The USA Hockey Podcast: A Youth Sports Conversation

In this episode of the USA Hockey Podcast, host Zack Nowak engages with Dr. Julia Cawthra of the USOPC and Abby Woodford of USA Hockey to explore the critical role of mental health and performance psychology in sports. They discuss their personal journeys into the field, the evolution of psychological services at the USOPC, and the distinctions between mental health and mental performance. The conversation also addresses common misconceptions about seeking mental health support, strategies for preparing athletes for major events like the Olympics, and practical techniques such as breathing exercises and visualization to enhance performance. The episode emphasizes the importance of connection and adaptability in high-pressure situations, providing valuable insights for athletes and coaches alike.

USA Hockey’s U18 National Team Development Program Head Coach Nick Fohr joins Zack Nowak for an in-depth conversation on player development, coaching adaptability, and what it truly takes to prepare young athletes for the highest levels of hockey.

Fohr reflects on his own upbringing in Grand Forks, North Dakota, where outdoor rinks, unstructured play, and competing with older players shaped his hockey IQ and love for the game. He connects those early experiences to how the NTDP intentionally challenges players today by placing them in demanding environments that force adaptation, creativity, and growth .

Now leading the U18 NTDP group, Fohr breaks down how the program balances high-volume practice, elite competition, and a long-term development mindset. He explains why practice density matters, how small-area games drive competitiveness, and how drills can be designed to “teach the concept” without over-coaching. Throughout the episode, Fohr emphasizes that development, not short-term winning, is the true priority at the national level .

Listeners will also hear:

• Why practice-to-game ratios matter in elite development

• How competitiveness is intentionally built through environment design
• Why players must learn to adapt when they no longer have a size or skill advantage
• How coaches individualize development without treating players “equally”
• Why loving the game and maintaining balance off the ice are critical to long-term success

Two-time Stanley Cup champion Rob Scuderi joins Zack Nowak on the USA Hockey Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on defensive habits, player development, and the mindset required to succeed at every level of the game.

From growing up in a non-traditional hockey market and playing multiple sports, to learning how to adapt his game at Boston College, the AHL, and eventually the NHL, Scuderi shares how embracing role clarity, consistency, and competitiveness shaped his career. He reflects on becoming a trusted shutdown defenseman, what it truly means to take away time and space, and why good defensive play often goes unnoticed

Now serving as a Defensive Development Coach with the Nashville Predators, Scuderi explains how his role has shifted from focusing on his own game to helping young defensemen prepare for the jump from amateur hockey to the professional level. He discusses the importance of self-awareness, buying into a role, and developing a broad skill set early.

This episode is packed with practical takeaways for youth, junior, and older-level coaches, including:

• Why mobility, positioning, and balance are non-negotiables for defensemen
• How consistent language and simple cues accelerate learning
• When to encourage creativity and when risk management matters
• Why development is about adapt, survive, then thrive

Whether you’re coaching 8U players or working with elite prospects, Scuderi’s perspective reinforces a core USA Hockey message: develop the whole player, love the process, and stay in the game for life.

Join the discussion on X at @USAHockeyCoach

In this episode, host Zack Nowak sits down with former NHLer Derek Ryan, whose remarkable career stands as one of hockey’s greatest examples of perseverance, adaptability, and late-bloomer success. From growing up in Spokane to Canadian university hockey, to Austria and Sweden, to finally earning a full-time NHL role at age 29, Derek shares how every stop along the way shaped him into the trusted, reliable 200-foot player he became.

Derek discusses the challenges of being overlooked, learning to reinvent himself at every level, and embracing the mindset required to keep climbing when most players stop. He reflects on the offensive freedom he found in Europe, the defensive discipline he learned in Sweden, the grind of the AHL, and the humility it took to grow, change his game, and prove he belonged in the NHL.

Listeners also get insight into Derek’s evolution into a top faceoff specialist, the importance of multi-sport development, and how his experiences now shape him as a youth coach—helping players avoid the trap of being “one type” of athlete.

