Mindset Body Bank

When it comes to grit, perseverance, reliance and attitude I think my guest Lance Pitlick has those bases covered. Lance was drafted in 1986 by the Minnesota North Stars but never got the opportunity to play in his hometown state after college.  Suffering a groin injury in his senior year with the Gophers limited his playing time. He found himself sitting as a free agent at the end of the season after the North Stars decided not to sign him. 

As fate would have it, he was fortunate enough to have someone who believed in him pull a few strings and he wound up signing with Philadelphia. Lance would spend the next 4 years playing in the AHL. It wasn't until he was 27 years old and now apart of the Ottawa Senators organization that he got the opportunity to step on the ice for his first NHL game. His ability to dream bigger than anyone else shines through when you know what it took for him to get to the NHL. He never looked back after that opportunity and he established himself as an NHL regular for the majority of his next 8 seasons.

Born and raised in Minnesota, Lance has gone back to his roots where he now gives back to the community that he grew up in. he has established himself as one of the top skills coaches around the world boasting more than 2000 drills and skills in his arsenal. Check him out at www.onlinehockeytraing.com With the support of his wife Lisa Lance was able to see his NHL dream come true. The Pitlick legacy is being carried on through his son's Rem who is with the Chicago Blackhawks and his younger son Rhett who is a freshman at the University of Minnesota and a Montreal Canadiens draft pick from 2019.

My old buddy John Nelson stops by today to talk a little junior hockey and share perspectives on the state of the game. John is currently the Head Coach and Gm of the LaSalle Vipers in the GOJHL. Lots of discussion these days as there is a petition to give the GOJHL Junior A status. Lots of reasons why but you have to listen to hear why John and so many others are passionate about this status change and keeping local talent.

As a player John was always ready to battle and although not the biggest or most gifted player he's the guy you want on your team. You always new when John was on the ice he would give you 100%. John played in the OHL from 86-90 with the Toronto Marlboro's and the Kingston Frontenacs. John then went east in 1991 where he won an Allen Cup playing Senior A in PEI. he stayed out east and went on to play U sports for UPEI from 91-96. He then played a few years in the minors like many of us did from 96-2000.

John is very active not only as a coach but he has been a partner for 15 years at Proven Performance Hockey Academy. He and his partner Jimmy Sonmez are also partners in the PerfectaShot Shooter Tutor.

Gianluca Boldarin or Coach Bold as he is affectionately known, joins me again to discuss our perspectives on the development of young athletes, their mindset, their work ethic and their opportunities.

This conversation becomes very passionate as you will hear and actually goes on for close to 2 hours. So this will be part 1 of our conversation and part 2 will be played next week.

I hope you enjoy the discussion as much as we did having it. Lots of great nuggets of information if you are willing to go into it with an open mind. Approach this podcast from the perspective that you have 2 coaches who truly want to help. The biggest road block we sometimes encounter is actually the athletes more than anything. If these young guys learned to get out of their own way we would see so many more young football players reaching their potential instead of burning out.

Drafted in the 8th round, 66th overall in 2017, and being a Canadian running-back who played USports in Canada, Sean Thomas Erlington defied the odds of making it to the CFL. Standing at 5'9" 217lbs Sean brought his "A-game" to Hamilton and cracked the starting line up. Sean grew up in Montreal and credits his dad for putting him into sports at a young age. As you'll hear, Sean loved sports and played multiple sports as a youth. He progressed in soccer but then transitioned into football in high-school. 

His natural athletic ability enabled him to excel on the field starting off as a linebacker but then transitioning to running back in University. Sean attended the University of Montreal where he was a member of the Montreal Carabins that won the 50th Vanier Cup in 2014 that was played in Montreal.

Sean is looking forward to getting back to Hamilton and getting on the field after having a knee injury that sidelined him early in the 2019 season and then having a cancelled season in 2020 because of Covid. I wish Sean continued success and hope that the Ti-Cats come out ready to play this year!

You can follow Sean on instagram.

Talk about resilience, Taylor Cook has pushed her mind and her body to so many limits chasing her dreams of being a professional female goaltender. From her very honest roots in Brantford, Ontario and with no formal technical goaltending training until she was 18, Taylor pushed herself to continuously be better than she was the day before. Her journey has taken her all over the map as you will hear. She now calls Oslo, Norway home. She not only coaches girls hockey, plays on a women's professional team, runs a female goaltending clinic but she's also recently been certified as a mental performance coach....I'm tired just reading that!

