Episode 40: The Long Game (with Bob Mancini - USA Hockey Assistant Executive Director of Hockey Development)

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