2 Many Men On The Mic
2 Many Men on the Mic is your go-to podcast for honest, inclusive conversations about youth hockey—from 6U through 18U. Hosted by coaches and former board members Drew Acree and Jared Balint, the show shines a light on the full community: elite players, non-elite players, new coaches, committed parents (especially moms), and everyone working behind the scenes to grow the game.We’re not here to lecture—we’re here to listen, share, and support. Drew and Jared bring their real-life experiences to help others navigate the ups and downs of the youth hockey season. We’re here to grow the game, have some fun and remind our listeners that: “Hockey is more fun when you get better at it” That goes for players, parents, coaches, and refs alike.
Episodes
70 episodes
Who Owns the Middle? NHL Center Depth & the 200-Foot Game
🏒 What makes a team dangerous down the middle: two superstar centers or four lines you can trust?Coach Drew and Coach Jared debate NHL center depth, revisit some of hockey’s greatest center tandems, and break down what separates a scorer fr...
From College Hockey to 1.5 Million Followers: Austin Friesen & The Hockey Guys
How does a group of college hockey players messing around on TikTok during COVID turn into a hockey brand with more than 1.5 million followers?This week, Austin Friesen from The Hockey Guys joins Drew and Jared to tell the story.Austin ...
This week, Drew and Jared take hockey training off the ice with Ryan Leslie from Padel + Pickle Club in St. Louis.
Why are hockey players — including NHLers — getting hooked on Padel and pickleball? Ryan explains how hand-eye coordination, quick-twitch movement, communication, control, reaction time and rapid transitions between offense and defense make the...
USA Hockey is launching a new Development League in 2027–28 — but what could it mean for the 90% of youth hockey players competing at the A, B and C levels? This week, Drew and Jared wade into the conversation. USA Hockey says the new Development League w
USA Hockey's new Development League is coming in 2027–28, with 32 programs, 15U and 17U teams and an emphasis on development, training and creating additional pathways toward junior and college hockey.But Drew and Jared want to look at it f...
What should a hockey parent actually say on the ride home from the rink?
What should a hockey parent actually say on the ride home from the rink?This week, Drew and Jared welcome Ken Martell, USA Hockey Senior Director of Player and Coach Development, for a conversation about one of the most important—and someti...
Missouri Hockey's Changes + Win a $100 Pure Hockey Gift Card Every Month!
The hockey season is getting closer, and this week we're talking about what that means for players, parents, coaches, and organizations across Missouri.Missouri Hockey President Chris Durso joins Coach Jared and Coach Drew to disc...
Grant Takes One for the Team! 😂 Campfire Stories, Hockey Trivia & Stupid Hockey Tricks
The offseason doesn’t mean the hockey fun has to stop!This week, we’re launching three brand-new recurring segments that you’ll be seeing throughout the year.🏕️ Summer Campfire Stories – Jared and Drew relive funny stories from ...
What We Learned in Year One | Lyndsey Fry on Growing the Game & Building Better Hockey Families
This week marks an exciting milestone as we celebrate the completion of our first year of 2 Many Men on the Mic.Before looking ahead to Year Two, Jared and Drew reflect on what they've learned, thank the sponsors, guests and liste...
5 Hockey Drills Kids Actually LOVE (Youth Players Draw Their Favorites!) | Too Many Men on the Mic
What makes a hockey drill fun?Instead of asking coaches, we asked the players.This week's episode features youth players from around St. Louis drawing and explaining their favorite drills using the Drift Hockey whiteboard. Along the way...
Best of 2 Many Men on the Mic (Part 2) | Olympians, Champions & Hockey Families
We're closing out our inaugural Best of Season 1 series with another collection of memorable conversations that celebrate the people who make hockey such a special game.In Part 2, we revisit our interview with Kirk Kullberg of the Anchorage...
Best of Season 1, Part 1 | The Episodes That Shaped Our First Year
It's hard to believe we've been at this for a full year.With nearly 60 episodes in the books, we decided it was time to revisit some of the conversations that helped define our inaugural season.In Best of Season 1 – Part 1, we highlight...
