Crazy Hockey Dads Podcast

2d ago

Why the kids who struggle early often last the longest. Scott and Jamie sit down with Jeff LoVecchio - former D1 and pro player, longtime Hockey Think Tank co-host , and founder of GMBM: Give More Be More to unpack a hockey journey built on getting cut, staying patient and learning how to own your development. Jeff walks through growing up in St. Louis with grounded parents who refused to fight his battles, getting cut from teams, playing one or two shifts a game his first year of AAA, and being forced to look in the mirror instead of blaming coaches. He explains how those moments, not early dominance, shaped his confidence, work ethic, and long-term success. The conversation dives into what Jeff sees now after 18 years training thousands of players: why parents rush too early, how over-scheduling hurts development, why competition and discomfort matter, and how mentorship, not micromanagement, changes outcomes. In this episode: Getting cut and why it was the best thing that happened to him Parents who didn’t call coaches and why that mattered The danger of trying to build the “best 10-year-old” What real development actually looks like over time It’s an honest reminder for hockey parents everywhere: the path isn’t clean, progress isn’t linear , and the kids who learn to struggle early are often the ones still standing at the end. Socials: TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@crazy.hockey.dads X : https://x.com/Crazyhockeydads Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/ Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576627751551

Dec 10

How a COVID accident became the biggest vibes-driven hockey brand in the game. Scott and Jamie sit down with Jonny and Austin, two of the original Hockey Guys , to break down how a group of college teammates stuck in online classes accidentally built a brand that now partners with more than half the NHL. They walk through the real story: Ontario and Manitoba childhoods , leaving home early, billet adventures, injuries, and the mental grind that shaped them long before TikTok. Then they explain why their content works, why fans who never played hockey connect with them, and how “just being the boys” ended up doing more to grow the game than any marketing campaign. In this episode: The COVID dorm-room moment that launched a media brand Why the NHL hands them the keys to so many events The real junior hockey path: billets, pressure, setbacks, and family support Ontario vs. Manitoba: two childhoods, same love for the game It’s funny, honest, and unexpectedly insightful ...the story of how guys who just wanted to play hockey ended up changing how it’s shared with the world. Socials: TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@crazy.hockey.dads X : https://x.com/Crazyhockeydads Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/ Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576627751551

Dec 3

From Queens to the NHL - and why most of youth hockey is overthinking it. Scott and Jamie sit down with Angelo Serse - ProStride Elite founder, New Jersey Devils skating coach , U14 Youth Devils national champion, and Ozone Park kid who nearly quit hockey on Day 1. Angelo shares his unique path: immigrant parents staring at a $2,500 AAA bill, his mom driving to Plattsburgh in snowstorms because he loved the game, and a late-blooming college opportunity that didn’t hit until his senior year. From there, he breaks down what families misunderstand about skating, development, and the “race” they think they’re in. In this episode: Why mite kids quit when they can’t skate and how games like tag and Superman dives keep them hooked Sweden & Finland’s model: three sports, one club, no team-hopping Figure skating vs. hockey and why the mechanics don’t translate Concise, sharp, and myth-busting, this is the skating conversation every hockey family needs before spending another dollar. Socials: TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@crazy.hockey.dads X : https://x.com/Crazyhockeydads Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/ Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576627751551

Nov 26

Scott and Jamie sit down with Vinny Malts - founder of Bloodline Hockey, longtime pro, and the first mental-performance coach ever hired by the NHL to dig into the side of development nobody sees but every kid feels. Vinny walks through his wild rise from Philadelphia street hockey, to being drafted by the Vancouver Canucks , to a career-altering ankle injury that eventually pushed him toward mindset work. He also opens up about the depression he battled every postseason, the nervous-system science parents overlook, and why so many young players fall apart long before they fall behind. In this episode: • How Philly street hockey built elite small-area skill without a single lesson • Why nervous-system overload, not attitude, destroys confidence • The truth about comparison, early bloomers, and “falling behind” • How parents unintentionally model the wrong behaviors • Tools every family can use to handle pressure without killing joy It’s part therapy session, part player-development masterclass and the perspective every hockey parent needs before their next car ride home. Socials: TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@crazy.hockey.dads X : https://x.com/Crazyhockeydads Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/ Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576627751551

