Show Notes
Scott and Jamie sit down with Scott Bartlett, NHLPA-certified agent at Bartlett Hockey, for a behind-the-scenes look at how the hockey development path actually works. Bartlett represents more than 30 NHL players, including stars like Cale Makar. Scott explains why most families rush the process, especially when it comes to agents and exposure, and why most players don’t need an advisor before junior hockey age. Instead, he believes the focus should be on development, not exposure, and letting opportunities happen naturally if a player is on the right track. He also breaks down common youth hockey myths, including the idea that players must play AAA to be discovered. Scott shares his own experience being cut from a AAA team, dominating at AA the next year, and how that adversity actually helped his development.
In this episode: Why most young players don’t need an agent yet Development vs. exposure in youth hockey The truth about AAA and getting “found” Why moving down a level can sometimes help development How NIL and the transfer portal are changing the path If you’re trying to understand the real path from youth hockey to juniors, college, and beyond, this episode offers insight from someone who guides players through it every day. 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/@crazy.hockey.dads X: https://x.com/Crazyhockeydads Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576627751551
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The best development does not always come from the best team, the most expensive lesson, or the loudest car ride home. Recorded live at The Hockey Barn in Atlanta, Scott and Jamie sit down with founder and longtime coach Kyle Kinze. Kyle explains how a pulmonary embolism ended his playing career at 19, why he turned to coaching, and why he built a place centered on access, creativity, free play, and community. Kyle gets honest about growing up with a perfectionist father, changing the car ride home with his own kids, and learning that coaching a player starts with understanding the person. Scott and Jamie add their own hard-earned mistakes about expensive training, chasing higher-level teams, and pushing kids toward a version of hockey they may not want. The conversation also tackles choosing the coach over the jersey, valuing puck touches and ice time, watching for burnout, and giving kids enough room to fall in love with the game on their own terms. In this episode: Why free play and creativity are essential to development Better questions for the car ride home Choosing the right coach over the best team Building The Hockey Barn around training, competing, and belonging Live questions on speed, endurance, coachability, and tournament hockey Coach the human, protect the love of the game, and let development follow. The Hockey Barn: https://thehockeybarnatl.com/ The Hockey Barn IG: https://www.instagram.com/thehockeybarnatl/ Partners: https://www.pacificrink.com/ https://hockeytraining.com/ https://sparxhockey.com/ https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/ 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/
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