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The Hockey Lab PodcastAuthor: Gary Roberts Performance Productions
Thanks for checking out the pod! We're on a mission to help 1 million hockey players level up their game. If that sounds like something you'd be interested in then don't miss our weekly episodes. We'll share our experiences, interview some of the top players in the game (old and new), and provide you with actionable tips, you know things that actually make you a better player. The Hosts Coach Adrian (A) From growing up in a small blue-collar Canadian city to becoming the Head Strength Coach at Gary Roberts Performance hockey has taught me many of life's lessons. I've been blessed to spend the last 12 years helping some of the top NHL players like McDavid and Stamkos prepare for the season. Fun Fact I fought MMA professionally for nearly a decade. Coach Ryan (Gards) Gards is the real star of the show. He is our On-Ice Coach at Gary Roberts Performance. He's a veteran of over 1000 NLA (Switzerland's Top League) games. Gard's has played in 5 Spengler Cups, 3 World Championships, and 1 Olympics. Fun Fact Gard's grandfather Cal is a "Top 100 Leaf of All Time" Sponsor of the Podcast The pod is brought to you by Gary Roberts Performance. To learn more about how Gary Roberts Performance can help you, head over to the website www.garyrobertsperformance.com. Language: en-ca Genres: Education, Hockey, Sports Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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#65 - Gary Roberts | Minor Hockey Problems, The Olympics & Why Sacrifice Is The Only Shortcut
Monday, 16 March, 2026
Is the minor hockey system actually building better players — or just keeping kids busy until the off-season? In this episode of The Hockey Lab Podcast, Coach A and Coach Gards welcome back NHL legend and GRP founder Gary Roberts for a wide-open conversation about development, sacrifice, and what the best players in the world actually have in common. Gary pulls from his own path — Double A hockey in Whitby, to getting drafted to the Ottawa 67's at 15 without even expecting it, and years alongside Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh — to break down what separates players who make it from those who don't. We get into: Why minor hockey seasons end too early — and what families are really paying for The grass isn't always greener when chasing team changes Parent coaches — when to stay in, when to step away What the 2026 Olympics revealed about the gap between good and elite Connor McDavid's engine and why it's built, not born In-season training: if you haven't started, it's already too late Cole Beaudoin as the next OHL player built to make a real impact Sacrifice some fun for bigger glory — the message every young player needs to hear If you're a player trying to level up… A parent navigating the minor hockey world… Or a coach balancing development with results… This one's for you. 📢 Heads up: The audio on this episode isn't perfect — and that's on us. Technical issues happen and our producer Cam wanted to personally apologize for the quality. Gary Roberts dropped too much knowledge to keep this one off the feed. Appreciate the grace. The Hosts Coach Adrian (A) @championshiplifestyle Head Strength Coach at Gary Roberts Performance. Fun Fact – Fought professionally in MMA for nearly a decade. Coach Ryan (Gards) On-Ice Coach at Gary Roberts Performance. Veteran of over 1000 NLA (Switzerland's Top League) games, 5 Spengler Cups, 3 World Championships, and 1 Olympics. Fun Fact – His grandfather Cal is a "Top 100 Leaf of All Time." Gary Roberts Performance hosts this podcast. If you're looking to take your game to the next level, GRP offers comprehensive training programs for elite hockey players. 👉 Click the link below to Book a Call with a GR Coach. IG: @garyrobertshpt #TheHockeyLabPodcast #HockeyDevelopment #GaryRoberts #MinorHockey #OHL #HockeyTraining #EliteHockey #HockeyParents #GaryRobertsPerformance #HockeyLife #PlayerDevelopment #Sacrifice #HockeyMindset
