prohockeypod

Episode 82: Rico Blasi. Rico grew up in the Toronto area in an Italian family that knew nothing of ice hockey. He got his introduction on the outdoor rinks in the GTA and this is where he first got the passion for hockey. He was lucky to be coached at a young age by the famous Stan Butler who taught Rico a lot about the game of hockey and different paths available. Rico would go on to attend D1 Miami of Ohio University on a hockey scholarship for 4 years, which was an up and coming program. After a few brief stops in pro hockey and coaching his old junior team, Rico would get a chance at the University of Denver as an Assistant Coach for 4 seasons. In 1999, Rico's old university was in search of a new Head Coach and Rico thought he should just put his name in for the sake of it. Turns out it was a great idea as Rico was hired and would spend the next 20 seasons as Head Coach of Miami of Ohio. Over this time he helped shape the program and would help them achieve 2 Frozen Four appearances as well as NCAA Runner Up in 2009. This long run also saw Rico win multiple coaching awards including NCAA Coach of the Year in 2006. During Covid, Nate Leaman from Providence University would reach out to Rico about an opening as the Director of Administration for the college. This was a new challenge for Rico that he knew nothing about but he is happy he did it as he was able to continue to grow his resume and network in NCAA. In 21/22, new D1 school, University of St. Thomas would come knocking with interest in Rico to be their new Head Coach, where he has been ever since. We talked about the process of building a new D1 program, some of the rules I wasn't aware of, as well as some other interesting facts about the school that not many people would know. It is awesome to see someone from the GTA thriving in college hockey and I am happy Rico was able to share some time with me. Hope you enjoy!

Episode 81: Frank Serratore. We had Army's HC on in the past so this week it was time for Air Force Academy's Frank Serratore to join the prohockeypod. The 25/26 season will be Frank's 29th season at Air Force and we talked about how he has continuously built solid teams over his time there. Frank is from Minnesota, and like me, was a goalie growing up. Our goalie chemistry was instantly there throughout the episode. What can I say, great minds think alike. Frank would go on to play D1 hockey at Western Michigan University for 2 seasons before transferring to Bemidji State. This is where Frank would get a intro to coaching, learning from Coach Bob Peters, which ignited his fire to coach. After school, Frank would be a HC/GM in the USHL for 5 years before becoming an Assistant Coach at the University of North Dakota. A few years passed and Frank was awarded the opportunity to become HC of the University of Denver. We talked about Frank's quick rise and if he felt he was ready at the time to be a HC. After 4 years at Denver, Frank would get a chance in Pro hockey with the Minnesota/Manitoba Moose of the IHL. After that, Air Force Academy was in need for a coach and Frank's name came up. After speaking to his wife, he interviewed for the job and it ended up being a great decision, as he has been there ever since. We talked about the academy, the types of players they look to recruit and how they continue to stay competitive, even though they can't use certain advantages that other NCAA programs have access to (portal, transfers, 5th year). It was really interesting to talk to Frank and his knowledge/love of the game. Hope you enjoy!

Episode 80: Stefan Decosse. Stefan grew up in the Vancouver area, right around the time the Canucks made their 1994 Stanley Cup final run. This was his first introduction to hockey. He would eventually make the jump to the BCHL before heading to D3 SUNY Geneseo. Funny enough, our teams actually played against each other regularly so we went down memory lane with our school battles and fan sections. Stefan would spend 4 years at Geneseo. He then did what your typical coach does, take years off to backpack around the world. What a life experience and something Stefan recommends to anyone out there willing to give it a try. Stefan then ended up at York University working on his thesis and decided he would get into minor hockey as a coach. They ended up being a wagon and winning the championship. This gave Stefan the idea of continuing his work as a coach and he got gull support from his wife. Stefan would sit down with the Women's HC at Colgate University and immediately showed his love/determination for the game. He would start as a volunteer coach before doing 8 years as an Assistant Coach and now just finished his first season as Head Coach. We talked a lot about Stefan's passion for Women's hockey, the types of athletes he looks to recruit at Colgate and the satisfaction he gets from seeing his players move on to the PWHL. Stefan was smiling the whole episode and we had some good laughs. Hope you enjoy!

Episode 79: Chris MacKenzie. UConn Women's hockey coach Chris MacKenzie joined the prohockeypod this week. Chris grew up in Niagara Falls where he played minor hockey before jumping to Junior C and then Junior B. We talked about how him going level by level was good for his development. Ending his junior career with an Ontario championship, Chris took at chance and committed to a brand new D3 school, Niagara University. This new powerhouse was coached by Blaise MacDonald, who would have a big impact on Chris's life and career. Niagara would play 2 years at D3, win a championship in year 2 before being promoted to D1, where they didn't miss a step. They would beat a lot of top teams as a new program and went on an NCAA Tournament run in Chris's senior season. After graduating, Chris would head to Finland to play a year of pro hockey with TPS. After that season, Chris would get a job as an Assistant Coach at UMass-Lowell, who was coached by Blaise MacDonald. We talked about his 8 seasons there and how he continued to learn from Blaise. After Lowell, Chris would return to Niagara University as a Head Coach, but on the Women's side. This is where we would cross paths, as I was in my freshman year at Niagara. The Women's program would be shut down a few years later and Chris ended up at University of Connecticut as the Women's HC. We talked about the type of athlete's he looks to recruit at UConn, where he found the program and how much they have progressed over his 12 seasons (and counting), capped off by a division championship and NCAA Tournament bid in 23/24. We also dove into how the women's game has grown over the years and where Chris sees it continuing to go. Hope you enjoy!

