🏒 What does it take to create a positive experience in youth hockey?
In this insightful episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, former NHL defenseman and mental health advocate Chris Therien joins Lee, Christie, and Mike to dive deep into the challenges and opportunities in youth hockey today. Drawing from his 12-year NHL career and personal experiences as a coach and parent, Chris shares hard-earned wisdom on how parents, coaches, and players can navigate the sport’s evolving landscape.
🔥 Topics Include:
•The power of adversity: How being cut from a team at 14 shaped Chris’s career and life.
•Youth hockey’s commercialization: Why the shift from community to business is impacting development.
•Parenting in sports: Are we focusing on the right goals for our kids?
•The role of coaches: How great coaches can inspire love for the game while developing life skills.
•Lessons from the pros: Chris shares the secrets of team-building and mental resilience learned in his NHL career.
Whether you’re a parent, player, or coach, this episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about creating better experiences in youth sports.
🎧 Tune in now to learn how we can all help our kids thrive on and off the ice!
#OurKidsPlayHockey #ChrisTherien #YouthSports #MentalHealth #HockeyLife
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0:00 Intro
1:03 Chris Therien's Early Hockey Journey
3:31 Facing Adversity at Age 14
7:40 Confronting the Coach Who Cut Him
10:42 Returning to Hockey and Playing Multiple Sports
14:54 The Importance of Adversity in Youth Sports
19:37 Parental Expectations and Realistic Goals
24:01 Challenges in Youth Hockey Culture
29:28 Community vs. Business in Youth Sports
35:42 Coaching Philosophy and Player Development
40:29 Navigating Youth Hockey Decisions
45:37 Lessons from NHL Experience
48:53 Championing Mental Fitness and Gratitude
50:50 Closing Remarks