Built From Steel Podcast

Coach Eric Palazzolo
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Hockey
  • Updated Weekly

A raw and honest look into high-performance hockey development, from youth to elite levels. From the creators you know and love, Built From Steel brings together the worlds of player development through real world experience the BioSteel performance ecosystem. Hosted by Coach Eric Palazzolo, the show blends insight, experience, and real talk for athletes, coaches, and parents who are serious about long-term growth, on and off the ice.

  1. 4d ago

    Ep.42 | Foundations for Defencemen in Youth Hockey *Mini Series Ep.1*

    In Episode 2 of this Built From Steel Podcast Mini-Series, Coach Eric continues on the white board with transferable foundations for defencemen, from defending the rush to making decisions with the puck. He focuses on protecting the middle, controlling the gap, defending inside-out, and recognizing that good defence starts with managing time and space rather than chasing every play. He also breaks down defensive-zone responsibilities, puck retrievals, partner support in the neutral zone, and when a defenceman has earned the chance to join the rush. The conversation closes with offensive-zone habits, pinching decisions, and a defence-first approach to faceoffs. Key Moments 3:00 – Defending the rush 9:10 – Gap control and managing attacking space 16:28 – Defending a 2-on-1 19:00 – Defensive-zone coverage responsibilities 23:00 – Defending out of the corners 27:00 – Protecting the front of the net 31:00 – Communicating switches in coverage 34:30 – Puck retrievals 37:00 – Puck management under pressure 40:00 – Neutral-zone responsibilities 40:30 – Using the D-to-D hinge for partner support 45:00 – When to join the rush 47:00 – Offensive-zone positioning 52:00 – Pinching and understanding the risk 55:00 – Defence-first faceoff responsibilities Key Themes • Protecting inside ice gives attackers fewer dangerous options. • Gap control is about matching speed without surrendering space. • Scanning before puck retrievals helps defencemen solve pressure earlier. • Good puck movement gives teammates usable options instead of passing along pressure. • Defencemen can join the offence when possession and support are in place. Stay Connected Watch the Academy docu-series Built From Steel on YouTube. Follow on socials: @BuiltFromSteelSeries @BioSteelSports @BioSteelSportsAcademy @CoachEpzolo The Built From Steel Podcast is a division of BioSteel Sports. Learn more at www.biosteel.com

    Ep.42 | Foundations for Defencemen in Youth Hockey *Mini Series Ep.1*

  2. Aug 23

    Ep.41 | Foundations for Wingers in Youth Hockey *Mini Series Ep.1*

    In the first Built From Steel Podcast Mini-Series episode, Coach Eric lays out the foundations of playing wing, using a right winger’s responsibilities to explain key terms and reads across the ice. This solo episode starts in the defensive zone with coverage areas, weak-side support, strong-side positioning, switches, and common mistakes that can open dangerous ice. Coach Eric then moves into breakouts from both sides, options along the wall, and neutral-zone responsibilities after a change of possession. He also explains why players shift from C, LW, or RW into F1, F2, and F3 as play becomes fluid, before closing with basic winger responsibilities on faceoffs. Key Moments 4:00 – Defensive-zone coverage areas for wingers 5:00 – Weak-side defensive-zone coverage 10:45 – Strong-side defensive-zone coverage 13:35 – Coverage responsibilities near the boards 15:00 – Adjusting when defencemen switch 22:00 – Common defensive-zone mistakes 24:00 – Dot lanes and protecting middle ice 28:50 – Defending the point and angling lanes 31:30 – Defensive-zone coverage summary 32:20 – Strong-side breakout transitions 36:10 – Weak-side breakout options 38:00 – Keys to successful breakouts 40:00 – Breakout options along the wall 44:00 – Strong-side neutral-zone responsibilities 49:30 – Changing from position labels to F1, F2, and F3 Key Themes • Wingers need to recognize when to protect middle ice and when to pressure. • Strong-side and weak-side responsibilities require different reads. • Defensive positioning affects how quickly a winger can become useful on a breakout. • As play becomes fluid, forward roles matter more than fixed position labels. • Faceoff responsibilities begin with knowing the immediate threat. Stay Connected Watch the Academy docu-series Built From Steel on YouTube. Follow on socials: @BuiltFromSteelSeries @BioSteelSports @BioSteelSportsAcademy @CoachEpzolo The Built From Steel Podcast is a division of BioSteel Sports. Learn more at www.biosteel.com