Episode 78: Garrett Raboin. Garrett grew up with hockey in his veins in the state of Minnesota. His dad, Bruce Raboin, was drafted to the NHL and played pro hockey. So naturally Bruce passed his passion down to his son. Garrett would go on to play NCAA D1 at St. Cloud State University, where he also wore a letter for 3 seasons. After school, Garrett jumped on a plane to begin his pro career in Finland. We talked about his experience playing and living in Finland. After Finland and a brief stop in Norway, Garrett went back to St. Cloud State as an Assistant Coach and began learning from Coach Motzko. Garrett would spend 10 seasons working along side Coach Motzko (6 at St. Cloud and 4 at Minnesota), before embarking on his own head coaching venture. Augustana University added D1 hockey to their program and Garrett was the man for the job. He spent the first year recruiting players for the program and has just finished his 2nd season behind the bench, which showed major progress. We dove deep into how the whole process went and the type of people he is looking to bring to Augustana. Keep your eye on this program and their constant progression. Hope you enjoy!

Episode 77: David Urquhart. David had a similar upbringing like myself. He grew up in a small town that had a strong tight knit community which rallied around it's sports teams. For David, this was the Junior B team, the Thorold Blackhawks. David would go on to play for his home town team, as well as the Welland Cougars before heading off to McGill University. He talked about playing for coach Martin Raymond who taught him a lot about leadership and being a student athlete. After wearing a letter 3 of his 4 years at McGill, David would embark on a 6 year professional career, that included playing in the AHL & ECHL, before heading overseas to Italy for 3 seasons and 1 championship. We talked about his experience living in Italy and shared some funny stories of the differences in Europe. After winning the championship, David would retire and transition to coaching, starting as an Assistant Coach back at McGill. David would then get an opportunity to work in San Diego of the AHL for 3 seasons and his story is very unique. Dallas Eakins (San Diego's HC at the time) had sent a tweet while being at a coaching symposium in Dallas, Texas about going for an early morning run and all coaches were invited. David showed up, kept up, and was able to share his knowledge with Dallas over the next few days, which landed him a job with San Diego. Crazy story. After his 3 years with SD, David would return to McGill University, this time as Head Coach. We talked about his recruiting process at McGill, the type of student athletes that are required at McGill, as well as the rise of USports hockey with many players signing pro contracts after graduating. If you are looking to hear from someone very knowledgeable and full of insight, then this episode is for you. Hope you enjoy!

Episode 76: Luke Esposito. Luke comes from quite the bloodline of hockey players. His grandfather Doug Messier played in the WHL-Sr, uncle Paul Messier had a long pro career that included 6 seasons here in Mannheim and of course, his other uncle Mark Messier, whose career and Hall of Fame NHL resume speaks for itself. I first saw Luke play last season when he was in Augsburg and I really liked his game. An undersized player with lots of skill, but he also plays the game the right way and isn't afraid to play hard/with grit. We talked about his upbringing in USA and his journey through high school hockey. Luke would play 1 season in the BCHL before earning the chance to attend D1 Harvard University. Harvard is a prestigious school known for its academics and I was interested to talk to Luke about how he juggled both hockey and academics. We also talked about the strong teams he was apart of at Harvard that included 2 ECAC Championships, multiple players going on to have NHL careers and former prohockeypod guest and Luke's roommate, Tyler Moy. After graduating Harvard, Luke would begin his NA pro grind where he played 6 seasons in the AHL for Grand Rapids and Bakersfield. Luke went into detail about the things he learned in the AHL and taking on different roles on teams. We discussed how most teams in the AHL have many guys who could play top 6 roles but aren't giving the chance for multiple reasons, so like Luke, they have to find a way to contribute and help the team each night. After his 6th season in NA, Luke would venture over to Germany and join Augsburg in the DEL. He proved he could put up points in Germany and be an impact player, which earned him a contract here in Mannheim. We also talked a bit about Luke's love for the sport of golf and why he is so interested in it. Hope you enjoy!

Episode 75: Felix Brückmann. Adler Mannheim goalie Felix Brückmann joined the prohockeypod this week. We talked about Felix growing up with 2 brothers in Freiburg, Germany, who also played hockey, and how he decided to become a goalie. Felix would head to the Jungadler Mannheim program at 16 years old where he would play 2 seasons of U18 and win 1 Championship. After that, his pro career began with 3 seasons for the Heilbronn Falcon in the DEL2 before debuting in the DEL at 21 years old with the Adler Mannheim. We talked about the adjustment for Felix as a young goalie in the pros and he even remembered the story of how he got his first DEL start. Felix has split time in his career between the Adler Mannheim and Grizzlys Wolfsburg. Felix is such a humble person. He comes to the rink everyday and puts in the work. We also talked about how Felix had to overcome an injury in Wolfsburg that required double hip surgery and put him out of action for 12 months. I was curious to find out how he stayed so mentally positive/strong through the recovery process, persevered to come back and continue where he left off in the DEL. Felix has also represented Germany multiple times throughout his career at many different levels (Juniors, World Championship's and Olympic Games). Felix is currently finishing up his 17th year pro and shows no signs of slowing down. Hope you enjoy!

