Built From Steel Podcast

About Built From Steel Podcast

A raw and honest look into high-performance hockey development, from youth to elite levels. From the creators you know and love, Built From Steel brings together the worlds of player development through real world experience the BioSteel performance ecosystem. Hosted by Coach Eric Palazzolo, the show blends insight, experience, and real talk for athletes, coaches, and parents who are serious about long-term growth, on and off the ice.

Publisher

Coach Eric Palazzolo

Category

sports

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

28 Oct 2025

Latest episode

18 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

49 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   18 Oct 2026

   Ep.49 | Bouncing Back When Things Go Bad in Youth Hockey

   Every team has weekends where nothing seems to go right. In this episode of the Built From Steel Podcast, Coach Eric and Coach Andy break down how players and coaches should respond after a difficult stretch and what actually matters when trying to reset. From teaching game management and avoiding overanalysis to creating consistency, building team buy-in, and finding ways to improve when results are poor, this conversation focuses on what productive responses to adversity actually look like. They also discuss what scouts and hockey staff are seeing in today’s youth game, what separates good U16 players, and how changing roster structures and open borders are affecting development. A bad weekend does not need to become a bad season. The most important thing is figuring out how to get better today. Key Moments 0:00 – Intro 7:30 – What a coach sees during an 0–4 weekend 9:00 – Teaching players how to manage games 11:30 – What should a coach do after a difficult weekend? 16:00 – Finding consistency in youth hockey players 19:30 – When one bad decision changes an evenly matched game 20:20 – Committing to doing things the right way as a coach 22:30 – The danger of overanalyzing after poor results 25:00 – How players can bounce back from a bad shift, period, or weekend 27:00 – Focus on getting better today 32:00 – Building buy-in to the team concept 35:50 – Feedback from scouts and GMs on the state of youth hockey 38:00 – What stands out about good youth hockey players? 42:00 – Why U16 players can be so difficult to scout 45:00 – Filling gaps when your top players are not available 47:50 – How open borders are changing youth hockey 53:30 – Discussion around the new U.S. development league announcement Key Themes Poor results should lead to evaluation, not panic Game management is a skill players need to learn Consistency in youth hockey takes time to develop Coaches need to avoid changing everything after one bad weekend Players should focus on what they can improve immediately Team success requires individual players to buy into shared responsibilities Scouts notice decision-making, habits, and consistency beyond raw skill U16 evaluation is difficult because players are developing at very different rates Strong teams need depth and role players who can contribute when opportunities change Structural changes in youth hockey continue to reshape where and how players develop Stay Connected Watch the Academy docu-series Built From Steel on YouTube. Follow on socials: @BuiltFromSteelSeries @BioSteelSports @BioSteelSportsAcademy @CoachEpzolo The Built From Steel Podcast is a division of BioSteel Sports. Learn more at www.biosteel.com (http://www.biosteel.com/)

2. 

