The Hoops/Hockey Crossover Show

This crossover episode between New England Hockey Journal's Rink Wise and New England Basketball Journal's Hoop Wise podcasts. The hosts discuss the idea of merging the discussions around the two sports, focusing on the differences and similarities in player development, recruitment, and the unique challenges each sport faces. Topics covered include the yearly schedules for basketball and hockey, the impact of club and prep teams on player growth, the role of advisors and agents, the rising cost of playing these sports at elite levels, and the potential of future changes in the structure and governance of these youth sports.

Topics

01:13 Basketball vs. Hockey: Seasonal Differences

01:38 Open Gyms and Recruitment in Basketball

04:18 Fall Hockey Showcases and College Scouting

05:33 The Role of Club Teams in Player Development

12:05 Prep School and Club Team Dynamics

16:52 Balancing Multiple Sports and Commitments

26:46 Shoe Circuits and Sponsorships in Basketball

31:25 Exploring Brand Influence in Basketball and Hockey

31:53 The Business of AAU and College Recruiting

35:09 Junior Hockey Pathways and College Eligibility

46:38 The Role of Advisors and Agents in Youth Sports

51:46 The Rising Costs of Youth Sports

57:45 The Impact of Club Teams on Local Hockey Programs

59:46 Conclusion and Future Discussions

Evan and Pat talk with Sean O'Brien, the new head coach of the boys' hockey team at Phillips Exeter Academy. Sean shares insights from his career, including his recent move back to New England from Pittsburgh, his previous coaching stint at Harvard, and his philosophy on integrating technology and video analysis to enhance player development. He also discusses the balance between academics and athletics in a prep school environment, the impact of the CHL ruling on prep hockey, and the importance of building professional networks and relationships for long-term success. The episode concludes with a discussion on outdated hockey strategies and the evolving role of analytics in coaching.

Topics

00:29 Guest Introduction: Sean O'Brien

01:34 Sean O'Brien's Journey to Phillips Exeter

05:03 The Appeal of Phillips Exeter

07:23 Recruitment and Academic Balance

12:32 Lessons from Harvard

16:49 The Role of Technology in Coaching

24:24 Seamless Video Integration in Coaching

25:17 The Importance of Self-Reflection in Sports

26:48 Impact of CHL Ruling on Prep Schools

29:15 Evaluating Player Readiness for Junior Hockey

31:19 Balancing Hockey and Academic Development

35:46 Building Long-Term Professional Networks

40:04 Hockey Strategy Insights: Overtime Segment

Evan sits down with Brandon Borges, the newly appointed head boys hockey coach at Williston Northampton. Borges, an alumnus of the school, shares insights about his transition into the coaching role and his vision for the program. He discusses the importance of summer training, balancing player workloads, and the unique challenges of returning to coach at his alma mater. Borges also reflects on his own hockey journey from inner-city Providence to playing junior hockey, providing valuable advice for current players navigating college and junior hockey aspirations. The discussion concludes with a light-hearted segment about the nuances of being a passionate hockey fan.

Topics

00:26 Meet the New Coach: Brandon Borges

00:55 Summer Training Strategies

03:06 Returning to Alma Mater: Williston Northampton

03:42 Brandon's Hockey Journey

08:12 Challenges and Lessons in Youth Hockey

20:21 Junior Hockey Experience and Advice

24:21 Personal Struggles and Reflections

24:43 Timing and Development in Hockey

25:52 Deciding When to Move On

28:22 Realistic College Hockey Dreams

32:50 Recruiting and Building Relationships

38:30 Overtime: Fun Hockey Questions

The guest is Ed Bourget, Director of Hockey Operations at Buckingham Browne & Nichols (BB&N). The discussion delves into Ed's extensive background in hockey, from playing high school hockey at Shrewsbury High and Sacred Heart to his professional stint in Europe. Ed provides insights into his new role at BB&N, focusing on supporting both the boys' and girls' hockey programs. The conversation also explores player development, managing the grueling prep school hockey schedule, and balancing the demands of athletics with academic and personal life. Ed emphasizes the importance of rest, development beyond just hockey skills, and preparing for life after the sport. The episode concludes with reflections on the evolving landscape of hockey recruitment and the significance of enjoying the process.

