Crazy Hockey Dads Podcast

Before Rich Cohen wrote Pee-Wees: Confessions of a Hockey Parent, he thought he understood youth hockey parents..then he became one.

Scott and Jamie sit down with the bestselling author to discuss the real story behind Pee-Wees, the emotional pull of youth hockey, and how even self-aware parents can get caught up in rankings, team placements, and the pursuit of "what's next."

Rich shares stories from his own playing days, his son's hockey journey, and the lessons he learned after realizing that parents often spend so much time chasing the next step that they miss the season they're living right now. 

In this episode:

•  The surprising status game behind team selections 
•  What Rich learned after writing Pee-Wees
•  Adult league and youth hockey stories that are almost too good to be true 
•  Why parents should stop worrying so much about the next team 

If you've ever obsessed over tryouts, rankings, or the ride home after a game, this episode will feel very familiar.

Rich Cohen https://www.authorrichcohen.com/
Pee Wees: Confessions of a Hockey Parent https://www.amazon.com

Partners:

• https://www.pacificrink.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/
• https://hockeytraining.com/
• https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydads
• https://howieshockeytape.com/
• https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/

Socials:

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazyhockeydadspodcast
• X: https://x.com/Crazyhockeydads
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Crazy-Hockey-Dads-Podcast/61578631923150/

The former junior player trying to make hockey cheaper.

Scott and Jamie sit down with Zechariah Thomas, founder and CEO of Swift Hockey, to talk about the rising cost of hockey and why more families are getting priced out of the game. 

Zechariah shares his unconventional hockey journey - starting at age 10, playing major junior and pro hockey, and building businesses while still playing. He explains how seeing teammates struggle to afford equipment inspired him to start Swift Hockey and why he's obsessed with making the game more accessible. 

The conversation covers hockey stick myths, expensive equipment, prep school costs, youth hockey spending, and the reality that parents often spend money in places that don't actually help development. 

In this episode:

•  Starting hockey at 10 and still reaching the junior/pro level 
•  Why hockey is becoming unattainable for many families 
•  Why kids don't need a $400 stick 
•  Building a hockey company from the trunk of a car 

If you've ever wondered whether youth hockey is getting too expensive, this episode is for you.

Swift Hockey: https://swifthockey.com/

Partners:

• https://www.pacificrink.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/
• https://hockeytraining.com/
• https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydads
• https://howieshockeytape.com/
• https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/

Socials:

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazyhockeydadspodcast
• X: https://x.com/Crazyhockeydads
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Crazy-Hockey-Dads-Podcast/61578631923150/

Why development, confidence, and culture matter more than systems.

Scott and Jamie sit down with Princeton Head Coach Ben Syer for a conversation about what actually helps kids develop in hockey. 

Ben shares the youth hockey lesson he learned from his own daughter, why confidence comes from teaching rather than yelling, and how coaches can help players compete regardless of size or physical maturity. 

The conversation also dives into what Ben looks for when recruiting players, why culture and energy matter so much, and how great coaches create environments where kids are challenged, engaged, and having fun. 

In this episode:

•  Why confidence comes from teaching, not yelling 
•  How smaller players learn to compete against bigger opponents 
•  What Ben looks for when recruiting players 
•  Why culture and “bringing the juice” matter 

If you're trying to figure out what actually helps kids develop, this episode is for you. 

Princeton University Men's Ice Hockey: https://goprincetontigers.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey
Princeton University Women's Ice Hockey: https://goprincetontigers.com/sports/womens-ice-hockey
Princeton Sports Camps: https://www.princetonsportscamps.com

Partners:

• https://www.pacificrink.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/
• https://hockeytraining.com/
• https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydads
• https://howieshockeytape.com/
• https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/

Socials:

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazyhockeydadspodcast
• X: https://x.com/Crazyhockeydads
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Crazy-Hockey-Dads-Podcast/61578631923150/

Scott and Jamie sit down with Keith Mondillo - longtime college coach, athletic director at Gwynedd Mercy University, and recruiting expert for a brutally honest conversation about recruiting, NIL, youth sports pressure, and what families are getting wrong. 

Keith explains why the biggest recruiting mistake parents make is waiting for coaches to “find” their kid, why most early offers are hype, and why families need to understand where their player actually fits instead of chasing unrealistic levels. 

