EPISODE · Dec 23, 2025 · 56 MIN
Ryan Kosecki, GM of Youngstown Phantoms, on Hockey Player Development
from Puck Academy · host Ryan Kosecki, Jason Jacobs
In this episode of Puck Academy, host Jason Jacobs sits down with Ryan Kosecki, GM of Youngstown Phantoms, Assistant GM for the Maryland Black Bears, Co-General Manager of Junior Hockey at Black Bear Sports Group, and Head Coach for the Fox Motors U16 AAA team. Ryan shares his extensive experience in hockey, discussing his career trajectory and insights into the evolving landscape of the sport. Key topics include the impact of recent rule changes, the role of technology and analytics, the importance of balancing fun with competitiveness in youth hockey, and the intricacies of scouting and player development. Ryan also addresses the challenges of making hockey more accessible and the role of data in enhancing player performance. 00:00 Introduction to Puck Academy 00:15 Meet Ryan Kosecki: A Multifaceted Hockey Manager 04:01 Ryan's Journey in Hockey 05:50 Changes in the Game: Then and Now 08:01 Balancing Fun and Competitiveness in Youth Hockey 11:06 Traits of Impact Players 13:45 Teaching Competitiveness and Hockey IQ 16:20 The Role of Video in Player Development 19:24 The Importance of Skill Coaches 24:05 Late Bloomers and the Path to Success 29:43 Balancing Development and Competition in Youth Hockey 32:47 The Unique Nature of Hockey Scouting 35:21 Evaluating Players: Beyond the Basics 39:06 The Role of GMs and Coaches in Junior Hockey 42:12 Challenges and Trends in Growing the Game 49:04 The Future of Analytics and Technology in Hockey 55:28 Final Thoughts and Parting Words Note: Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).
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In this episode of Puck Academy, host Jason Jacobs speaks with Ryan Kosecki, GM of Youngstown Phantoms, Assistant GM for the Maryland Black Bears, Co-General Manager of Junior Hockey at Black Bear Sports Group, and Head Coach for the Fox Motors U16 AAA team. They discuss Ryan's extensive experience in the sport, the evolving landscape of hockey, rule changes, the role of technology and analytics, privatization versus nonprofit models, and advice for players and families. Ryan also shares his thoughts on the importance of hockey IQ and competitiveness, as well as insights into scouting, player development, and the benefits and challenges of different hockey systems.
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Ryan Kosecki, GM of Youngstown Phantoms, on Hockey Player Development
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