Lawrence Dushenski: Balancing Passion and Pressure in Youth Sports

Jake Lanferman - Building Character and Community in College Baseball

Jake Lanferman, the Head Coach of the Edmonton Riverhawks, joins the Community for Episode 11! Lanferman reflected on how growing up in Ardrossan playing both hockey and baseball shaped his athletic development, emphasizing that multi-sport participation helped him avoid burnout and become a more complete competitor. He credited his parents—especially his father—for instilling discipline, work ethic, and a process-oriented mindset that later influenced both his playing career and coaching philosophy. Lanferman discussed how experiences at baseball showcases and college baseball in the USA opened his eyes to the elite level of competition, motivating him to focus on his strengths while continuously improving weaker areas of his game. As a coach, he now prioritizes character, accountability, and community involvement just as much as athletic ability, believing youth sports should help develop strong people as well as strong athletes. Lanferman spoke about the importance of resilience and learning through adversity, noting that failure in baseball taught him lessons that translated directly into life outside of sports. He described how coaching younger athletes has shifted his perspective from focusing purely on performance to helping players build confidence, leadership, and consistency in their everyday habits. Lanferman also highlighted the value of small communities like Ardrossan, explaining that the support system around local sports programs helped create lasting relationships and opportunities for athletes to grow. Our team: Nuance Hockey [https://www.instagram.com/nuancehockey] - Sean Connauton Mah Golf [https://www.millwoodsgolfcourse.com] - Matt Mah Taylor Medak Bolt Media & Design [https://www.instagram.com/boltmediadesign] - Dylan Flasch Thank you to our guest & sponsors: Jake Lanferman Earth Water [https://www.earthgroup.org] Bird and Barley [https://www.birdandbarley.com] - promo code YSC15 for 15%! FG Promotions [https://fgpromo.ca] - mention YSC for 5% off your 1st purchase! A new episode every 3 weeks on: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB9L6ooEUD8] Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/youth-sports-community/id1847955645] Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7qkxWtR8IQaG7txjG9SSq6] Amazon [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/048da45e-df5a-41ed-bf18-47de312b1e05/youth-sports-community] Audible [https://www.audible.ca/pd/B0DPCZ2K3K?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=podcast_show_detail] Follow us on: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/youthsportscommunity/] Tik Tok [https://www.tiktok.com/@youthsportscommunity] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/share/1FF24sngi2/?mibextid=wwXIfr] X [https://x.com/youthsportscomm] Threads [https://www.threads.com/@youthsportscommunity]

Lawrence Dushenski: Balancing Passion and Pressure in Youth Sports

Lawrence Dushenski reflects on growing up in Edmonton playing high-level youth soccer, where early success and strong friendships shaped his love for sports, though he eventually stepped away from club competition due to politics and pressure. He describes his athletic journey as largely social rather than intensely competitive, later developing a deep passion for basketball as a fan and coach despite not playing it at a high level himself. Dushenski highlights how youth sports have become increasingly professionalized, with early specialization, rankings, and financial barriers influencing development and opportunities. He emphasizes that while exposure and pathways have improved through social media and travel programs, qualities like mindset, teamwork, and character ultimately separate athletes who succeed at higher levels. Dushenski also discusses the importance of coaching influences, noting how positive mentors helped shape his perspective on sports and personal development. He reflects on the balance between pushing young athletes to improve and allowing them to enjoy the game without excessive pressure. He points out that many kids today face burnout due to overtraining and unrealistic expectations from parents and organizations. Ultimately, he advocates for creating environments where athletes can develop skills while still maintaining a genuine love for the sport. Our team: Nuance Hockey [https://www.instagram.com/nuancehockey] - Sean Connauton Mah Golf [https://www.millwoodsgolfcourse.com] - Matt Mah Taylor Medak Bolt Media & Design [https://www.instagram.com/boltmediadesign] - Dylan Flasch Thank you to our guest & sponsors: Lawrence Dushenski Earth Water [https://www.earthgroup.org] Bird and Barley [https://www.birdandbarley.com] - promo code YSC15 for 15%! FG Promotions [https://fgpromo.ca] - mention YSC for 5% off your 1st purchase! A new episode every 3 weeks on: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB9L6ooEUD8] Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/youth-sports-community/id1847955645] Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7qkxWtR8IQaG7txjG9SSq6] Amazon [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/048da45e-df5a-41ed-bf18-47de312b1e05/youth-sports-community] Audible [https://www.audible.ca/pd/B0DPCZ2K3K?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=podcast_show_detail] Follow us on: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/youthsportscommunity/] Tik Tok [https://www.tiktok.com/@youthsportscommunity] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/share/1FF24sngi2/?mibextid=wwXIfr] X [https://x.com/youthsportscomm] Threads [https://www.threads.com/@youthsportscommunity]