The conversation also dives into NIL money, the transfer portal, roster cuts, private equity entering youth sports, and why high school athletes are now often “last on the list” behind transfers and older players. 

In this episode:

•  The biggest recruiting mistake families make 
•  Why “they’ll find you” usually isn’t true 
•  How NIL and the portal changed recruiting 
•  Why older transfer players are taking roster spots 
•  The business side of youth sports nobody talks about 

This one isn’t just about basketball or hockey...it’s about where all youth sports are heading.

Keith Mondillo Coaching: https://www.keithmondillo.com/

Partners:

• https://www.pacificrink.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/
• https://hockeytraining.com/
• https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydads
• https://howieshockeytape.com/
• https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/

Socials:

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazyhockeydadspodcast
• X: https://x.com/Crazyhockeydads
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Crazy-Hockey-Dads-Podcast/61578631923150/

No guest. Just Scott & Jamie going old-school CHD.

In this episode, Scott and Jamie talk spring hockey overload, expensive programs kids barely attend, parenting teenage boys, and the reality of trying to balance development, burnout, and family life. 

The conversation also drifts into hilarious childhood stories, digital parenting, and why today’s kids can’t get away with anything the way parents used to. 

In this episode:

•  Why spring hockey scheduling is chaos 
•  Paying for skates and clinics kids miss anyway 
•  Parenting through the teenage years 
•  Stories that definitely would’ve ended badly if phones existed back then 

Just two hockey dads yapping about youth sports, parenting, and life.

Partners:

• https://www.pacificrink.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/
• https://hockeytraining.com/
• https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydads
• https://howieshockeytape.com/
• https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/

Socials:

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazyhockeydadspodcast
• X: https://x.com/Crazyhockeydads
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Crazy-Hockey-Dads-Podcast/61578631923150/

Scott and Jamie sit down with Larry Robbins - hedge fund founder, former Chicago Steel owner, builder of Longwood Hockey, and the driving force behind the Florida Surf - for one of the most honest youth hockey conversations CHD has had yet.

Larry pulls back the curtain on how he went from a self-described “bad hockey player” to helping build powerhouse development environments that produced NHL stars like Lane Hutson, Macklin Celebrini, Adam Fantilli, Owen Power, and Alex Laferriere. 

But this episode isn’t about flexing hockey résumés.

It’s about what youth hockey is becoming and whether parents are chasing the wrong things.  Larry talks about:

•  The pressure cooker of “elite” youth hockey 
•  The insanity of hockey becoming a business 
•  Why some families are leaving states like Michigan, Illinois, and New Jersey for Florida hockey 
•  What actually creates development (hint: it’s not always the logo) 

He also explains the vision behind Longwood Hockey and the Florida Surf: building a full development ecosystem in Florida with AAA hockey, academy training, a new two-sheet rink, strength training, academics, and a pathway designed to keep elite players in-state instead of leaving at 13 years old.

Florida Surf: https://www.floridasurfhockey.com/
Longwood Hockey: https://www.instagram.com/longwoodhockey

Partners:

• https://www.pacificrink.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/
• https://hockeytraining.com/
• https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydads
• https://howieshockeytape.com/
• https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/

Socials:

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazyhockeydadspodcast
• X: https://x.com/Crazyhockeydads
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Crazy-Hockey-Dads-Podcast/61578631923150/

Scott and Jamie sit down with Connor Jones, assistant coach at Princeton, and Kellen Jones, assistant coach at Holy Cross, for a raw look at twins, recruiting, compete, and what college coaches actually notice.

The Jones brothers talk about growing up in a small-town hockey environment with no spring hockey, no summer hockey, no power skating, and no early hype - just hard work, other sports, and a family standard built around competing. 

Now on the recruiting side, they explain what really jumps out when watching players: body language, response after mistakes, motor, work ethic, and whether a kid gives up on plays. They also explain why parents need to stop over-talking and let the player show who they are on the ice. 

In this episode:

•  What college coaches actually notice 
•  The red flags: body language, quitting on plays, and parent noise 
•  How recruiting has changed with agents, the portal, and more players available 
•  Why compete, character, and fit still matter 

If you think recruiting is just points and exposure, this one will reset your brain.