Topics

00:19 Ed's Hockey Background

01:26 Coaching Philosophy and New Role

03:09 Player Development and Training

09:51 Recruiting Process Insights

17:49 Balancing Academics and Athletics

21:59 Life After Hockey

22:55 Path to Coaching

25:28 Future of Prep School Hockey

30:28 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of the New England Hockey Journal's Rink Wise Podcast, hosts Evan Marinofsky and Patrick Donnelly discuss various updates in the sports world, focusing particularly on the recent US Open and the New England D1 Championship in baseball at Polar Park. While updating on baseball, the hosts delve into the major topic of the week—the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Draft. They provide insights into significant picks, including a detailed analysis of picks from New England and the implications for prep schools, junior hockey leagues, and the National Team Development Program (NTDP). The podcast also explores potential recruiting battles between the USHL and Canadian junior leagues, value picks, snubs, and the future of New England players in junior hockey. The episode wraps up with insights into what the changes in draft dynamics might mean for the evolving landscape of prep and junior hockey.

Topics

00:31 High School Baseball Championships

02:30 QMJHL Draft Overview

05:29 Impact on New England Players

10:36 Future of Junior Hockey and Prep Schools

13:18 Quebec Ramparts' Bold Move

15:47 Carter Meyer Draft Reactions

16:41 Quebec's Strategic Draft Picks

18:46 Notable Draft Picks and Surprises

20:09 Underrated Draft Picks and Value Finds

22:45 Draft Snubs and Missed Opportunities

27:10 USHL vs. QMJHL: The Recruiting Battle

30:31 Concluding Thoughts and Future Updates

Evan and Patrick Donnelly are joined by Eric Boguniecki, a former NHL player and current scout for the Arizona Coyotes and Utah Mammoth. They discuss Eric's impressive career, his transition from coaching to scouting, and his insights on player development. Eric shares personal stories about his son's unique path from baseball to hockey, emphasizing the importance of multi-sport participation for young athletes. The conversation touches on the evolving landscape of prep school and junior hockey, the impact of the CHL ruling on college commitments, and the potential for new NCAA Division I programs. Additionally, they dive into personal anecdotes about their love for hockey and the emotional highs and lows of being a sports fan.

Topics

00:46 Introducing the Special Guest: Eric Boguniecki

01:22 Eric’s Career Journey

01:51 Life on the Road as a Scout

03:21 Transition from Coaching to Scouting

04:58 Scouting Insights and Player Evaluation

06:21 The Importance of Hockey Sense

12:26 Balancing Sports and Family Life

16:53 Jake Boggan's Unique Path in Sports

17:15 Challenges and Changes in Prep School Hockey

36:45 Hockey Prep School Culture

37:16 Memorable Football Moments

38:25 Jake's College Recruitment Journey

40:37 NCAA Recruitment Rules and Challenges

42:00 The Impact of Transfer Portals

44:03 The Future of College Hockey

47:46 Hockey's Growing Popularity

55:12 Overtime: Personal Hockey Stories

Evan and Pat discuss the recent Mass. Hockey Festival for both boys and girls, providing insights on standout players, snubs, and potential future stars. The conversation also touches on the unpredictability of New England weather, their personal gripes about hockey, the impact of youth sports' financial demands, and fun insights into their hypothetical Zamboni ride theme songs.

Topics

01:38 Mass Hockey Festival Overview

02:06 Boys' Festival Highlights

04:28 Rising Stars: Oh Eights and Oh Nines

10:23 Notable Snubs and Surprises

12:22 2000 Tens: Future Prospects

15:22 NTDP Aspirations for 2010s

18:13 Personal Anecdotes and Girls' Festival

19:05 Stock Risers: Girls in Hockey

19:37 Standout Performances at the Festival

22:32 Young Talents to Watch

24:55 Future Stars: The 2010s

30:24 Unpopular Opinions in Hockey

37:04 Overtime: Fun and Final Thoughts

Evan and Pat reflect on the recently concluded boys prep hockey season, discussing standout teams, surprising performances, and key players. They highlight teams like Deerfield, St. Mark's, Dexter, Rivers, and more for their unexpected success. They delve into the contributions of standout players such as Carter Meyer, Joe Salandra, Billy McCaslin, and others. Additionally, they discuss the potential impact of the CHL on the future of prep hockey and look ahead to how teams might shape up next season. The episode concludes with an 'overrated or underrated' segment, adding a fun twist to the in-depth hockey analysis.

Topics

00:00 Introduction and Casual Banter

00:34 Reflecting on the Bruins' Season

01:34 Prep Hockey Season Recap

02:21 Surprising Teams of the Season

12:59 Standout Players and Performances

17:42 NTDP Evaluation Camp Insights

21:48 Analyzing Pandolfo's Potential

22:22 Lessons from Sears' Development Path

24:14 Impact of CHL on Prep Hockey

27:50 Teams to Watch Next Season

29:52 NHL Draft Prospects

33:28 Overtime: Underrated or Overrated

39:46 Wrapping Up the Prep Season