In this episode of the PowerTech Development Podcast, Eric and Andy reflect on the parenting journey from early youth hockey days to one of the biggest milestones in any hockey family: the NHL Draft. Andy shares the emotional experience of watching his son get drafted to the Dallas Stars, how he navigated being both a coach and a dad, and where he sometimes went too far. Together, they offer honest, real-world advice for parents who want to support their kids without pushing them too hard. This ...
Jul 06, 2025•54 min•Season 1Ep. 244
In this episode of the PowerTech Development Podcast, we’re joined by Jason Guerriero - a former pro player, NCAA coach, and longtime contributor to USA Hockey’s development model. Jason shares a thoughtful and experienced perspective on what true development means at every level from young kids to elite college players. This episode breaks down how to think long-term, how USA Hockey approaches player growth, and what families need to understand about preparing the right way. They cover: The day...
Jun 29, 2025•34 min•Season 1Ep. 243
In this episode, Eric and Andy have a deep, personal conversation about the importance of understanding your values — as a person and as a team. From faith and family to leadership and decision-making, they explore why identifying your core values builds the foundation for growth, performance, and long-term success. They also touch on lessons from Game 5 of the NHL playoffs, tools like Instat for player development, and key takeaways from the TCS Live coaching summit. Topics Covered: Little habi...
Jun 22, 2025•40 min•Season 1Ep. 242
Coach Eric and Coach Andy dive into one of the most commonly communicated but poorly explained concepts in sports and development: hard work. What does it really mean to work hard? Why do so many people think they’re grinding, but aren’t actually getting better? They unpack what true effort looks like — from training on the ice, to gym habits, to mental focus and nutrition. Whether you’re a hockey player, a parent, or a coach, this one will challenge how you define success and effort. Key Topics...
Jun 15, 2025•33 min•Season 1Ep. 241
In this episode of the PowerTech Development Podcast, we’re joined by Matt Gilroy—former walk-on at Boston University, Hobey Baker winner, NHL defenseman, and now a coach with Harvard University. Matt’s story is the kind every player and family should hear: a journey from underdog to NHL, built on work ethic, character, and the right mindset. We also go deep into the recruiting side of college hockey: What Harvard looks for in players How academics and athletics balance The value of creativity a...
Jun 08, 2025•18 min•Season 1Ep. 240
Brian Willsie is the Director of Player Development for the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL. In this episode, he and Coach Eric discuss strategies to own your development path as a player including decisions on where to play. Become a MEMBER to support the show! Want to sponsor? Contact Us HERE .
Jun 01, 2025•31 min•Season 1Ep. 239
In this episode of the PowerTech Development Podcast, we tackle one of the most important topics in youth hockey—what happens when your kid gets cut. Getting released from a team is hard on players and parents. We discuss: What to say to your child How to reframe failure Why showing up matters more than ever And when it might be time to stop investing time and money into hockey We also explore the truth about talent (can you train to be like Jack Eichel?), the emotional rollercoaster of youth ho...
May 25, 2025•54 min•Season 1Ep. 238
In this episode of the PowerTech Development Podcast, we dig into the real pressures of U18 hockey, the value (and overuse) of private lessons, and the responsibility coaches have to support players with learning differences. Too often, players are in a rush to move up, parents are caught in the camp and lesson arms race, and coaches are unaware of what individual players may need to thrive. This episode offers a realistic and practical guide for parents, players, and coaches trying to make smar...
May 11, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 237
In this episode of the PowerTech Development Podcast, we talk directly to hockey parents. If you've ever felt like: You're not doing enough Your kid is falling behind Other families seem more committed You're not sure when to push or pull back ...this episode is for you. We dive into the emotional realities of raising a young athlete: the peer pressure, the burnout, the overthinking, and the comparison traps. But we also share real insight—drawn from experience—on why every player’s path is diff...
May 04, 2025•47 min•Season 1Ep. 236
In this episode of the PowerTech Development Podcast, we explore the balance between teaching skills and letting young players naturally develop, and why learning to take a break is an underrated part of athletic success. Drawing inspiration from the Hockey Factories Podcast series and real coaching experiences, we share practical advice for coaches, parents, and players on how to manage youth hockey development the right way. 📌 Key Topics Covered: The Power of Attention to Detail – Why some pl...
Apr 27, 2025•53 min•Season 1Ep. 235
In this episode of the PowerTech Development Podcast, we welcome Matt Dumouchelle, creator of The Coaches Site’s Hockey Factories Series, contributor to The Coaches Site Podcast, and Assistant GM of the Leamington Flyers. Drawing from years of global research into the world’s best hockey development programs, Matt unpacks what great programs do differently. Whether you're a coach, parent, or program director, this conversation delivers deep insight on youth development systems, what it means to ...
