Steph Dukes

Hockey-loving, coffee (& beer & red wine) drinking, ski instructing, bike riding, podcast producing, crazy-busy mom of 2. Mercy HS & @MarquetteU alum

[Topher Scott @HockeyThinkTank]

As a follow up to our podcast a few weeks ago with my HTT team on "The 5 biggest things we learned in youth hockey this year" - here's a great piece from Steph Dukes on the part that got the most attention:

"Parents Aren't the Problem, Confusion Is"

��: https://t.co/5MXwOyjGg0

[Topher Scott @HockeyThinkTank]

“Parents aren’t the problem. Confusion is.”

Sometimes in youth sports, parents get an unfair bad rap. As a youth hockey association, if you aren’t consistently communicating with your parents on expectations, standards, and culture, you’re opening yourself up to dissent and parent pushback. The more you proactively communicate, the fewer fires you’ll have to put out during the year.

I brought my Hockey Think Tank team onto this week’s podcast to talk about the five biggest things we learned this year in youth hockey.

[Topher Scott @HockeyThinkTank]

"Why January is the most important month in youth hockey"

What an amazing post from Steph everyone in youth hockey should read.

https://t.co/2NylbFFUZL

[Steph Dukes @kzoomomof2]

@WMUHockey GO BRONCOS!

[Kara Dansky @KDansky]

I disagreed with Charlie Kirk on just about everything. But, we shared an opposition to "gender identity" and the abolition of sex.

He once had me on his show to discuss it. He was polite, outgoing, and funny.

During the interview, I said something about the "TQIA." He exclaimed, "I don't know what any of that means!" I said, "Don't worry, nobody does."

He and his entire audience laughed.

I am not a Republican, and I am certainly not MAGA. But I am grieving his death in part because he was a human being, in part because he leaves behind a wife and two children, and in part because of what this says about American society.

I will not take any part in any political violence, and I will stand with anyone, wherever they stand on the political spectrum, who will denounce it.

I hope America can recover from this.

#RIP

EDIT: I will block anyone who comes on here to glorify violence.

[Topher Scott @HockeyThinkTank]

Facts:

USA Hockey Youth Registration in 2007-2008:
Minnesota: 45,168
Michigan: 34,614
Difference: 10,554 more players registered in MN over MI

USA Hockey Youth Registration in 2024-2025:
Minnesota: 50,597
Michigan: 24,391
Difference: 26,206 more players in MN registered over MI

USA Hockey Youth Registration from 2008-2025:
Minnesota: +5429 players
Michigan: -10,223 players
Difference: In 15 years, MN is +15,652 players registered over MI

2007-2008 Players in D1 College Hockey
Minnesota: 211
Michigan: 151
Difference: 60 more D1 players from MN over MI

2024-2025 Players in D1 College Hockey
Minnesota: 249
Michigan: 112
Difference: 137 more D1 players from MN over MI

Players in D1 College Hockey from 2008-2025
Minnesota: +38
Michigan: -39
Difference: In 15 years, MN is +77 players in D1 hockey over MI

2008 NHL Draft Picks
Minnesota: 11
Michigan: 5
Difference: 6 more players drafted from MN over MI

2025 NHL Draft Picks
Minnesota: 17
Michigan: 3
Difference: 14 more players drafted from MN over MI.

NHL Draft Picks from 2008-2025
Minnesota: +6
Michigan: -2
Difference: In 15 years, MN is +8 in NHL draft picks over MI
*This isn't a great sample size and draft numbers fluctuate a lot, but still these numbers are telling.

The two youth development models between Minnesota and Michigan could not be more different. I think it might be time for a reimagining of the Michigan hockey model.

[Topher Scott @HockeyThinkTank]

Yesterday I made a post about the cost of playing 10u AAA hockey in Chicago. To say it hit a nerve is putting it lightly. Here's a follow up from the perspective of a hockey mom on the realities of the business of youth hockey. Must read.

[Topher Scott @HockeyThinkTank]

Every Wednesday we send out a free weekly newsletter. Here's a portion of it from this week on creating community. To sign up, click the link below!

🖇️: https://t.co/NHq6zhw8an

[YHH @YouthHockeyHub]

Ryan Kesler spoke recently on @spittinchiclets about his 14U Little Caesars team's 44-0 win over Belle Tire on how well coached and prepared they are.

Yesterday, they fell to a group of kids from District 15/16 coached by volunteers who practiced less than 10 times as a unit.

[Steph Dukes @kzoomomof2]

@DStarmanHockey @HockeyThinkTank @JeffLoVecchio So cool!! We have got to get you (and your bride) back on the pod!

[Steph Dukes @kzoomomof2]

For real. Hockey is THEIR journey. The second it’s not what they want, I’ll find a beach with the hubby (and the pup).

[Topher Scott @HockeyThinkTank]

“I could be sitting on a beach, tomorrow” Mic drop line from Steph, one of the best hockey moms in the game, on our latest podcast out this week!

https://t.co/z4VmvJy5Gn

[Steph Dukes @kzoomomof2]

@ShireenRinkside I was on the phone with Brett when Thom sent the pic to me, and he says hello!!

[Steph Dukes @kzoomomof2]

The hockey world is small. And awesome. My fave broadcast team BY FAR has always been @ShireenRinkside @DStarmanHockey and @benholdenpxp - the A Team and Bronco Hockey’s #magicpotion back in the day. Today, Thom got to visit with 2/3 @MuskegonJacks main camp 1

[Steph Dukes @kzoomomof2]

If ever I watched Fersch, Fersch in a post game presser, it’s 👇🏼 @patfersch

[Bronco Hockey Fanpage @WMUHFP]

Fersch was NOT happy that the refs missed a very obvious offside on UMDs (eventually called back) 3rd goal. Also upset that it took about 10 years to figure out that it was offside after review. Saying it was “one of the simplest, 100% challenges you could ever make”

[Steph Dukes @kzoomomof2]

I am trying REALLY hard to give @usahockey the benefit of the doubt here with coverage of #USAHNationals - but holy cow this 19U Girls T1 semi is almost unwatchable with the main camera being too close, behind the play and moving so fast everything is blurry. #zoomout

[Jeff LoVecchio @JeffLoVecchio]

POWERFUL ⁦@HockeyThinkTank⁩ podcast episode with former pro hockey player Brady Leavold & his struggles with addiction, homelessness and the triumphant return he’s made in life and hockey recently !!!!

https://t.co/wWoO1YEJ8g

[Patrick Nash @p_nash20]

Robin Hook will need to be placed into the Western Michigan University Hall of Fame and get his name and profile picture hung above the rafters in Lawson Ice Arena when he feels it’s his time to retire. @broncovoice @stryker20202

[Steph Dukes @kzoomomof2]

@patfersch is one of the best!

[WMU Hockey @WMUHockey]

Congratulations to head coach Pat Ferschweiler on his bronze medal with @USAHockey at the World Juniors!

https://t.co/Exkse4k4SP

[Jeff LoVecchio @JeffLoVecchio]

@StateAndLiberty feels like wrapping your body in warm butter … so does this podcast with Lee Moffie …

Out tomorrow

[Steph Dukes @kzoomomof2]

@patfersch @Buccigross @WMUHockey Fully legit.