A raw and honest look into high-performance hockey development, from youth to elite levels. From the creators you know and love, Built From Steel brings together the worlds of player development through real world experience the BioSteel performance ecosystem.
Hosted by Coach Eric Palazzolo, the show blends insight, experience, and real talk for athletes, coaches, and parents who are serious about long-term growth, on and off the ice.
Site
RSS
Apple
Data updated on 26/10/2026
Recent rankings
Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.
Shared links between episodes and podcasts
Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.
Discover shows related to Built From Steel Podcast, based on actual content similarities. Explore podcasts with similar topics, themes, and formats, backed by real data.
Ep.50 | Truths About Youth Hockey Development w Louis Rojas & Paul Ferri
Season 1 · Episode 50
Sunday, October 25, 2026 • Duration 01:31:27
Coach Eric is joined by Louis Rojas and Paul Ferri for a deep dive into what effective youth athlete development actually looks like.
Louis Rojas is a strength and conditioning coach with extensive experience across youth, college, and professional sports, including 10-years within the Toronto Maple Leafs organization.
Paul Ferri is a serial entrepreneur and founder of Limitless Training Systems. His experience as a strength and conditioning coach extends across sports and through professional hockey including time with the Florida Panthers and Winnipeg Jets.
In this episode Coach Eric, Louis, and Paul discuss what separates successful professional athletes, how strength and performance training should change through adolescence, and where families often go wrong trying to accelerate development.
From intent, consistency, and hard work to age-appropriate training, recovery, parental influence, and early specialization, the conversation focuses on building athletes progressively rather than chasing short-term results.
There is no shortcut through development. The goal is not to train like a professional as early as possible; it is to develop the qualities that eventually allow you to become one.
Key Themes
Relationships and communication are fundamental parts of effective coaching
Being good in the gym does not automatically make someone a better hockey player
Intent and consistency matter more than simply doing more training
Young athletes need age-appropriate development rather than professional-level programs copied too early
Strength, speed, power, coordination, and movement quality should evolve as athletes mature
Training volume only matters when the work has a clear purpose
Parents need patience and should avoid trying to accelerate every stage of development
Multi-sport participation can help build more complete athletes and people
Early specialization and constant structure can come with developmental tradeoffs
The boring fundamentals done consistently are often what create long-term results
Players cannot skip stages simply because they want to reach the next level faster
Stay Connected
Watch the Academy docu-series Built From Steel on YouTube.
Follow on socials:
@BuiltFromSteelSeries
@BioSteelSports
@BioSteelSportsAcademy
@CoachEpzolo
The Built From Steel Podcast is a division of BioSteel Sports.
Ep.49 | Bouncing Back When Things Go Bad in Youth Hockey
Season 1 · Episode 49
Sunday, October 18, 2026 • Duration 55:37
Every team has weekends where nothing seems to go right.
In this episode of the Built From Steel Podcast, Coach Eric and Coach Andy break down how players and coaches should respond after a difficult stretch and what actually matters when trying to reset.
From teaching game management and avoiding overanalysis to creating consistency, building team buy-in, and finding ways to improve when results are poor, this conversation focuses on what productive responses to adversity actually look like.
They also discuss what scouts and hockey staff are seeing in today’s youth game, what separates good U16 players, and how changing roster structures and open borders are affecting development.
A bad weekend does not need to become a bad season. The most important thing is figuring out how to get better today.
Key Moments
0:00 – Intro
7:30 – What a coach sees during an 0–4 weekend
9:00 – Teaching players how to manage games
11:30 – What should a coach do after a difficult weekend?
16:00 – Finding consistency in youth hockey players
19:30 – When one bad decision changes an evenly matched game
20:20 – Committing to doing things the right way as a coach
22:30 – The danger of overanalyzing after poor results
25:00 – How players can bounce back from a bad shift, period, or weekend
27:00 – Focus on getting better today
32:00 – Building buy-in to the team concept
35:50 – Feedback from scouts and GMs on the state of youth hockey
38:00 – What stands out about good youth hockey players?
