Elevating the Game: Insights from Jon Lounsbury, NHL Player Development Coach

Host Jason Jacobs welcomes Jon Lounsbury to Puck Academy. Jon is the owner of 11 Hockey, a player development coach who works with multiple NHL players, and a youth coach for his daughters.

Jon shares his journey from youth and high school hockey in Winthrop to prep school at Bridgeton Academy, college hockey at the University of Southern Maine, and six years of professional hockey before transitioning into coaching. After coaching at Bridgeton and in the EHL, he eventually moved into full-time player development, where he now works with players at all levels, including the NHL.

In the conversation, Jon discusses how injuries helped him rediscover his love for the game and shaped his coaching philosophy. He explains the importance of building trust and strong relationships with players, and how he uses video to highlight missed opportunities while respecting team systems. While he uses some analytics tools, such as heat maps, his approach remains primarily rooted in observation and experience.

Jason and Jon also dive into the current youth hockey landscape, including the risks of early professionalization, overscheduling, and the constant “chasing” of teams, showcases, and tournaments. They discuss the importance of giving the game back to kids, encouraging multi-sport participation, allowing space for boredom and creativity, and helping parents and coaches strike the right balance between discipline, patience, and realistic expectations.