Episode 74: Ian Herbers. University of Alberta Head Coach Ian Herbers found some time in his busy schedule to jump on the prohockeypod. Ian grew up playing hockey in Alberta before embarking on a 4 year WHL journey. He was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers but due to an injury, decided to go the USports route. During his years as a player at U of Alberta, Ian was fortunate to win a championship. He talked about that season and the group of guys, as well as mentioning they just had their 25 anniversary a couple years ago. Ian constantly brought up that he didn't think too much about how is career was going or going up levels. He simply just showed up everyday, put in his work and enjoyed being in the locker room with his teammates. After university, Ian started his pro journey through the AHL and IHL, while playing NHL games with Edmonton, Tampa Bay and New York. Throughout his playing career, he was able to win a USports championship, a Turner Cup in the IHL and a Calder Cup in the AHL. Ian had a couple years as a Player Coach so it was no surprise that when he retired, he would transition to behind the bench. He has coached in many leagues (AHL, OHL, ECHL, NHL and CIS/USports). As mentioned, Ian was able to make it to the NHL as an Assistant Coach with the Edmonton Oilers for a few seasons. I asked him how he handled/coached star players in Edmonton like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. He brought up how easy it was to work with them, their incredible work ethic and always trying to improve. Ian is now back at UofA as the Head Coach and has added some more titles to his coaching resume. Great talking to Ian and I was very happy I got the chance to pick his brain. Hope you enjoy!

Episode 73: Rob Bentivegna. Brock University Assistant Coach Rob Bentivegna joined the prohockeypod this week. Rob and I crossed paths often in Burlington, both in hockey arenas and on the softball pitch. Rob played in the Burlington Eagle's minor hockey system before making the jump to Junior B. Once Rob was done playing, he immediately started running ice sessions as a skill coach. Word travelled fast in the GTA area and soon Rob had players from the NHL, AHL, NCAA, OHL and pro in Europe. I remember participating in this skates and was always fascinated by the detail Rob put into them. It was a good mix of working on individual skills and also game situation drills. I find that is often missing today when we think of skills practices/coaches. Rob also had the fire to be a coach and has worked his way up the ranks. He started at the AAA level in Oakville, then made the jump to the OJHL before making the transition to USports. He is currently in his 2nd season at Brock University. Rob is a big believer in giving back to minor hockey and hopes to continue to do that in the future. It is always good to see people like this who enjoy working and developing the next generation of athletes. If you are looking for someone to work with your child in ice hockey, Rob would be a good candidate. Hope you enjoy!  

Episode 72: Andrew Dovey. Another fellow Burlington raised hockey player joined the prohockeypod this week. Andrew Dovey didn't have the usual Canadian hockey path. He didn't play AAA hockey until his OHL draft year and ended up playing Tier 2 junior until he was 21. We talked about some memories of junior, including going all the way to the Sunderland Cup Finals in his last season. Andrew would go on to D3 Adrian College, where funny enough, we would play against each other 2 times in the playoffs (1-1). Dovey would play 1 year of pro in the SPHL after college before transitioning to coaching. He would go to Canisius College as a Graduate Assistant for 2 seasons which lead to him where he is today at University of Toronto in USports. Andrew talked about all he has learned along his journey and how he tries to share his experiences with his athletes at UofT. We also mentioned early how it is awesome to see how many people from Burlington who went on to have long playing careers or have gotten into coaching. A testament to the city of Burlington and how many players have developed in the Eagles system. Hope you enjoy!

Episode 71: TJ Manastersky. Fellow Oswego Alumni and current Head Coach of Brock University, TJ Manastersky, stopped by the prohockeypod this week. TJ grew up in the GTA area and would end up playing 5 years in the OJHL before heading off to D3 SUNY-Oswego. We swapped stories about Oswego, the great community support the team gets, Bridge Street Runs, and some funny memories of the historic Oswego/Plattsburgh rivalry. After College, TJ would play 1 year professionally in the SPHL before transitioning to coaching. He was given a chance to get his foot in the door at Canisius College for 2 season before going to SUNY-Fredonia. He would get his first Head Coaching job at Curry College where he stayed for 9 seasons, helping to turn the program around and become a strong contender. After a brief stop with D1 Union College, TJ would find a home at Brock University. It didn't take him long to make an impact. In his 2nd season, the team would have their best year in school program history and TJ would win Coach of the Year. One part of the interview that really stood out to me was when we talked about how TJ establishes his culture at his schools. He takes into consideration the school history/community involved as well as his players. How do they see the culture? What do they want to be viewed as? Questions like these. Ultimately this leads to teams creating their own identity and running with it. Another great episode so give it a listen and hope you enjoy!

