports training.  37:00 Using data to guide athlete development in hockey.  43:45 Hockey player care and the gap between theory and practice.  

In This Episode, You Will Learn: Mental toughness is task specific and developed through self-awareness Leadership starts from the top but is a bottom-up process of trust and humility  The cost of coaching is making tough decisions while staying true to your values   Resources + Links: Check out Anthony’s Masterclass -  The High Performance Hockey Masterclass   Follow Anthony on Instagram | @anthonydonskov Follow Anthony on Twitter | Anthony Donskov, PhD Subscribe to our YouTube Channel | The HPH Podcast with Anthony Donskov   Follow HPH Podcast on Instagram | @hph_podcast Follow HPH Podcast on Twitter | @TheHPH_Podcast   Learn more on our Website | https://www.donskovsc.com/   Check out Anthony’s Books Physical Preparations for Ice Hockey: Biological Principles and Practical Solutions The Gain, Go, and Grow Manual: Programming for High Performance Hockey Players   Show Notes: Today we're joined by two world renowned athletes. Assistant Coach University of Nebraska men's freestyle wrestling team, Terrell dialogue nev, and the head coach of the Pitt Panthers wrestling team. Keith Gavin. We dive into many important topics in wrestling like mental toughness, leadership, and building a culture of trust. Both of these guys are legends in the sport and they gave such great insights from their experiences as world-class athletes and now as coaches. Tune in to hear ways they develop the whole athlete and help their wrestlers become the best versions of themselves.   02:30 Mental toughness in wrestling, common misconceptions, and skill development.  08:15 Athlete development and positivity in wrestling.  12:15 Mental toughness in sports with a Hall of Fame coach and wrestler.  23:00 How do you teach mental preparation for athletes?  29:30 Coaching wrestling, leadership, and ego.  35:45 Youth sports development and coaching strategies.  41:15 Leadership costs in sports, including ego and credit.  46:15 How do you nurture greatness and create legendary athletes?  

In This Episode, You Will Learn: Highlights, lessons, and reflections on top episodes of 2023.   Resources + Links:   Check out Anthony’s Masterclass -  The High Performance Hockey Masterclass   Follow Anthony on Instagram | @anthonydonskov Follow Anthony on Twitter | Anthony Donskov, PhD Subscribe to our YouTube Channel | The HPH Podcast with Anthony Donskov   Follow HPH Podcast on Instagram | @hph_podcast Follow HPH Podcast on Twitter | @TheHPH_Podcast   Learn more on our Website | https://www.donskovsc.com/   Check out Anthony’s Books Physical Preparations for Ice Hockey: Biological Principles and Practical Solutions The Gain, Go, and Grow Manual: Programming for High Performance Hockey Players   Show Notes: I’ve been honored to have some incredible conversations on the podcast in 2023. For this episode, I’m highlighting some of the most impactful guests and lessons from the past year. Discussing topics ranging from long term athletic development to data analytics in sports, I really enjoyed gaining different perspectives on how to improve the game of hockey. Speaking with experts like Jim Kielbaso, Fergus Connolly, and Dr. Mal McHugh challenged my thinking and will help me better serve the hockey community. I'm also grateful for the chance to sit down with Stanley Cup champions like John Stevens to learn about the intangibles that help teams succeed at the highest level. Overall, interviewing so many great minds in the sport has been an invaluable learning experience, and I look forward to continuing these important discussions in the new year.   02:15 Long-term athletic development in hockey.  06:30 Balancing skill development and fun in youth hockey.  12:00 Coaching, mentorship, and prediction in hockey.  18:00 Hockey training and winning intangibles with a 3-time Stanley Cup champ.  22:15 Hockey skills development and testing methods.  28:00 Measuring performance and understanding data.  33:45 Hockey analytics and performance with industry experts.  