Derek’s story is a powerful reminder that there is no single path to elite performance and that embracing discomfort, challenge, and growth can unlock opportunities far beyond what many players imagine.

Join the discussion on X @USAHockeyCoach

In this episode, hosts Zack Nowak and Derek Read sit down with 2025 USA Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Zach Parise to explore one of the most undervalued, yet game-changing, skills in hockey: net-front play.

Parise shares stories from his youth hockey days, his development at Shattuck-St. Mary’s, and the lessons passed down from his father that shaped his relentless work ethic and leadership. He walks through what it takes to succeed in tight spaces, from mastering screens, tips, and rebounds to understanding timing, positioning, and mentality at the crease.

Listeners get an inside look at how Parise practiced his craft, from driveway puck sessions and three-on-three games at Shattuck to his “stop at the net” habits that carried into an NHL career defined by grit and consistency. Coaches will also gain insight into how Parise now teaches those same habits to young players, emphasizing detail, repetition, and fun in every practice.

Whether you’re a player learning to battle at the net front or a coach looking to teach scoring in the hard areas, this conversation delivers practical takeaways on how to create offense where goals are really scored, within five feet of the crease.

Join the discussion on X: @USAHockeyCoach

#47 Supporting Every Skater (Pt. 2) How to use parents to help the player with Dr. Brady Flachs

In Episode 47, we continue exploring the connections between education and hockey with Dr. Brady Flachs, a Professor of Education at Ferris State University.

Brady, a father of four hockey-playing boys, brings over 20 years of teaching experience to the conversation. Host Zack Nowak, a former Special Education teacher, joins him to bridge the gap between classroom strategies and coaching on the ice.

Each episode, we’ll tackle one key question, drawing from education research and teaching strategies to help coaches develop their teams more effectively.

In this episode, we answer the question of How do we use parents as a tool to help the player?

Join the discussion on X at USAHockeyCoach

#46 Supporting Every Skater (Pt. 3): How do we help kids with following directions? with Dr. Brady Flachs

In Episode 46, we continue exploring the connections between education and hockey with Dr. Brady Flachs, a Professor of Education at Ferris State University.

Brady, a father of four hockey-playing boys, brings over 20 years of teaching experience to the conversation. Host Zack Nowak, a former Special Education teacher, joins him to bridge the gap between classroom strategies and coaching on the ice.

Each episode, we’ll tackle one key question, drawing from education research and teaching strategies to help coaches develop their teams more effectively.

In this episode, we answer the question of 'How do we help kids with following directions?'

Join the discussion on X at USAHockeyCoach

#45 Sport Institute of Finland and its Impacts on Coaching with Derek Read
In Episode 45, we delve into the international aspect of hockey coaching development with Derek Read of the Blue Jackets Hockey League.
Derek’s journey includes time spent at the VIERUMÄKI Sport Institute in Finland, one of the world’s premier centers for sport education. Host Zack Nowak sits down with him to discuss how these experiences shaped his approach to coaching, leadership, and player growth back home with the BJHL
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In episode 44, we sit down with Kenny McGinley, the president of the Arizona High School Hockey Association (AHSHA), to discuss what they are doing in Arizona to continue growing hockey in a non-traditional market.

From marketing and branding to player and coach development, AHSHA continues to grow yearly and sold out in a record 15 minutes this year.

Tune in to learn how they are making this growth and their plans for the future.

To learn more: https://www.ahsha.org/

#43 Supporting Every Skater (Pt. 2) How do we respond to behaviors on the ice? with Dr. Brady Flachs

In Episode 43, we continue exploring the connections between education and hockey with Dr. Brady Flachs, a Professor of Education at Ferris State University.

Brady, a father of four hockey-playing boys, brings over 20 years of teaching experience to the conversation. Host Zack Nowak, a former Special Education teacher, joins him to bridge the gap between classroom strategies and coaching on the ice.

Each episode, we’ll tackle one key question, drawing from education research and teaching strategies to help coaches develop their teams more effectively.

In this episode, we answer the question of How do we respond to our players behaviors?

Join the discussion on X at USAHockeyCoach