Apr 20, 2025•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 234
In this episode of the PowerTech Development Podcast, we go big-picture and ground-level: 🏒 Ovechkin breaks Gretzky’s record— is he a Top 5 all-time player? We compare eras, legacies, and what it takes to dethrone hockey icons. 💪 What does it take to move up levels in hockey today? We unpack the myth that you need to be perfect at everything. 📈 OHL Draft mindset tips—including how undrafted players still carve a path to the NHL. Ovechkin vs Gretzky – Breaking records, comparing eras (1:00, 4:...
Apr 13, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 233
In this episode of the PowerTech Development Podcast , we dive deep into youth strength training, long-term athletic development, and the dangers of early specialization. Inspired by the PERFORM podcast and Dr. Andy Galpin's recent episode on Strength Training for Kids, we unpack the most important takeaways for parents, coaches, and anyone working with young athletes, including: PERFORM by Dr. Andy Galpin – Why this episode sparked the conversation (7:30) Problems with Research & Public Con...
Apr 06, 2025•53 min•Season 1Ep. 232
This episode of the podcast is brought to you by The Coaches Site LIVE ! Join PowerTech June 12-14 at University of Michigan Ann Arbour for TCS LIVE 2025 - the premier coaching event of the year. Visit TCS LIVE and enter code "PowerTech" to save 10% on your ticket! See you there! - In this episode of the PowerTech Development Podcast, we explore the evolving landscape of youth hockey—from the fading magic of tournaments to the overhype surrounding the OHL Draft. Coaches, parents, and players ...
Mar 30, 2025•50 min•Season 1Ep. 231
In this episode of the PowerTech Development Podcast , we break down: How to get the RIGHT hockey advice—who should players trust? (6:30) Is the CHL taking over NCAA hockey? A serious look at how NCAA commitments are shifting. (14:00) Should you dominate your level before moving up? The debate on whether players move too soon. (25:00) CHL → NCAA → NHL—why this path is now possible and how new NCAA eligibility rules have changed everything. (39:00) With junior and college hockey evolving, players...
Mar 23, 2025•45 min•Season 1Ep. 230
In this episode of the PowerTech Development Podcast, we dive into the AAA vs Prep vs High School debate, youth hockey training culture, and the skill gap illusion. Parents, players, and coaches all need to understand what actually matters in development—and what’s just noise. 📌 Topics Covered: How Do You Treat the New Guy? – Hockey culture & locker room dynamics (3:30) For the Love of the Game – Why are kids playing hockey? (5:30) The Prep School Takeover – Is prep really the best path? (1...
Mar 16, 2025•59 min•Season 1Ep. 229
This episode of the podcast is brought to you by The Coaches Site LIVE! Join PowerTech June 12-14 at University of Michigan Ann Arbour for TCS LIVE 2025 - the premier coaching event of the year. Visit TCS LIVE and enter code "PowerTech" to save 10% on your ticket! See you there! - In this episode of the PowerTech Development Podcast, we dive into how parents shape the mental toughness required for success in youth sports. We discuss attitude, resilience, and how parental behavior influences youn...
Mar 09, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 228
In this episode of the PowerTech Development Podcast, we tackle three of the biggest issues in youth hockey today: extreme parent behavior, unrealistic coaching expectations, and why good people are leaving the sport. 📌 Topics Covered: Calling the Cops on a Hockey Parent: A real story of when things went too far (2:30). When Parent Behavior Embarrasses Their Own Kids – What’s the impact? (13:30). What Should You Expect from a Youth Hockey Coach? – They're not full-time employees (19:30). Settin...
Mar 02, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 227
Parents Behaving Badly in Youth Hockey & The Phone Problem No One Talks About - In this episode of the PowerTech Development Podcast, we break down two major challenges in youth hockey: overinvolved parents and phone distractions. 📌 Topics Discussed: The D1 Facility You NEED to See – Touring St. Cloud State (2:30) A Mom Screaming at the Coach Outside the Locker Room – Where is the line? (6:00) A Dad Intercepting His Son After a Game – When should parents step back? (6:30) The Never-Ending D...
Feb 23, 2025•31 min•Season 1Ep. 226
In this episode of the PowerTech Development Podcast , we tackle the factors shaping young athletes, from genetic influence to key decision-making moments in youth hockey. This episode is packed with insights for hockey parents, players, and coaches navigating the world of youth sports. Whether you're debating a big move or just trying to understand what makes a great athlete, this discussion offers valuable perspectives. - Become a MEMBER to support the show! Want to sponsor? Contact Us HERE ....