    Ep.41 | Foundations for Wingers in Youth Hockey *Mini Series Ep.1*

  3. Aug 16

    Ep.40 | Youth Hockey Q&A: Ice Time, The Car Ride Home, Phones & Player Confidence

    In this Q&A episode of the Built From Steel Podcast, Eric and Andy answer listener questions across some of the decisions and conversations that shape youth hockey. They talk about earning a role on a stronger team versus being the go-to player elsewhere, how parents can handle the car ride home, and how coaches can communicate without turning every decision into a negotiation. They also get into helping young athletes build steadier confidence, phones and comparison, when promotion or advisors may be useful, moving from smaller markets, getting cut, and how their opinions on NCAA/OHL pathways are changing. Key Moments 3:30 – Question 1: Go to a strong team or be the go-to player? 8:00 – Making limited minutes count 13:50 – Question 2: What should parents say on the car ride home? 14:45 – Helping a player understand what made a good game 22:30 – Question 3: How to find the right balance in coach-parent communication? 28:00 – Communicating with players versus parents 30:30 – Question 4: How to help players become more emotionally steady? 34:00 – Building confidence as a young athlete 40:20 – Question 5: Are phones that bad? 43:00 – Managing phone use on a team 49:30 – Question 6: When do youth players need promotion from an advisor/agent? 50:30 – Why a player's performance is the best promotion 58:30 – Question 7: Do small market players need to move to bigger centers? 1:05:10 – Question 8: How do you help a player work through getting cut? 1:08:00 – Question 9: How have your opinions on NCAA/OHL pathways changed? Key Themes • A stronger team can still be a good development setting when players make their opportunities count. • Parents can support players by listening and helping them process games rather than taking over the conversation. • Clear communication matters, but coaches need boundaries around decisions and roles. • Confidence needs to hold up when a young athlete makes mistakes or faces disappointment. • Performance and patience matter amid phones, promotion, movement, and changing pathways. Stay Connected Watch the Academy docu-series Built From Steel on YouTube. Follow on socials: @BuiltFromSteelSeries @BioSteelSports @BioSteelSportsAcademy @CoachEpzolo The Built From Steel Podcast is a division of BioSteel Sports. Learn more at www.biosteel.com

    Ep.40 | Youth Hockey Q&A: Ice Time, The Car Ride Home, Phones & Player Confidence

  4. Aug 9

    Ep.39 | 5 Undervalued Qualities of A Great Coach

    The best coaches are not always the loudest, most intense, or most tactical. In this episode of the Built From Steel Podcast, Eric and Andy break down the undervalued qualities that make coaches truly effective, especially in youth hockey. From clarity and emotional control to confidence in your identity, patience with development, and relationship building, this conversation focuses on the coaching traits that often separate the adults who simply run a bench from the ones who actually impact players. A lot of coaching problems are not system problems. They are communication problems, emotional problems, or relationship problems. Players do not need perfect coaches; they need clear, steady, intentional coaches who actually care. Key Moments 0:00 – Intro 5:20 – Clarity as a coach: expectations, roles, standards, and feedback 6:20 – Aligning vocabulary and keeping coaching language simple 9:00 – What coaches need to be clear about with players 12:00 – How confusion from coaches affects player performance 17:00 – Emotional control behind the bench 17:10 – The danger of being proud of “snapshow” coaching 24:05 – Berating refs and losing control of the bench 28:00 – How the coach sets the emotional tone 32:00 – A key lesson for every coach 34:00 – Confidence in your identity as a coach 37:00 – Putting players in positions to succeed 39:30 – Understanding your priorities as a coach 44:00 – Knowing your coaching identity 45:00 – Having confidence without becoming stubborn 50:00 – Patience with development 50:50 – Writing players off too early 51:55 – Why you shouldn’t fall in love with players too early either 54:30 – Finding ways for different players to contribute 58:00 – Building relationships with players 1:01:00 – Why relationship building may be the most important coaching skill 1:05:00 – The impact coaches can have on people beyond the game Key Themes Players cannot meet standards they do not understand Clear roles, simple language, and consistent feedback matter The bench often takes on the emotional state of the coach Emotional control is a coaching skill, not just a personality trait Coaches need an identity, but they also need the humility to grow Knowing the game and teaching the game are not the same thing Development requires patience from adults who usually want immediate proof Relationship building creates the trust needed for accountability Players do not need a best friend, but they need to know the coach cares Stay Connected Watch the Academy docu-series Built From Steel on YouTube. Follow on socials: @BuiltFromSteelSeries @BioSteelSports @BioSteelSportsAcademy @CoachEpzolo The Built From Steel Podcast is a division of BioSteel Sports. Learn more at www.biosteel.com

