

The Hockey Think Tank Podcast
thehockeythinktank
The Hockey Think Tank Podcast brings incredible stories, interviews, and great perspective from some of the top hockey minds in the game. Hosted by Topher Scott & Jeff LoVecchio, our podcast will educate and inspire all those that love the game! For all the players, coaches, and hockey parents out there...make this your Go-To show on your way to the rink!
Join our Community here!
Join our Community here!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 1, 2025 • 12min
FRIDAY FACEOFF - HEAD COACH/ASSISTANT COACH RELATIONSHIP
On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph wants to answer a listener question about the relationship between a head coach and an assistant coach in youth hockey. How do you best utilize your assistant coaches? And if you are on different pages, how can you best work that out as an assistant?
TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!
We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!
Follow us:
IG: @HockeyThinkTank
X (Twitter): @HockeyThinkTank
TikTok: @HockeyThinkTank
Facebook: TheHockeyThinkTank Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aug 1, 2025 • 19min
SHORT SHIFTS - WATCHING GAME FOOTAGE WITH HELIOS HOCKEY
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph talks to HELIOS Hockey’s JP Buckley, former Boston University and Bruins Video Coach. We talk about the HELIOS Sensor, the benefits of watching your game footage, and the chance to win your very own HELIOS tracker. Check out the challenge at the link below.
HELIOS HOCKEY CHALLENGE
TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!
We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!
Shout out to this Short Shifts supporter: SkateTech Skate Sharpening & Equipment Repair
Follow us:
IG: @HockeyThinkTank
X (Twitter): @HockeyThinkTank
TikTok: @HockeyThinkTank
Facebook: TheHockeyThinkTank Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jul 29, 2025 • 1h 7min
Smaller Players, Resiliency, & Developing with Intention with Guest Kevin Clark, Former Pro Player - EP 375
This week Topher and Jeff talk with Kevin Clark, former University of Alaska Anchorage men’s ice hockey team player, former DEL and AHL player, and current player development and video analysis coach with Cascade Hockey.
In this episode we talk about:
— Mentality of being a smaller player
— Getting kicked off teams and facing adversity head on
— Focusing on developing yourself by becoming a versatile player
— Watching your games to find patterns and specific skills you need to work on
AND SO MUCH MORE!
Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, Helios Hockey, and Crossbar!
And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!
If you’d like to join our Hockey Think Tank Community, head over to Community.TheHockeyThinkTank.com and check it out!
HELIOS HOCKEY CHALLENGE
PARENTS & RECRUITING 101 COURSES
BLUEPRINT ORGANIZATION REFERRAL
Follow us:
IG: @HockeyThinkTank
X (Twitter): @HockeyThinkTank
TikTok: @HockeyThinkTank
Facebook: TheHockeyThinkTank Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jun 23, 2025 • 56min
College Recruiting, Having a High Compete Level, & The Importance of Culture & Character off the Ice With Guest Bryn Chyzyk, University of North Dakota GM - EP 370
This week Topher and Jeff talk with Bryn Chyzyk, general manager of the University of North Dakota Men’s ice hockey team. After years as a general manager in the USHL, he was recently hired as the Fighting Hawks GM for the upcoming 2025-2026 season.
In this episode we talk about:
— How player interviews are playing a bigger role in getting recruited
— How being a late bloomer is an advantage
— How a high compete level immediately increases a player’s chance of getting recruited
— Recognizing that pressure is a privilege
AND SO MUCH MORE!
Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, Helios Hockey, and Crossbar!
And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!
If you’d like to join our Hockey Think Tank Community, head over to Community.TheHockeyThinkTank.com and check it out!
PARENTS & RECRUITING 101 COURSES
BLUEPRINT ORGANIZATION REFERRAL
Follow us:
IG: @HockeyThinkTank
X (Twitter): @HockeyThinkTank
TikTok: @HockeyThinkTank
Facebook: TheHockeyThinkTank Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jun 20, 2025 • 11min
FRIDAY FACEOFF - CREATING CHANGE THROUGH COLLABORATION?!
On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph wants to talk about how to create change on a micro level right where you’re at. There are so many good people in hockey, so why is it so messed up? Let’s talk about how to start creating some positive change in your environment.
TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!
We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!