Feb 16, 2025•56 min•Season 1Ep. 225
In this episode of the PowerTech Development Podcast , we dive into the controversial yet essential topics shaping hockey today. From the mental resilience of players to the politics of development, our discussion touches on: The Soft Attitude: Why you won't always feel perfect in hockey (17:00). Being KO-ed on the Ice: The challenges of recovering from big hits (21:00). Rehab Options for Sports Injuries: What’s the right approach? (25:00). Coaching Injury Rules: The fine line between caution an...
Feb 09, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 224
Hockey Parents & The Impact You Have on the Game What’s the WORST parent behavior you’ve seen at a rink? Hockey parents play a HUGE role in their child’s development, but are you helping or hurting their chances of success? In this episode, we dive deep into the hard conversations about parent behavior in the stands, D1 coach insights , and the right way to support your child without getting in the way. Topics Covered: What D1 coaches REALLY think about hockey parents (17:40) The hardest thi...
Feb 02, 2025•59 min•Season 1Ep. 223
In this episode, Coach Eric and Coach Andy cover the importance of having experience to be successful and a deeper dive into a recent conversation on playing with ‘better’ players. Coach Eric finished with a discussion on his observation that so many young players don’t realize their opportunities and fail to take advantage of resources they have. Support the show by becoming a MEMBER in the PowerTech Community! Take advantage of our skill development video library, consultation calls, discount ...
Jan 26, 2025•58 min•Season 1Ep. 222
In this episode, Coach Eric and Coach Andy discuss the mindset of how to bounce back from a bad loss. Going into games you KNOW you will WIN or LOSE, how should you prepare? What are the coaching strategies to prepare, adjust, and respond to poor outcomes? How can coaches communicate with their players before, during, and after these situations? These questions and related topics are answered. Support the show by becoming a MEMBER in the PowerTech Community! Take advantage of our skill developme...
Jan 19, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 221
In this episode, Coach Eric and Coach Andy look at skill building, key instruction points, and how to understand the microsteps involved in complex movements. They move on to discuss how to make other players better, and a winning mindset when you are playing with players that are better or worse than you. Support the show by becoming a MEMBER in the PowerTech Community! Take advantage of our skill development video library, consultation calls, discount codes, and more! Looking for other ways to...
Jan 13, 2025•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 220
Coming out of the holiday break, Coach Andy and Coach Eric recap the holidays and discuss the World Junior Championships. They discuss the performance of Latvia, the struggles of Team Canada, and compare and contrast the US vs Canadian hockey systems. Support the show by becoming a MEMBER in the PowerTech Community! Take advantage of our skill development video library, consultation calls, discount codes, and more! Looking for other ways to support? Subscribe on YouTube, leave a 5-star review, a...
Jan 05, 2025•53 min•Season 1Ep. 219
In this episode, Coach Eric and Coach Andy discuss parent behaviour and confidence building. They open with a few recent elements of parent conduct at the PowerTech 3on3 Tournament, before moving on to discuss different elements of building confidence - specifically through coaches, teammates, and the competition. Support the show by becoming a MEMBER in the PowerTech Community! Take advantage of our skill development video library, consultation calls, discount codes, and more! Looking for other...
Dec 29, 2024•50 min•Season 1Ep. 218
In this episode, Coach Eric and Coach Andy cover trades and how it affects players, the skill vs games question for youth development, how best to design a youth development system, the 80/20 principle for getting results, which drills should be staples in your training regimen, what will get you the most return on your time investment, and other topics! Support the show by becoming a MEMBER in the PowerTech Community! Take advantage of our skill development video library, consultation calls, di...
Dec 22, 2024•56 min•Season 1Ep. 217
In this episode, Coach Eric and Coach Andy are back for a quick episode covering contracts. They first discuss music and its impact on performance before moving into a discussion on money earned by hockey players. Topics include being paid based on past performance, salary costs and how much is actually retained, salary caps, and judging how much a player is worth. Support the show by becoming a MEMBER in the PowerTech Community! Take advantage of our skill development video library, consultatio...
Dec 15, 2024•34 min•Season 1Ep. 216
In this episode, Coach Eric is joined by Co-Founder and CEO of Matterhorn Fit, Ryan Vesce. Ryan is a retired 14-year professional hockey player, and ivy league graduate from Cornell. They discussion making the pros as a smaller player, Division 1 scholarships and Ivy league schools, using hockey as a vehicle for life opportunity, his business and training method through Matterhorn Fit, the prestigious Matterhorn Fit All-Ivy Showcase, and a big announcement on the Matterhorn Fit All-Path Series c...
Dec 08, 2024•57 min•Season 1Ep. 215
