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The Hockey Think Tank Podcast brings incredible stories, interviews, and great perspective from some of the top hockey minds in the game. Hosted by Topher Scott & Jeff LoVecchio, our podcast will educate and inspire all those that love the game! For all the players, coaches, and hockey parents out there...make this your Go-To show on your way to the rink!
Episodes
Monday Jul 01, 2019
Monday Jul 01, 2019
On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Vinny Smith, who helps run one of the most successful midget programs in the US in the North Jersey Avalanche. Under Vinny and his team's watch, North Jersey has moved an incredible amount of kids to the junior and college ranks through their emphasis on player development. In this episode, we talk about many topics relating to high level youth hockey including Exposure vs. Development, Coaching the Individual AND the team, the college commitment process, and even the new emphasis on USA Hockey's "no banging on the boards" rule. It was a great conversation with a lot of insight...thank you for tuning in!!
*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)
Monday Jun 24, 2019
Monday Jun 24, 2019
On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we welcome on Nick Petrecki a former first round draft pick of the San Jose Sharks. With the NHL draft coming last weekend, we talk about the exciting lead up to the draft, the pressures of being a first rounder, and the difficult journey of becoming an NHL player. We go through Nick's journey from junior, to winning a national championship at Boston College, to signing early and struggling to find his way to being an NHL player. We also talk about the importance of mental health and the difficulties of transitioning outside of hockey. It was a great conversation with a great guy, thank you again for tuning in to the podcast!!
*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)
Monday Jun 17, 2019
Monday Jun 17, 2019
On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on current NHL player Connor Carrick! Connor grew up in Chicago and then played his junior days at the US National Development Program. We talk about the ups and downs of playing there, and then we go into Connor's choice to play in the OHL, where he played for AHL Calder Cup winning coach Mike Vellucci, and what it was like to play for him. Connor was extremely open and candid about the game we love and where he sees it right now, the all-so-important coach athlete relationship, and ways to better yourself on and off the ice...especially as a defenseman. Connor is a great ambassador for our game, and this was an incredibly insightful conversation! Thanks again to everyone for tuning in!
*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)
Monday Jun 10, 2019
Monday Jun 10, 2019
On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Travis Turnbull...on of Jeff's best friends and currently playing his 10th year professionally in Europe. We go through Travis' amazing hockey journey...from growing up in St. Louis to the University of Michigan where he tells us why that program is so great and throws in a few hilarious Red Berenson stories. Travis tells us about his time playing pro in the USA, including his brief stint with the Buffalo Sabres where he scored his first goal at Madison Square Garden on Henrik Lundqvist. We go through the ups and downs of playing pro, getting called up and sent down, and Travis talks about the grind of trying to make it in the game we all love. This was an insightful and hilarious conversation with a true workhorse and amazing teammate (and shower guy). A great listen for everyone out there that loves the game. Thank you again to everyone that tunes in!!
*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)
Monday Jun 03, 2019
Monday Jun 03, 2019
On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we chat with Duncan Fletcher who is the founder of a company called Game Change. Duncan and his team put in a lot of time researching athlete development from the youth all the way to professional levels. One of their current projects deals with "behavioral analytics" which we think is one of the waves of the future in sports. Duncan lets us know that one of the best things to do for an athlete is have other interests, even for the pros at the highest levels. Game Change also works closely with the NHL and NHLPA on the player transition to the real world. We talk a lot about this transition and how difficult it can be. This was an awesome conversation with one of the most knowledgable guests we've had on...we think you're going to really enjoy it! Thank you again for tuning in!!
*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)
Monday May 27, 2019
Monday May 27, 2019
On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast we have a great conversation with Head Coach of the USA National Development Team Program, Seth Appert. Seth grew up in Minnesota, played hockey at Ferris State, and then has gone on to be a great coach in the college ranks. He made a name for himself as an assistant coach at Denver University where he won two national championships. After Denver, he became Head Coach at RPI for a decade before taking his current role with the NTDP. We talk a lot of great hockey including what it's like coaching at the NTDP, how to build relationships with players, building a team of coaches, and the joys of coaching a kid like Jack Hughes who will be the number one pick in this year's draft. Thanks again for tuning into the podcast!!
*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)
Monday May 20, 2019
Monday May 20, 2019
On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Head Coach of the Tri City Storm of the USHL, Anthony Noreen. Anthony is one of the top young coaches in the game, having won the USHL Coach of the Year award while coaching in Youngstown a few years ago and this year he won the Anderson Cup in Tri City. We talk about the importance of following your moral compass, having a great mentor, how to coach and get the most out of your best players, and the difficulties/rewards/balance of coaching to develop vs. coaching to win. This was an awesome conversation with one of the great people in the game...and thank you for tuning in!!
*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)
Monday May 13, 2019
Monday May 13, 2019
On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on NHL Superstar and one of our good friends Paul Stastny. Paul grew up playing hockey in St. Louis where he and Jeff became best friends. The two then went on to play for Omaha in the USHL where Paul was one of the top players in the league. He then went to Denver University, won a National Championship, and then began an NHL career that has spanned 13 seasons and 4 teams. He also is a two-time Olympian and silver medalist. In our conversation, we talk about growing up with an NHL Hall of Fame dad, the importance of playing multiple sports growing up, how NHL coaching and playing has changed over his career, and much more. We also talk intimately about the legendary gold medal game against Canada in Vancouver. Such a great talk with such a great joy, thank you for tuning in!!
*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)
Monday May 06, 2019
Monday May 06, 2019
On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we bring on Wacey Rabbit who is one of Jeff's favorite teammates of all time. Wacey grew up on a reserve in Alberta and is very involved and proud of his First Nation, Native American culture. Wacey was the first in his culture to get drafted into the NHL...and tells a great story about it. He played 5 years in the WHL where he won a Memorial Cup championship with the Vancouver Giants and he also won the leagues Humanitarian award as well. He has played pro hockey now for 13 years and had some great stories along the way...including being the team "Scare Guy" at hotels. We talk a lot of great hockey too, including the importance of faceoffs, finding your role on a team, and the importance of a "glue guy" in the locker room. Great conversation with a great guy...thanks for tuning in!!
*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)
Monday Apr 29, 2019
Monday Apr 29, 2019
On this episode of the Hockey Think Tank podcast, we chat with your two favorite guests Adam Nicholas and Brandon Naurato. Passion development has been a topic we have been talking about for a while, and we wanted to get right into where our obsession with hockey and helping others comes from. We talk a lot about our wanting to prove people wrong, the importance of failing forward and learning how to be resilient, and some of our personal stories that has given us scars that has allowed us to have that mentality. We got pretty deep and we think you'll enjoy this one for sure...and as always thank you for tuning in to our podcast!!
*Opening music: Forget the Whale - Take to the Skies (Instrumental)