#51 - Coach A & Gards | From Minor to Pro: In-Season Training, Schedules & Team Culture

In Episode 51 of The Hockey Lab Podcast, Coach A and Coach Gards cover a little bit of everything — from the infamous “beep test vs. beef test” slip-up, to pros vs. joes moments at GRP HQ, to the wild sticks and setups some of our players bring through the door.

But the real meat of the convo dives into the jump from minor hockey → junior → pro:
🔥 What the demands actually look like at each level
🔥 OHL vs NCAA development schedules — which prepares you better?
🔥 How pros structure their in-season training, recovery, and nutrition
🔥 Why culture makes or breaks a team, and how leadership passes it down

This one’s equal parts stories, laughs, and lessons. Whether you’re a young player trying to make the jump, a parent figuring out schedules, or a coach looking to build real culture, there’s something here for you.

If you’ve been listening since the early days — thank you. If this is your first episode, welcome to the crew. Either way, subscribe, share it with a teammate, and keep enjoying the game. Hockey’s supposed to be fun.

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28 Days, 28 Tips & 28 Ways to Help Your Young Athlete Improve

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.

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The Hosts 

Coach Adrian (A) @championshiplifestyle

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. Gards has played in 5 Spengler Cups, 3 World Championships