The late bloomer who proved everyone wrong.

Scott and Jamie sit down with former NHL forward and Stanley Cup champion Erik Cole for an honest conversation about the winding road from small-town hockey in upstate New York to nearly 900 NHL games.

Erik shares how he didn't play AAA hockey, grew up in a community program, was a late bloomer physically, and almost let a difficult college coaching experience derail his career. He explains how one breakthrough season changed everything and why confidence can be just as important as talent.

The conversation also dives into youth hockey today, becoming a hockey dad, coaching his own son, and the lessons he learned from both the NHL and behind the bench.

In this episode:

• How a late growth spurt changed Erik's career
• Why confidence was the turning point
• The college coaching experience that almost pushed him out of hockey
• Why adversity prepared him for the NHL

This is a reminder that there's more than one path to the highest level of hockey.

Erik Cole IG: https://www.instagram.com/eriktcole/?hl=en

Mo's Smile: https://mosmilefoundation.org/

Partners:

• https://www.pacificrink.com/
• 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/

The 2026 Hobey Baker winner on late growth, betting on himself, and chasing big dreams.

Scott and Jamie sit down with Max Plante for a conversation that has surprisingly little to do with trophies and everything to do with development.

Max shares how he was just 5'4", 120 pounds when he left Minnesota high school hockey for the NTDP, why many people questioned the decision, and how learning to compete as one of the smallest players on the ice ultimately became one of his biggest advantages.

He also talks about growing up in Hermantown, playing every sport he could, the influence of his hockey family, battling through injuries, winning World Juniors gold, and why pushing yourself into uncomfortable situations is often the fastest path to growth.

In this episode:

• Why being undersized helped shape his game
• The emotional decision to leave Minnesota for the NTDP
• What injuries taught him about resilience
• Why playing multiple sports made him a better hockey player

This isn't just the story of a Hobey Baker winner, it's a reminder that development isn't always linear, and betting on yourself is often the hardest move to make.

Max Plante: https://www.instagram.com/mdplanet10
University Minnesota Duluth: https://umdbulldogs.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey

Mo's Smile: https://mosmilefoundation.org/

Partners:

• https://www.pacificrink.com/
• 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/

Scott and Jamie sit down with Justin Selman and Boo Nieves of TopLine Hockey for a brutally honest conversation about development, coaching, team-hopping, and what parents keep getting wrong.

Justin and Boo share their own paths through Michigan, pro hockey, the AHL grind, injuries, coaching, and building TopLine into one of the most trusted development groups in the area.

But the real meat of this episode is youth hockey today: why parents chase logos, why kids get stuck in the wrong roles too early, why switching teams every year can backfire, and why the best situation isn’t always the best-ranked team.

In this episode:

• Why “the best team” may be the wrong fit
• Why team-hopping can become a red flag
• Why you can’t force a kid to love hockey
• The brutal reality of the AHL grind

If your kid is miserable, underused, or chasing the next logo - this one is required listening.

TopLine: https://tlhockey.com/
TopLine IG: https://www.instagram.com/toplinehockey

Mo's Smile: https://mosmilefoundation.org/

Partners:

• https://www.pacificrink.com/
• 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/