Ep.48 | Youth Hockey Q&A: Bad Shifts, Winning, Injuries & Favourites
Season 1 · Episode 48
Sunday, October 11, 2026 • Duration 58:55
In this Q&A episode of the Built From Steel Podcast, Eric and Andy answer listener questions covering some of the most common situations players, parents, and coaches navigate throughout youth hockey.
From resetting after a bad shift and creating alignment between coaches to practice volume, fear of making mistakes, conflicting advice, winning, injuries, and favouritism, this episode tackles the everyday issues that can have a major impact on a player’s development.
The conversation focuses on separating perception from reality and giving players, parents, and coaches practical ways to think through situations that rarely have simple answers.
Development requires learning how to respond to mistakes, manage competing messages, and understand the difference between what feels unfair and what actually helps a player grow.
Key Moments
0:00 – Intro
7:45 – How good players reset after a bad shift
10:30 – Three things to focus on when the game isn’t going your way
16:00 – How a coach’s reaction shapes the team’s reaction
20:15 – How to get coaches working together within an organization
21:30 – Why creating alignment between youth coaches can be so difficult
24:00 – The pressure every coach feels to win
25:35 – Does your organization actually know what it stands for?
30:10 – Are young players practicing too much?
32:00 – Why additional training needs to be driven by the athlete
36:00 – What happened to players practicing on their own?
39:30 – Are coaches making players afraid to make mistakes?
40:00 – Sitting young players after mistakes
Ep.47 | 10 Things Coach Andy Notices Behind the Bench in 2026
Season 1 · Episode 47
Sunday, October 4, 2026 • Duration 01:08:39
Youth hockey is changing, and so are the players, parents, and coaches involved in the game.
In this episode of the Built From Steel Podcast, Coach Eric and Coach Andy explore 10 observations Andy has made from behind the bench in 2026 and how the youth hockey environment continues to evolve.
From communication and feedback to the professionalization of youth sports, player preparation, and the growing dependence on coaches, trainers, and advisors, this conversation explores both the positive developments and concerning trends shaping today's game.
While players have access to more resources, information, and development opportunities than ever before, are we losing some of the fundamental lessons and experiences that make hockey so valuable?
The game continues to evolve, but we can't lose sight of the fundamentals that make great players and great people.
Key Moments
0:00 – Intro
5:00 – Kids are still kids: the importance of guidance and patience
9:00 – Understanding that development is a process you can't rush
10:00 – The communication problem in today's youth hockey
16:45 – Players want feedback and need to understand how to improve
20:00 – How video technology like LiveBarn has changed the game
22:30 – Coaches have more resources than ever, regardless of playing experience
25:00 – How coaching has evolved over time
31:50 – Players need to understand WHY they're doing things
Ep.46 | Successful Youth Hockey Program Blueprint (The Coaches Site)
Season 1 · Episode 46
Sunday, September 27, 2026 • Duration 01:08:38
This special episode is presented in collaboration with The Coaches Site.
Sign up for a premium membership and save 25% on your first year using code NEWSEASON.
Matt Doumochelle hosts this webinar discussion with panelists Eric Palazzolo, Maco Balkovek, and Lukas Havlicek. Drawing on their work at BioSteel Sports Academy, Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna, and HC Slovan Bratislava, they compare ways to create alignment, give coaches room to work, start a season with staff, and bring new coaches into an organization.
From culture and parent communication to delegation and coach development, the panel discusses the day-to-day work behind a successful youth hockey program. They also take on development versus winning, the timing of systems and skills, how much a group can understand, difficult player personalities, and the non-negotiables they would put in place when building an organization.
Key Moments
0:00 – Intro
10:15 – Establishing organizational alignment
12:50 – Giving coaches freedom within an established program
17:30 – Onboarding new coaches
19:45 – Defining a development-focused program
22:55 – Guiding coach-parent interactions
26:00 – Building culture at HC Slovan
32:40 – Delegating across a hockey organization
37:10 – Structuring coach development
44:25 – Non-negotiables for a new organization
Ep.45 | Youth Hockey Development: Positions, Communication & Flexibility
Season 1 · Episode 45
Sunday, September 20, 2026 • Duration 01:03:54
Coach Eric and Coach Andy respond to an email from a U9 coach planning a development-first season: rotating players through centre, wing and defence, using balanced lines, and encouraging kids to communicate directly with coaches. On the Built From Steel Podcast, they discuss the mixed parent response, including concerns about preparing for AAA next year.