Episode 70: Brian Riley. Legendary Army Coach Brian Riley doesn't need any introduction. His resume and the impact he has made at West Point speaks for itself. All the Riley family members are born into the sport of hockey and have no choice but to be involved. Brian was no different. Brian grew up at West Point while his dad was coaching the team and he talked about some memories of him living at the rink. He went on to play at Brown University before transitioning to coaching. He started at D3 SUNY-Plattsburgh, where he won 2 D3 NCAA Championships, before returning home to Army to coach along side his brother Rob. After many years coaching together, Rob decided to move on and Brian recalls a big moment in his career, when he was interviewed for the Head Coaching job at West Point. Brian met with the Director and immediately explained how they need to change some players and incorporate a strong culture. This took a lot of courage to do in an interview but it paid off as Brian was hired and has been the HC at Army ever since. He has been Coach of the Year 4 times and helped Army win their only Conference Title in school history in 07/08. He is a big believer in the “Power of One” and this tradition they have started is quite fascinating and meaningful. Brian is in his final season of coaching and wrapping up a 39 year career. A great accomplishment. It was awesome to get some time to talk with him and I wish him well in retirement. Hope you enjoy!

Episode 69: Jean-François Houle. Quick and sweet interview this week with the Head Coach of Clarkson University Jean-Francois Houle. He only had about 25 minutes to spare so we buzzed through both his playing career and coaching. JF had a unique upbringing since his dad was an NHL player, so immediately he was around the dressing room and hockey was injected into his veins. JF would go on to get drafted to his hometown team the Montreal Canadians (the team his dad played 11 seasons for) and receive a D1 scholarship to Clarkson University. He would have 4 successful seasons at Clarkson before starting his Pro career for the next 5 seasons. As soon as JF retired, he knew he wanted to get into coaching and returned home to Clarkson University for 7 seasons as an Assistant Coach. JF is a strong believer in moving around as a young coach to try to learn as much as you can from multiple people. Pulling pieces from each coach that you like to create your own DNA as a coach is very important. He did exactly that, coaching at various levels of hockey as an Assistant Coach or Head Coach, including AHL, ECHL, QMJHL and NCAA. He was awarded HC of the Year in the QMJHL when he was with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in 11/12. He has recently returned home to Clarkson University as their new Head Coach. Even though it was short, it was great talking to Mr. Houle. Hope you enjoy!

Episode 68: Wayne Wilson. I was lucky to get Wayne Wilson, the legendary coach from RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) to hop on the prohockeypod this week for 35 minutes. Wayne went to Bowling Green State University where he won a National Championship in 1984 before embarking on his coaching career. He was able to work under the legendary coach Jerry York for a few years and learn the ropes. A chance to become a Head Coach at D3 RIT came open and Wayne didn't hesitate. He went on to win Coach of the Year in his 2nd season and a few years later, RIT made the jump to D1 hockey. After being promoted to D1, RIT continued to have success which resulted in Wayne winning D1 Coach of the Year in 09/10. For a school that didn't have athletic scholarships until just recently, Wayne has consistently built solid programs and been competitive each season. One of his great memories is from 2010 when RIT made it to the Frozen Four. He is very humble, full of experience/knowledge and I was happy to get the chance to speak with him. Hope you enjoy!

Canisius College Head Coach, Trevor Large dropped by the prohockeypod this week. Like most Canadian's, he was attracted to hockey at a young age. One interesting thing about his story is that he quit hockey during his OHL draft year out of nowhere. A year later, Trevor missed the game and decided to make a comeback, earning a spot with a Tier 2 Junior A team in Brampton. This decision led him to Ferris State University and earning a degree. He joined the real world for two years as a computer programmer, but then soon realized he missed being in the game of hockey. He and his fiancé at the time, took a chance on an unpaid graduate assistant position at AIC. This decision and him paying his dues for two years led him to an assistant coaching job at Army West Point for 6 seasons, before transferring to Canisius College as an Assistant Coach and now in his 8th season as Head Coach. We talked about what he has learned over the years and how he has helped Canisius win an Atlantic Hockey Championship in 2023. His teams are built on culture and 3 important things he looks for in recruiting players: positive, competitive, and team first. Very simple but effective. We also both talked about the “want” and “pride” to play for your college and wear their badge. Something I think is sometimes lost on our athletes today. In the example of Canisius, once a Griff, always a Griff. That means something to the players Trevor recruits. It was really good to talk to Trevor Large and I hope you enjoy!

Episode 66: Brett Riley. Very happy to get the chance to have Long Island University Head Coach Brett Riley hop on the prohockeypod this week. When you think of the Riley family, you think of hockey and coaching. Brett's dad, Rob, had a long career in coaching at West Point and is now a scout for the Colorado Avalanche. Brett's uncle, Brian, is in his 33rd and final season of coaching at West Point. Brett's grandfather, Jack, was the Head Coach at West Point for 36 years. Safe to say that Brett didn't have a choice but to get into hockey at a young age. Brett was a D3 athlete, like myself, who went to Hobart College. Funny enough, we actually played a few times against each other. Brett was always eager to coach and was even commuting during his senior year to recruit players for his US Prep school team, that he was becoming the HC for next season. He has always enjoyed building programs from the ground up and the effort that goes into doing so. He first did this at D3 Wilkes University and has been doing it for the past 5 years at D1 Long Island University. He talks a lot of pride in his "blue collar" teams and never being outworked. That is something I respect. Honestly, after talking to Brett and hearing him speak about hockey and his family background, it is no surprise that he has risen up the coaching ranks so quickly. If you want to see what it takes to rise quickly and be a student of the game, then this episode is a must listen. Hope you enjoy!