   11 Oct 2026

   Ep.48 | Youth Hockey Q&A: Bad Shifts, Winning, Injuries & Favourites

   In this Q&A episode of the Built From Steel Podcast, Eric and Andy answer listener questions covering some of the most common situations players, parents, and coaches navigate throughout youth hockey. From resetting after a bad shift and creating alignment between coaches to practice volume, fear of making mistakes, conflicting advice, winning, injuries, and favouritism, this episode tackles the everyday issues that can have a major impact on a player’s development. The conversation focuses on separating perception from reality and giving players, parents, and coaches practical ways to think through situations that rarely have simple answers. Development requires learning how to respond to mistakes, manage competing messages, and understand the difference between what feels unfair and what actually helps a player grow. Key Moments 0:00 – Intro 7:45 – How good players reset after a bad shift 10:30 – Three things to focus on when the game isn’t going your way 16:00 – How a coach’s reaction shapes the team’s reaction 20:15 – How to get coaches working together within an organization 21:30 – Why creating alignment between youth coaches can be so difficult 24:00 – The pressure every coach feels to win 25:35 – Does your organization actually know what it stands for? 30:10 – Are young players practicing too much? 32:00 – Why additional training needs to be driven by the athlete 36:00 – What happened to players practicing on their own? 39:30 – Are coaches making players afraid to make mistakes? 40:00 – Sitting young players after mistakes 42:00 – What happens when a private skills coach and team coach disagree? 46:45 – At what age should winning actually start to matter? 48:50 – Playing hurt: toughness versus making a bad decision 53:50 – Do coaches really have favourite players? Key Themes Good players develop the ability to reset quickly after mistakes Coaches help determine how players and teams respond to adversity Organizations need clear development standards while still allowing coaches individuality More training is not automatically better training Players need opportunities to experiment, fail, and solve problems Private training should complement the player’s team environment rather than compete with it Winning can matter without becoming more important than development Learning the difference between being hurt and being injured is part of becoming an athlete What looks like favouritism may sometimes be a coach placing greater trust in a player who has earned it Stay Connected Watch the Academy docu-series Built From Steel on YouTube. Follow on socials: @BuiltFromSteelSeries @BioSteelSports @BioSteelSportsAcademy @CoachEpzolo The Built From Steel Podcast is a division of BioSteel Sports. Learn more at www.biosteel.com (http://www.biosteel.com/)

3. 

   4 Oct 2026

   Ep.47 | 10 Things Coach Andy Notices Behind the Bench in 2026

   Youth hockey is changing, and so are the players, parents, and coaches involved in the game. In this episode of the Built From Steel Podcast, Coach Eric and Coach Andy explore 10 observations Andy has made from behind the bench in 2026 and how the youth hockey environment continues to evolve. From communication and feedback to the professionalization of youth sports, player preparation, and the growing dependence on coaches, trainers, and advisors, this conversation explores both the positive developments and concerning trends shaping today's game. While players have access to more resources, information, and development opportunities than ever before, are we losing some of the fundamental lessons and experiences that make hockey so valuable? The game continues to evolve, but we can't lose sight of the fundamentals that make great players and great people. Key Moments 0:00 – Intro 5:00 – Kids are still kids: the importance of guidance and patience 9:00 – Understanding that development is a process you can't rush 10:00 – The communication problem in today's youth hockey 16:45 – Players want feedback and need to understand how to improve 20:00 – How video technology like LiveBarn has changed the game 22:30 – Coaches have more resources than ever, regardless of playing experience 25:00 – How coaching has evolved over time 31:50 – Players need to understand WHY they're doing things 37:30 – Today's players are generally more skilled, but are they better hockey players? 45:10 – Are we losing important details and habits in the game? 46:30 – How players prepare for games today 49:30 – The desire to be elite before earning it 52:00 – Why players can't skip steps in the development process 56:00 – Players want to train, but does everything require a coach, trainer, or advisor? 1:03:00 – Have we gotten too far away from the roots of hockey? Key Themes Youth athletes still need guidance, patience, and strong relationships with adults Communication and meaningful feedback are fundamental to player development Modern coaching resources have created new opportunities for coaches to improve Players need to understand the purpose behind what they're being taught Increased skill development doesn't necessarily translate to better hockey habits Preparation, accountability, and attention to detail still matter The professionalization of youth hockey is changing player and parent expectations External coaching and guidance should complement, not replace, player independence Development takes time, and players can't skip the process Preserving the fundamentals, enjoyment, and culture of hockey is essential as the game evolves Stay Connected Watch the Academy docu-series Built From Steel on YouTube. Follow on socials: @BuiltFromSteelSeries @BioSteelSports @BioSteelSportsAcademy @CoachEpzolo The Built From Steel Podcast is a division of BioSteel Sports. Learn more at www.biosteel.com (http://www.biosteel.com/)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

11 ratings

Contact Built From Steel Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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