Between the Shifts — Presented by StopNStarts Hockey

Marc Genest introduces Between the Shifts and Stop and Start Hockey’s mission of guiding players through youth, junior, and pro hockey decisions, then welcomes former teammate Mike Fournier, founder of Built Different Hockey (BDH). Fournier shares his non-traditional path from central Massachusetts (no AAA) to the Boston Junior Bruins, the QMJHL (which ended his NCAA eligibility), the USHL and Maritime League, and a cutthroat minor pro career (234 games). He explains why he joined the Air Force, served 20 years as an analyst with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and recently retired. Returning to hockey through coaching his son Zachary, Fournier describes BDH’s small-group, classroom-style sessions focused on game details, off-puck skills, and teaching concepts, and both discuss the importance of coaching quality, long-term development, and choosing teams for true development over a “shiny nickel” pathway.00:00 Show Intro00:19 Stop and Start Mission01:09 Meet Mike Fournier03:34 Growing Up in Mass07:21 Jump to the Q09:32 Built Different Origins11:18 Minor League Reality14:04 From Pro to Air Force16:10 20 Years of Service18:18 Back to the Rink20:14 Partners and Sponsors21:50 Youth Hockey Today25:21 Teaching Game Details27:41 Coaching vs Teaching28:40 Why Skating Matters29:46 Built Different Model30:44 Teaching Real Hockey IQ34:14 Bad Coaching Problem38:55 Developing Hidden Gems42:50 Coaches Who Shaped Me44:20 Lessons From Mentors51:59 Advice Choosing Teams54:33 Wrap Up And Linkshttps://builtdifferenthockey.com/

Two-time Stanley Cup champion Rod Brind’Amour joins In Between the Shifts for a candid conversation about youth hockey, player development, parenting, coaching, and finding the right path for young athletes.Rod shares the story of his own unconventional hockey journey—from quitting the sport as a young kid, to Notre Dame, Michigan State, the NHL, and eventually winning the Stanley Cup as both a player and coach. He also explains how his perspective has changed now that he’s navigating youth hockey as a parent himself.The conversation tackles one of the biggest problems facing hockey families today: the pressure to move kids too far, too fast. Rod discusses prep schools, academies, AAA hockey, recruiting, rankings, development camps, and why families can lose sight of what youth hockey is actually supposed to accomplish.Rod and Marc also discuss why skating remains foundational, why hockey IQ matters as much as individual skill, the importance of off-ice training, and the trait Rod looks for in players that can’t be measured at a skills session: compete.Most importantly, Rod reminds parents that every player’s path is different—and if a player is genuinely good enough and continues developing, people will eventually find them.In this episode:What winning the Stanley Cup really feels likeWhy Rod quit hockey as a young childHow Notre Dame changed the trajectory of his careerChoosing the right college based on opportunity and fitWhy coaching at ages 14–16 can shape a player’s entire careerRod’s experience coaching and parenting youth hockey playersWhy families are sending players away too earlyThe growing financial and logistical burden of AAA hockeyWhy kids don’t need to be on the ice every dayBuilding an everyday training mindsetWhy skating is still the foundation of developmentThe youth hockey skill Rod believes is being overlookedWhat NHL teams actually look for in playersWhy development-camp skills don’t always translate to gamesThe importance of compete, character, and work ethicWhy education must remain a priorityKeeping hockey fun while pursuing higher levelsLearn more about Stop & Starts Hockey, coaching, private lessons, player evaluations, and membership https://stopnstartshockey.com/00:00 Welcome to In Between the Shifts00:55 Introducing Rod Brind’Amour01:20 What Winning the Stanley Cup Feels Like05:46 Where Rod’s Youth Hockey Journey Began06:20 Why Rod Quit Hockey as a Kid07:30 Growing Up in a Small Hockey Town08:03 Has Youth Hockey Become a Rat Race?08:24 Why Rod’s Dad Made Him Play Defense10:04 The Opportunity That Led to Notre Dame11:24 Why Notre Dame Changed Rod’s Career12:27 Playing Up Against Older Players14:12 Building Notre Dame’s Junior Team15:26 Why the Right Coach Matters So Much16:02 Choosing Michigan State and Finding the Right Fit17:54 The Coaches Who Shaped Rod Brind’Amour19:34 Rod’s Perspective as a Hockey Dad20:53 Why Keeping a Great Team Together Matters22:00 Should You Send Your Kid Away to Play Hockey?23:24 Why Winning at 13 or 14 Doesn’t Matter24:34 The Financial Burden of Youth Hockey26:17 What a Good Development Program Needs26:56 Why Weekend-Only Hockey Doesn’t Work28:03 What Youth Hockey Development Is Missing28:26 Kids Don’t Need to Skate Every Day29:03 Creating a Daily Training Mindset30:48 Why Skating Is Still the Foundation31:59 Surround Yourself With Hard Workers33:32 Show Partners35:06 Is Hockey IQ Being Neglected?36:16 Every Practice Should Translate to Games38:05 What Makes a Player Stand Out at Tryouts39:23 How Youth Hockey Has Changed Between Rod’s Sons40:17 Are Prep Schools Right for Everyone?43:18 “It Shouldn’t Be This Difficult”44:24 The Life Lessons Hockey Teaches45:32 The Puberty Olympics and Late Bloomers46:53 What Rod Sees at NHL Development Camps51:49 Skills vs. Compete52:41 Why Hockey Families Need Better Guidance54:33 Making Hockey More Affordable56:25 Every Shift Is an Opportunity57:58 Rod’s Advice to Hockey Parents58:40 Know Whether Your Kid Actually Loves Hockey59:17 Why Education Has to Remain a Priority1:00:09 Rod’s Closing Thoughts1:00:47 Stop & Starts Hockey Membership#RodBrindAmour #YouthHockey #HockeyDevelopment #HockeyParents #HockeyTraining #HockeyIQ #NHL #CarolinaHurricanes #StanleyCup #AAAYouthHockey #HockeyPodcast #StopAndStartsHockey