Episode 65: Scott Sandelin. The prohockeypod was honoured to have long time NCAA D1 Head Coach Scott Sandelin come on this week. Scott is currently in his 25th season as Head Coach at Minnesota-Duluth University. A draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens, Scott played D1 hockey himself at North Dakota before embarking on a 7 year professional playing career. Scott retired at the age of 28 and jumped immediately into coaching. He went back to North Dakota University as an Assistant Coach, learning from Dean Blais and was able to win 2 National Championships in his 6 years there. He then made the jump to Head Coach at Minnesota-Duluth and his resume/record speaks for itself. 3 National Championships (2011/2018/2019), multiple NCCA tournament appearances, and Coach of the Year (03/04), just to name a few. Scott is also very proud of the fact that his athletes have the most “free agent” NHL games of any D1 school. We talked a lot about his coaching philosophies, what he has learned over the years and the types of players he likes to recruit. It was awesome to talk hockey with Scott and I am happy he had some time for me. Hope you enjoy!

Colgate University alumni and Head Coach Mike Harder stopped by the prohockeypod this week. Mike has always held Colgate close to his heart and has taken pride in always giving back in some way. He has been part of school on many forms, whether it was first as a player, then volunteer then Assistant Coach and now Head Coach. He bleeds Maroon. I actually played my first college career game @ Colgate so we joked about how it has a different special meaning for me. We talked about his journey through pro hockey and his venture over to Europe. He was part of 2 Championship teams, one in the AHL and one in Germany. After his playing career ended, Mile jumped immediately into coaching in Italy and there was never a question of what he would do after. I feel like this whole episode we were just laughing and smiling, talking about his career and memories from his playing days. His passion for hockey and being at the rink is clear. Really enjoyed talking to Mike and I believe he enjoyed sharing his story. Hope you enjoy!

This week the prohockeypod was fortunate to have long time coach Troy Ward spare some time for chat. Troy Ward is a name many people in the hockey world know or have heard. His long coaching career is a testament to him wanting it more than others and his willingness to put in the hard work. Like myself, Troy was a graduate of D3 hockey who knew as soon as he was done playing, he wanted to get into coaching. Troy has coached in NCAA, CHL, NHL and European pro. He was given advice young in his coaching career to try to move around a lot early on and learn from as many people as possible. Be a sponge and soak up all the knowledge he could. Troy has always been known as a coach who teaches his athletes how to be professionals on the ice, but more importantly, off the ice. Skills and characteristics that these athletes will use long after their hockey careers. If you are interested in learning about coaching all over the world and how to shape young athletes, then this episode is for you. Hope you enjoy!

2-time NCAA D1 Champion Nate Leaman came on the prohockeypod this week and we made the most of our 35 minutes together. Like myself, Nate is a graduate of the NCAA D3 path who has gone on to do great things in the game. He worked his way up as an Assistant Coach with the University of Maine and Harvard before taking a chance with an up and coming program at Union College. Nate wore many hats there and slowly began building a power house that over his time, became a top 10 school in D1 hockey. After his time at Union, Nate took another chance with Providence College and helped rebuild their program to ultimately winning a National Championship in 14/15. Even though we only got to chat for 35 minutes, I left this episode in “awe” of the knowledge Nate has about the sport of hockey. It is easy to see why he has had success with multiple NCAA programs and with Team USA. If you have some time to hear from someone as respected in college hockey as Nate Leaman is, this episode is for you. Hope you enjoy!

The prohockeypod keeps rolling along with GM's from the CHL. This week, Bill Bowler from the Windsor Spitfires. Bill has always been part of the Windsor Spitfires family. Whether it was as a player for 4 years or returning to be an assistant coach, VP of Hockey Operations and now the General Manager. He bleeds for Windsor. We talked about his OHL playing career, debuting in the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets, venturing over to Germany and winning a championship, before transitioning to the coaching side. Bill talked about his passion for the game and grinding to work his way up in the coaching/management world while still working a normal job. Eventually his hard work paid off when he became Vice President of Hockey Operations in Windsor and helping them win a Memorial Cup. He is now in his 6th season as the GM and we talked about what he looks for in his players, as well as his staff members. Hope you enjoy!

Ottawa 67's GM James Boyd spared some time for the prohockeypod this week. James has a lot of experience in the OHL, starting with playing 4 years in the league. After the OHL, James went to the University of Guelph before being offered an Assistant Coaching position back in the OHL with the Belleville Bulls. James learned a lot from Lou Crawford in these first few years before being promoted to HC. After Belleville, James moved to the Toronto/Mississauga franchise where he would hold different positions over 13 years including Assistant Coach/Assistant GM and then Head Coach/General Manager duties. We talked a lot about his experiences doing both jobs and how he juggled all the responsibilities. His time in Mississauga brought a lot of success, including a Memorial Cup Finals appearance in 2011. After 16/17, James moved on to the Ottawa 67's where he has been the GM for the past 7 seasons. I asked him about how he picks his players, coaching staff members and what it means to be a 67. We also touched on their core values. Hope you enjoy!

