Dr. Sue Schimmel and Maureen Breeze join the USA Hockey Podcast, with Abby Woodford serving as special guest co-host, to discuss how parents can support athletes through pressure, burnout, failure and growth. The conversation explores practical ways parents can listen, ask better questions, model resilience, communicate with coaches and help athletes build ownership over their sport experience.

Purchase their book, Playing the Long Game: A Handbook for Parenting Elite and College Athletes, here: https://a.co/d/0aaarBrq

On this episode of the USA Hockey Podcast, host Zack Nowak is joined by Darren Elliott, former NHL goaltender, broadcaster, and VP of Hockey Programming and Facility Operations for the Vegas Golden Knights. Elliott shares how street hockey, multi-sport participation, skating out as a young goalie, and playing with older kids shaped his development and long-term view of youth sports. The conversation explores how the game has changed since his playing days, especially the evolution of goaltending, the increased importance of skating, and the way today’s players must learn to play with their heads up, make decisions, and create space in small areas.

Elliott also discusses the value of age-appropriate environments, cross-ice hockey, small-area games, and allowing young players to discover solutions through play. From there, he offers insight into building hockey in nontraditional markets, including the growth of youth programming in Las Vegas, the importance of clear pathways from learn-to-skate to house league, and why programs should avoid rushing players before they are ready. The episode closes with practical advice for coaches, including the importance of fun, trust, intentional practice design, and understanding the skill inside each drill.

In this episode of the USA Hockey Podcast, host Zack Nowak sits down with Bill Kangas, head coach at NCAA Division III Williams College and one of the longest tenured coaches in college hockey.

Coach Kangas reflects on more than four decades behind the bench and shares the lessons that shaped his approach to coaching and player development. The conversation explores the value of multi-sport participation, why individual sports can build accountability, and how coaches can create environments where players learn to think and react rather than simply follow systems.

Kangas also discusses how coaching has evolved over time, the importance of building trust and relationships with players, and why reflection and communication are critical tools for team culture. He explains how his program uses weekly player reflections to support athlete well-being, development, and honest dialogue.

For coaches at every level, this conversation offers practical insight into teaching the game, developing people, and creating an environment where athletes can thrive both on and off the ice.

Former NHL defenseman Alex Biega joins the USA Hockey Podcast to share his journey through youth hockey, multi-sport participation, college hockey at Harvard, and the perseverance required to earn, and sustain, a career in the NHL. In this episode, Alex reflects on the importance of patience in player development, how finding a role can shape long-term success, and why preparation, both mental and physical, matters at every level of the game. Now a youth hockey coach and father, Alex also discusses what hockey teaches beyond the rink and how the sport can help develop confident, resilient people for life after the game. This conversation offers valuable insight for players, parents, and coaches navigating the long-term development pathway.

Key Topics Covered

• Youth sport experiences and the value of multi-sport participation
• Choosing development pathways: junior hockey vs. college hockey
• Transitioning from NCAA hockey to the AHL and NHL
• Finding a role and redefining success at the professional level
• Deliberate practice and tracking what matters
• Mental preparation, mindfulness, and performance under pressure
• Coaching youth hockey and teaching life skills through sport
• Why patience and love for the game matter in long-term development

In this episode of the USA Hockey Podcast, former NHL player Ryan Suter shares his journey from youth hockey in Madison, Wisconsin, to playing in the NHL and representing the USA on the international stage. He discusses the importance of foundational skills, the impact of experiences at Culver Military Academy, and the transition to the National Team Development Program. Suter emphasizes the significance of head-up play, safety on the ice, and the role of other sports in developing hockey skills. As a parent now involved in youth hockey, he reflects on the changes in the sport and the dedication required to reach elite levels.

In this episode of the USA Hockey Podcast, host Zack Nowak engages with Dr. Julia Cawthra of the USOPC and Abby Woodford of USA Hockey to explore the critical role of mental health and performance psychology in sports. They discuss their personal journeys into the field, the evolution of psychological services at the USOPC, and the distinctions between mental health and mental performance. The conversation also addresses common misconceptions about seeking mental health support, strategies for preparing athletes for major events like the Olympics, and practical techniques such as breathing exercises and visualization to enhance performance. The episode emphasizes the importance of connection and adaptability in high-pressure situations, providing valuable insights for athletes and coaches alike.

USA Hockey’s U18 National Team Development Program Head Coach Nick Fohr joins Zack Nowak for an in-depth conversation on player development, coaching adaptability, and what it truly takes to prepare young athletes for the highest levels of hockey.

Fohr reflects on his own upbringing in Grand Forks, North Dakota, where outdoor rinks, unstructured play, and competing with older players shaped his hockey IQ and love for the game. He connects those early experiences to how the NTDP intentionally challenges players today by placing them in demanding environments that force adaptation, creativity, and growth .

Now leading the U18 NTDP group, Fohr breaks down how the program balances high-volume practice, elite competition, and a long-term development mindset. He explains why practice density matters, how small-area games drive competitiveness, and how drills can be designed to “teach the concept” without over-coaching. Throughout the episode, Fohr emphasizes that development, not short-term winning, is the true priority at the national level .

Listeners will also hear:

• Why practice-to-game ratios matter in elite development

• How competitiveness is intentionally built through environment design
• Why players must learn to adapt when they no longer have a size or skill advantage
• How coaches individualize development without treating players “equally”
• Why loving the game and maintaining balance off the ice are critical to long-term success

Two-time Stanley Cup champion Rob Scuderi joins Zack Nowak on the USA Hockey Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on defensive habits, player development, and the mindset required to succeed at every level of the game.

From growing up in a non-traditional hockey market and playing multiple sports, to learning how to adapt his game at Boston College, the AHL, and eventually the NHL, Scuderi shares how embracing role clarity, consistency, and competitiveness shaped his career. He reflects on becoming a trusted shutdown defenseman, what it truly means to take away time and space, and why good defensive play often goes unnoticed

Now serving as a Defensive Development Coach with the Nashville Predators, Scuderi explains how his role has shifted from focusing on his own game to helping young defensemen prepare for the jump from amateur hockey to the professional level. He discusses the importance of self-awareness, buying into a role, and developing a broad skill set early.

This episode is packed with practical takeaways for youth, junior, and older-level coaches, including:

• Why mobility, positioning, and balance are non-negotiables for defensemen
• How consistent language and simple cues accelerate learning
• When to encourage creativity and when risk management matters
• Why development is about adapt, survive, then thrive

Whether you’re coaching 8U players or working with elite prospects, Scuderi’s perspective reinforces a core USA Hockey message: develop the whole player, love the process, and stay in the game for life.

Join the discussion on X at @USAHockeyCoach