Crazy Hockey Dads Podcast

CHD Media
  • 4.6 (28)
  • HOCKEY

A relatable and honest podcast about the highs and lows of being a youth hockey parent. Join us as we share real stories, struggles, and wins from the rink, offering insights and support for parents navigating the world of youth hockey.

  1. 5D AGO

    Episode 60: Pat Shea - “I Didn’t Even Know If Hockey Was My Dream”

    When the game starts to feel like a job. Scott and Jamie sit down with Pat Shea (IG @pshea25) former University of Maine Black Bear, pro hockey player, and creator behind Hockey House and Full Ride for a raw conversation about identity, pressure, and walking away from the game. Pat opens up about a turning point many players don’t talk about: realizing that what was once fun started to feel like work. He explains how losing passion at the college level, combined with a growing interest in creating, forced him to ask a tough question…was hockey actually his dream, or something he grew up in? He also shares his path through youth hockey, prep school, and Maine including being a late bloomer, dealing with early rejection, and how confidence and obsession (not camps or shortcuts) drove his development. In this episode: When hockey starts feeling like a job and what that does to playersThe question most players never ask: is this actually my dream?Late bloomer reality vs early recruiting pressureHow Pat turned hockey life into one of the most relatable content brands in the gameThis one hits different, especially if your kid loves the game… but the pressure is starting to creep in. Partners: https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/https://hockeytraining.com/https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydadshttps://howieshockeytape.com/https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/Socials: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazy.hockey.dadsX: https://x.com/CrazyhockeydadsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576627751551

    1h 53m

  2. MAR 25

    Episode 59: Dartmouth Asst. Coach Jason Tapp - “I’ve Crossed Kids Off Because of Their Parents”

    What really matters in recruiting… and what quietly kills it. Scott and Jamie sit down with Jason Tapp, Dartmouth College's assistant Men's Ice Hockey coach, live from Lake Placid ahead of the ECAC semis, for a candid look at how college recruiting actually works (and what families get wrong). Tapp breaks down the three non-negotiables they look for in players - character, compete, and hockey IQ - and why talent alone isn’t enough to make it at the college level. He also shares a blunt reality: he’s crossed players off recruiting lists because of parent behavior and why that’s an immediate red flag for programs.  The conversation goes deeper into youth hockey decisions, why chasing the “best team” is often a mistake, why tier doesn’t really matter at younger ages, and how development is a long runway, not a sprint. Tapp also opens up as a hockey parent himself, admitting he feels the same pressure as everyone else and why he’s shifted to letting his kids drive their own development.  In this episode:  The 3 traits Dartmouth won’t compromise on in recruiting  Why parent behavior can eliminate a player instantly  The truth about Tier 1 vs Tier 2 (and when it actually matters)  The biggest misconception in youth hockey: “you have to be on the best team” Recorded live from Lake Placid, but the message applies everywhere. it’s not about where you play… it’s about how you develop. Partners: https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/https://hockeytraining.com/https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydadshttps://howieshockeytape.com/https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/Socials: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazy.hockey.dadsX: https://x.com/CrazyhockeydadsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576627751551

    1h 33m

  3. MAR 21

    BONUS Content from Lake Placid - ECAC Finals, Rink Energy, and What This Stage Really Feels Like

    Scott and Jamie are on location in Lake Placid ahead of the ECAC Finals, soaking in the atmosphere and breaking down what makes this moment different for players, parents, and everyone around the rink. From the energy in the building to what it actually takes to perform on a stage like this, this quick-hit episode captures the feel of big-game hockey in real time. Partners: https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/https://hockeytraining.com/https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydadshttps://howieshockeytape.com/https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/Socials: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazy.hockey.dadsX: https://x.com/CrazyhockeydadsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576627751551

    28 min

  4. MAR 18

    Episode 58: Mental Edge Hockey - Confidence Isn’t a Feeling… It’s a Choice

    Why most kids don’t actually know what a “good game” is. Scott and Jamie sit down with Sandy Cohan (Mental Edge Hockey) for a deep dive into the mental side of youth hockey and why so many players struggle with confidence, focus, and pressure. Sandy explains that most young athletes can’t even define what success is, yet their confidence rises and falls based on it. He breaks down why results (goals, points) are the wrong scoreboard, and why real development comes from actions, behaviors, and controllables, not outcomes.  The conversation also hits what’s changed in today’s athletes (less focus, less grit) and how social media and comparison culture are making it worse. Sandy shares practical ways to help players reset, refocus, and build confidence, including why confidence is a skill that can be built, not something you either have or don’t. In this episode: Why most players can’t define “success” and why that mattersConfidence as a skill (not a feeling)The difference between awareness vs. focusWhy kids focus on “don’ts” and how to fix itHow parents can reshape post-game conversationsThis episode isn’t about hockey systems.  It’s about how players think and why that changes everything. Partners: https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/https://hockeytraining.com/https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydadshttps://howieshockeytape.com/https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/Socials: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazy.hockey.dadsX: https://x.com/CrazyhockeydadsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576627751551

