In this episode of Stops and Starts, Marc sits down with longtime hockey coach, former professional player, and Universel Academy leader Marco Pietroniro to talk about one of the biggest questions facing players and families today:

What is the right development path for your player?

Marco shares his journey from youth hockey in Montreal, to junior hockey in the Q, to playing professionally overseas and in North America, before shifting into coaching and player development. The conversation dives deep into the modern hockey landscape, including prep hockey, junior hockey, the NCDC, USPHL Premier, CHL opportunities, college pathways, and why development is not always about chasing the biggest logo.

Marc and Marco also discuss the importance of trust between families, coaches, and players, why some athletes need more time to develop, how Universel Academy structures its program, and why the right environment can make all the difference for a young player trying to reach the next level.

This episode is especially helpful for hockey parents, youth players, junior prospects, and families trying to understand the many different routes available beyond the traditional “all or nothing” hockey path.

For more information about Universel Academy / Collège Universel hockey, contact Marco Pietroniro at mpietroniro@collegeuniversel.ca.

00:00 – Welcome to Stops and Starts
00:32 – The mission: helping families understand different hockey paths
01:37 – Introducing Marco Pietroniro
02:03 – Marco’s youth, junior, and professional hockey journey
02:57 – Finding his “NHL” overseas
03:40 – From pro hockey to coaching and junior hockey
04:20 – Shifting from winning to player development
05:51 – Why trust is critical for hockey families
07:18 – Honest conversations with players and parents
09:15 – Why not every player is a D1 or NHL prospect
11:54 – Marco’s move into Bishop’s College School
12:10 – Coaching to develop instead of only coaching to win
13:09 – The vision behind Universel Academy
15:15 – Giving young players a challenging development environment
17:28 – Why Universel Academy plays younger players at higher levels
19:00 – Confidence, opportunity, and learning from mistakes
20:30 – Why ice time and special teams opportunities matter
22:58 – The gap between youth hockey and junior hockey
23:45 – Why experience at the junior level is so valuable
24:28 – Universel Academy team structure and locations
24:50 – U18, USPHL Premier, NCDC, costs, travel, and academics
27:50 – A day in the life of a Universel Academy player
29:10 – Ice time, skills sessions, and practicing up a level
30:50 – Universel as a bridge to higher levels of hockey
33:07 – Global Advancement and player placement
35:10 – The changing junior hockey landscape and rule changes
36:16 – How college hockey timelines are changing
37:08 – Who benefits most from the new hockey landscape?
38:42 – D3, U Sports, Europe, and nontraditional pathways
39:36 – Marco’s thoughts on the future of the NCDC
40:52 – Why the NCDC can be a stepping stone, not an endgame
41:59 – More opportunities through CHL, OHL, QMJHL, and other camps
43:03 – Why opportunity and development matter most
43:37 – How to connect with Marco and Universel Academy
44:05 – Closing thoughts

In this episode of Stop and Starts, Marc Genest sits down with Patrick Schafer of Schaefer Hockey Group to discuss one of the most important topics in youth hockey: finding the right path for player development.

From youth hockey and junior hockey to college recruiting and professional opportunities, Patrick shares insights from his playing career, coaching experience, and years of advising players and families through the ever-changing hockey landscape.

The conversation covers development versus exposure, why every player's journey is different, the role of advisors, what scouts are really looking for, the importance of hockey IQ, and why playing time often matters more than logos on a jersey.

Whether you're a player, parent, coach, or hockey family trying to navigate today's development system, this episode offers valuable perspective on making decisions that support long-term growth and success.

00:00 – Why Stop and Starts exists: development over destinations
02:00 – Introducing Patrick Schafer and Schaefer Hockey Group
03:30 – Patrick's hockey journey from Ohio to professional hockey
06:00 – Playing for legendary coach Mike Hastings
09:30 – Why today's players look more prepared than ever
10:45 – The missing piece: hockey IQ and game awareness
13:00 – Skill development vs. understanding the game
16:00 – Creativity in hockey and developing decision-makers
18:00 – Why heart matters more than size
20:00 – The challenge of evaluating players at showcase camps
24:00 – What Patrick looks for in players and families
26:00 – Why self-awareness matters in player development
29:00 – The importance of fit, timing, and opportunity
34:00 – Do hockey players need an advisor?
36:00 – When should families seek an advisor?
37:00 – AAA vs. AA: Does it really matter?
39:00 – Why college hockey remains a powerful development path
41:00 – The value of Division III hockey and alternative routes
43:00 – The mission behind Stop and Starts
45:00 – Helping players through adversity and growth
46:00 – Final thoughts on development, opportunity, and success

In this third episode of Between the Shifts from Stop and Starts, the host welcomes Erin Bratcher of EB Athletics to discuss off-ice training and athlete development for parents and players. Bratcher shares her background as a Division I basketball player at Charleston Southern, four-year pro in Germany’s Bundesliga, and her path into strength and conditioning, including building EB Athletics during COVID and developing a 5,000-square-foot facility. They cover how strength gains translate to speed, power, injury prevention, and confidence, and discuss early specialization versus multi-sport benefits, recovery and readiness (sleep, hydration, nutrition), and age-appropriate progression from coordination to loaded lifting. Bratcher explains her TeamBuildr-based in-person and remote coaching, form feedback via video, pricing guidance, and sport-specific programming like groin prevention for hockey and ankle focus for basketball.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:39 Erin Bratcher Background

03:54 EB Athletics and Results

05:39 Old School vs Modern Training

06:39 Why Strength Matters

09:15 Sports She Trains

10:46 Early Specialization Debate

13:19 Building the Gym

16:02 Online Platform TeamBuildr

18:16 Remote Assessments and Testing

18:50 Remote Training Intake

19:09 Stop and Starts Mission

21:14 Building Athlete Confidence

22:47 Recovery and Body Awareness

24:21 When Kids Should Train

26:07 Assessments and Body Types

27:43 Online Coaching and Pricing

29:01 Form Checks via Video

30:16 Fitness Fundamentals and Readiness

31:56 Sport Specific Programming

32:42 Wrap Up and Giveaway