Running a hockey program takes more than ice time and drills - it requires a clear vision, strong operational systems, and a coaching philosophy that develops both players and people. In this webinar, in partnership with our friends at Biosteel, host Matt Dumouchelle sits down with three leaders who've helped build thriving programs:

• Eric Palazzolo - Head Coach and Director of Operations, BioSteel Sports Academy

• Maco Balkovec - Executive Director, RINK Hockey Academy

• Lukas Havlicek - Head Coach & GM, HC Slovan Bratislava

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Together they'll unpack what it actually takes to launch and grow a hockey program, from structuring training curriculums and building a strong coaching staff to managing day-to-day operations and creating a culture that keeps players and families coming back.

Whether you're building a program from scratch or looking to strengthen an existing one, this conversation will give you practical insights straight from three people who've done it.

Manage schedules, rosters, attendance, team communication and game-day activity from one simple app. BioSteel Teams is completely free, and eligible teams can request BioSteel gear and hydration support. Join us during the webinar for an exclusive look at the app from BioSteel CEO, Dan Crosby! LEARN MORE

MEET THE PANEL

Eric Palazzolo

Eric Palazzolo is Director of Operations and Head Coach of the U18 AAA program at BioSteel Sports Academy. A former U SPORTS varsity hockey player with the University of Windsor Lancers and an Honours graduate in Electrical Engineering, he transitioned into coaching and player development early on, specializing in strength and conditioning, nutrition, and long-term athlete development. He previously served as Operations Manager for PowerTech Hockey Development Group, where he helped lead high-performance training initiatives and built the PowerTech Development Podcast into a leading hockey education platform, and today co-hosts the Built From Steel Podcast, educating players, parents, and coaches on elite performance and the pathway to higher levels of the game.

Maco Balkovec

Maco Balkovec is Executive Director of RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna, where he oversees the academy's hockey, education, performance, and business operations. Since joining in 2021, he has helped build RHA Kelowna into one of the most successful programs in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League, winning 12 championships in five years, including back-to-back titles in the U18 Female Prep, U18 Prep, and U17 Prep divisions, and developing five NHL Draft picks, including first-overall selection Gavin McKenna. Throughout his career, he has also built successful programs at Burnaby Winter Club, Homestead High School, and Whitefish Bay High School, producing numerous NCAA, major junior, and professional players. Maco's leadership philosophy puts people and development first, grounded in the values of joy, compete, integrity, and respect, and centered on strong relationships, positive culture, and the right habits, both on and off the ice.

Lukas Havlicek

Lukas Havlicek is a former hockey player turned executive and scout who has spent his post-playing career shaping youth hockey across Central Europe. After a playing career that included Slovak Extraliga games with the national junior project and stops in several lower Czech leagues before retiring in 2014, he moved into organizing top youth tournaments, camps, and exhibition tours, eventually becoming Director for Central Europe at Legacy Global Sports and later World Hockey Group, where he remains a minority co-owner and oversees World Selects Invite, one of the world's top under-15 tournaments, which he brought to Bratislava. Alongside that work, he served as a scout and player advisor for R4PA, playing a notable role in Martin Fehérváry's development on the path to the NHL, and has since scouted for HC Oceláři Třinec (from 2020) and the Pittsburgh Penguins as their European scout (from 2022).

Matt Dumouchelle

Matt Dumouchelle is a contributor to The Coaches Site, where he authors the popular Hockey Factories series, taking an in-depth look at some of the world's most successful hockey development programs and the principles behind their success. He also hosts the Coaching Crossover Podcast, bringing together coaches from a variety of sports for behind-the-scenes conversations on leadership, culture, communication, and team development. Matt served as Assistant General Manager of the Leamington Flyers (OJHL) from 2019 to 2025 and now works with youth sport organizations across North America, helping align leaders, coaches, and parents to create stronger development environments and better experiences for every child in sport.