🏒 What if not making the “top team” was actually the best thing that could happen to a young hockey player?
This week on Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee, Christie, and Mike sit down with former pro hockey player and coach Scott Howes for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had about youth hockey development, adversity, confidence, and what really matters in the game.
Scott’s journey is anything but traditional.
He went from playing free house league hockey in downtown Toronto… to being overlooked in the OHL Draft… to carving out his own path through junior hockey, the AHL, and the ECHL. Along the way, he scored one of the most unforgettable highlight-reel goals hockey fans still talk about today.
But this episode isn’t just about the goal.
It’s about:
âś… Why early success in hockey guarantees nothing
✅ How adversity can become a player’s biggest advantage
✅ The dangers of “super teams” and youth hockey pressure
âś… Why Hockey IQ matters more than flashy skills
âś… How parents accidentally take kids out of the moment
âś… What great teammates actually look like
âś… Why development matters more than wins at young ages
âś… The importance of keeping hockey FUN
Scott shares incredible stories from pro hockey life — the bus trips, healthy scratches, sacrifices, pressure, and mental battles — while also giving parents and coaches a much-needed perspective shift on what youth sports should really be about.
And yes… we finally break down THAT viral goal. 👀
Whether you’re a hockey parent, coach, or player, this episode is packed with perspective, truth, and reminders about why we all fell in love with this game in the first place.
đź“– Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: https://www.ourkidsplayhockey.com/blog/why-hockey-development-isnt-about-winning-young--scott-howes-/
🎧 Listen now and share this episode with a hockey family who needs to hear it.
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