What keeps kids playing hockey?
It turns out the answer isn't winning.In this episode of 2 Many Men on the Mic, Jared and Drew explore one of the biggest challenges facing youth hockey today: keeping the game fun while still helping players develop.The conversation be...
🏆 What Youth Hockey Players Can Learn from the Stanley Cup Final
The Stanley Cup Final may be over, but the lessons for youth hockey players and coaches are just getting started.This week, Coach Jared and Coach Drew break down key moments from the championship series and discuss how Carolina's identit...
From Learn-to-Play to High School Hockey: The Financial Reality
How much does youth hockey really cost in 2026—and what can we do about it?In this episode of 2 Many Men on the Mic, Coach Jared and Coach Drew dive into one of the most important conversations in youth sports today: the rising cost of hock...
What happens when hockey parents stop watching from the stands and start playing the game themselves?
This week, Jared and Drew welcome Josh Holmes, Director of Adult Hockey for USA Hockey, for a conversation about adult hockey, Learn-to-Play programs, and how stepping onto the ice can completely change a parent's perspective.The ...
You Don’t Need AAA to Play College Hockey | Blake Dorn Interview
This week on 2 Many Men on the Mic, Jared, Drew, and Grant welcome Blake Dorn to the show.Blake’s journey from A-level youth hockey in St. Louis to playing ACHA hockey at Northwestern University is a story every hockey family should hear.
NHL Final Four is Set + PWHL is BOOMING | Too Many Men on the Mic
The Stanley Cup Final Four is officially set and the boys are breaking down EVERYTHING from the NHL Playoffs — overtime drama, coaching mistakes, goalie play, Carolina’s rest advantage, Colorado vs Vegas, and whether the Canadiens are actually ...
Goalies Are Built Different
Goalies… this one’s for YOU.This week on Too Many Men on the Mic, Jared & Drew welcome an all-star goalie panel featuring: • Lexi Levy (Oswego State Women’s Hockey) ...
The Coaches Take Back Control: Breaking Down the NHL Playoffs for Players & Parents
The coaches are back behind the bench this week on 2 Many Men on the Mic.Drew and Jared use the incredible first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs to break down hockey concepts, systems, terminology, and the little details that ...
Swedish Fish > Drama 🍬 | Hockey Moms Explain How Teams Become Family
We turned the show over to the real glue of every team… the moms.And let’s just say — they delivered.This episode dives into:the legendary Swedish Fish superstition that somehow became a thing 🍬how grea...
Olympian ‘Goose’ Gosselin Drops Truths on Youth Hockey + Grant Returns 👀
This one’s loaded.We’re joined by Guy “Goose” Gosselin — 2x USA Men’s Olympic hockey player, former NHL player, coach, and current USA Hockey Director with the American Development Model.Goose brings elite-lev...
He Quit Hockey… Then Came Back Better 😂 | Blake Warren’s Wild Journey (Mites → Varsity)
Blake Warren (Rockwood Summit) joins 2 Many Men on the Mic for a high-energy episode filled with hilarious stories, honest perspective, and real lessons from his hockey journey.From stepping away from hockey for a year to coming...
Is Spring Hockey Worth It? MidStates Changes & Youth Hockey Debate
Is Spring Hockey worth it? What’s changing with MidStates? And what are coaches, parents, and players really seeing right now in youth hockey?In this episode of 2 Many Men on the Mic, Drew and Jared go back to basics—no guests, ...
The 3 Things That Derail Hockey Programs (Alignment, Feedback & Identity) | Matt Dumouchelle.
What separates great hockey organizations from the ones that struggle?This week on 2 Many Men on the Mic, we sit down with Matt Dumouchelle from The Coaches Site to break down what actually drives success in youth hockey programs—from align...
Locker Room Stories & a Title Win | Twin Bridges 10U Roundtable
What happens when you hand the mic to a championship youth hockey team?This week on 2 Many Men on the Mic, we sit down with the Twin Bridges 10U B1 team — fresh off their Blue Note Cup win — for one of our most fun episodes ye...