Prince Albert Raiders GM Curtis Hunt joined the prohockeypod this week. From day 1, Curtis always believed in for the goodness of the team. Team first mentality. He grew up playing multiple sports and took a tryout in the WHL, thinking nothing of it. Next thing you know, he was drafted to the NHL and would embark on a 9 year pro career before shifting his focus to coaching. After years of coaching Pro and in the WHL, he transitioned to a GM role. Someone like Curtis has a lot of experience in both the coaching and general manager world. I asked him what he looks for in players and picking his rosters, as well as the requirements he tries to have in picking a head coach. He also touched on how Prince Albert has instituted a mentorship program which allows coaches to get their foot in the door, gain experience and see if this could be a good fit for both sides. There is a reason Curtis has been doing this a long time. Hope you enjoy!

7 time DEL Champion Youri Ziffzer took some time out of his busy work schedule to come on the prohockeypod this week. Youri had an unusual path to ice hockey but once he was introduced, he didn't look back. We talked about how he first became a goalie and starting his pro career at such a young age. Youri built up a reputation in the DEL as being a great team guy and was always wanted by the top teams. We dove deep into his “role” as a goalie in Germany as a “1B”. In hockey, championship teams need 2 goalies who are capable of stepping into the net and handling the pressure at any time. This is something Youri prided himself on and understood his job as a team player. At the end of the day, he was part of the team and the success that came with it each season. This is a great mindset to have as an athlete. After he retired, he jumped right into the office world with the Adler Mannheim as Team Manager. Youri talked about the adjustment it is, going from playing hockey to the work world and how it changed his daily routine. A lot of great lessons here and I have a lot of respect for Youri and what he achieved. Happy to have him as my boss, as well as call him a friend. Hope you enjoy!

Current Schwenningen Wild Wings goalie coach Josh Robinson stopped by the prohockeypod this week. We talked about his unusual path of playing AA most of his minor hockey career and his crazy jump to the USHL after only 6 AAA games to his name. He went on to play NCAA at Michigan Tech where he continued to grow his game and battle through adversity. After college, he signed pro with the Dallas Stars organization and began his AHL/ECHL goalie grind. Josh would venture over to EU on 2 different occasions in his playing career before returning back to the ECHL. After retiring, Josh began Goalie & Video Coaching in NA then heading to Germany, where he is starting his 3rd season in the DEL. Near the end, we jumped into Josh developing new ways of tracking/using analytics for goalies and implementing them into their training. It was honestly very interesting to see how he uses this kind of data and uses it to train his goalies so that in games they have already done these scenarios many times over. It was a pleasure to talk to Josh and pick his brain. Hope you enjoy!

This week the prohockey pod was happy to have Frank Hora stop by. Since Frank was little, his only path seemed to be hockey. Being one of 7 siblings, he was immediately thrown in net for the basement mini stick sessions. Frank soon transitioned to Defence and from there his game developed. We talked about Frank's childhood growing up in NY State and his early introduction to the Buffalo Sabres. After youth hockey, Frank played 4 seasons with the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL (with multiple NHL camp invites) before starting his pro journey in NA. We talked about the “grind” it is below the NHL and how Frank handled the constant change in teams. Frank has since taken his game to Europe, where he played in Slovakia last season and will be suiting up for the Graz 99ers in Austria this season. Hope you enjoy!

Mitch grew up in the Montreal area before moving to Kitchener. We went through some of his funny minor hockey experiences before he transitioned to the OHL at 16. Mitch played 5 seasons in the OHL with a lot of deep playoff runs and getting drafted to the NHL. After major junior, Mitch jumped between pro and USports before landing in Norway, where we became teammates. We talked about our famous day off routine that helped us get through a tough season. We then dove deep into how Mitch gave up playing pro to become a caddy and what life is like for him now in pro golf. If you are someone interested in both hockey and golf, then this is a good episode for you. Hope you enjoy!

It took us awhile to get our schedules to match up but Kasimir Kaskisuo was finally able to hop on the pod. Kasimir is a goalie from Finland who made the jump over to NA when he was 20 years old to pursue his dream. We talked about his college career, him signing pro, the grind and his eventual NHL start against Pittsburgh. After North America, Kaz went to Sweden for 2 seasons before returning to NA this past season. Kaz has also gained popularity through his youtube videos and documenting his life as a pro goalie, which started in the covid/hockey bubble days. I think these videos are great for his audience to see the “behind the scenes” of a pro athlete and can also help influence young goalies into good habits. Hope you enjoy! Check out his links below:Instagram: kaskisuoYoutube: KasimirKaskisuoOfficial

Max didn't have your “normal path” career. His story is quite interesting. We talked about how in an 8 month span he was cut from one team, played on another and then was drafted in the 1st round to QMJHL in his second year of eligibility. He played 3 years in the Q before going onto pro in the AHL. Even though he produced, he was only given 6 games in the NHL before embarking on a long career in Switzerland. We dove into like in Swiss, why he came back briefly to NA and how he was able to carve out a long career. He represented his country many times, including 2 Olympics (he won a Bronze Medal in 2018) and 6 Spengler Cups. Throughout the podcast, he mentions time and time again about continuous improvement and how you don't give up on a dream, you just change it. Honestly there are so many good quotes, tips and motivational advice in this episode. From this you can see why Max had the long career he did and how now he is able to build his own training brand with Noreau Hockey. For any underdogs out there, this episode will inspire you. Hope you enjoy!Here is the link to his website for Noreau Hockey:https://noreauhockey.com