In This Episode, You Will Learn: Reframing LTAD from a coach’s perspective. The problems with the LTAD model. Possible solutions & fixes for future athletic development.   Resources + Links:   Check out Jim’s article - Rethinking Long Term Athlete Development   Ultimate Speed & Agility by Jim Kielbaso   Check out Anthony’s Masterclass -  The High Performance Hockey Masterclass   Follow Anthony on Instagram | @anthonydonskov Follow Anthony on Twitter | Anthony Donskov, PhD Subscribe to our YouTube Channel | The HPH Podcast with Anthony Donskov   Follow HPH Podcast on Instagram | @hph_podcast Follow HPH Podcast on Twitter | @TheHPH_Podcast   Learn more on our Website | https://www.donskovsc.com/   Check out Anthony’s Books Physical Preparations for Ice Hockey: Biological Principles and Practical Solutions The Gain, Go, and Grow Manual: Programming for High Performance Hockey Players   Show Notes: What happens when we coach outside of models? Today’s featured guest is Jim Kielbaso, the President and CEO of the International Youth Conditioning Association! Jim is the owner of one of the most successful sports performance training centers in the country, Impact Sports Performance, and has trained thousands of athletes during his career. We’ll have a fantastic conversation as we break down the long term athletic development model from the lens of a coach in an applied setting. Jim provides a fresh take on LTAD and brings up the problems that come with it. In a perfect world, how could we fix these issues? We’ll talk about everything from technical skills, player retention, training windows, and more to learn what coaches can do in our imperfect world to find possible solutions for the future of athletic development. If you’re a coach or a parent of young athletes, this is one discussion you don’t want to ignore. Join us in rethinking how we approach LTAD and its impact on high performance sports!     02:30 What is your article about and why did you write it? 04:40 What are the three stages of the model? 09:20 Defining ‘framework’ versus ‘model’. 11:45 From a coach’s perspective, what are the big problems with the model? 14:05 The underlying pressure of LTAD on coaches & parents. 19:35 What are your thoughts on assumptions around training windows? 25:50 Why do we need more coaches, not models? 30:40 The significance of training technical skills. 34:50 How do people make up a sport? 39:10 Fixing the model through education & coaching. 41:50 How has the off season changed for young athletes? 45:40 Do we abandon the model?  

In This Episode, You Will Learn: Where the education process for young performance coaches is right now. Theory versus application touch points. Jumping training from a physiological perspective. Coaching adaptation in different training ages.   Resources + Links: Connect with Carmen on Instagram | @coachbott Learn more at https://www.coachbott.com/   Check out Coach Carmen’s ACL Rehab Course: https://www.coachbott.com/acl-rehab-course   Check out Anthony’s Masterclass -  The High Performance Hockey Masterclass   Follow Anthony on Instagram | @anthonydonskov Follow Anthony on Twitter | Anthony Donskov, PhD Subscribe to our YouTube Channel | The HPH Podcast with Anthony Donskov   Follow HPH Podcast on Instagram | @hph_podcast Follow HPH Podcast on Twitter | @TheHPH_Podcast   Learn more on our Website | https://www.donskovsc.com/   Check out Anthony’s Books Physical Preparations for Ice Hockey: Biological Principles and Practical Solutions The Gain, Go, and Grow Manual: Programming for High Performance Hockey Players   Show Notes: If you think you understand performance, think again! I’m excited to share my conversation with Professor of Kinesiology at Simon Fraser University, Carmen Bott. Carmen holds a Masters in Exercise Science and is a certified strength & conditioning specialist and a practicing kinesiologist. As a physical performance coach with 20+ years of experience, she has guided athletes at varying physical levels and training ages towards adaptation and rehabilitation. Our discussion today will cover everything from teaching critical thinking skills, collaboration between professionals, and deconstructing the performance model. We’ll start with taking a lens to the education process for young performance coaches before moving onto theory versus application, physiology & jump training, the coaching element of practice and beyond. We’ll also learn more about the new resources Carmen has created, including her ebook, Understanding Performance and Adaptation, as well her ACL rehab course and its inner modules. Young coaches, veteran coaches, athletes, and other performance professionals will all be able to gain important takeaways from this education & coaching expert!   0:00:00 Here to break down physiology, performance, and adaptation is Coach Carmen Bott, Professor of Kinesiology and a physical performance coach with over 20 years of experience! 0:02:40 What do you teach in your classes? 0:05:25 Where is the education process for young performance coaches? 0:10:40 Should critical thinking be taught in schools? 0:15:45 Why do more case studies need to be shared among professionals? 0:22:05 The pros of being skeptical. 0:25:25 Should we start with adaptation before exercise? 0:27:40 Jump training from a physiology standpoint. 0:31:00 How is peripheral adaptation evolving in athletes? 0:33:50 Chasing adaptation in different age groups. 0:38:55 How do you approach drills for different training ages? 0:43:10 Volume control in training. 0:46:00 Why did you create your ACL course and what does it encompass? 0:52:45 Breaking down the course modules. 0:59:20 Where does technology fit into your return to play end stage? 1:04:40 What questions does technology leave us with? 1:06:45 What do we gain when we look at the bigger picture? 1:08:55 Is it possible to profile performance? 1:13:25 The assumptions of the performance model.

