{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Crazy Hockey Dads Podcast","title":"Episode 89: Is Your Kid on the Wrong Hockey Team? w/ Islanders Hockey Clubs' Mike Busconi","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":9516,"description":"The best team isn't always the best place for your kid to develop.\n\nScott and Jamie sit down with Mike Busconi, Islanders Hockey Club - East Director and coach at The Winchendon School, to talk about youth hockey development, team selection, and the increasingly competitive road to higher levels of hockey.\nMike explains why being a bottom-line player on a top AAA team isn't always the best situation, especially when kids aren't getting enough puck touches or meaningful reps in practice. He also gets into parents chasing status over development, the pressure of year-round hockey, and why sometimes taking a step back is the smartest move.\nThe conversation also covers AAA hockey becoming watered down, navigating tryouts and getting cut, the benefits of prep school, and why families need to look beyond Division I when considering their child's hockey future.\nIn this episode:\nWhy the best team isn't always the best fit\nWhy AAA hockey is becoming watered down\nNavigating tryouts, cuts, and crazy hockey parents\nPrep school, D1, D3, and alternative hockey paths\nThis one is a reminder for hockey parents: the goal isn't to get your kid on the best team today. It's to put them in the best position to keep getting better.\n\nIslanders Hockey Club IG: https://www.instagram.com/ihc.hockey/\nIslanders Hockey Club website: https://islandershockeyclub.com/\nPartners:\nhttps://www.pacificrink.com/\nhttps://hockeytraining.com/\nhttps://sparxhockey.com/\nhttps://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/\nhttps://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydads\nhttps://howieshockeytape.com/\nhttps://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/\nSocials:\nTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazyhockeydadspodcast\nX: https://x.com/Crazyhockeydads\nInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Crazy-Hockey-Dads-Podcast/61578631923150/","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/61LrkeWYBX2PCneUc0HfvChI7uJOvhXNPMr98DFzsjs/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8wYTY0/ZjdmOGMzNjdiMjYw/NjI4YTYyZmU0Yjc4/YjZlMC5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}