Adler Mannheim video coach Florian Keinz stopped by the prohockeypod this week. From someone who grew up a fan of the team spending countless hours/games in the stands cheering on the boys to now being behind the scenes working as the teams video coach is quite the unusual path. Florian bleeds Adler Mannheim and is someone who gives everything for the club. He talks about his beginnings in soccer, how he got interested in hockey and now his work as a video coach for a top team in Germany. He is known for his work ethic and undivided passion for his team. If you ever were interested in getting into pro hockey as a video coach, then this podcast is for you. Hope you enjoy!

The captain Denis Reul stopped in to the prohockeypod this week. Denis is known for his defensive play, physicalness and overall team play. We talked about how he got into hockey growing up in a small town, his journey to North America, being drafted to the NHL and playing his whole DEL career in Mannheim. He has represented Germany on many occasion's and he explained the importance of this. I also picked his brain on the keys to being a leader and what you need to be a champion. We kept it short and sweet for this episode. Hope you enjoy!

Tyler Moy was great to chat with this week and shared a lot of insight. A great work ethic was instilled in him at a young age and fired his absolute love/addiction to the sport of hockey. Tyler is a graduate of Harvard University and he shared his time there balancing school and athletics. After Harvard, Tyler signed a contract with the Nashville Predators, the NHL team that had drafted him. He shared his experiences in NA before heading over to Switzerland. He also talked about his decision to work with a mental coach and the positive effects this has had on his game and health. If you want to hear someone talk passionately about the game of hockey and getting better, this episode is for you. Hope you enjoy!

The pride of Hamilton Tyler Gaudet joined the prohockeypod this week. Tyler took a chance to go to the QMJHL, was sent down to Pembroke, where he met Sheldon Keefe. Sheldon ended up getting a job with the OHL's Soo Greyhounds and took Tyler with him at the age of 19. 8 months later, Tyler signed an NHL contract with the Arizona Coyotes. Tyler went through adversity, didn't give up and was rewarded for his perseverance. We talked a lot about the power of being confident and how playing your game can lead to success. Tyler went on to play 390 games in AHL and 20 in the NHL before heading to Germany. Tyler talked a lot about the importance of living in the moment and not focusing on the future/next step, something he wish he did earlier in his pro career. A great “never give up” story and perfect example of how everyone has their own path. Hope you enjoy!

This weeks episode is a special one and brought back a lot of memories. Mike Lomas is a guy i grew up playing minor hockey with in Burlington. He went the OHL route for 5 years before playing USports at Carleton University in Ottawa. Mike talked about his time in the OHL and what he learned year to year. Mike also was very honest about his past battles, how he turned himself around and continues to stay sober today. It takes a lot of strength to admit you need help and a great support system as well. I have a lot of respect for Mike and how he continues to grow as a person. This podcast got a bit emotional but in a good way. Mike is also a big Toronto Maple Leafs fan and we dived into them as well. A bit of a different episode but an important one. Hope you enjoy!

German born defenseman Korbinian Holzer dropped by the prohockeypod this week. Holzy's resume speaks for itself. Over 500 games in NA pro (NHL/AHL), Olympic Games, World Junior's, KHL and 250 (and counting) DEL games. Korbinian shared his story on growing up in Germany, choosing to pursue a career in hockey over soccer and what he learned as a young pro that allowed him to get drafted to the NHL and transition to North America. He also seems to always have a funny trade story and shared both of them during the episode. Holzy has had a great career filled with battling and overcoming obstacles. A great guy to model your game after and someone to look up to for his work ethic and persevere attitude. Hope you enjoy!

 Kyle Gibbons returned this week to the prohockeypod to continue his story. We jumped right into him leaving pro in North America and heading to Germany. Kyle played 3 seasons in Deggendorf, including helping them get promoted to the DEL2. We went through the craziness of the next few years and how he got through it. Kyle is currently playing his 11th pro season for Leipzig in the Oberliga in Germany. Kyle talked about the importance of good practice habits and practicing like you play. He also brought up preparing for life after hockey and how to deal with the “fear” players have of being done. Lots of good points and helpful advice. Hope you enjoy!

Kyle grew up in Ohio and was drawn to hockey at a young age by the local pro team, the Cleveland Lumberjacks. We talked about his childhood and his passion for the game of hockey. He went on to play in the USHL and made the decision to go NCAA to Canisius College in Buffalo. He had a very successful 4 years before moving on to pro in the ECHL and SPHL leagues. We talked about the grind and what he learned throughout his journey. Part 2 coming next week. Hope you enjoy!

Jordan is a defenseman for the Adler Mannheim and is currently playing in his 8th season of professional hockey. Jordan had a dream of playing in the QMJHL and he set his mind to that. Even though he didn't make the jump until he was 18, he got to do it for 3 years. After major junior, Jordan attended the University of New Brunswick for 4 years and was able to win 2 University Cups. This earned him a chance in the AHL where he played parts of 4 seasons before adventuring over to Europe. He was able to gain experience in both the KHL and SHL before settling in Germany. He shared his experiences and had some funny stories as well. Hope you enjoy!