    Ep.39 | 5 Undervalued Qualities of A Great Coach

  5. Aug 2

    Ep.38 | 5 Undervalued Qualities All Hockey Players Need

    Some of the most important qualities in hockey don’t always show up on the scoresheet. In this episode of the Built From Steel Podcast, Eric and Andy break down the undervalued traits that separate players over time, the things coaches notice, teammates appreciate, and winning teams rely on. From second and third effort to being easy to play with, handling imperfect hockey, buying into a team-first role, and developing vision and creativity, this conversation focuses on the details that help players earn trust. Talent may get you noticed, but the habits underneath your game determine whether coaches can actually use you when it matters. Key Moments 0:00 – Intro: learning from champions and what winning players do differently 20:00 – Second and third effort: where grit actually shows up 27:30 – Being easy to play with and making the game better for teammates 30:20 – Handling imperfect hockey: bad passes, broken plays, bad ice, and chaos 37:30 – Team-first buy-in and accepting a winning role 44:00 – Coaches notice the underrated players who do things the right way 48:25 – Vision, creativity, and why multi-sport development matters 57:00 – Communication as an undervalued player quality  Key Themes The first effort is expected - second and third effort build trust Great players make the game easier for the people around them Hockey is messy, and good players solve problems in imperfect situations Everyone wants to win until they have to sacrifice for a winning role Coaches notice players who contribute beyond points and highlights Creativity matters, but players need the maturity to know when and how to use it Communication, support, and predictability are major parts of being trusted Stay Connected Watch the Academy docu-series Built From Steel on YouTube. Follow on socials: @BuiltFromSteelSeries @BioSteelSports @BioSteelSportsAcademy @CoachEpzolo The Built From Steel Podcast is a division of BioSteel Sports. Learn more at www.biosteel.com

    Ep.38 | 5 Undervalued Qualities All Hockey Players Need

  6. Jul 26

    Ep.37 | The Key Lessons You Learn Playing Hockey

    What’s the point of playing hockey? In this episode of the Built From Steel Podcast, Eric and Andy zoom out from the day-to-day pressure of drafts, teams, rosters, and development to talk about the bigger lessons the game can teach. From NHL Draft realities and changing player profiles to timing, confidence, social development, culture, networking, and resilience, this episode is about why hockey matters beyond the scoreboard. The goal of playing hockey should not be to avoid hard things. It should be to become better equipped to deal with them. At its core, this episode comes down to one simple idea: Hockey should help build people who are stronger, more confident, more resilient, and better prepared for life. Key Themes The hockey journey is rarely linear Draft results are only one part of a much bigger development story Timing, opportunity, and environment all matter Hockey can teach confidence, resilience, communication, and social awareness The network and relationships built through the game can last far beyond playing Players need to learn how to handle adversity, not avoid it The real value of hockey is often found outside the game itself Stay Connected Watch the Academy docu-series Built From Steel on YouTube. Follow on socials: @BuiltFromSteelSeries @BioSteelSports @BioSteelSportsAcademy @CoachEpzolo The Built From Steel Podcast is a division of BioSteel Sports. Learn more at www.biosteel.com

    Ep.37 | The Key Lessons You Learn Playing Hockey

  7. Jul 19

    Ep.36 | The State of Coaching Youth Hockey in 2026 [The Coaches Site Report]