In this episode of Stops and Starts, Marc sits down with longtime hockey coach, former professional player, and Universel Academy leader Marco Pietroniro to talk about one of the biggest questions facing players and families today:What is the right development path for your player?Marco shares his journey from youth hockey in Montreal, to junior hockey in the Q, to playing professionally overseas and in North America, before shifting into coaching and player development. The conversation dives deep into the modern hockey landscape, including prep hockey, junior hockey, the NCDC, USPHL Premier, CHL opportunities, college pathways, and why development is not always about chasing the biggest logo.Marc and Marco also discuss the importance of trust between families, coaches, and players, why some athletes need more time to develop, how Universel Academy structures its program, and why the right environment can make all the difference for a young player trying to reach the next level.This episode is especially helpful for hockey parents, youth players, junior prospects, and families trying to understand the many different routes available beyond the traditional “all or nothing” hockey path.For more information about Universel Academy / Collège Universel hockey, contact Marco Pietroniro at [email protected]:00 – Welcome to Stops and Starts00:32 – The mission: helping families understand different hockey paths01:37 – Introducing Marco Pietroniro02:03 – Marco’s youth, junior, and professional hockey journey02:57 – Finding his “NHL” overseas03:40 – From pro hockey to coaching and junior hockey04:20 – Shifting from winning to player development05:51 – Why trust is critical for hockey families07:18 – Honest conversations with players and parents09:15 – Why not every player is a D1 or NHL prospect11:54 – Marco’s move into Bishop’s College School12:10 – Coaching to develop instead of only coaching to win13:09 – The vision behind Universel Academy15:15 – Giving young players a challenging development environment17:28 – Why Universel Academy plays younger players at higher levels19:00 – Confidence, opportunity, and learning from mistakes20:30 – Why ice time and special teams opportunities matter22:58 – The gap between youth hockey and junior hockey23:45 – Why experience at the junior level is so valuable24:28 – Universel Academy team structure and locations24:50 – U18, USPHL Premier, NCDC, costs, travel, and academics27:50 – A day in the life of a Universel Academy player29:10 – Ice time, skills sessions, and practicing up a level30:50 – Universel as a bridge to higher levels of hockey33:07 – Global Advancement and player placement35:10 – The changing junior hockey landscape and rule changes36:16 – How college hockey timelines are changing37:08 – Who benefits most from the new hockey landscape?38:42 – D3, U Sports, Europe, and nontraditional pathways39:36 – Marco’s thoughts on the future of the NCDC40:52 – Why the NCDC can be a stepping stone, not an endgame41:59 – More opportunities through CHL, OHL, QMJHL, and other camps43:03 – Why opportunity and development matter most43:37 – How to connect with Marco and Universel Academy44:05 – Closing thoughts

In this episode of Stop and Starts, Marc Genest sits down with Patrick Schafer of Schaefer Hockey Group to discuss one of the most important topics in youth hockey: finding the right path for player development.From youth hockey and junior hockey to college recruiting and professional opportunities, Patrick shares insights from his playing career, coaching experience, and years of advising players and families through the ever-changing hockey landscape.The conversation covers development versus exposure, why every player's journey is different, the role of advisors, what scouts are really looking for, the importance of hockey IQ, and why playing time often matters more than logos on a jersey.Whether you're a player, parent, coach, or hockey family trying to navigate today's development system, this episode offers valuable perspective on making decisions that support long-term growth and success.00:00 – Why Stop and Starts exists: development over destinations02:00 – Introducing Patrick Schafer and Schaefer Hockey Group03:30 – Patrick's hockey journey from Ohio to professional hockey06:00 – Playing for legendary coach Mike Hastings09:30 – Why today's players look more prepared than ever10:45 – The missing piece: hockey IQ and game awareness13:00 – Skill development vs. understanding the game16:00 – Creativity in hockey and developing decision-makers18:00 – Why heart matters more than size20:00 – The challenge of evaluating players at showcase camps24:00 – What Patrick looks for in players and families26:00 – Why self-awareness matters in player development29:00 – The importance of fit, timing, and opportunity34:00 – Do hockey players need an advisor?36:00 – When should families seek an advisor?37:00 – AAA vs. AA: Does it really matter?39:00 – Why college hockey remains a powerful development path41:00 – The value of Division III hockey and alternative routes43:00 – The mission behind Stop and Starts45:00 – Helping players through adversity and growth46:00 – Final thoughts on development, opportunity, and success