Simon Bennett: The Holistic Approach to Raising Athletes

Simon Bennett joins the community for Episode 9. Simon is a high-performance expert and former NHL strength and conditioning leader who emphasizes holistic athlete development and entrepreneurship. He reflects on his early experiences in rural Alberta, where unstructured play like skating on the river shaped his love for sport and creativity. Simon highlights the value of playing multiple sports in youth, explaining that diverse skill development builds a stronger athletic foundation than early specialization. He also discusses the pressures of modern sport systems, noting the balance between development, exposure, and avoiding burnout. Throughout, he stresses the importance of communication, self-awareness, and strong values in both athletic development and parenting. Bennett discusses his experience raising highly active, competitive children and emphasizes the importance of creating natural, pressure-free moments for communication rather than forcing structured conversations. He highlights that young athletes benefit from playing multiple sports early on, as it builds a broad range of physical and cognitive skills before specializing later. The conversation also explores parenting philosophy, stressing that each child is different and that support should be tailored to their individual needs and emotional state. Simon reflects on his own upbringing, noting how discipline, responsibility, and early work shaped his identity. Our team: Nuance Hockey [https://www.instagram.com/nuancehockey] - Sean Connauton Mah Golf [https://www.millwoodsgolfcourse.com] - Matt Mah Taylor Medak Bolt Media & Design [https://www.instagram.com/boltmediadesign] - Dylan Flasch Thank you to our guest & sponsors: Simon Bennett Earth Water [https://www.earthgroup.org] Bird and Barley [https://www.birdandbarley.com] - promo code YSC15 for 15%! FG Promotions [https://fgpromo.ca] - mention YSC for 5% off your 1st purchase! A new episode every 3 weeks on: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB9L6ooEUD8] Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/youth-sports-community/id1847955645] Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7qkxWtR8IQaG7txjG9SSq6] Amazon [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/048da45e-df5a-41ed-bf18-47de312b1e05/youth-sports-community] Audible [https://www.audible.ca/pd/B0DPCZ2K3K?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=podcast_show_detail] Follow us on: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/youthsportscommunity/] Tik Tok [https://www.tiktok.com/@youthsportscommunity] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/share/1FF24sngi2/?mibextid=wwXIfr] X [https://x.com/youthsportscomm] Threads [https://www.threads.com/@youthsportscommunity]