    In this episode of the Built From Steel Podcast, Eric and Andy break down The Coaches Site report on The State of Coaching Youth Hockey in 2026 and discuss what the findings reveal about the modern coaching experience. - You Can Download the FULL REPORT for free HERE - From organizational support and development expectations to parent pressure, player challenges, communication, and the growing complexity of youth hockey, this episode takes a real look at what coaches are dealing with behind the bench. The conversation also explores where the game is improving, where coaches still feel unsupported, and what organizations can do to create stronger development environments for players, parents, and coaches. At its core, this episode comes down to one simple idea: Youth hockey development only works when coaches, parents, players, and organizations are aligned. Key Moments 0:00 – Intro: injuries, getting older, and trying to stay fit 8:00 – Introducing The Coaches Site report on youth coaching in 2026 12:20 – Who responded to the coaching survey? 15:00 – Do youth coaches feel supported by their organizations? 17:15 – Do organizations set clear development expectations? 20:20 – Common struggles inside youth hockey organizations 21:30 – What real development actually means 27:00 – Creating a true development standard as an organization 29:30 – What resources coaches use to improve 32:00 – Building a more holistic development model 35:00 – Where coaches feel they need more help and resources 40:00 – Are we overcomplicating youth hockey with video and analytics? 45:20 – How much pressure do coaches feel to win? 52:00 – How coaches see their relationships with parents 53:24 – The truth about “crazy hockey parents” 56:00 – Optics between parents and coaches 1:00:30 – Having players lead dialogue while keeping parents informed 1:02:40 – The biggest challenges coaches face with today’s players 1:14:00 – Positive changes coaches are seeing in youth hockey Key Themes Coaches need more support, structure, and clear development expectations Development must be defined by organizations, not left up to every individual coach Parents are often a major source of pressure, but most parent-coach relationships are still positive Winning pressure can quietly change decisions at the youth level Video, analytics, and systems are useful only when they serve player development Today’s coaches are dealing with more than tactics — they are managing attention, confidence, communication, habits, and culture Youth hockey improves when adults create alignment around development, fun, accountability, and long-term growth Stay Connected Watch the Academy docu-series Built From Steel on YouTube. Follow on socials: @BuiltFromSteelSeries @BioSteelSports @BioSteelSportsAcademy @CoachEpzolo The Built From Steel Podcast is a division of BioSteel Sports. Learn more at www.biosteel.com

    Ep.36 | The State of Coaching Youth Hockey in 2026 [The Coaches Site Report]

  8. Jul 12

    Ep.35 | How to Improve Hockey IQ Using Video

    Video can be one of the most powerful tools in player development, but only if it’s used the right way. In this episode of the Built From Steel Podcast, Eric and Andy break down how players, parents, and coaches can use video to actually improve hockey IQ. From understanding time and space to reading pressure, scanning before touches, supporting teammates, and recognizing habits away from the puck, this episode explains how video can help players see the game more clearly. But video can also be misused. When it becomes a tool for blame, criticism, or proving a point, players stop learning from it. The goal is not to embarrass players, overwhelm them, or turn every mistake into a lecture. The goal is to create awareness. At its core, this episode comes down to one simple idea: Video doesn’t make you smarter by itself. It helps you see the game more clearly, if you know what to look for. Key Moments 0:00 – Intro 3:30 – Coach Andy’s philosophy on using video 12:20 – The negative side of video 13:00 – Communicating through video 15:00 – Is video being overused? 18:50 – How to use video effectively 20:30 – Why framing matters when using video 26:00 – Should parents watch video with their kid? 30:30 – Understanding the parent’s role with video 35:00 – How parents should approach video if they use it 41:10 – As a coach, what is your goal with video? 45:00 – How players can use video to help themselves 54:00 – Watching details, habits, and decisions 58:00 – How skill development coaches can use video Key Themes Video should be used for learning, not blaming Hockey IQ starts with awareness, scanning, and decision-making Parents should ask questions instead of giving lectures Coaches should use video to simplify, not overload Players need to learn how to watch their own habits honestly The smartest players don’t just watch highlights — they watch details Video should connect back to practice and game habits Hockey IQ is often built away from the puck Stay Connected Watch the Academy docu-series Built From Steel on YouTube. Follow on socials: @BuiltFromSteelPodcsat @BuiltFromSteelSeries @BioSteelSports @BioSteelSportsAcademy @CoachEpzolo The Built From Steel Podcast is a division of BioSteel Sports. Learn more at www.biosteel.com

    Ep.35 | How to Improve Hockey IQ Using Video
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Ratings & Reviews

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out of 5
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About

A raw and honest look into high-performance hockey development, from youth to elite levels. From the creators you know and love, Built From Steel brings together the worlds of player development through real world experience the BioSteel performance ecosystem. Hosted by Coach Eric Palazzolo, the show blends insight, experience, and real talk for athletes, coaches, and parents who are serious about long-term growth, on and off the ice.

Information

  • Creator
    Coach Eric Palazzolo
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Coach Eric Palazzolo
  • Show Website
    Built From Steel Podcast