A team, a town, a letter on the jersey and why it still matters.

This week, Scott and Jamie bring on CHD dad and coach Brad for a conversation that flips the usual script. Instead of chasing the “next level,” they ask: what if the best thing for your kid is right in front of them?

It’s not about exposure. It’s not about rankings. It’s about belonging, identity, and the kind of growth that happens when you play for more than just yourself.

In this episode:

- Why high school hockey still builds something travel often can’t
- The surprising value of not being the best kid on the team
- How town pride, student sections, and shared locker rooms shape players differently
- A reminder that the path isn’t always “up” -  sometimes it’s right where you are

Whether your kid’s wearing varsity letters or still chasing them, this one’s a grounded take on what the game still offers when you zoom out a little.

Socials:
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When the season shows up and punches you in the mouth.

The puck has dropped, emotions are high, and reality is… well, real. This week, Scott and Jamie debrief their opening weekends full of highs, lows, quiet panic, and that familiar reminder: this is going to be a ride.

In this episode:

1. Jamie watches himself bounce back from being a crazy hockey dad 
2. Scott realizes he still cares a little too much and maybe that’s okay
3. Why letting your kid figure it out might be the best strategy - even when it’s hard

No big rants. No hot takes. Just two dads checking themselves before the season gets away from them.

If your weekend felt great and slightly soul-crushing… you’re in the right place.

Socials:
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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Crazyhockeydads

And its a marathon not a sprint...

Day 5 of CHD Mini-Camp: Be the Chill You Want to See

It’s one thing to tell your kid to stay composed, it’s another to actually model it. In the final day of Mini-Camp, Scott and Jamie talk about staying calm when emotions spike, mistakes pile up, and your parent brain wants to explode in the parking lot.

Because your kid doesn’t just need feedback, they need an anchor. And your energy sets the tone.

In this episode:

• Why your stress becomes their stress
• How to model emotional resets without pretending everything’s fine
• Why it’s better to call a trusted friend than rant in the group chat
• The power of owning your blowups and showing what bouncing back looks like

Tool of the Day: “Model the Reset”
You don’t have to be perfect - just grounded enough to show them how it’s done.

Socials:
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/

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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Crazyhockeydads

Day 4 of CHD Mini-Camp: Mindset & Mental Recovery

One bad shift. One rough weekend. One emotional post-game chirp from the backseat. That’s all it takes to send a kid’s confidence into a spiral.

In Day 4 of Mini-Camp, Scott and Jamie go deep on what it really takes to keep your player mentally upright when things get messy. From post-game meltdowns to “two stars and a wish” feedback, this episode is your guide to protecting confidence without sugarcoating or making it worse.

In this episode:

• Why post-game critiques often do more harm than good
• The parenting trap of trying to fix instead of listen
• How Scott and Jamie have wrecked (and rebuilt) their own kids' confidence
• What “your reaction becomes their inner voice” really means

Takeaway Tool: “Stability > Stats” 
Protect the mindset - stay positive, even when the game wasn’t.

Socials:
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576627751551

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Crazyhockeydads

Day 3 of CHD Mini-Camp: Managing Expectations

If you've ever told your kid, “Why can’t you skate like Johnny?”, this one’s for you.

Today, Scott and Jamie get honest about the silent killer of youth hockey joy: comparison. From slapshot envy to AAA pressure spirals, this episode is a call to stop parenting the imaginary prodigy in your head… and start supporting the actual human in your house.

In this episode:

• Why “progress, not perfection” needs to be your new family mantra
• How comparison poisons confidence (for both kids and parents)
• Real stories about backflips, bike tricks, and smelly U18 gloves
• The underrated power of little wins and long games

Plus: Jamie admits to being pickleball stud, Scott confesses a dad-text before his men's league championship, and both CHD boys model how not to blow it in the driveway.

Takeaway Tool: “Progress > Paranoia”
Measure against yesterday, not someone else’s kid.

Socials:
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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Crazyhockeydads

Because bottling it up never helped anyone.

Day 2 of CHD Mini-Camp is here, and today’s tool might just save your sanity: communication.

Scott and Jamie break down what happens when parents don’t say the thing they’re dying to say and what usually happens when they say it too soon. From 24-hour rules to sideline showdowns, this is your guide to keeping it together, getting it out, and doing it the right way.