Nov 20

Surviving one of the wildest hockey paths you’ll ever hear. Scott and Jamie sit down with Alex Kim - former pro, Colorado College standout, and now Director of the Jr. Ducks to unpack a hockey journey unlike anything in the sport. Alex walks through growing up in non-hockey Southern California under a tiger-mom who preferred harpsichord, abacus, and speed-reading over slapshots, negotiating just to play the sport, and leaving home at 15 for the Soo - where culture shock, racism, and sheer grit shaped everything that came next. He also shares the twists that defined his career: turning down Ivy League offers , transferring colleges, and playing professionally in Europe and Korea. It’s a raw look at development, identity, sacrifice, and how much parents shape the journey without even realizing it. In this episode: Growing up outside the traditional hockey pipeline Facing cultural and racial adversity in Michigan Billet challenges and the mental toll of leaving home early Why parents chase the wrong milestones The “hockey as a vehicle” philosophy If you want perspective, humility, and a real look at what development actually requires… Alex delivers. Socials: TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@crazy.hockey.dads X : https://x.com/Crazyhockeydads Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/ Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576627751551

Nov 12

Why real development takes patience, perspective, and a lot less panic. Scott and Jamie sit down with Bob Mancini - one of USA Hockey’s most influential minds and a key architect of the American Development Model (ADM) - to talk about what it really means to develop players the right way. Mancini breaks down how small-area games, delayed checking, and skill-first systems aren’t just buzzwords, they’re the building blocks of a generation that can think the game, not just play it. He also gets candid about the cultural challenges holding youth hockey back: parent pressure, fear of falling behind, and mistaking busyness for development. In this episode: The science (and sanity) behind the ADM Why delayed checking created smarter, safer players How “more” hockey often leads to less growth What parents misunderstand about the path and what scouts actually see It’s the reminder every parent, coach, and player needs mid-season: progress isn’t instant, but it lasts a lifetime if you do it right. Socials: TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@crazy.hockey.dads X : https://x.com/Crazyhockeydads Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/ Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576627751551

Nov 5

Real stories. Real questions. Real hockey chaos. This week, Scott and Jamie open up the inbox for a round of listener write-ins - the unfiltered questions and confessions from hockey parents everywhere. From kids getting moved to defense mid-season to dealing with burnout, overthinking, and team drama, this one’s part advice column, part group therapy. In this episode: - When your kid’s position changes and it messes with both your heads - The parent who realized they needed a reset more than their player - How to stay supportive when the season feels heavier than it should - The fine line between “helping” and hovering Plus: Scott and Jamie’s take on why sometimes the best thing you can do… is shut up and drive home It’s an honest, funny, and surprisingly relatable peek into the real questions every hockey family wrestles with, whether they say them out loud or not. Socials: TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@crazy.hockey.dads X : https://x.com/Crazyhockeydads Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/ Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576627751551

Oct 29

How compete, chaos, and balance actually build better athletes. Scott and Jamie sit down with Anthony LoSauro - longtime North Jersey Avalanche dad, Bergen Catholic fooball alum, and founder of Towermen Lacrosse - for a straight-shooting talk on raising kids who love to compete without turning them into mini-pros. From never giving up on his passion to driving development through curiosity (not clinics), Anthony shares how he’s built a foundation rooted in work, fun, and real life - not hype. In this episode: Why compete matters more than choreography How the “wild dog” stage is essential - if you teach control later What youth sports lost when dads started “manufacturing athletes” Why his kids play fewer teams, more sports, and still get better A must-listen for any parent trying to balance the drive to win with the goal of raising good humans who still love the ride. Socials: TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@crazy.hockey.dads X : https://x.com/Crazyhockeydads Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/ Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576627751551