Episode 60: Pat Shea - “I Didn’t Even Know If Hockey Was My Dream”

When the game starts to feel like a job.

Scott and Jamie sit down with Pat Shea (IG @pshea25) former University of Maine Black Bear, pro hockey player, and creator behind Hockey House and Full Ride for a raw conversation about identity, pressure, and walking away from the game.

Pat opens up about a turning point many players don’t talk about: realizing that what was once fun started to feel like work. He explains how losing passion at the college level, combined with a growing interest in creating, forced him to ask a tough question…was hockey actually his dream, or something he grew up in?

He also shares his path through youth hockey, prep school, and Maine including being a late bloomer, dealing with early rejection, and how confidence and obsession (not camps or shortcuts) drove his development.

In this episode:

• When hockey starts feeling like a job and what that does to players
• The question most players never ask: is this actually my dream?
• Late bloomer reality vs early recruiting pressure
• How Pat turned hockey life into one of the most relatable content brands in the game

This one hits different, especially if your kid loves the game… but the pressure is starting to creep in.

Partners:

• https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/
• https://hockeytraining.com/
• https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydads
• https://howieshockeytape.com/
• https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/

Socials:

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazy.hockey.dads
• X: https://x.com/Crazyhockeydads
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576627751551