In this third episode of Between the Shifts from Stop and Starts, the host welcomes Erin Bratcher of EB Athletics to discuss off-ice training and athlete development for parents and players. Bratcher shares her background as a Division I basketball player at Charleston Southern, four-year pro in Germany’s Bundesliga, and her path into strength and conditioning, including building EB Athletics during COVID and developing a 5,000-square-foot facility. They cover how strength gains translate to speed, power, injury prevention, and confidence, and discuss early specialization versus multi-sport benefits, recovery and readiness (sleep, hydration, nutrition), and age-appropriate progression from coordination to loaded lifting. Bratcher explains her TeamBuildr-based in-person and remote coaching, form feedback via video, pricing guidance, and sport-specific programming like groin prevention for hockey and ankle focus for basketball.00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro01:39 Erin Bratcher Background03:54 EB Athletics and Results05:39 Old School vs Modern Training06:39 Why Strength Matters09:15 Sports She Trains10:46 Early Specialization Debate13:19 Building the Gym16:02 Online Platform TeamBuildr18:16 Remote Assessments and Testing18:50 Remote Training Intake19:09 Stop and Starts Mission21:14 Building Athlete Confidence22:47 Recovery and Body Awareness24:21 When Kids Should Train26:07 Assessments and Body Types27:43 Online Coaching and Pricing29:01 Form Checks via Video30:16 Fitness Fundamentals and Readiness31:56 Sport Specific Programming32:42 Wrap Up and Giveaway

Marc welcomes Mario Therrien of TRUE Hockey as the first guest on the Between the Shifts podcast to discuss Mario’s playing background, how he entered hockey manufacturing through sticks in 2005, and how True launched in 2013 via True Temper, initially selling sticks and gloves. Mario outlines True’s expansion into skates in 2016 and goalie gear after purchasing Lefevre in 2019, noting strong NHL and Olympic adoption and growing youth presence. They emphasize True’s skate fit and the evolution from tracing feet to scanning and app-based measurements. The conversation also covers youth equipment mistakes (poor skate fit, wrong stick length/curve/flex, and lack of lie options), plus broader issues in youth and junior hockey such as winning over development, frequent trades, oversized rosters, costly ID camps, unclear feedback to cut players, and the need for game IQ. Mark closes with a True skate raffle tied to Stop and Start membership and social followers.00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro00:52 How Mario Entered Manufacturing02:28 Playing Career Background03:48 True Hockey Origin Story05:44 Product Line Expansion07:08 Why True Skates Fit Better08:24 Skate Tech and Scanning Evolution12:30 Choosing the Right Stick15:08 Curve Trends and Oates Pattern16:34 Goalie Gear Breakthrough18:24 Youth Hockey Challenges Today20:01 Too Many Options21:10 Winning Over Development24:21 Healthy Scratches Problem25:19 Junior Hockey Jungle26:03 ID Camps Money Grab27:59 Cuts Without Feedback28:50 Skills Versus Hockey IQ30:39 Choosing The Right Fit34:03 Stop And Start Vision36:20 Giveaway And Wrap Up

Marc Genest introduces the Stop and Starts podcast “Between the Shifts” and explains his background as a former pro player (450+ games) and AAA youth coach with the Carolina Junior Hurricanes. He describes how families need guidance in navigating today’s expensive, travel-heavy hockey landscape, and how Stop and Starts consults for parents, players, coaches, and associations—focusing on development decisions and off-ice support rather than serving as a placement company. Jana outlines the importance of choosing the right path at ages 14–17, navigating the complexities of junior hockey, and addressing the mental side of performance. He highlights partners including True Hockey, Stanstead College, Universal Academy, Coeur d’Alene Hockey Academy, EB Athletics, Hunter Bishop Hockey, and Schafer Hockey Group. He also details membership pricing and a raffle for custom skates for the first 100 members.00:00 Between the Shifts Mindset00:24 Meet Marc Genest01:06 Why Hockey Families Need Help02:35 Stop and Starts Mission05:31 Not a Placement Company07:44 Every Player Has a Path09:24 All-in-One Development Model11:05 Junior Hockey Reality Check11:39 Partners and Programs Spotlight16:01 Bridging the Advisor Gap19:06 Membership Pricing and Services21:27 Mental Game and Communication24:59 Choosing the Right Path26:31 Wrap Up and Call to Action

Welcome to the ice.