What really matters in recruiting… and what quietly kills it.

Scott and Jamie sit down with Jason Tapp, Dartmouth College's assistant Men's Ice Hockey coach, live from Lake Placid ahead of the ECAC semis, for a candid look at how college recruiting actually works (and what families get wrong).

Tapp breaks down the three non-negotiables they look for in players - character, compete, and hockey IQ - and why talent alone isn’t enough to make it at the college level. He also shares a blunt reality: he’s crossed players off recruiting lists because of parent behavior and why that’s an immediate red flag for programs.

The conversation goes deeper into youth hockey decisions, why chasing the “best team” is often a mistake, why tier doesn’t really matter at younger ages, and how development is a long runway, not a sprint. Tapp also opens up as a hockey parent himself, admitting he feels the same pressure as everyone else and why he’s shifted to letting his kids drive their own development.

In this episode:

• The 3 traits Dartmouth won’t compromise on in recruiting
• Why parent behavior can eliminate a player instantly
• The truth about Tier 1 vs Tier 2 (and when it actually matters)
• The biggest misconception in youth hockey: “you have to be on the best team”

Recorded live from Lake Placid, but the message applies everywhere. it’s not about where you play… it’s about how you develop.

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

Scott and Jamie are on location in Lake Placid ahead of the ECAC Finals, soaking in the atmosphere and breaking down what makes this moment different for players, parents, and everyone around the rink.

From the energy in the building to what it actually takes to perform on a stage like this, this quick-hit episode captures the feel of big-game hockey in real time.

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

Why most kids don’t actually know what a “good game” is.

Scott and Jamie sit down with Sandy Cohan (Mental Edge Hockey) for a deep dive into the mental side of youth hockey and why so many players struggle with confidence, focus, and pressure.

Sandy explains that most young athletes can’t even define what success is, yet their confidence rises and falls based on it. He breaks down why results (goals, points) are the wrong scoreboard, and why real development comes from actions, behaviors, and controllables, not outcomes.

The conversation also hits what’s changed in today’s athletes (less focus, less grit) and how social media and comparison culture are making it worse. Sandy shares practical ways to help players reset, refocus, and build confidence, including why confidence is a skill that can be built, not something you either have or don’t.

In this episode:

• Why most players can’t define “success” and why that matters
• Confidence as a skill (not a feeling)
• The difference between awareness vs. focus
• Why kids focus on “don’ts” and how to fix it
• How parents can reshape post-game conversations

This episode isn’t about hockey systems. It’s about how players think and why that changes everything.

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