In this episode of USA Hockey’s Next Generation Podcast, hosts Drew Shore and Lyndsey Fry sit down with Bob Mancini, Assistant Executive Director of Hockey Development at USA Hockey. Bob shares his journey from high-performance coaching to leading grassroots development and helping launch the American Development Model (ADM). The conversation covers the evolution of the ADM, the long-term approach to player development, the origins and impact of the National Team Development Program (NTDP), and the upcoming USA Hockey Development League. Bob also discusses global collaboration, coaching education, and how USA Hockey is expanding access while preparing players for success at every level.

Key Points From This Episode:

[00:00:00] Introduction of Bob Mancini and his role as Assistant Executive Director of Hockey Development.

[00:05:45] Bob reflects on shifting from high-performance coaching to a grassroots, player-centered mindset.

[00:08:00] How the ADM has evolved from a technique-heavy focus to emphasizing game-applicable skill.

[00:10:55] What practices looked like before the ADM and the shift away from line drills to active, station-based training.

[00:14:26] The importance of long-term development and viewing each athlete as “an experiment of one.”

[00:18:28] The origins of the NTDP and its role in elevating U.S. performance on the world stage.

[00:25:20] The depth of American talent today and how development pathways have expanded.

[00:26:34] Patrick Kane’s story as the last player selected to the NTDP and a reminder that development is not linear.

[00:29:15] Overview of the USA Hockey Development League and its purpose within the high-performance pathway.

[00:32:17] Launch timeline, age groups (15U and 17U), and development-focused structure of the Development League.

[00:37:56] Collaboration with international federations and the value of a growth mindset in development.

[00:42:39] Expanding access to the game through initiatives like Try Hockey for Free and multi-sport advocacy.

[00:48:41] The critical importance of coaching at younger age groups and early introduction versus specialization.

[00:52:57] “The most important age group is the one the child is in” — reinforcing the value of development at every stage.

Links:

USA Hockey -⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.usahockey.com⁠⁠⁠

Drew Shore -⁠ ⁠https://www.drewshore.com⁠⁠⁠

Lindsey Fry -⁠ ⁠⁠https://fryhockey.com/⁠⁠