{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Between the Shifts — Presented by StopNStarts Hockey","title":"Behind the Brand: Mario Therrien on True Hockey's Evolution","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/d3ba3a7a\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2358,"description":"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.\n00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro\n00:52 How Mario Entered Manufacturing\n02:28 Playing Career Background\n03:48 True Hockey Origin Story\n05:44 Product Line Expansion\n07:08 Why True Skates Fit Better\n08:24 Skate Tech and Scanning Evolution\n12:30 Choosing the Right Stick\n15:08 Curve Trends and Oates Pattern\n16:34 Goalie Gear Breakthrough\n18:24 Youth Hockey Challenges Today\n20:01 Too Many Options\n21:10 Winning Over Development\n24:21 Healthy Scratches Problem\n25:19 Junior Hockey Jungle\n26:03 ID Camps Money Grab\n27:59 Cuts Without Feedback\n28:50 Skills Versus Hockey IQ\n30:39 Choosing The Right Fit\n34:03 Stop And Start Vision\n36:20 Giveaway And Wrap Up","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/DRVgG6ctxgVr9BwsXPgbx0nGixptBZFOXzj6IpJNd_E/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS80YjBh/N2Q1NmQ5Y2UxMjZi/MTYxYzMwNmE3NzVl/NzliZi5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}