Scott Fellnermayr: Why Development and Education Matter in College Hockey

Scott Fellnermayr shares his journey from a late-developing youth hockey player in West Kelowna to becoming the head coach of the NAIT Ooks men’s hockey team. He explains how perseverance, mentorship—especially from a junior coach who believed in him—and strong support from family and teammates helped him overcome setbacks like injuries and early struggles in minor hockey. Fellnermayr emphasizes the importance of balanced development in youth sports, encouraging kids to build skills, play multiple sports, and maintain enjoyment rather than specializing too early. As a coach, he focuses on building relationships with players through regular one-on-one meetings, understanding their lives outside hockey, and supporting both their athletic and academic growth. Scott discusses the academic and personal support systems available to NAIT student-athletes, emphasizing the importance of resources like academic advisors, tutors, and maintaining a minimum GPA. He highlights how many athletes initially hesitate to seek help, but using available support ultimately improves learning, efficiency, and balance with their demanding schedules. The conversation also explores the role of one-on-one meetings between coaches and players, where discussions often extend beyond hockey to academics, team culture, and personal development. Fellnermayr stresses that strong team culture is built through mentorship from veteran players and open communication with the coaching staff. Our team: Nuance Hockey [https://www.instagram.com/nuancehockey] - Sean Connauton Mah Golf [https://www.millwoodsgolfcourse.com] - Matt Mah Taylor Medak Bolt Media & Design [https://www.instagram.com/boltmediadesign] - Dylan Flasch Thank you to our guest & sponsors: Scott Fellnermayr Earth Water [https://www.earthgroup.org] Bird and Barley [https://www.birdandbarley.com] - promo code YSC15 for 15%! FG Promotions [https://fgpromo.ca] - mention YSC for 5% off your 1st purchase! A new episode every 3 weeks on: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB9L6ooEUD8] Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/youth-sports-community/id1847955645] Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7qkxWtR8IQaG7txjG9SSq6] Amazon [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/048da45e-df5a-41ed-bf18-47de312b1e05/youth-sports-community] Audible [https://www.audible.ca/pd/B0DPCZ2K3K?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=podcast_show_detail] Follow us on: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/youthsportscommunity/] Tik Tok [https://www.tiktok.com/@youthsportscommunity] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/share/1FF24sngi2/?mibextid=wwXIfr] X [https://x.com/youthsportscomm] Threads [https://www.threads.com/@youthsportscommunity]

Dustin Kohn: Minor Hockey, the NHL, and the Future of Hockey Development

Dustin Kohn reflects on his early love of hockey, from “Tom Thumb” youth leagues and outdoor rinks to being an Oilers fan who obsessed over NHL gear and video games like NHL ’94. He emphasizes how unstructured play at outdoor rinks—competing with older and younger players—helped build skill, confidence, and a healthy competitiveness. Kohn credits his time in the Donnan hockey academy as a hugely positive environment, balancing sport with school while surrounding him with supportive teachers, teammates, and early mental skills exposure that was “ahead of its time.” He also describes overcoming early setbacks like not being drafted in bantam, growing physically and mentally, earning opportunities through supportive coaches, and eventually making the Calgary Hitmen while benefiting from strong billet-family support and low-pressure parenting that kept his love of the game central. Kohn focuses on how expanding pathways (especially NCAA eligibility for major junior players) will reshape junior hockey by increasing player choice and changing league incentives. While more options can benefit athletes at the elite level, they argue too much choice in minor hockey can reduce stability, accountability, and long-term development. Kohn highlights affordability as the biggest threat to the sport, warning that rising costs are pushing talented kids out of hockey entirely. Dustin emphasizes that development and winning should align, but only when coaches, parents, and systems prioritize long-term growth over short-term results. Our team: Nuance Hockey [https://www.instagram.com/nuancehockey] - Sean Connauton Mah Golf [https://www.millwoodsgolfcourse.com] - Matt Mah Taylor Medak Bolt Media & Design [https://www.instagram.com/boltmediadesign] - Dylan Flasch Thank you to our guest & sponsors: Dustin Kohn Earth Water [https://www.earthgroup.org] Bird and Barley [https://www.birdandbarley.com] - promo code YSC15 for 15%! FG Promotions [https://fgpromo.ca] - mention YSC for 5% off your 1st purchase! A new episode every 3 weeks on: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB9L6ooEUD8] Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/youth-sports-community/id1847955645] Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7qkxWtR8IQaG7txjG9SSq6] Amazon [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/048da45e-df5a-41ed-bf18-47de312b1e05/youth-sports-community] Audible [https://www.audible.ca/pd/B0DPCZ2K3K?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=podcast_show_detail] Follow us on: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/youthsportscommunity/] Tik Tok [https://www.tiktok.com/@youthsportscommunity] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/share/1FF24sngi2/?mibextid=wwXIfr] X [https://x.com/youthsportscomm] Threads [https://www.threads.com/@youthsportscommunity]