Between the Shifts — Presented by StopNStarts Hockey

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.