Growing the Game from the Ground Up with Matt Herr

Episode Description:
Matt Herr, the NHL’s Senior Director of Youth Hockey and Industry Growth Fund, joins the USA Hockey Next Generation podcast to explain why the league is investing in Learn to Play and NHL Ready to Play. Hosts Lyndsey Fry and Drew Shore talk with him about the NHL and USA Hockey partnership, keeping the base of the pyramid wide, and why the real goal for parents is a kid who still loves the game. The episode also covers coaching, volunteering, street hockey, refereeing, and work ethic.

Key Points from This Episode:
0:06 Welcome and host catch-up
3:10 Matt's playing career and path to the NHL
5:44 How the NHL supports USA Hockey, including the Industry Growth Fund
7:26 Why the NHL moved into grassroots and NHL Ready to Play
9:27 Coaching every player differently, and why you don't want to be a player's last coach
11:27 Parents who can't skate and the many volunteer roles
12:54 Keeping the pyramid wide and the NHL's growth in new markets
16:08 No rush:parent anxiety and the real ROI
17:59 Street hockey and other ways to love the game
20:16 Why Matt took up refereeing
23:15 The funniest Learn to Play moment
24:13 Playing in Germany and the NHL's international growth
25:09 How parents and players can help their programs
26:55 Hosts' takeaways

Links:
USA Hockey - ⁠⁠usahockey.com
Drew Shore - ⁠drewshore.com
Lyndsey Fry - ⁠⁠fryhockey.com/%E2%81%A0