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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 FUN 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode is all about Bench Energy! Jeff brought the topic and it’s absolutely in Topher’s wheelhouse. We talk about how vitally important positive bench energy is to any team’s success; from the player leading in time-on-ice to the teammate that doesn’t see a shift in a game (and everyone in between) - it’s crucial to set the tone and expectation early. TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to “SHORT SHIFTS” with the Hockey Think Tank Podcast! Each week, we will put out two of these (Wednesdays & Fridays); Toph & Jeff take turns bringing a topic that the other one doesn’t know ahead of time - and the boys get it done in ten minutes! Toph’s topic today - NET FRONT PLAY! The boys talk about what’s important when playing in front of the net on both sides of the puck. TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher bring on some of the best in the game to talk about using technology in hockey! • Mike Monti, Video Coach for the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) • Bill Near, founder and CEO of Helios Hockey - our newest podcast sponsor! • Nils Satterstrom & Scott Goergen from IceHockeySystems In this episode we discuss: — IHS: How IceHockeySystems software and content, simply put, makes coaches (and associations) better with increased efficiency and an unbelievable library of resources. — HELIOS: Stride mechanics & data for players to enhance development, as well as real-time feedback that coaches can utilize IN-GAME, in real time, to enhance bench management. Also, JUST WAIT until you hear about Helios’ “Hustle Score” - it’s a game changer. — MONTI: Talks about some of the unique things he does using Google Drive as it relates to video and player development 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to “SHORT SHIFTS” with the Hockey Think Tank Podcast! Each week, we will put out two of these (Wednesdays & Fridays); Toph & Jeff take turns bringing a topic that the other one doesn’t know ahead of time - and the boys get it done in ten minutes! In this episode, Vechs wants to talk about raising the energy level to start practice so players - and the team - get the most out of their time on the ice TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WE HAVE A NAME FOR THE NEW SEGMENTS! (And THANK YOU to everyone who submitted suggestions. You guys are awesome!) Welcome to “SHORT SHIFTS” with the Hockey Think Tank Podcast! Each week, we will put out two of these (Wednesdays & Fridays); Toph & Jeff take turns bringing a topic that the other one doesn’t know ahead of time - and the boys get it done in ten minutes! In this episode, Toph wants to talk about the importance of a preseason parent meeting to set the tone and set the standard to start the season! TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk to Juliano Pagliero (Pags”), the Associate Head Coach at Penn State. A former goalie who played at Niagara and has been able to work with some terrific college head coaches, shares some terrific insight on things he has learned along his journey. In this episode we discuss: — Pags’ experience in juniors playing for 5 different teams and how he used that to learn, grow, and improve. — How shooters and goalies can help each other in practices, to use to their advantage. — Learning to believe in your preparation. — The unreal competition and leader boards for just about ANYTHING outside of hockey among the Penn State team! (It’s seriously epic.) 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to our second 10-minute, quick hit, (as yet) unnamed version of the Hockey Think Tank Podcast! Each week, we will put out two of these, in one Toph brings a topic that Jeff doesn’t know ahead of time, and in the other, Jeff brings the topic! Up today: Vechs wants to talk about the half wall guy on the power play, and the boys get it done in ten minutes! WE NEED YOUR HELP! We are still looking for a name for these new segments - DM us @HockeyThinkTankPodcast with your suggestions. We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to our very first 10-minute, quick hit, (as yet) unnamed version of the Hockey Think Tank Podcast! Each week, we will put out two of these, in one Toph brings a topic that Jeff doesn’t know ahead of time, and in the other, Jeff brings the topic! Up first: Toph wants to talk about 2 on 1s from both the offensive side and the defensive side of the puck, and the boys get it done in ten minutes! WE NEED YOUR HELP! We are still looking for a name for these new segments - DM us @HockeyThinkTankPodcast with your suggestions. We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk to Nick Bootland, Assistant Coach for the Calder Cup winning Hershey Bears (AHL)! Nick grew up in Shelburne, ONT, played in the OHL and professionally before spending 13 years as Head Coach of the Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL) before joining the staff in Hershey. In this episode we discuss: — The opportunity to play for the Memorial Cup (OHL) — Going from player to coach (from one season to the next), for the same team! — What it means to be back in Hershey as a coach and winning the Calder Cup — The importance of gratitude and perspective in the game and in life AND SO MUCH MORE! (HINT: want more Hockey Think Tank podcast? How about a couple of ten-minute quick hits each week to bang out on your way to or from the rink! YOU can help us name the new segment!) 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher talk about ways to get a great start to the season! Whether you’ve worked hard all summer or had some bumps along the way (or both), it’s not too late to dial it in and get a great start TODAY! Coaches, setting the tone early with culture and expectations will help your team throughout the season. In this episode we discuss: — Strategies to earn your confidence — Setting a team identity early — Focusing on small details, consistently — The importance of goal-setting 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Jeff and Topher welcome Amanda Mazzotta Alessi, former Cornell goaltender and current Assistant Coach for Quinnipiac Women’s Hockey. Terrific discussion about Quinnipiac’s reputation of being consistently hard to play against and how they maintain that year-to-year. In this episode we discuss: — Player accountability, goal setting and developing culture — An unreal point system that they use to motivate players — The most epic player success plans that create ownership and tangible metrics from each player’s own goal-setting AND SO MUCH MORE! In this episode, Vechs mentions a fundraising event near to him. The link to donate to Kate is here: https://venmo.com/u/katejohnson10 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices