Travis Bouchard of Vimy Esports shares how growing up in Sherwood Park shaped his love for sports, starting with baseball as his first passion and later adding hockey and other school sports more for fun and social connection than elite performance. He credits his laid-back, supportive parents for helping him enjoy competition without pressure, which allowed him to stay involved in sports long-term and eventually move into coaching. He also describes gaming as a lifelong interest that evolved from early consoles and local multiplayer into online communities and long-term friendships. Travis describes how those experiences helped him build Vimy Esports by blending traditional sport values—teamwork, structure, respect, and data-driven development—into scholastic esports coaching.

Travis pushes back on the stereotype that esports athletes “just sit and play,” explaining that serious programs treat players like real athletes with strength, cardio, posture, and hand-eye training to sustain performance in long matches. He describes borrowing drills from traditional sports (like goalie reaction drills and tennis ball work) and tailoring fitness to esports needs rather than raw strength.

Our team:

Nuance Hockey - Sean Connauton

Mah Golf - Matt Mah

Taylor Medak

Bolt Media & Design - Dylan Flasch

Thank you to our guest & sponsors:

Travis Bouchard

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Erin Brennan, a certified mental performance consultant and owner of Mind Over Matter Performance, shared her journey from a multi-sport youth athlete in Peace River, Alberta, to a leader in sport and performance psychology. Growing up, she played basketball, fastball, volleyball, swimming, and curling—her main competitive sport. Influenced by her father, a coach, and her family’s community involvement, she learned discipline, teamwork, and commitment early on. Erin emphasized the benefits of multi-sport participation, noting how it builds adaptability, communication, and problem-solving skills that extend beyond sport. A turning point came when she represented Team Alberta and worked with a mental performance consultant named Claire, whose mentorship inspired her career. She now advocates balancing structured training with unstructured play to foster creativity, resilience, and lifelong enjoyment.

Erin also addressed the growing importance of mental health in youth and professional sports. She highlighted how increased awareness and access to resources like Kids Help Phone and the Canadian Mental Health Association support young athletes. As mental wellness becomes integrated into sport, she stressed the need for open communication, peer support, and understanding cultural and gender differences in emotional expression. Erin noted that even traditionally “tough” sports like hockey are embracing mental performance coaching, recognizing its competitive value.

Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868

Our team:

Nuance Hockey - Sean Connauton

Mah Golf - Matt Mah

Taylor Medak

Bolt Media & Design - Dylan Flasch

Thank you to our guest & sponsors:

Erin Brennan

Earth Water

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FG Promotions - mention YSC for 5% off your 1st purchase!

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Nathan Dempsey, a former NHL player from Spruce Grove, Alberta, shared his path from youth soccer and school sports to professional hockey. Early influences from coaches and hours on outdoor rinks sparked his creativity and love for unstructured play. He credits multi-sport participation—basketball, soccer, and track—for building athleticism, teamwork, and competitiveness, noting that early specialization often limits young athletes today. Transitioning to junior hockey with the Regina Pats, Dempsey learned discipline, resilience, and the rigors of the WHL during a tougher, less resourced era. Mentors, including his father and coaches, balanced guidance with independence, shaping his approach to leadership. Now leading the hockey academy at Vimy Ridge, he promotes diverse activities like yoga, curling, and basketball to create well-rounded athletes.

Reflecting on his pro career in the NHL and overseas, Dempsey highlights consistency, adaptability, and mental toughness as keys to success. Veteran mentorship inspired his own coaching philosophy, centered on communication, trust, and passion for the game over pressure. He emphasizes visualization, confidence, and emotional control as the traits that elevate good players to great ones. For Dempsey, success means balancing competitiveness with joy and learning through failure. His story underscores respect, resilience, and the goal of developing not just athletes, but self-aware, well-rounded individuals.

Our team:

Nuance Hockey - Sean Connauton

Mah Golf - Matt Mah

Taylor Medak

Bolt Media & Design - Dylan Flasch

Thank you to our guest & sponsors:

Nathan Dempsey

Earth Water

Bird and Barley - promo code YSC15 for 15%!

FG Promotions - mention YSC for 5% off your 1st purchase!

A new episode every 3 weeks on:

YouTube

Apple

Spotify

Amazon

Audible

Follow us on:

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