As Taylor continues to pursue her dreams she has had yet another slight set back as she's rehabbing her left knee after having surgery from a training accident. This girl continues to keep pushing and you have to love her resilience and grit.

Tune in to hear here story and her journey around the world! You can catch Taylor on instagram @tayy.cook or her website www.tayloredminds.ca

Like many of us, Seanna is a Sports Parent. When she saw her seven-year-old son eating a bag of neon-orange, deep-fried corn chips at 8:00AM after hockey practice, she knew as a parent, and as a Nutritionist, that she could do better. She decided at that moment to make fuel not only healthy but CONVENIENT for players, and parents.

Seanna has been working with children and families as a Holistic Nutritional Consultant for over a decade. As a Nutritionist and Mom of three athletic kids, she knows the importance of proper nutrition for her family and yours.

She developed Hockey Snacks to make healthy eating simple and convenient for parents, kids, and coaches.

Tune in and listen to her journey and how she is on a mission to not only change the way young athletes think of nutrition but to help solve world issues...as you'll find out, Seanna is everywhere!!

Many ex-athletes choose to live off a reputation of what they did as an athlete in their sport. Not Brent Sopel. You'll hear very quickly that his legacy is to be remembered as someone who changed the world. And he's not doing this because he played 1000+ professional hockey games over 18 years or because he won a Stanley Cup in 2010 with the Chicago Black Hawks... He is determined to leave his mark by creating awareness around dyslexia and mental health. Since retiring he has created the Brent Sopel Foundation which is dedicated to providing financial and educational assistance to help students with dyslexia fulfill their potential through early detection and intervention.

In 2015 his daughter was diagnosed with dyslexia. Soon after Brent discovered that he too had it. That realization had come full circle and helped answer the reason why he had struggled in school as a youth but was given different labels at that time. His vision now is to change the world and after spending an hour with Brent, I believe he can do it!

Wow, talk about a journey! From pro hockey player to convicted marijuana smuggler and then finding redemption and a cause from behind bars...literally! Ryan Phillips is on a mission to bring awareness to mental health and child trafficking. Ryan has peddled his way to happiness and also across a few countries, Cambodia and most recently Canada. Riding from coast to coast to spread the word of love and happiness and to share the struggles of those that suffer from mental health. Ryan has already written a book called Return To Happiness and there is a documentary of the same name depicting his journey.

I was blessed to have an opportunity to chat with Ryan and as you'll hear, not only has he opened his kimono about his own personal journey but also his contacts as he has introduced me to a few guests which you'll hear from in the coming weeks.  

You can follow Ryan on instagram @ryanphillipswarrior

I'm bringing back my first repeat guest, Graeme Bonar. Graeme was the very first guest I had on my show over 13 months ago. As you'll hear, it was the first time and the last time I was able to record a podcast live in person. I'm so happy to reconnect via Zoom and catch up with my old friend. The world has become a very confusing place to be in for young athletes and we explore ways that they can keep busy and active with the implementation of new habits and routines. Graeme and I discuss what he's doing now to help those struggling with addictions and mental health. We talk a little shop (hockey) about the effects that Covid is having on the sports world from the grass roots level all the way through the pro's.

As usual we share a few laughs and a couple stories. I'm always enlightened by our conversation when I hear about the congruencies between our two practices and how far we each have come on our own life journeys. Graeme will always be a special human to me and anyone else who is blessed to have him their life.

Growing up in a suburb of Toronto as the youngest of 6 children and having a love for all sports, Joanne Noble truly has represented the city she was raised in on so many levels. She currently still lives in Etobicoke and also holds the position as President of the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame.

So what does the President of a hall of fame do...well you'll have to tune in to find out. She also tells an incredible story of her passion for tennis, hockey, golf and just being healthy and fit. Joanne continues to challenge herself and those around her and those are the qualities of a great leader. I learned a lot about Joanne and her journey through various sports but most of all I really got to appreciate how she never settled and never quit. 

This was a real interesting interview for me as there are many common friends and family friends who are inductees into the ESHoF. I honestly had no idea how many great athletes from many sports are inducted here. I encourage you all to check out the list of inductees...I guarantee you'll be surprised.