Scott and Jamie sit down with Connor Jones, assistant coach at Princeton, and Kellen Jones, assistant coach at Holy Cross, for a raw look at twins, recruiting, compete, and what college coaches actually notice.

The Jones brothers talk about growing up in a small-town hockey environment with no spring hockey, no summer hockey, no power skating, and no early hype - just hard work, other sports, and a family standard built around competing.

Now on the recruiting side, they explain what really jumps out when watching players: body language, response after mistakes, motor, work ethic, and whether a kid gives up on plays. They also explain why parents need to stop over-talking and let the player show who they are on the ice.

In this episode:

• What college coaches actually notice
• The red flags: body language, quitting on plays, and parent noise
• How recruiting has changed with agents, the portal, and more players available
• Why compete, character, and fit still matter

If you think recruiting is just points and exposure, this one will reset your brain.

Princeton Men's Ice Hockey: https://goprincetontigers.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey
Holy Cross Men's Ice Hockey: https://goholycross.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey

Partners:

• https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/
• https://hockeytraining.com/
• https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydads
• https://howieshockeytape.com/
• https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/

Socials:

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazyhockeydadspodcast
• X: https://x.com/Crazyhockeydads
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Crazy-Hockey-Dads-Podcast/61578631923150/

How hockey parents accidentally make the mental game harder.

Scott and Jamie sit down with Dr. Alicia Naser, behavioral scientist, board certified behavior analyst, and founder of The Naser Institute for Behavioral Sports Psychology, for a parent-first conversation about pressure, confidence, mistakes, and the ride home from the rink.

Dr. Naser explains why kids need space to make mistakes, why parents should be careful about watching every practice, and how constant feedback can quietly damage the parent-child dynamic. She breaks down what to say after a bad game, how to handle comparison, why “just forget about it” doesn’t work, and how players can build confidence by learning to recover emotionally after mistakes.

In this episode:

• Why the car ride home matters more than parents think
• What to say when your kid is frustrated after a game
• Why comparison can crush confidence
• Why confidence is learned, not something kids are just born with

If your kid is already hard on themselves, this episode might change what you say next.

Disclaimer
This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this content does not establish a professional or therapeutic relationship. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare or mental health professional with any questions you may have.

The views and opinions expressed by Dr. Naser are her own and do not represent those of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB).

Dr. Alicia Naser - https://www.instagram.com/doctoralicianaser

Partners:

• https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/
• https://hockeytraining.com/
• https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydads
• https://howieshockeytape.com/
• https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/

Socials:

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazyhockeydadspodcast
• X: https://x.com/Crazyhockeydads
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Crazy-Hockey-Dads-Podcast/61578631923150/

Why most youth hockey development is completely backwards.

Scott and Jamie sit down with RJ Burns, Co-Owner of TopLine Hockey, and this one hits a nerve for every hockey parent.

RJ breaks down why “just skating around cones” isn’t development, why kids need to think the game instead of memorize drills, and how the obsession with reps, travel, and “more ice” is actually hurting players long-term.

He shares blunt truths about parent pressure, over-scheduling, and kids who clearly don’t even want to be at the rink, plus why sometimes the best thing you can do is… take a break.

The guys also get into:

• Why jumping teams chasing “better situations” can backfire
• The problem with coaches who only care about winning at U10
• Why kids need freedom (and parents need to get off the glass)
• How real development comes from decision-making, not drills

RJ also shares his own journey from bouncing teams and chasing the path, to realizing hockey became a job instead of something he loved, and how coaching brought that passion back.

TopLine Hockey - https://tlhockey.com/

Partners:

• https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/
• https://hockeytraining.com/
• https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydads
• https://howieshockeytape.com/
• https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/

Socials:

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazyhockeydadspodcast
• X: https://x.com/Crazyhockeydads
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Crazy-Hockey-Dads-Podcast/61578631923150/