AMP Intermission

Wayne Kosior is the CEO of Trail Blazer Hockey Advisors Group. I share the passion of Wayne's and Trail Blazer in helping the next generation of hockey players succeed. Trail Blazer focuses on being a player centric firm – with their primary focus being to help players and family achieve their hockey and academic goals.

Wayne brings his experience and knowledge in USA Hockey and Hockey Canada to this conversation. As a former USA Hockey League Scout Wayne has been able to build many relationships with NHL NCAA USHL NAHL CHL Junior A and the list goes on.

I have to say I already really appreciated Wayne in previous conversations with him and had always received amazing feedback about him from athletes, but having this conversation with him really gave me this level of respect and admiration for someone who truly wants what is best for our athletes not only in sport but life.

Wayne and I chat on all this from hockey development, personal growth, the recruitment process, knowing when to bring on an advisor, and we even chat about Wayne’s stance on all the areas in which parents and athletes invest their time, energy and money.

In this episode I share my opinion of 5 traits to focus on in building mental strength. It is important to acknowledge that mental strength is not something we are born with, it isn't something we have or don't have...It is something we must work on developing and increasing our capacity to do the HARD things as athletes.

Athletes must change their perspective of failures and put attention and focus into that which they can control. These tips are all part of the areas we can work through on our mindset to ensure we give ourselves the greatest opportunity to thrive in life and sport.

In this episode I discuss all things perfectionism. I share my experience in the challenges I faced when all I could see in my performances were the mistakes and failures rather than the opportunities to improve. I explain how perfectionism drastically impacts our CONFIDENCE, which is the number one struggle I see in athletes nowadays.

This episode covers everything on perfectionism, from how it shows up and the signs of it, to tools we can utilize to shift our perspective and mindset. Often as perfectionists, we struggle with the fear of failure and judgment, minimizing our chances of taking those risks that are required to reach our highest potential.

I Get down to the cold hard truth, team mates can be hard.

In this episode I share the fresh details of my recent PRK eye surgery. Unlike Lasik Corrective Eye Surgery, this one has a rather longer healing process. This healing process allowed me to lean into the work that I coach my athletes on and really practice what I teach. Doing the work myself has really allowed me to lean into the fears and insecurities I have faced in this situation in particular. It has given me a perspective and ability to manage through that I genuinely never would have had if I hadn't done the work myself.

Ever feel like you've only got that one speed?...This was how I felt for most of my life. Foot to the floor, full out, at all times. Whether it was bouncing between activities and different sports, appointments or filling that white space in my calendar, I thought that taking that foot of the gas was weakness.

In this episode, I talk on my experience as a young kid always striving to achieve greatness, all the way into my adult life of not listening to my body when it was screaming at me to just rest. I share injuries that were a direct result of over doing it, and essentially my breakdown as a busy mom, trying to do all the things.

This episode talks about committing to doing those things which are in alignment with you and that will serve you, but also listening to your body and getting to know when rest is needed.

Episode 12 - Taking Back Control (with McKinley Nelson)

In this episode Bret bring elite female hockey player from University of PEI on the show to share her experiences through her sport.

McKinley was only 16 when we was thinking about hanging up the skates for good. She struggled with finding a place on her team in an environment where she could hit her potential. So she made a decision to take control of her own outcomes and went to play in a town that felt in alignment with the type of hockey that was important to her. Not only 4 games in and her season was cut short that year back in 2020-2021. But opportunity came knocking and her door to continue onward with post secondary and with hesitation she decided to continue in the game that she once loved.

Not only did she find that love of the sport again, but she doesn't have plans to hang up the skates yet. McKinley shows us how making the adjustments you need in your life and choosing a different path, can give you a second shot at the pursuit of your passion in your sport.

In this solo episode Bret discusses her top 5 lessons she learned in sport. From coping with adversity to recognizing how hard work may not always pay off in the sport itself, but it is a great life lesson. Bret discusses the sacrifices that athletes need to be prepared to make and how ultimately to find that joy in the sport, she needed to let go of her identity being her sport and learn to thrive and find herself outside of her sport also.

Bret was joined with Riley Scorgie, female hockey player for the U18 AAA Edmonton Junior Oilers to share in her story of adversity to thriving. At 11 years old Riley was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Overcoming all odds, Riley was skating weeks after the diagnosis, relearning all the basic skills of the sport. Three months later, Riley became ESPNs "Best Player of the Week" in January for not only overcoming these challenges, but in just 19 games she scored 50 goals. Riley shares her story of overcoming this diagnosis to a place she is today, soaking up her grade 12 year and looking forward to a bright future of opportunities ahead. Riley shares her experiences she has had as ambassador for Sherwood Hockey & Buttendz, as well as her goals for this upcoming season. With a rather impressive social media presence Riley inspires young athletes all over the world.

Welcome to episode 9 of AMP Intermission Podcast. If you are focused on personal growth, but don't quite know where to start, check out this episode. Terri is an incredible coach who helps women go from survival mode to thriving mode. Terri has quickly become someone who I admire and respect as I have watched her go ALL IN on her mission.

In this episode Bret and Terri chat about:

Terri's journey and how she decided to take back her control of her life

Where to start with personal development

How large of a role your fitness and physical health plays in your mental health

Reframing your mindset to understand you are not your sport

Tips to build unshakeable confidence

Thanks to Terri for coming and providing listeners with the tips to truly shift that mindset and thrive in life and in sport. Check Terri out at @terri_boucher as well as her podcast - Unhinged and Healing.