Champs App Podcast
The Champs App Podcast helps players and parents demystify the minor hockey development & recruiting process for both girls and boys. Learn more at http://www.champs.app
Episodes
On this episode, we’re joined by Ben Kevan Sr., father of NHL draft prospect Ben Kevan, who is ranked 45th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. This is an amazing conversation as we go through Ben’s progression from Learn to Skate all the way to playing in the USHL and for Team USA at the Under-18s. We also discuss the ups and downs of the player development process, the major decisions about where to play youth ...
On this episode, Erin Hamlen, head coach of the Merrimackwomen’s hockey program, returns to discuss the state of women’s college hockey, what it takes for teams to win, how she and her staff are preparing for June 15th and huge amount of advice for players and parents about the recruiting process. This is a must-listen episode!
Note: The podcast was recorded the day before the Princeton head coaching role opened up.
On this episode we talk with Vicky Sunohara, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, longtime Team Canada standout, and now the head coach of the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, Vicky has played a major role in shaping women’s hockey in Canada and beyond. From elite competition to building the next generation of leaders, she brings unmatched experience, passion, and perspective.
You can connect with Vicky Sunohara either on the Blue...
On today’s episode we talk with the Bemidji State Beaverswomen’s hockey head coach Amber Frykland. We discuss her hockey playing and coaching career at Bemidji State, USA Hockey women’s U18 team and go into detail about the upcoming recruiting season that starts next month. You willhear directly from Amber about how she evaluates players and prepares for June 15th.
You can connect with Amber Frykland either on the Beavers women’s ho...
On today’s episode we get an update on the University of Michigan's plans to start a D1 women’s hockey program. We welcome back Jenna Trubiano who was the head coach of the women’s club team and is now a strategic advisor to the group working on this project.
You can connect with Jenna Trubiano via email trubiano@umich.edu and Jenna’s Champs App profile: https://profile.champs.app/h/jenna-trubiano
Follow Jenna on X: @jtribs14 an...
On this episode we talk with skills development coach SamCheema. We discuss the difference in player development between North Americaand Europe, how to score goals, developing confidence in players, and how to get recruited.
You can connect with Sam Cheema on the Cheema Hockey website: https://www.cheemahockey.com/
Follow Sam on X: @samcheema21 andInstagram: @cheemahockey
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Champs Appis your recruiting a...
On this episode we talk with Becky McGee, founder of SDR Academy, a high performance hockey developmentacademy based in Calgary, Alberta. We discuss training and development of female hockey players, how to develop hockey IQ, the Hockey Alberta selection process for the female U18 summer camp and the SDR Scouting Summit Showcase.
You can connect with Becky McGee on the SDR Academy website: https://www.sdracademy.com/
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This is Part II in our conversations about the Girls Player Development Camps. We discuss Haley’s hockey journey which included winning Olympic gold in 2018 and playing professional hockey. In addition we discuss how USA Hockey picks players for the U18 girls camp, how the U18 world championship team roster is constructed and what happened at this year world championships in Finland. Most importantly Haley details exactly what she ...
On this episode we kick-off 2025 with a bang. This is Part I on USA Hockey Player Development for Girls. Our first guest of the year is Kristen Saegart, Director of Girls Hockey with USA Hockey. Kristen discusses USA Hockey National playoffs, development camps selections, player evaluation and feedback. In addition, Kristen shares several announcements about changes to the development camp process. This is a must-listen to episo...
On this episode we talk with Stefan Decosse, head coach of the Colgate women’s hockey team. We discuss his masters thesis on what it takes to develop high-end athletes, how a trip to southeast Asia influences his coaching style, his plans for the raiders hockey program and he goes into detail on their recruiting process.
You can connect with Stefan Decosse either on the Colgate women’s hockey website: https://colgateathletics.com/s...
On this episode we talk with Tony Maci, head coach of the Union Women’s hockey team. We discuss his coaching experience and winning a national championship with the Clarkson women’s program, all the changes happening with the hockey programs at Union and of course go into detail about recruiting.
You can connect with Tony Maci either on the Union women’s hockey website: https://unionathletics.com/staff-directory/tony-maci/517 or ...
On this episode, we talk with Ray Kizzie, head coach of the Salem State women’s hockey team. We discuss his playing and coaching journey in Texas, the competition level in Division III hockey, his plans for the Salem State program and go into detail on the recruiting process. You can connect with Ray Kizzie either on the Salem State women’s hockey website: https://salemstatevikings.com/sports/wice/coaches/Kizzie_Ray or via Ray Kizz...
On this episode, we talk with Graham Thomas, head coach of the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. We cover a wide range of topics including him helping start the Syracuse women’s hockey team, training with Connor Bedard, the amazing success of the UBC women’s hockey program and his recruiting advice for players.
You can connect with Graham Thomas either on the UBC Thunderbird’s website: https://gothunderbirds.ca/sports/w...
On this episode, we talk with Kris Hogg who is the head coach of the Rink Hockey Academy Girls Prep team. We discuss his junior and professional playing career, how girls hockey works in western Canada, go into detail on rink hockey academy and discuss recruiting both into RHA and moving on to college hockey.
You can connect with Kris either on The RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna Female Prep website : https://rinkhockeyacademykelowna....
On this episode, we talk with with Makenna Newkirk, Assistant Coach with the Penn State Women’s Hockey Program. We cover a lot of territory including youth and prep school hockey, Ivy League vs. scholarship schools, what it’s like to play at Penn State and of course lots of information about the recruiting process.
You can connect with Makenna either on the Penn State Women’s Hockey website: https://gopsusports.com/sports/womens-i...
On this episode, we talk with with Joe Grossman – Head Coach of the Assumption University Women’s Hockey program. We discuss his playing career as a goalie at Dartmouth College, then go into his time being a youth coach before returning to the Ivy League at Harvard. Joe shares his plans for leading the Greyhounds as they enter their sophomore season playing DI hockey.
You can connect with Joe either on the team’s website: https:/...
On today’s very special episode, we look back at the some of the best answers and moments of the first 100 episodes. We have certainly come a long way since we started the podcast in late 2020. Back then there actually wasn’t any app. We only introduce the Champs App Profile a few months later – and then the ability to connect directly with college, prep or junior coaches. Since then we have continued to add new content and tools...
On this episode we talk with USA Hockey legend, Julie Chu – who is also the Head Coach of the Canadian U Sports reigning champion, Concordia Stingers. We discuss her amazing playing career at Harvard and with 4 Olympic teams and even more World Championship teams. In addition, she details her coaching career in the NCAA and her incredible success with Concordia in Montreal. This is our first guest from a Canadian University wome...
On this episode we talk all thing New England prep hockey with Cushing Academy Girls Varsity prep head coach, Valerie Bono Bunker. She shares her path to being a multi-sport prep and DI college hockey player, how the New England prep school application process works, the path to playing college hockey from the prep school route and the nuances of playing both on prep and club team during the school year.
On this episode we talk with Ryan Vesce, co-founder of Matterhorn Fit and the Ivy League Men’s hockey showcase. Ryan shares how he was able to leverage his college experience into a 14 year professional career which included a couple of seasons in the NHL. We also discuss the unique elements of the Ivy League Showcase that allows players and parents to get the most from attending the event. Ryan provides some great hockey advice...
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