In this episode:

• Why staying silent can make everything worse (even with good intentions)
• The power of the 24–36 hour rule - yes, even for texts
• How to approach a coach convo without being “that parent”
• Teaching kids to speak up and model it like a grown-up
• Why hanging out at the rink door isn’t communication, it’s chaos

Takeaway Tool: “Clear is Kind”
Say what needs to be said as the camera sees it, not as your emotions tell it.

If you're headed into a season with big feelings, tough rosters, or just general unease... don’t go quiet. Speak up, but speak smart.

Socials:
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Day 1 of CHD Mini-Camp: Resetting your parent brain for the season ahead

Welcome to the first-ever Crazy Hockey Dads Mini-Camp!  Five days, five quick hits to help you kick off the season without losing your damn mind.

In this episode, Scott and Jamie break down one of the easiest things to forget (and the most important to remember): why you signed up in the first place. Because before the standings, the car rides, and the goalie drama... there was a good reason you said yes to youth hockey.

In this one:

• Finding your "North Star" as a hockey parent
• Why keeping it fun is still the best long-term strategy
• How we let our own anxiety cloud the big picture
• A reminder that pay-to-play means you opted into this chaos
• How to reset when you're spiraling over things that don’t really matter

Plus: The international listener base keeps growing, laces still haven’t been ordered, and yes, Brazil plays hockey.

Takeaway Tool: “Joy = the Multiplier”

Fun fuels confidence, effort, and long-term growth.  Ask if they enjoyed it, not just how they played.

If the season’s just starting and you’re already tense... this one’s for you.

Socials:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazy.hockey.dads

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576627751551

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Crazyhockeydads

A masterclass in pretending not to care (while caring way too much).

This week, Scott and Jamie hit that weird in-between space every hockey parent knows: when you want to scream into the glass… but don’t. You stay cool. You say the right things. You nod at the coach and smile at the other parents. But inside? You’re spiraling.

In this episode:

• That quiet guilt when your kid’s ice time sucks and you’re trying to be chill
• Holding back post-game… but still accidentally making it weird
• Telling yourself not to care - and realizing you definitely still do
• Why the hardest part of hockey parenting isn’t what you say - it’s what you don’t

If you’ve ever sat through a bad shift pretending to scroll your phone, this one’s for you.

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Crazyhockeydads

Untangling your identity from your kid’s hockey career - without losing your mind.

With the season fast approaching and tryouts in the rearview, it’s the perfect time for a gut check - not for your kid, but for you. Jamie shares a tough but honest reflection on a stretch where Dom's own stress and uncertainty started showing up in his skating.  A humbling reminder of how connected our energy is to theirs.

In this episode:

• Jamie opens up about Dom's journey from Tier 1 to Tier 2 and why they left AAA
• Scott admits how hard it is not to watch every shift like a coach - and how that mindset can affect the parent-kid dynamic
• A shared truth: our kids aren’t just processing their own pressure - they’re absorbing ours too
• The big takeaway: showing up with confidence in them means checking the emotions we bring into the rink

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being aware and being willing to shift, even just a little. If you’ve ever wondered whether your presence is helping or hurting, this episode might bring some clarity… and maybe even a little peace.

Socials:
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We’re not saying you should do video review for mites… but we kinda did.  This week, Scott and Jamie welcome Erik Cagnina from Athletic Performance Insight (API) to break down how game film and analytics are changing the youth hockey game - and why more teams (and parents) are leaning into the data.

From tagging every offside to breaking down goalie angles, it’s a look at how video tools can actually help kids develop, when used with a little perspective. 

In this episode:

- Yes, there was film review at 8U. Yes, it was a Crazy Hockey Dad/Coach thing.
- How AA hockey can still be part of your path to Junior or D1
- Weekly Rant: A jersey number saga, a Crosby tantrum, and a lesson in listening to your kid

If you’ve ever lugged a monitor into a hotel conference room or wondered if you’re doing too much - this one’s your therapy session.

Socials:
Follow on TikTok:
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Follow on X:
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Follow on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/

Follow on Facebook:
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Follow on Youtube:
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