Evan is joined by Mark Declairios, head coach of Avon Old Farms. The discussion delves into Declairios's perspective on the fall hockey landscape, changes in player development, and the influence of specialized sports programs. Declairios reflects on his time as an associate coach and his transition to head coach, the legacy of his predecessor John Gardner, and the evolving landscape of prep versus academy hockey. The episode also covers the importance of building personal connections with players, the effects of the CHL ruling on recruitment, and provides advice for young players starting out in hockey. The conversation ends with a fun 'overtime' segment featuring questions on sports betting and the number of games watched.

Topics

00:18 Meet the Guest: Mark Declairios

00:58 Fall Hockey Season Insights

01:24 Changes in Prep School Hockey

03:02 The Importance of Multi-Sport Athletes

03:22 Fall Hockey Leagues and Team Dynamics

08:21 Coaching Philosophy and Challenges

08:34 Legacy of John Gardner

14:40 Academy vs. Prep School Lifestyle

17:05 CHL Ruling and Future Implications

18:06 Deciding Between High School and Junior Hockey

19:02 The Value of Staying in High School

20:28 NHL Draft Prospects and Prep School Hockey

23:03 The Impact of Online Sports Betting on Hockey

23:17 Overtime: Fun Questions and Insights

31:05 Final Thoughts and Farewell