Brad Lytle

•Father•Son•Brother•Boops•🇨🇦•🤙•🦞•

[Jacob Turner @TheJacobTurner]

A PARENT’S JOURNEY THROUGH YOUTH SPORTS:

Age 5: “He’s got a cannon.”
Age 6: “He’s the fastest kid out there. Coach said so.”
Age 7: “Rec ball isn’t challenging him anymore.”
Age 8: “We tried out for select. Obviously made it.”
Age 9: “$2,800 for the season. Plus uniforms. Plus tournaments. Plus hotels.”
Age 10: “Cooperstown is basically a family vacation, right?”
Age 11: “He needs a hitting guy. And a pitching guy. And probably a mental performance coach.”
Age 12: “I’m not a crazy sports parent. The OTHER parents are crazy.”
Age 13: “We changed schools. For academics. (And also baseball.)”
Age 14: “Showcases are a requirement at this age.”
Age 15: “Ya his ranking just ticked up. We’re cooking.”
Age 16: “He just needs to get seen by the right school.”
Age 17: “The D1 schools want him to walk on. He’ll earn a spot by sophomore year.”
Age 18: “Okay, D2 is actually really competitive.”
Age 19: “He’s redshirting. Strategic.”
Age 20: “He’s focusing on school now.”
Age 21: “You know what? He’s so much happier.”

Roughly 7% of high schoolers play in college.

About 1.5% of those get drafted.

Less than half of draftees ever play one day in the big leagues.

The odds of our kids going pro are somewhere between “struck by lightning” and “find a $100 in old shorts.”

I love youth sports (all my kids play a bunch of them) just keep a good perspective my friends. ✌️

[Brad Lytle @B_Lytes]

@RealUncleFrick Sounds like the OLA

[Topher Scott @HockeyThinkTank]

We often talk about defining success on our podcast and how everyone's definition can be unique to them.

But this take from @chrispronger may be one of the best perspectives we've heard in our 5+ years of doing our podcast. AMAZING.

🎙️: https://t.co/nuVlSsxkTt

[Topher Scott @HockeyThinkTank]

I just got off the phone with one of the best hockey directors in the North America. Just does things the right way and really cares about the kids and families in his and other organizations.

Their teams are always ranked at the top of the country on @MYHockeyRanking at the Tier 1 level too so hopefully that keeps the crazies reading.

And if you are one of those crazies who got more excited about that statement than the one about him doing things the right way, I hope what I’m about to say will resonate.

I asked him about the different successes at different birth years he’s seen in his area. What was it about certain birth years that lead to more successful years and more players moving on as they got older?

Were there any striking differences between the coaches, philosophies, standards between the ones that did well and the ones that didn’t?

His answer was awesome. And it goes against what so many believe about youth hockey development.

His answer?

The years that had more success and moved more kids on were the ones that didn’t create the super teams early. The talent was spread out amongst more teams in the area longer. There was a resistance to the urge of shortening the talent pyramid too early.

Amen.

For everyone out there that thinks Mite AAA is a good idea (I’d even say Squirt AAA), or who think that if a kid doesn’t make the Brick their career is over, or who pray on parents selling them on the premise they need to play on a super team before puberty or their development is gonna be left behind…

Retire from the game. You have no clue what you are talking about.

“As many as possible, for as long as possible.”

It’s a standard that I’ve researched from other countries that are top in the world in youth development. It’s an amazing motto they’ve lived by and promoted with their development models.

We do the opposite.

We structure things that drive people out of the game, with super elite AAA stupid crap at the youngest ages being Exhibit A.

Why does Minnesota always send out the most elite players?

“As many as possible for as long as possible.”

Rant done.

[Brad Lytle @B_Lytes]

RIP friend. You will be missed!

[NHL Alumni @NHLAlumni]

The NHL Alumni Association is saddened to learn that Marv Edwards has passed away at the age of 87.

Marv first entered the @NHL in the 1968-69 season with the @penguins. He would go on to play for the @MapleLeafs and California Golden Seals until 1974, holding a .893 save percentage over 61 total regular-season games.

The St. Catharines, ON native loved the game of hockey, and his fans; always making time to speak with them, and to sign autographs.

We send our deepest condolences to Marv’s family, friends, and former teammates during this difficult time.

[Arpon Basu @ArponBasu]

No. 88 on the NHL 99, our countdown of the 100 best players of the modern era, is Carey Price. On the ice, he was a vision of calm. But off the ice, it wasn’t always so. He spoke to me about both sides, and the realization last October that he needed help. https://t.co/dA4FkhSUrw

[Brad Lytle @B_Lytes]

This right here! Let the kids play and learn!

[Mike McIlveen @McIlveen78]

A former NHL player was playing in the "A" and during a shift, the coach was yelling at him. When he got off the ice he said, "if you ever yell at me again I will best the s**t out of you in front of everyone here." Coaches, know that practice and in between periods is your time!

[Brad Lytle @B_Lytes]

Change instigates growth #Stache #StacheThoughts #FridayFeels #HWPO #Change #HWPO #LetsGo

[Spokane Chiefs @spokanechiefs]

Donny’s back, alright ✍️

#GoChiefsGo

[Brad Lytle @B_Lytes]

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work” - Thomas Edison #SundayFeels #Work #HWPO #Stache #StacheThoughts #LetsGo #GMBM

[Brad Lytle @B_Lytes]

“Be bold, be brave, be beautiful and be kind” Jon Bernthal #simple #littlethings #teaching #Stache #StacheThoughts #SaturdayFeels

[Brad Lytle @B_Lytes]

Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat #Stache #StacheThoughts #HWPO #LetsGo #Process #SaturdayFeels #Wick

[Brad Lytle @B_Lytes]

Sometimes you’re the pigeon and sometimes you’re the statue #Stache #StacheThoughts #Process #TuesdayFeels #LetsGo #HWPO

[Brad Lytle @B_Lytes]

The little things #ItTakesWhatItTakes #Process

[Jack Han @JhanHky]

That. Is. The. Stuff.

[Brad Lytle @B_Lytes]

Reality check right here. Pro sports are a business plain and simple #Reality #Business #commodity #meatmarket #nextup

[Jess Myers @JessRMyers]

My ⁦@TheRinkLive⁩ rant: ⁦After pulling him out of college early, @Canes⁩ cut Jack LaFontaine loose following a 75-minute audition. ⁦@GopherHockey⁩ https://t.co/liQmIVb2g0

[Wes Clark @WesEClark]

Great message here #EgoIstheEnemy

[Brad Lytle @B_Lytes]

“Either you run the day or the day runs you”- Jim Rohn #Stache #StacheThoughts #HWPO #Process #LetsGo #WednesdayFeels

[Topher Scott @HockeyThinkTank]

We get asked about junior hockey ALL.THE.TIME with our podcast. This here from @DeMike3316 is the best advice we've heard for kids looking to find the right junior team to play for.

🎙️: https://t.co/KN3J2N3Vjm

[Brad Lytle @B_Lytes]

“You have to do something in your life that is honorable and not cowardly if you are to live in peace with yourself” - Larry Brown #Stache #StacheThoughts #HWPO #MondayFeels #LetsGo #Process

[Brad Lytle @B_Lytes]

Be a 🐺 #Stache #StacheThoughts #ThursdayFeels #HWPO #LetsGo #Process