They also talk about the approach and feel behind coaching young players, managing a bench with 10 forwards, and learning what interests each player. The conversation considers the learning curve created by new drills and why a coach may need to adapt roles and plans as the season progresses.
Key Moments
0:00 – Intro
15:30 – A U9 coach's development-first season plan
19:41 – The coaching approach behind player development
24:30 – Developing a feel for what players need
27:30 – Managing 10 forwards on a youth hockey bench
32:10 – The case for changing positions
38:00 – Player preferences for playing centre
48:00 – Avoiding doing too much as a coach
51:00 – The learning curve for new drills
1:01:10 – Learning player interests and getting them to speak
1:03:00 – Adapting as the season progresses
Key Themes
Player development at U9 can include communication, accountability and self-advocacy.
Changing positions and playing with different teammates can build a broader understanding of the game.
Coaches need a feel for individual players, including what interests them and how to get them talking.
New drills and season plans come with a learning curve and may need adaptation.
Parent expectations about early AAA preparation can clash with a development-first plan.
Watch the Academy docu-series Built From Steel on YouTube.
Ep.44 | Getting Noticed: Scouting, Development & Hockey Paths
Season 1 · Episode 44
Sunday, September 13, 2026 • Duration 01:20:50
Coach Eric and Coach Andy were invited to speak with the Grey Bruce Highlanders organization about getting noticed and choosing a hockey path. This Built From Steel Podcast episode shares their full conversation on what development means, why love of the game matters, and how practice, roles, identity and intent fit into a player’s growth.
They also cover evaluating games beyond goals, the balance of skill and hockey IQ, what scouts care about, the urge to move away from home, and what can get a player noticed. The conversation includes guidance for parents as they help their kids manage disappointment and make sense of the development process.
Key Moments
17:00 – Managing disappointment
19:00 – What player development actually means
20:00 – Why love of the game matters
24:20 – Evaluating games beyond goals
26:00 – Helping kids assess whether they played well
28:00 – Skill development and hockey IQ
29:00 – Practice players
31:50 – When player roles begin to matter
33:00 – Developing a player identity
34:45 – What scouts care about
38:00 – The urge to move away from home
41:00 – Playing with intent
43:00 – What actually gets a player noticed
47:30 – Supporting kids as a hockey parent
Key Themes
• Development is about more than goals
• Love of the game matters alongside skill and hockey IQ
Ep.43 | Foundations for Centermen in Youth Hockey *Mini Series Ep.3*
Season 1 · Episode 43
Sunday, September 6, 2026 • Duration 54:47
In the third episode of this Built From Steel Podcast mini-series, Coach Eric covers positional play for centermen, from acting as a third defenceman in the defensive zone to protecting middle ice, supporting battles, and sorting out coverage when the puck changes sides.
He also breaks down getting underneath the puck on breakouts, creating short passing options and speed, staying connected through the neutral zone, and shifting into F1, F2, or F3 in the offensive zone. The episode closes with faceoffs and the responsibility that starts as soon as the puck drops.
Key Moments
4:30 – Third-defenceman responsibilities in the defensive zone
7:00 – Protecting the middle of the ice
11:00 – Supporting a defensive-zone corner battle
15:30 – Moving through the middle when the puck switches sides
19:00 – Reading the play as the defensive-zone quarterback
23:20 – Common defensive-zone mistakes for centermen
26:15 – Getting underneath the puck on breakouts
29:00 – Creating short passing lanes and support
33:00 – Questions to ask when supporting a breakout
35:00 – Staying low and connected in the neutral zone
40:00 – Forechecking inside-out in the neutral zone
44:00 – Forward roles on entries: F1, F2, and F3
48:00 – Faceoff responsibilities after the puck drops
Key Themes
• Centers protect middle ice and stay defensive-side rather than chase the puck.