In This Episode, You Will Learn: Coaching today’s players: Technology, culture, and communication. The ingredients of a successful professional team. The ultimate game day prep in the American Hockey League. Advice for aspiring coaches, hockey parents, and young players.   Resources + Links:   Check out Anthony’s Masterclass -  The High Performance Hockey Masterclass   Follow Anthony on Instagram | @anthonydonskov Follow Anthony on Twitter | Anthony Donskov, PhD Subscribe to our YouTube Channel | The HPH Podcast with Anthony Donskov   Follow HPH Podcast on Instagram | @hph_podcast Follow HPH Podcast on Twitter | @TheHPH_Podcast   Learn more on our Website | https://www.donskovsc.com/   Check out Anthony’s Books Physical Preparations for Ice Hockey: Biological Principles and Practical Solutions The Gain, Go, and Grow Manual: Programming for High Performance Hockey Players   Show Notes: What are the qualities of a championship team? In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with a true trailblazer in his zone of genius, Trent Vogelhuber. Trent is a man of many firsts, being the first Columbus native to play Division I college hockey at Miami of Ohio, the first Columbus native to be drafted in the NHL, and the first Columbus native to coach professional hockey. With a professional playing career of 267 games in the American Hockey League, Trent now serves as the Head Coach for the Cleveland Monsters. We’ll have an insightful discussion looking back at his playing career, his early mentors, and the transition from player to coach. Then, we move onto the landscape of coaching today and everything you need to know about communication and culture in a professional setting. Lastly, we’ll get to hear Trent’s advice for new coaches, hockey parents, and young athletes from a head coach’s perspective. From game day prep to the use of technology in strength & conditioning, Trent will share his thoughts on successful sports performance. Whether you’re an aspiring coach or a young player, you’ll be able to take away the important tangibles to bloom where you’re planted right now! 00:00 Meet the man of many firsts, Trent Vogelhuber, the current Head Coach of the Cleveland Monsters! 02:20 What does being an Ohio native mean to you? 04:45 What led you into coaching in the AHL? 07:30 How was the transition from player to coach? 09:05 Who were your mentors and what qualities did you admire in them? 13:15 The qualities of a championship team. 16:55 Where does culture come from? 18:55 How has the game changed and how has this affected the coaching side? 22:35 How do you deliver difficult messages to your players? 26:00 Your touch point AHL game day prep. 29:40 Does your structure change based on your opponent? 31:15 What is the significance of strength & conditioning on the ice? 34:40 What are the most important qualities you look for in a strength coach? 38:15 Where does technology fit in the AHL level? 40:55 How do you currently use your strength & conditioning coach? 44:15 Advice for aspiring coaches. 46:10 What is your advice for hockey parents and young players? 50:30 How do you want to be remembered?  

In This Episode, You Will Learn: Coaching then versus now: Old school coaching techniques and lost art forms. What young coaches need to succeed long term. Where the future of coaching is heading.   Resources + Links:   Check out Anthony’s Masterclass -  The High Performance Hockey Masterclass   Follow Anthony on Instagram | @anthonydonskov Follow Anthony on Twitter | Anthony Donskov, PhD Subscribe to our YouTube Channel | The HPH Podcast with Anthony Donskov   Follow HPH Podcast on Instagram | @hph_podcast Follow HPH Podcast on Twitter | @TheHPH_Podcast   Learn more on our Website | https://www.donskovsc.com/   Check out Anthony’s Books Physical Preparations for Ice Hockey: Biological Principles and Practical Solutions The Gain, Go, and Grow Manual: Programming for High Performance Hockey Players   Show Notes: What are the pros and cons of modern day coaching? We’re continuing onto Part 2 of our in depth discussion with legends in the field, Buddy Morris, Michael Boyle, Dan Pfaff, and Fergus Connolly! In this part, we’ll be taking a closer look at the pendulum swing of modern day coaching for high performance sports. From the dying arts of old school coaching techniques to the cons coming from the recent rise in technology, our four guests weigh in on what it means to be a coach then versus now. They’ll share seasoned lessons they’ve experienced that brought them to where they are today, including stories of who they learned from and how they got into the room. Our conversation will also touch on the importance of mentorship, advice for career success, how to prepare your skill set for the future, and even more. If you’re a young coach, don’t miss this opportunity to learn from the original godfathers of sports performance! 01:00 What is one assumption you have about training that greater access to data would allow you to test? 04:50 Exploring the recent rise of overreliance on data technology. 11:10 What were the advantages of not having technology or social media? 17:40 The lost art of visitation. 23:00 What do we gain when we watch and learn from other coaches? 27:35 What is the most common question younger coaches ask you, and what do you wish they would ask instead? 34:15 How can young coaches prepare themselves for the future? 40:00 What is your advice for young coaches right now? 44:10 How do you want to be remembered after your coaching days?  

Legendary sports performance professionals Dan Pfaff, Michael Boyle, Buddy Morris, and Fergus Connolly share life lessons, mistakes, and career insights. They discuss the impact of mentors, emotional triggers, influential athletes, personal reflections on failures, seeking guidance, evolving training methods, and the debate on data in sports performance.