On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk all things blocking shots. Ways to do it, ways to practice it, and what that kind of sacrifice says about team culture. TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!  We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to know some of Vechs’ battle drills. We always talk about how important it is to compete hard in practice, and battle drills are a great way to work on that skill! TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!  We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk 2-on-1s, but with a twist -  from the D-side. Some awesome tips and tricks when defending a 2-on-1, Vechs gets to drop one of his favorite sayings, “play chess, not checkers," and we tee up the age-old debate on this for defensemen: to slide or not to slide! TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!  We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Topher's topic comes from a listener’s question about how coaches can handle lopsided games - on both sides. Great discussion and ideas on lessons to take away whether you’re winning big, or learning big. TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about the new PWHL PK “jailbreak” rule, which awards the team who scores a shorthanded goal on the PK by ending their penalty. TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

One of our best episodes yet! Topher and Jeff welcome Brett Beebe, a Western Michigan University hockey alum and former pro player who is in his 6th season of coaching with the LA Jr Kings. He won the gold medal with Team USA (U17) in 2006 at the 4 Nations tournament, and a USA Hockey National Championship as both a player and coach! We had some great conversation about the state of youth hockey, how our game can be better, as well as terrific perspective on player development and doing things the right way in our sport. In this episode we talk about: —The importance of playing multiple sports —The current culture of our sport —Organizations collaborating together to enhance development —Not confusing winning with 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!

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs is STILL in the holiday spirit and wants to take a walk down memory lane to talk about some favorite hockey presents he and Toph have received over the years! TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Topher wants to talk about player feedback - when and how should messages be delivered for maximum efficiency and player development? TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

Happy New Year! It’s our first episode of 2024 and it’s a great one! On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, it’s just Topher and Jeff talking about the life lessons they’ve learned through hockey that have helped them earn success off the ice. In this episode we talk about: – Teamwork: Understanding you are part of something greater than yourself – Learning how to compete: To show up every day and give your all is HARD – Resilience: It's a superpower – Commitment & Discipline: It's an every day thing; not a sometimes thing – Confidence: the ONLY way to become confident is by putting in the work to earn it 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!

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about how to handle difficult teammates. The conversation turned to teammates that bully - and it got personal for Topher. This one struck a chord, and goes a little longer than our normal ten minutes - but it’s absolutely worth a listen! TEN (PLUS) MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Topher wants to talk about the transition game: what is winning in transition and how important is being good in transition both offensively and defensively? TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we welcome former Major League pitcher, Jacob Turner. The 9th overall draft pick by the Detroit Tigers now helps young athletes manage their money and mentors them for financial stability after their playing days. In this episode we talk about: – The life lessons that sports provides – Resiliency – Confidence – The transition to life after being an elite athlete 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!

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk all things Power Play and asks Topher what his favorite PP was and what, specifically, he liked about it. TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

This week Topher and Jeff welcome NTDP Head Strength Coach, Joe Meloni to the podcast! Awesome, awesome guy and this was a great conversation with some incredible insight into what it’s like working with, motivating, and developing the elite young talent in our game. In this episode we talk about: — The development environment they create at NTDP — How competition breeds excellence — Attributes of players that give themselves a chance to be the best AND SO MUCH MORE! Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and, our newest sponsor, Crossbar!  And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! If you’d like to join our Hockey Think Tank Community, head over to Community.TheHockeyThinkTank.com and check it out! This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Topher wants to talk about the penalty kill forecheck and things that worked for Vechs over the years - from speed, vision, pressure, systems, and everything that helps teams have success on the kill. TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we throw it back to a “10 Questions” episode (from 2020) that Topher did with Brad Berry (North Dakota Head Coach) & Mike Schafer (Cornell Head Coach) - the Co-Winners of the Spencer Penrose award as the top coaches in college hockey to talk about their seasons and their programs! In this episode Topher asked them: – What was it about your specific teams this year that made them special and finish 1-2 in the country? – How important is player leadership and what are some things you do with them to build culture? – How has investing in relationships lead to you becoming a better coach? – What are you looking for in players when you’re evaluating on the scouting trail? 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!