Ep.42 | Foundations for Defencemen in Youth Hockey *Mini Series Ep.1*
Season 1 · Episode 42
Sunday, August 30, 2026 • Duration 01:00:38
In Episode 2 of this Built From Steel Podcast Mini-Series, Coach Eric continues on the white board with transferable foundations for defencemen, from defending the rush to making decisions with the puck. He focuses on protecting the middle, controlling the gap, defending inside-out, and recognizing that good defence starts with managing time and space rather than chasing every play.
He also breaks down defensive-zone responsibilities, puck retrievals, partner support in the neutral zone, and when a defenceman has earned the chance to join the rush. The conversation closes with offensive-zone habits, pinching decisions, and a defence-first approach to faceoffs.
Key Moments
3:00 – Defending the rush
9:10 – Gap control and managing attacking space
16:28 – Defending a 2-on-1
19:00 – Defensive-zone coverage responsibilities
23:00 – Defending out of the corners
27:00 – Protecting the front of the net
31:00 – Communicating switches in coverage
34:30 – Puck retrievals
37:00 – Puck management under pressure
40:00 – Neutral-zone responsibilities
40:30 – Using the D-to-D hinge for partner support
Ep.41 | Foundations for Wingers in Youth Hockey *Mini Series Ep.1*
Season 1 · Episode 41
Sunday, August 23, 2026 • Duration 01:02:08
In the first Built From Steel Podcast Mini-Series episode, Coach Eric lays out the foundations of playing wing, using a right winger’s responsibilities to explain key terms and reads across the ice. This solo episode starts in the defensive zone with coverage areas, weak-side support, strong-side positioning, switches, and common mistakes that can open dangerous ice.
Coach Eric then moves into breakouts from both sides, options along the wall, and neutral-zone responsibilities after a change of possession. He also explains why players shift from C, LW, or RW into F1, F2, and F3 as play becomes fluid, before closing with basic winger responsibilities on faceoffs.
Key Moments
4:00 – Defensive-zone coverage areas for wingers
5:00 – Weak-side defensive-zone coverage
10:45 – Strong-side defensive-zone coverage
13:35 – Coverage responsibilities near the boards
15:00 – Adjusting when defencemen switch
22:00 – Common defensive-zone mistakes
24:00 – Dot lanes and protecting middle ice
28:50 – Defending the point and angling lanes
31:30 – Defensive-zone coverage summary
32:20 – Strong-side breakout transitions
36:10 – Weak-side breakout options
38:00 – Keys to successful breakouts
40:00 – Breakout options along the wall
44:00 – Strong-side neutral-zone responsibilities
49:30 – Changing from position labels to F1, F2, and F3
Key Themes
• Wingers need to recognize when to protect middle ice and when to pressure.
Built From Steel Podcast, a podcast by Coach Eric Palazzolo - Stats, Episodes and Rankings - My Podcast Data
42:00 – Why U16 players can be so difficult to scout
45:00 – Filling gaps when your top players are not available
47:50 – How open borders are changing youth hockey
53:30 – Discussion around the new U.S. development league announcement
Key Themes
Poor results should lead to evaluation, not panic
Game management is a skill players need to learn
Consistency in youth hockey takes time to develop
Coaches need to avoid changing everything after one bad weekend
Players should focus on what they can improve immediately
Team success requires individual players to buy into shared responsibilities
Scouts notice decision-making, habits, and consistency beyond raw skill
U16 evaluation is difficult because players are developing at very different rates
Strong teams need depth and role players who can contribute when opportunities change
Structural changes in youth hockey continue to reshape where and how players develop
Stay Connected
Watch the Academy docu-series Built From Steel on YouTube.
Follow on socials:
@BuiltFromSteelSeries
@BioSteelSports
@BioSteelSportsAcademy
@CoachEpzolo
The Built From Steel Podcast is a division of BioSteel Sports.
