RUSH Hockey owner and founder Kelly Katorji talks to vice president of VoxxLife Kevin Duguay, a sport therapy and human performance consultant. Duguay discusses several new wearable technologies his company has developed which help athletes and students decrease stress, increase optimism and dramatically improve their performance. 

RUSH Hockey Talk

Promoting peak performance

RUSH Hockey owner and founder Kelly Katorji talks to Seth Goodrich, director of Collegiate Prospects Combine (CPC) and North American Elite (NAE) hockey. In this conversation, Goodrich discusses his experience coaching girls hockey, the hockey landscape in New England and the challenges players face when choosing which league to join. 

Picking what’s best for you

Kelly Katorji, owner and founder of RUSH Hockey, talks to four distinguished women’s hockey coaches: Josh Graser (Utica College), Kaylee Harnen (Curry College), Jackie Kooistra (Aurora University) and Mike O’Grady (Chatham University). In addition to discussing their early experiences and personal memories of their time in the sport, each coach shares an essential piece of advice for the hockey stars of tomorrow.

The coaches’ roundtable

RUSH Hockey founder and owner Kelly Katorji talks to Alexis Moed about her hockey journey, from childhood to Boston College to her current role as president of the New York Islanders Girls Elite Hockey program. As Moed neared the end of her time with the BC Eagles, she worried her life in hockey was coming to an end, but she eventually realized there were many more opportunities for her to thrive in the sport she loves. 

Hockey never has to end

For the first episode of RUSH Hockey Talk’s third season, Darryl Giancola returns for a conversation with Courtney Kessel, his choice for the greatest hockey player he ever coached. Kessel fondly recalls her experience with Giancola and discusses her evolution from star player into her current role as coach at Princeton University. 

The journey from player to coach

Darryl Giancola – teacher, coach, meditation instructor and longtime friend of Kelly – joins RUSH Hockey Talk to discuss meditation and the importance of mindfullness in both sports and in life. He also touches on youth coaching and what it actually means to be a good coach. Surprisingly, it means more than how many ‘wins’ a team gets. Have a listen to find out more.

Mentorship in youth hockey

Tim Healy joins Kelly on RUSH Hockey Talk to talk about his various roles with the Junior Canes program in Raleigh, North Carolina. He speaks about the juggling act of being assistant director for the girls Jr. Canes program, the coach for the boys Jr. Canes program and the coach for the ACAJ Division One Men’s hockey team. Healy also discusses how his various roles extend far beyond just being a coach or director, but to be an advocate to help grow the game of hockey down South.

Hockey in the South

Becca Vanstone, a close friend of RUSH Hockey and rising junior star at Yale, joins Kelly on RUSH Hockey Talk to discuss her experience growing up playing in leagues around the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), winning the championship for Team Ontario and the feeling of winning gold for Canada’s U18 team against the United States. She also elaborates on college and hockey life in the U.S., as well as some of the key factors that helped her decide to go to Yale.

College hockey life

Finnish goaltender and four-time Olympian Noora Räty and player turned coach (turned player again) Melanie Jue join Kelly on RUSH Hockey Talk to discuss life as a professional hockey player in Europe and how it differs from playing in North America. Both guests discuss playing with boys for the majority of their junior careers, the challenges involved, and how at the time, there was a complete lack of female hockey role models. Melanie speaks on her wild transition from player, to coach, back to player again – which was an unheard-of journey then, and still is to this day. Noora enlightens viewers on life in the WHL, from the teams to travel, stress and everything in between.

Life as female pro hockey players in Europe

For a super special edition of RUSH Hockey Talk, fashion designer @JimmyleeSteinfeld joins Kelly to talk about his new initiative, Prom On – a virtual event hosted on Jimmylee’s IG Live on Thursday, June 25 from 7-8p.m. Filling the void for all the students whose proms have been cancelled this year, Jimmylee speaks on how this is not just a great opportunity for people to join in on the fun, friends and fashion that makes prom so special – but to also have the chance to win 1 of 100 JLS designer dresses being given away during the event! 

Great news: Prom isn’t cancelled!

Joe Corapi, an ex-Penn State athlete, joins Kelly on RUSH Hockey Talk to discuss how he got involved with SAT training and provides insight for students on balancing being both a great athlete and an exceptional student. This involves not only training the body physically, but also preparing for American standardized testing (SATs and ACTs), which is necessary to qualify for certain NCAA programs. 

Sports, academics and the NCAA

Josh Sciba, head coach of Union College women’s hockey team, joins RUSH Hockey Talk to discuss his life as a coach. He speaks on his experience being part of a program that suddenly ceases to exist and the effects on players. He also touches on his involvement with the USA U-18 women’s national team (which won gold in Slovakia in ’19), the type of steps required for coaches to get involved with national team programs and why he continues to go to coaching conferences every year. 

Coaching on a national level

Kelly chats with an all-star lineup of coaches, scouts and consultants about navigating the hockey landscape within the world of COVID-19, and what the future might look like. Guests include our very own Josh Piro, senior consultant and director of scouting, Mike O’Grady, head coach of Chatham women’s ice hockey, Casey Handrahan, assistant coach of UConn women’s ice hockey and Jerry Harrigan, former coach of Laurentian University women’s ice hockey. 

COVID-19 and hockey: a roundtable discussion

Sports media specialist and award-winning journalist Jeff Hicks visits with Kelly to give expert insights on the world of sports journalism. From maintaining relationships with the people around you to doing your homework on those you’re profiling, Hicks explores the secrets of being a successful hockey writer and reporter.

Research and relationships

Jamie Goldsmith, former pro hockey player and current girls’ hockey coach & assistant director of admissions at The Gunnery in Connecticut, joins RUSH Hockey Talk to discuss the path to the pros and the benefits of attending prep and boarding schools.

Path to the pros

North America's leading authority on youth hockey, RUSH has a reputation for trusted guidance and unrivalled success. The tradition continues on the RUSH Hockey Talk podcast, which provides valuable tips for parents and players alike.

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RUSH Hockey Talk

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