Follow us:
IG: @HockeyThinkTank
X (Twitter): @HockeyThinkTank
TikTok: @HockeyThinkTank
Facebook: TheHockeyThinkTank Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jun 18, 2025 • 11min
SHORT SHIFTS - WHAT TO DO DURING FREE ICE
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about free ice, stick & pucks, skate & shoot… whatever you know it as. If you have ever found yourself at an unstructured ice session and didn’t know what to work on or do, this episode is for you!
TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!
We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!
Shout out to this Short Shifts supporter: SkateTech Skate Sharpening & Equipment Repair
Follow us:
IG: @HockeyThinkTank
X (Twitter): @HockeyThinkTank
TikTok: @HockeyThinkTank
Facebook: TheHockeyThinkTank Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jun 16, 2025 • 1h 15min
Creating a Better Hockey World for the Next Generation With Guest Jamie Rice, Babson College Head Coach - EP 369
This week Topher talks with Jamie Rice, head coach of the Babson College D3 Men’s Ice Hockey team. Rice is a 3x Conference Coach of the Year, and this episode is a clear indicator as to why. We come together to talk about our common goal of making the hockey world a better and more positive place.
In this episode we talk about:
— “Sending your players home with a smile, but also a sweat on their brow”
— Recognizing that there’s no going back to the community model, but addressing what we can do to help
— Creating an environment that players have a connection to for the rest of their lives
— Passion fueling success: if you’re not passionate about something don’t do it
AND SO MUCH MORE!
Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, Helios Hockey, and Crossbar!
And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!
If you’d like to join our Hockey Think Tank Community, head over to Community.TheHockeyThinkTank.com and check it out!
PARENTS & RECRUITING 101 COURSES
BLUEPRINT ORGANIZATION REFERRAL
Follow us:
IG: @HockeyThinkTank
X (Twitter): @HockeyThinkTank
TikTok: @HockeyThinkTank
Facebook: TheHockeyThinkTank Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jun 13, 2025 • 11min
FRIDAY FACEOFF - IT TAKES A VILLAGE?!
On today’s FRIDAY FACEOFF episode, Toph wants to talk about how it takes a village to be successful in today’s game. Some of the most recent NHL award winners, including Spencer Carbery and Aleksander Barkov, are perfect examples of the fact that nobody ever achieves anything great alone.
TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!
We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!
Follow us:
IG: @HockeyThinkTank
X (Twitter): @HockeyThinkTank
TikTok: @HockeyThinkTank
Facebook: TheHockeyThinkTank Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jun 11, 2025 • 11min
SHORT SHIFTS - TEAM TOUGHNESS
On today’s SHORT SHIFTS episode, Toph wants to talk about team toughness and how it makes your team unstoppable. We use this year’s Florida Panthers as an example of what it means to be a tough team to play against.
TEN MINUTES ON THE CLOCK STARTING NOW!
We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!
Shout out to this Short Shifts supporter: SkateTech Skate Sharpening & Equipment Repair
Follow us:
IG: @HockeyThinkTank
X (Twitter): @HockeyThinkTank
TikTok: @HockeyThinkTank
Facebook: TheHockeyThinkTank Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jun 9, 2025 • 1h 12min
The Coaching Career Path With Guest Tom Peffall, Mercyhurst University’s Head Coach-in-Waiting - EP 368
This week Topher flies solo to talk in person with Tom Peffall, the head coach-in-waiting for Mercyhurst University’s Division I Men’s Ice Hockey team. We’ve talked a lot on the podcast about the different paths for players to higher level hockey, it’s time we talk about the unique paths for coaches too.
In this episode we talk about:
— Building a relationship with your players to encourage their compete level
— Peffall’s unique coaching career path
— The major changes to the college hockey landscape and how it’s affecting recruiting strategy
— How to adapt your coaching style at different levels and working your way up
— How to get your foot in the door and finding the right opportunities
AND SO MUCH MORE!
Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, Helios Hockey, and Crossbar!
And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating, and share on your social sites!
If you’d like to join our Hockey Think Tank Community, head over to Community.TheHockeyThinkTank.com and check it out!
PARENTS & RECRUITING 101 COURSES
BLUEPRINT ORGANIZATION REFERRAL
Follow us:
IG: @HockeyThinkTank
X (Twitter): @HockeyThinkTank
TikTok: @HockeyThinkTank
Facebook: TheHockeyThinkTank Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.


