Articles & Help

Minor hockey is about more than competition — it’s where kids build friendships, confidence, and so many skills they carry into...

Draft - pending review Abstract This paper explores developmentally appropriate interventions across minor hockey divisions, with a...

As parents, coaches, and leaders, we all play a role in making sure the rink is a place of growth rather than harm. Here are some evidence-based ways to create the best possible hockey experience for kids:

Pros and cons of growth mindset - research shows it works - but kids and parents may also need something deeper to mitigate the lasting impact of bullying and maltreatment.

That’s where counselors and therapists can help. They will work with you and/or your child and develop short-term goals for long-term gains.

Whether it is in youth sports or schools, bullying and maltreatment is often portrayed as something that can be solved with a workshop, a motivational talk, or a limited time promotion. Though increased awareness is always a good thing, they stop short of real solutions that need continuity and repetition.

It's about protecting the membership you are providing a service to. It isn't politics or personal, it is policy and preventative.

Don't let bullying and maltreatment thrive. Hold your board and association members to protecting the minors under your care. Protect the hearts behind the helmuts - adopt strong policy and governance, youth voice, leadership, and education for all your members.

We've all had that thought in those high profile cases in youth sports - how can abuse go on for so long without anyone knowing? There are a number of reasons: The Halo Effect (it couldn't be a person I know or my kids plays for). Kids being fearful of reporting incidents or getting an adult in trouble. Not talking to the youth membership (they know what's going on before anyone else). And non-compliant, sloppy and non-objective complaint processes...

If only you knew... What they carry at 8, 12, 14 — The pressure, the self-doubt, the hope. They don’t need perfection. They need presence.

Dropping the Gloves: How Rules and Leadership Make a Difference in Hockey Culture

We can’t always logic our way through emotions. Sometimes, it helps to just say, “The hockey gods weren’t with us today,” and let it go.

n today’s hockey culture, Elbows Up is the perfect way to tell bullying and maltreatment to "Get the Puck Outta Here." It’s about protecting yourself and your teammates by standing up for fairness, safety, and respect on and off the ice.

The reality? Research consistently shows that bullying and maltreatment are systemic issues, closely linked to leadership, policy, and governance—especially within the unique culture of sport. Interventions must be driven by psychological and sociological insights, using data-informed approaches. A static policy or annual event cannot dismantle harmful norms or build safer environments for kids. Sustainable change requires integrated strategies, with youth voice solutions at

For hockey associations looking to make real change, implementing new bullying and maltreatment strategies isn’t just a policy update — it’s a cultural shift. That’s where change management comes in.

Every decision needs to be around fostering leadership that keeps the kids psychological safety top of mind. From that foundation stems increased revenues, winning mindsets, team success, love for the game for the next level or generation of hockey players.