Finnish Legend Petri Vehanen joined the prohockeypod this week. Petri and I work together with the Adler Mannheim and I have got to know him well. Petri was a late bloomer who's mindset was simple: work hard everyday. It ended up paying off as he went on to play 20 years professionally, win a KHL Championship, Gold Medal for Finland at the 2011 World Championships and lastly, had his number retired by Lukko Rauma. He had quite the run and now is sharing his knowledge to the goalie's in Mannheim. It is very inspirational to see everything he achieved. If you like underdog stories then this episode is for you. Hope you enjoy!

Yannick is a young German prospect known for his work ethic and playing for the Adler Mannheim in the DEL. We talked about his minor hockey journey in Germany that eventually led to him signing a DEL contract. Yannick also was drafted to the WHL and talked about his experience in Spokane. He is one of the happiest people i have met who is always smiling and excited to come to the rink everyday to put in the work. He is a great kid with a bright future ahead of him. Hope you enjoy!

Jordan is another Burlington guy who I grew up with and spent a lot of time training together. He is known for his hard work ethic and I have seen that first hand. Jordan went the OHL route, was drafted to the NHL and played 9 seasons of North American Pro in the AHL, which also included 50 games in the NHL. He then headed off to the KHL in Russia before coming to Germany. He is currently in his 3rd season with the Adler Mannheim. We talked about his journey and what he learned from his hard road. Jordan has always stuck to his morales and been the hardest working guy day in and day out. Good lesson for all the young athletes out there. Hope you enjoy!

The Union Dutchmen alumni are back. Happy to have been able to chat with Wayne Simpson this week. Wayne is currently in his 11th pro season and 5th with the ERC Ingolstadt in Germany. We talked about his childhood in Georgia and how he grew up in an athletic family with a passion for doing well in both sports and in the classroom. Wayne talked a lot about the importance of being confident and how it can translate to your game. We dabbled in his college days, the famous workouts and his rise through pro in NA and now in Germany. Hope you enjoy!

It was awesome to sit down with Shea Tiley this week. Shea is a Clarkson Alumni who won 2 National Titles and has represented Canada on multiple occasions internationally with the women's team. She has been a big part of the growth of the women's pro league in NA and continues to help promote the brand. Shea educated me on the progress of the new league and everything that goes into it behind the scenes. Very surprising to hear how much goes into it but great to hear all the hard work is paying off. Many great things ahead for women's hockey. Hope you enjoy!

It was great to sit down with ERC Ingolstadt GM Tim Regan this week. Tim grew up in Massachusetts before earning himself a D1 Scholarship to RPI for hockey. After earning his degree, Tim headed to Germany (for 1 year) and hasn't returned since. He carved out a long playing career, been a coach on the German National Team and is now a GM. He had some great insight and advice on how he got to where he is and what he believes the foundations are. If you are someone interested in being a player/coach/GM in EU, then this episode is for you. Hope you enjoy!  

This week I wanted to take some time to discuss the importance and remind athletes to Appreciate the Game and Enjoy the Ride. I talked about different levels of a player's hockey journey and what I feel is important to learn/remember with each step. At the end of the day, be grateful to the game and enjoy the experience. Its YOUR journey, do not compare it to others and take it all in. Hope you enjoy!

Jake is a guy who has shown throughout his career that progression is possible if you are willing to put in the hard work. From the USHL to Clarkson University before signing an NHL contract and now playing in Europe, Jake has always found a way to keep improving his game and being a wanted addition to any team. He shared a lot of good insight on his experiences and lessons he learned along the way. Hope you enjoy!

Robby is a professional hockey player who grew up in California and is currently playing in Slovakia. We talked about what drew him to the sport and how it was for him playing hockey in Cali at a young age. He went on to play 4 years D1 for St. Cloud University and earned himself a degree in broadcasting. Robby is big on reflection and enjoying the moment, which I believe is a good for everyone to learn and helps you mentally rejuvenate . Hope you enjoy!

Mat Bodie joined the prohockeypod this week. He is a long time pro and leader by nature. We took a trip down memory lane from his time at Union College where he ended as a National Champion before embarking on his professional career. We dove a lot into how he is a leader and his belief on the best characteristics to be one. Honestly, i can see why his teammates look up to him and have so much respect. Hard to not run through a wall for this guy. Hope you enjoy!

Brett Thompson joined the prohockeypod this week. Brett is a product of the OHL who went the USports route after before heading over to Europe to embark on his pro career. He is currently playing in the top league in Denmark. We dove into his dream of playing in the OHL and being able to do it for some years in the Soo. We talked about everything he learned along the way and that has helped him continue his career today. Hope you enjoy!

Current Assistant Coach for the Powell River Kings of the BCHL Kyle Bodie joined the prohockeypod this week. Kyle was a product of the BCHL himself, who went on to play D1 at Union College before playing professionally in NA and Europe. We talked a lot about his experiences in College and how he has transitioned to the coaching side. We also took a deep dive into what he communicates to his players and how he helps prepare them for the next level. Hope you enjoy!