Get ready to level up your strength training know-how for high performance hockey! Kevin Neeld and Brijesh Patel return to the podcast to discuss Strength Training for Hockey, an important resource for hockey players and coaches alike. We’ll dive into the core aspects of the book, who it’s for, and the gap it fills in the ice hockey performance world. As we go, our guests share advice for young strength coaches to get ahead of the game and equip themselves with higher knowledge of strength...

As coaches, how can we instill our team with one of the most important skills in the game: hockey IQ? Joining us today is Troy Smith, the owner of Hockey IQ – an outstanding, elite video breakdown resource for hockey players and coaches alike. Our conversation is all about hockey IQ + how we can teach and improve it. We’ll dive deep into the X’s and O’s of the game, breaking down game patterns and principles with Troy’s expert eye. Whether you’re training the next generation of athletes or...

What is the best way to set up the next generation of high performing athletes for success? Joining me today is Mark Fitzgerald, head coach for Kelowna High Performance + founder of Elite Training Systems in Ontario, who has spent the last 15 years working with athletes from a variety of sports at every level. We have an educational hour diving into long-term athletic development for youth hockey. We’ll unpack everything there is about coaching young hockey players, from the pitfalls of the...

What is the secret formula for building a high performing team? This week’s special guest is Steve Spott, the Assistant Coach of the Dallas Stars. During his three years in Dallas, Steve has guided the club to back-to-back Western Conference final appearances over the past two seasons. Today, we’re diving into lessons from the coaches corner to talk life, hockey, coaching, and more. We’ll unpack the X’s and O’s of the game to see how they’ve evolved and what it takes to coach elite players...

Let's talk about the global growth of Hockey. Hassan Saeed is the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for CSKA Moscow in the KHL, Russia's top professional hockey league. With over 12 years of experience working in the Russian hockey system, Hassan provides a unique perspective on the cultural differences, training methodologies, and coaching philosophies between North America and Europe. In this episode, we dive into Hassan’s transition from Canada to Russia as a strength coach, managing...

What are some of the biggest lessons we learn while in pursuit of high performance excellence? Today’s special guest is a good friend of mine, Andrew Hauser, who has worked in a variety of roles in the past 14 years as an Athletic Trainer and Strength & Conditioning Coach, before switching to the private setting with Continuum Performance. In this episode, we’ll dive into his years of experience, including the main takeaways from his most recent role as the Director of Performance Rehab...

If you want to develop your players to the high performance level, we’ve got your guy. Today’s guest is the Development Coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Tommy Cross. Tommy played 12 seasons of professional hockey before retiring following the ‘22-’23 season, and now works with drafted prospects through the transition from college to pro. We’ll speak about development at the National Hockey League level, and his philosophies and coachings that help his athletes reach the ultimate goal of...

How do you become a teacher that ensures the future success of your players? Today, class is in session with Ben Eaves, the strength & conditioning coach for the Cleveland Monsters. Ben is here to share experiences from his background as both an elite player and development coach for high performing athletes. Our conversation will focus on his position and role as a strength & conditioning coach, from the important aspects like connection and development to his philosophy of the game...

What is the secret to assessing, training, and integrating technology with performance? Here to dive into the deep physiology of ice hockey is Brian Kozak, a respiratory & performance coach. Brian has dedicated decades to experimenting with cutting edge technology in pursuit of real time insights into each system’s limiters, compensators, and their implications for training, rehab, and recovery. Today, we have a fantastic conversation all about the technology and physiology behind high...

If you’ve ever wondered how to approach coaching from an applied sports science POV, then you’re in the right place. Joining me on the podcast today is Dr. Josh Secomb, lecturer in Exercise & Sports Science at the University of Newcastle, and strength & conditioning coach for Ice Hockey Australia National Men’s team! We’ll be deep diving into the world of applied sports science to discover how an elite-level coach maximizes + optimizes his research. We speak on Josh’s teachings,...

How far has strength & conditioning gone in the past 20 years? Here with me today is Sean Skahan, owner of Skahan Sport Conditioning with 20+ years of high performance under his belt! We’ll speak about Sean’s 2 decades worth of experience within the NHL and the strength & conditioning landscape as a whole. Sean reflects on his journey, going from an elite college setting to now owning + running a sport conditioning company working with young athletes. We’ll discuss coaching changes in...

In This Episode, You Will Learn: The impact of A Coach’s Guide to Strength Development on coaches. Expert advice for young practitioners and coaches. The deeper fundamentals behind strength & conditioning. How to build a coaching culture for long term growth.   Resources + Links: Follow Stu on Instagram | @fingermash Follow Jordan on Instagram | @jordanstrength Learn more at https://www.jordanstrength.com/   Check out ALTIS - https://altis.world/   Check out...

What does it take to build a sports performance department out of bare-bones? Our guest this week is Coach Doug Davidson. Doug is the Associate Director of Sports Performance and Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Vegas Golden Knights, being with the organization since the team’s inaugural season in 2017-2018. We will explore the foundational work + early years of slowly building up a sports performance department, starting from the ground level. You’ll get a closer look at the...