Princeton Men's Ice Hockey: https://goprincetontigers.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey
Holy Cross Men's Ice Hockey: https://goholycross.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey

Partners:

• https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/
• https://hockeytraining.com/
• https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydads
• https://howieshockeytape.com/
• https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/

Socials:

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazyhockeydadspodcast
• X: https://x.com/Crazyhockeydads
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Crazy-Hockey-Dads-Podcast/61578631923150/

How hockey parents accidentally make the mental game harder.

Scott and Jamie sit down with Dr. Alicia Naser, behavioral scientist, board certified behavior analyst, and founder of The Naser Institute for Behavioral Sports Psychology, for a parent-first conversation about pressure, confidence, mistakes, and the ride home from the rink.

Dr. Naser explains why kids need space to make mistakes, why parents should be careful about watching every practice, and how constant feedback can quietly damage the parent-child dynamic. She breaks down what to say after a bad game, how to handle comparison, why “just forget about it” doesn’t work, and how players can build confidence by learning to recover emotionally after mistakes. 

In this episode:

•  Why the car ride home matters more than parents think 
•  What to say when your kid is frustrated after a game 
•  Why comparison can crush confidence 
•  Why confidence is learned, not something kids are just born with 

If your kid is already hard on themselves, this episode might change what you say next.

Disclaimer
This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this content does not establish a professional or therapeutic relationship. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare or mental health professional with any questions you may have.

The views and opinions expressed by Dr. Naser are her own and do not represent those of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB).

Dr. Alicia Naser - https://www.instagram.com/doctoralicianaser

Partners:

• https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/
• https://hockeytraining.com/
• https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydads
• https://howieshockeytape.com/
• https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/

Socials:

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazyhockeydadspodcast
• X: https://x.com/Crazyhockeydads
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Crazy-Hockey-Dads-Podcast/61578631923150/

Why most youth hockey development is completely backwards.

Scott and Jamie sit down with RJ Burns, Co-Owner of TopLine Hockey, and this one hits a nerve for every hockey parent.

RJ breaks down why “just skating around cones” isn’t development, why kids need to think the game instead of memorize drills, and how the obsession with reps, travel, and “more ice” is actually hurting players long-term. 

He shares blunt truths about parent pressure, over-scheduling, and kids who clearly don’t even want to be at the rink, plus why sometimes the best thing you can do is… take a break.

The guys also get into:

•  Why jumping teams chasing “better situations” can backfire 
•  The problem with coaches who only care about winning at U10 
•  Why kids need freedom (and parents need to get off the glass) 
•  How real development comes from decision-making, not drills

RJ also shares his own journey from bouncing teams and chasing the path, to realizing hockey became a job instead of something he loved, and how coaching brought that passion back.

TopLine Hockey - https://tlhockey.com/

Partners:

• https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/
• https://hockeytraining.com/
• https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydads
• https://howieshockeytape.com/
• https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/

Socials:

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazyhockeydadspodcast
• X: https://x.com/Crazyhockeydads
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Crazy-Hockey-Dads-Podcast/61578631923150/

Why youth hockey development is getting misunderstood.

Scott and Jamie sit down with Heather Mannix, Manager of Education & Player Development at USA Hockey, for a deep dive into what development actually means and where parents and coaches get it wrong.

Heather explains how parent pressure impacts even the most informed families, why so many are rushing kids toward the wrong goals, and why the most important thing at young ages is simple: kids have to love the game.

She also breaks down the evolution of USA Hockey’s coaching education, shifting from what to teach to how to coach, and why creating fun, competitive, game-like environments leads to better development than traditional drills. 

The conversation also dives into burnout, over-scheduling, girls hockey growth, and the reality that fun isn’t goofing off...it’s competing, learning, and being engaged.

In this episode:

•  Why parents are “racing to the wrong finish line” 
•  The biggest misconception about development 
•  Why fun is the #1 driver of long-term success 
•  How coaching is shifting from drills to decision-making 
•  The real risk of burnout (even if kids don’t quit) 

If you think more ice time, more teams, and more pressure = better development…this episode will make you rethink everything.

Partners:

• https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/
• https://hockeytraining.com/
• https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydads
• https://howieshockeytape.com/
• https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/

Socials:

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazy.hockey.dads
• X: https://x.com/Crazyhockeydads
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576627751551