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about the different ways that players prefer to tie their skates (for efficiency, speed, comfort, stability, etc.) and why. TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Topher wants to tackle a topic that he was asked about recently -  divvying up ice time and managing the bench. Everyone has an opinion, so BUCKLE UP! TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Topher and Jeff welcome Toph’s sister, Jessi Feld, on the podcast. Jessi is a hockey sister, a hockey mom to FOUR boys, and a long-time educator with a passion for identifying the ways kids learn.   Jessi holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education and Master’s Degrees in Curriculum and Instruction as well as Instructional Technology and has some incredible insight on the correlation between teaching and coaching. In this episode we talk about: — Embracing the ways kids learn and absorb information to create an environment that’s conducive for them to thrive — Teaching direct skills, modeling, repetition, & routines — The importance of teaching self-advocacy, kindness, respect, self-awareness and being proactive to help build a culture of acceptable standards AND SO MUCH MORE! CONTEST ALERT: We have partnered with LactiGo for an awesome giveaway for our listeners! Head to the 01:50 mark at the beginning of this episode for details on how to get your hands on some LactiGo for you or your team! It's the @LactiGo Gamechanger contest with the Hockey Think Tank Podcast! 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!

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs tackles a topic that every coach and parent has an opinion about - PHONES! The guys talk about the reality of players using their phones and how they can affect - negatively or positively - the team culture, productivity, development, and more!  TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Topher wants to talk about BODY CHECKING! The guys tackle some of the best ways to teach how to hit, how to take a hit, and when to start introducing those concepts that will translate to success and confidence. TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Topher and Jeff welcome back Dr. Cassidy Preston to talk some sports psychology. He is a performance coach, author, and speaker with a new book out called “Mindset First” - and we had a great conversation about a new way elite athletes and high-performers in all areas of life can mentally prepare. In this episode we talk about: — Overcoming the fear of failure — Mental preparation and focusing on the process — Playing with confidence AND SO MUCH MORE! Dr. Cassidy Preston's latest book, Mindset First: Break Free from the Weight of Results, Play with Confidence, and Perform When It Matters Most is available HERE on Amazon. Visit TheHockeyThinkTank.com 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!

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to know what’s up with all the showcases these days?! The guys talk about the overuse of the word “showcase” (especially for the younger ages), and reminisce about how much they loved tournaments and the team camaraderie that comes from competing and winning them. TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Topher asks Vechs to share some of his favorite small area games in practices. Since Vechs loves anything that encourages epic battles and competition, there”s some great stuff in here! TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about how coaches, players and parents navigate the reality of multi-sport athletes, in-season. It’s one thing to say we want our athletes to have a diverse skill set, and to say we encourage players to play multiple sports - but it’s an entirely different thing to manage that as a coach, parent and player.  TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!  We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, the boys are flying solo and talking all about building a strong youth organization culture. Topher has (re) kick-started The Hockey Think Tank and is ready to share what the team has been working on to offer support for youth organizations. In this episode we talk about best practices for: — Organization leadership & structure — Culture & Team Building — Putting “hockey” back in “Hockey Director” — Leveraging volunteers to match passion and talents to optimize the experience for players, parents and coaches AND SO MUCH MORE! Visit TheHockeyThinkTank.com 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!

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about tryouts! What the process should look like, how many tryouts are needed, how to handle posting results, what kind of feedback, if any, should coaches give players, and more!  TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph’s topic for Vechs is - How To Get Faster? Speed is such a huge part of the game and the guys talk about some of the ways that players can get faster, and things to remember along the way. TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we welcome Gordie Stafford from Shattuck-St. Mary’s. After a successful professional career, Gordie has built the premier women’s program including 9 national championships, over 250 college players (including 3 Patty Kaz winners), 29 women’s professional players, and 8 olympians in his almost 20 years at the helm. In this episode we talk about: — Sports psychology and helping players keep perspective — His unique perspective going from high end player, to high end coach (both boys and girls), and being a hockey parent — The importance of gratitude  — Advice for parents navigating the youth hockey world 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!

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode of The Hockey Think Tank podcast, Vechs wants to talk about using video for development, how and when to introduce it, what it looks like at different ages, and how players can get the most out of a video session. TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph’s topic for Vechs is - D RETRIEVALS! Since having the ability to break the puck out is an important skill, they talk tips and tricks for defensemen to get pucks out of the zone. TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on J.P. Nerbun, an executive coach, culture consultant, and author of the new book The Sports Parent Solution, it was an unreal conversation with tangible takeaways for coaches, business leaders, parents and anyone looking to be better. In this episode we talk about: — Culture isn’t just a box to check — Leadership strategies that translate to parenthood — JP’s Coaching Culture podcast — Culture building is intentional and requires communication, alignment, and consistent systems to be successful. 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!