    2h 6m

  5. MAR 11

    Episode 57: NHL Agent Scott Bartlett - “Don’t Hire an Advisor Yet”

    Scott and Jamie sit down with Scott Bartlett, NHLPA-certified agent at Bartlett Hockey, for a behind-the-scenes look at how the hockey development path actually works. Bartlett represents more than 30 NHL players, including stars like Cale Makar.  Scott explains why most families rush the process, especially when it comes to agents and exposure, and why most players don’t need an advisor before junior hockey age. Instead, he believes the focus should be on development, not exposure, and letting opportunities happen naturally if a player is on the right track.  He also breaks down common youth hockey myths, including the idea that players must play AAA to be discovered. Scott shares his own experience being cut from a AAA team, dominating at AA the next year, and how that adversity actually helped his development.  In this episode: Why most young players don’t need an agent yetDevelopment vs. exposure in youth hockeyThe truth about AAA and getting “found”Why moving down a level can sometimes help developmentHow NIL and the transfer portal are changing the pathIf you’re trying to understand the real path from youth hockey to juniors, college, and beyond, this episode offers insight from someone who guides players through it every day. Partners: https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/https://hockeytraining.com/https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydadshttps://howieshockeytape.com/https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/Socials: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazy.hockey.dadsX: https://x.com/CrazyhockeydadsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576627751551

    1h 44m

  6. MAR 4

    Episode 56: Topher Scott - When Youth Hockey Became a Recruiting Culture

    Scott and Jamie sit down with Topher Scott of The Hockey Think Tank for a candid conversation about the pressure surrounding modern youth hockey. Topher explains how tryout season and early recruiting have shifted the focus away from development, creating stress for families and players. He shares why youth hockey can feel more like a recruiting culture than a development culture, why parents need to help kids live in the moment, and how to actually evaluate whether a coach or program is helping a player grow. In this episode: Why tryout season (aka “silly season”) creates unnecessary stressHow recruiting culture has changed youth hockeyThe simple way to judge a good coachWhat actually helps players develop long-termIf youth hockey feels more stressful than it should be, this conversation helps explain why. Partners: https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/https://hockeytraining.com/https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydadshttps://howieshockeytape.com/https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/Socials: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazy.hockey.dadsX: https://x.com/CrazyhockeydadsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576627751551

    2h 38m

  7. FEB 25

    Episode 55: The Truth About “The Path” to Junior Hockey (w/ Matt Dumouchelle)

    The system isn’t as simple as you think. Scott and James sit down with Matt Dumouchelle, who spent over a decade working inside junior hockey, for a candid look at how the development ladder really works. Matt explains why families often misunderstand the pathway, how junior teams actually evaluate and move players, and why “exposure” doesn’t guarantee opportunity. The conversation dives into how perception, timing, fit, and relationships shape careers just as much as talent and why blindly chasing the next level can create more problems than it solves. In this episode: What working inside junior hockey taught him about the “path”Why exposure isn’t the same as developmentHow roster decisions really happenWhat families miss when navigating the systemThe difference between marketing and reality in youth hockeyThis episode isn’t anti-junior hockey.It’s pro-clarity. Partners: https://hockeytraining.com/https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydadshttps://howieshockeytape.com/https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/Socials: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazy.hockey.dadsX: https://x.com/CrazyhockeydadsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576627751551

    2h 21m

  8. FEB 17

    Episode 54: Titan Battlegear CEO Andries de Villiers and the Truth About Cut Protection

    Scott and James sit down with Andries de Villiers, CEO of Titan Battlegear, for a blunt breakdown of what cut protection in hockey really means and why a lot of gear parents trust may create a false sense of security. After a tragic local on-ice incident, Andries dove deep into testing standards and discovered that many products marketed as protective weren’t stopping skate blades at meaningful levels. He explains the ANSI A1–A9 scale, why he calls A6 the “Mendoza line” for real protection, and why safety comes down to two things: cut resistance and coverage. The conversation also tackles early neck-guard mandates that were “legal but not effective,” why Velcro designs can fail (and frustrate players), and why lower-body cut protection (especially around the femoral area) is the next major gap families aren’t thinking about. In this episode: What the A1–A9 cut-resistance scale actually meansWhy A6 matters“Protection” vs. real protectionThe problem with poor coverage and bad fitWhy neck guards are only part of the conversationIf you assume a neck guard is a neck guard, this episode will change how you look at your kid’s gear. Partners: https://hockeytraining.com/https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydadshttps://howieshockeytape.com/https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/Socials: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazy.hockey.dadsX: https://x.com/CrazyhockeydadsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576627751551

    2 hr
See All (61)

4.6
out of 5
28 Ratings

About

A relatable and honest podcast about the highs and lows of being a youth hockey parent. Join us as we share real stories, struggles, and wins from the rink, offering insights and support for parents navigating the world of youth hockey.

Information

  • Creator
    CHD Media
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    61
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 CHD Media
  • Show Website
    Crazy Hockey Dads Podcast

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