Hockey IQ Podcast

On this episode of the Hockey IQ podcast, we sit down with ice hockey coach Don Granato to discuss best practices, coaching evolutions, and nuanced issues faced by ice hockey players.

A few areas on this episode we discuss:

• Why development is critical to winning frequently
• Creating an environment that fosters a player's passion and grows a coach's influence
• Getting more out of your players
• Barometers for how well the coach...

On this episode of the Hockey IQ podcast, we sit down with development coach Brian Slugocki to discuss best practices, coaching evolutions, and nuance issued faced by ice hockey players.

A few areas on this episode we discuss:

• What do players want out of playing ice hockey
• Characteristics in common with high achieving ice hockey players
• How to watch ice hockey if you want to improve
• Accurate self-assessment's place in becoming ...

On this episode of the Hockey IQ podcast, we sit down with development coach Brian Slugocki to discuss best practices, coaching evolutions, and nuance issued faced by ice hockey players.

A few areas on this episode we discuss:

• Overcoming anxiety and desire to be the perfect coach
• Evolution toward a collaborative approach
• How to coach all players, regardless of motivation
• Helping players gain a feel for the game
• How to help players an...

On this episode of the Hockey IQ podcast, we sit down with former player turned entrepreneur & media personality, Jordan Schmaltz.

A few areas on this episode we discuss:

• Reading the game from a defenseman's perspective
• Coaching up your teammates
• How to make the game easier
• Coffin corner
• Difference between AHL and NHL
• Importance of passing to handedness
• Communication is key
• Player identity and roles
• Carving out a roster spot and...

On this episode of the Hockey IQ podcast, we sit down with strength and performance coach, Jon Stea.

A few areas on this episode we discuss:

• Hockey specific strength & conditioning
• Learning to learn
• Intentionality within an improvement process
• Mental stability
• Athletic variability
• Minimum viable coaching & instruction
• Helping athletes become their own best coaches
• Keeping the most important thing the most important thing

On this episode of the Hockey IQ podcast, we sit down with Skill Acquisition expert & Irish PE teacher, Philip O'Callaghan.

A few areas on this episode we discuss:

• Games for game understanding
• Applying theory in a practical way
• Common issues of how players get in their own way and inhibit their ability to learn
• Why coaches should avoid giving answers to their athletes
• Importance of variability within skill acquisition
• Scaling...

On this episode of the Hockey IQ podcast, we sit down with Sweden Ice Hockey Association Director of education & research, John Lind.

A few areas on this episode we discuss:

• Evidence-based development
• Benefits of bio-banding
• Body checking in women's hockey
• Shrinking rink and net sizes in youth hockey
• Scanning's correlation to performance success
• Practice design & activity selection
• Coach development
• Importance of quest...

On this episode of the Hockey IQ podcast, we dive into our modern defensemen series. Episode 3 is all about great rush defending.

A few areas on this episode we discuss:
- Playing passive vs aggressive rush defense
- Inside leverage and playing within the dots
- Rush defense footwork
- What surfing is in ice hockey
- How players are using surfing to kill plays early
- Reading the pinch in ice hockey...

On this episode of the Hockey IQ podcast, we dive into our modern defensemen series. Episode 2 is all about great point play.

A few areas on this episode we discuss:
- Shorting the offensive zone
- Difference in positioning and what that does
- Why scoring in the NHL is up over the past decade plus.
- How NHL league leading defensemen score goals
- Catching/receiving pucks at the point 
- Common mis...

On this episode of the Hockey IQ podcast, we dive into our modern defensemen series. Episode 1 is all about great defending.

A few areas on this episode we discuss:
- Winning possession with position before possession
- Controlling an opponent's speed
- Proper pivoting
- Getting defensive stops
- Positioning to make defending easier
- Shorting the offensive zone.

Check out Hockey's Arsenal ...

On this episode of the Hockey IQ podcast, we sit down with Adam Zlatkus, analyst with Along The Ice (YouTube, Instagram, etc.).

A few areas on this episode we discuss:
- How Peter Forsberg changed hockey
- Genius on the Sedin twins
- Power of 'change of speed' & why not having the puck has it's benefits
- Technical & Tactical empahty
- The art and science of why goal scorers shoot...

On this episode of the Hockey IQ podcast, we sit down with U12 and High School coach, Mitchell Goodin.

A few areas on this episode we discuss:
- Metrics for player feedback
- Going beyond simply putting together a team
- How to create dynamic players instead of robots
- Games as a showcase of what you learned in practice
- "Good players can play on one foot and one edge at a time"
- Develo...

On this episode of the Hockey IQ podcast, we sit down with former NHL player and current AHL coach, Mark Letestu.

A few areas on this episode we discuss:
- Mark's playing path from AA to Jr B to the NHL
- Succeeding as a smaller & slower hockey player
- How to think so you can find soft spot on the ice
- Problem creators & asking questions of the defenders
- Reading body language to play a...

On this episode of the Hockey IQ podcast, we sit down with Sports Performance Coach, High Performance Mental Toughness Expert, Shaun Goodsell.

A few areas on this episode we discuss:
- Power of self talk and how to change it
- Mental training for performance
- Simple power of focus, internally and externally
- Mental hockey hands
- Fostering and developing leader on a hockey team
- Importance of cre...

On this episode of the Hockey IQ podcast, we sit down with Player Development Specialist, Sumeet Wareh.

A few areas on this episode we discuss:
- Edge control and skating development
- Importance of posture when skating
-  Using film to speed up player development
- Separating traits from the average vs the greats
- Developing trust to earn ice time
- Designing personalized development ice sessions<...

On this episode of the Hockey IQ podcast, we sit down with Skill Development Specialist + Total Package Hockey owner, Kevin Galerno.

A few areas on this episode we discuss:
- Helping players evaluate their game and find their identity
- Why more is not always better
- Ugly practice = great practice
- Adding variability into any type of practice
- Why some players make it and others don't
- NHL ...

On this episode of the Hockey IQ podcast, we sit down with Skill Development Specialist + coach consultant, Derek Panchuk.

A few areas on this episode we discuss:
- Building bridges between academia and the art of coaching
- How to know if you coaching is effective 
- Accelerating athletic learning
- Creating great athlete & coach experiences
-  Building a positive relationship with failure
- Wh...

On this episode of the Hockey IQ podcast, we sit down with Youngtown Phantoms GM (and way more), Ryan Kosecki.

A few areas on this episode we discuss:
- Prioritizing youth leading to championships
- What talent evaluators look for in youth ice hockey players
- Invaluable nature of heads up hockey/scanning 
- Evolving USHL Youngstown Phantoms into a championship organization
- Using video within teaching...