In this episode of Puck Academy, host Jason Jacobs talks to Ben Guite, the head coach of men's ice hockey at Bowdoin College. They discuss Ben's journey from playing at the University of Maine to his professional career in the NHL, AHL, and ECHL, and his transition into coaching. They explore the impact of growing up in a hockey household and how the game and player development have evolved over the years. Key topics include Ben's coaching philosophy, the role of video and data, recent rule changes like NIL and the transfer portal, and the future of the game. Ben also shares insights on balancing fun and hard work in youth hockey, the importance of character and culture in building successful teams, and the influence of individual skills training on hockey IQ.

00:00 Introduction to Puck Academy

00:15 Meet Ben Guite: From Player to Coach

01:28 Ben's Early Life and Hockey Journey

01:57 The Evolution of Hockey and Player Development

03:19 Balancing Fun and Competitiveness in Youth Sports

15:25 Recruitment and Character in College Hockey

20:30 Challenges and Growth in College Hockey

27:01 The Importance of Mastering Junior Hockey

28:46 Personal Journey to the NHL

30:13 Balancing Academics and Hockey

33:02 Rise of Specialized Training and Academies

36:26 Evaluating and Teaching Hockey IQ

40:22 Coaching Tactics and Player Development

43:27 Impact of Analytics and Video in Coaching

46:33 Changes in Junior and College Hockey

49:54 The Growing Competitiveness of Youth Hockey

51:55 Building Team Cohesion and Culture

53:39 Final Thoughts and Advice for Hockey Dads

Note: Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

From Player to Coach: Bowdoin Head Coach Ben Guite's Hockey Journey