In this episode of the The SPORTi Podcast, Hosts Pam and Laura sit down with Brandon from Shield Athletics, a high-performance development center based in Burlington, Ontario.  Brandon  shares his powerful journey from a pro-hockey career to building a full-circle athlete development facility. Drawing from his own experiences with pressure, failure, and adversity in sport, he emphasizes the importance of mental resilience, proper load management, and redefining success for young athletes. He dives deep into the emotional and psychological demands of youth sports and stresses how early development, mindset coaching, and parental support shape an athlete’s long-term trajectory.

Beyond the rink, Brandon’s vision for Shield Athletics is holistic—offering not just elite hockey training, but recovery, therapy, nutrition, mindset coaching, and even cardiac rehab. From six-year-olds to NHL pros, his personalized, small-group approach focuses on building confident, self-aware athletes ready for both sport and life.  Brandon's passion for empowering athletes and educating parents is clear, and his upcoming development seminar aims to bridge the gap between ambition and smart, sustainable progress. The conversation is filled with relatable insights, honest stories, and tangible advice for anyone navigating the world of competitive youth sports.