In This Episode, You Will Learn: Differences between North America and the KHL in terms of culture, game play, structure, performance, and schedule. The current strength & conditioning scene in Europe compared to North America. Advice for young strength coaches considering going abroad. The importance of communication, consistency, and simplicity as a coach.   Resources + Links:   Check out Anthony’s Masterclass -  The High Performance Hockey Masterclass   Follow...

In This Episode, You Will Learn: Textbook skating mechanics and skating efficiency. The difference between coaching young athletes versus elite level professionals. Biomechanics and anatomical landmarks for idealized, efficient skating. The most common equipment and modifications.   Resources + Links: Follow Luke on Instagram | @chilcottskating   Check out Anthony’s Masterclass -  The High Performance Hockey Masterclass   Follow Anthony on Instagram | @anthonydonskov ...

In This Episode, You Will Learn: An in-depth exploration of the five phases of the return to sport clearance continuum. How to become a Swiss Army knife in the professional sports world. The current state of comprehensive athlete care + return to play.   Resources + Links: Check out Anthony’s Masterclass -  The High Performance Hockey Masterclass   Follow Anthony on Instagram | @anthonydonskov Follow Anthony on Twitter | Anthony Donskov, PhD Subscribe to our YouTube...

In This Episode, You Will Learn: Measurement error and building conceptual models in applied settings. How to collect, analyze, and compute better information from both a sports science and a strength & conditioning perspective. The issue with reliability + validity in tests.  The fundamentals of assessing and calculating errors.   Resources + Links:   Measurement in Medicine by Henrica C. W. W. de Vet   Probably Overthinking It by Allen B. Downey   Analyzing...

In this episode I have an incredible conversation with Sunaya Sapurji about youth hockey development models around the world. Sunaya is a senior editor at The Athletic who has covered hockey for many years and written insightful pieces comparing different countries' approaches. We discussed the similarities and differences between programs in North America and Europe. Some of the main takeaways from our discussion included the challenges of cost and participation rates, as well as the...

In This Episode, You Will Learn: The importance of generalist knowledge in sports medicine.  Periodization of treatment for optimal athlete performance. How Dr. Jeff Cubos creates a collaborative high performance culture.   Resources + Links:   Check out Anthony’s Masterclass -  The High Performance Hockey Masterclass   Follow Anthony on Instagram | @anthonydonskov Follow Anthony on Twitter | Anthony Donskov, PhD Subscribe to our YouTube Channel | The HPH Podcast with...

In This Episode, You Will Learn: How to build trust with players through open communication Managing training loads to prevent overtraining during season Using objective metrics and testing for return to play decisions Resources + Links:   Check out Anthony’s Masterclass -  The High Performance Hockey Masterclass   Follow Anthony on Instagram | @anthonydonskov Follow Anthony on Twitter | Anthony Donskov, PhD Subscribe to our YouTube Channel | The HPH Podcast with Anthony...

In This Episode, You Will Learn: Mental toughness is task specific and developed through self-awareness Leadership starts from the top but is a bottom-up process of trust and humility  The cost of coaching is making tough decisions while staying true to your values   Resources + Links: Check out Anthony’s Masterclass -  The High Performance Hockey Masterclass   Follow Anthony on Instagram | @anthonydonskov Follow Anthony on Twitter | Anthony Donskov, PhD Subscribe to our YouTube...

In This Episode, You Will Learn: Highlights, lessons, and reflections on top episodes of 2023.   Resources + Links:   Check out Anthony’s Masterclass -  The High Performance Hockey Masterclass   Follow Anthony on Instagram | @anthonydonskov Follow Anthony on Twitter | Anthony Donskov, PhD Subscribe to our YouTube Channel | The HPH Podcast with Anthony Donskov   Follow HPH Podcast on Instagram | @hph_podcast Follow HPH Podcast on Twitter | @TheHPH_Podcast   Learn more on our...

In This Episode, You Will Learn: Reframing LTAD from a coach’s perspective. The problems with the LTAD model. Possible solutions & fixes for future athletic development.   Resources + Links:   Check out Jim’s article - Rethinking Long Term Athlete Development   Ultimate Speed & Agility by Jim Kielbaso   Check out Anthony’s Masterclass -  The High Performance Hockey Masterclass   Follow Anthony on Instagram | @anthonydonskov Follow Anthony on Twitter | Anthony...

In This Episode, You Will Learn: Where the education process for young performance coaches is right now. Theory versus application touch points. Jumping training from a physiological perspective. Coaching adaptation in different training ages.   Resources + Links: Connect with Carmen on Instagram | @coachbott Learn more at https://www.coachbott.com/   Check out Coach Carmen’s ACL Rehab Course: https://www.coachbott.com/acl-rehab-course   Check out Anthony’s Masterclass -  The...