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs asks Toph his thoughts on bag skates. Are they useful? Necessary? Appropriate? TEN MINUTES… ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph’s topic is - NUTRITION. It’s such an important component for any athlete to reach their potential and Vechs HAS THOUGHTS that you’re not going to want to miss! TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Buffalo native and former second round draft pick (Philly), Mike Ratchuk in what turned out to be an incredibly powerful conversation. In this episode we talk about: — Playing juniors for the USNTDP — Winning a National Championship with Michigan State University — His experience at the NHL draft — What he’s able to pass along as an assistant coach with SUNY Cortland 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!

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to break down the 1-3-1 power play. How to be successful if you’re playing it - how to stop it if you’re killing against it.   TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!  We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs asks Toph his thoughts on home video sessions and what’s important for a player to focus on when watching their own video to make a positive impact in their development. TEN MINUTES… ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about consistency. What players, and coaches, can do individually (with preparation, routines, habits) to help with team consistency. TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

This week’s episode marks FIVE YEARS of the Hockey Think Tank podcast! To celebrate, the boys recorded this one LIVE and together in STL! Jeff and Topher reminisce about their start with the pod (while “murdering” protein shakes) before diving deep into five issues that are plaguing youth hockey: — Early sport specialization — The disconnect between parents and coaches — The privatization of rinks — Remembering that hockey development is a marathon, not a sprint — FOMO is a real thing AND 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!

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs asks Toph his thoughts on what age is “too young” to leave home. So many factors these days in kids deciding to leave home at younger and younger ages and the guys discuss in TEN MINUTES… ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about the biggest distractions keeping today’s players from reaching their potential. TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network (THPN)

This week it’s a MAILBAG episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast! Jeff and Topher tackle the AWESOME questions sent in by listeners with some bonus (and unreal) stories about their most memorable special jerseys, their first hockey fights, and so much more! BUCKLE UP (and shoot us a DM if you have a topic or question for our next Mailbag episode)! 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!

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about how to win faceoffs. Keys, techniques and the importance of understanding it takes more than just the center to win possession. TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network.

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about 5 on 6 situations and how to best set your team up for success. TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! The Hockey Think Tank Podcast is a proud member of The Hockey Podcast Network

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Topher and Jeff sound off on the 5 Keys to Getting Recruited. Some great insight for players and parents trying to navigate the entire process from youth hockey and beyond. In this episode we discuss: — Focusing on what YOU can control — Remembering that it’s a marathon, not a sprint — The scouting and recruiting process — What scouts look for in a player — What players can do to proactively get on the radar 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!

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs wants to talk about the insurgence of players’ personal style beginning to permeate the game. Love it? Hate it? Good for the game, or not? Here we go… TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

This week Topher and Jeff welcome former UMD captain and eight year pro player, Jon Francisco to the podcast! Following his hockey career, he served as a firefighter for 10 years in California and Wisconsin before leaving the fire service to build Francisco Hockey & 4Check Hockey which make major impacts in hockey, training, skills and safety. In this episode we talk about: — Fostering passion as a parent — Encouraging multi sport athletes and how parents can help navigate the overlap during the season — Teaching players how to give and receive hits in today’s game — His experience parenting a player on their journey to the NTDP AND SO MUCH MORE! Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and, our newest sponsor, Crossbar!  And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! If you’d like to join our Hockey Think Tank Community, head over to Community.TheHockeyThinkTank.com and check it out! This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph’s topic is all about late bloomers! If you are one, a parent of one, or coaching one (or more) - this episode is for you! TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!

On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, Topher and Jeff talk to Corey Cumiskey of Humble Hockey. More than just a place to get custom team gear, Humble Hockey exists to celebrate the culture of hockey: grit, discipline, humility and integrity. In this episode we discuss: — The reality of youth hockey from a parent perspective — How Humble Hockey is making a difference in the team gear space — The unique way Humble Hockey gives back by helping KEEP kids in the game 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!

On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Vechs asks Toph about a hot-button topic in the world of player development - the use of on-ice instruments! Do their benefits outweigh some of their limitations? Is there an optimal age to start using them? These questions and MORE… TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW! We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites!