Get to know the RockNHockeyShow
In the beginning…
Before the wheel was invented and before private hockey lessons were actually invented, Dave was teaching private hockey lessons.
Before sliced bread was invented and before skill development had a meaning in hockey, Dave was teaching hockey skill development.
Before roads were paved and before powerskating was taught by hockey players instead of only figure skaters, Dave was teaching powerskating.
Shortly after dinosaurs roamed the earth and before off ice training and plyometrics were used outside of the Soviet Union, Dave was teaching off ice training and plyometrics.
Before the light bulb and way, way, way, before podcasts came to be, Dave was doing a radio show about hockey, youth hockey, skill development, powerskating and overall hockey development.
While not taking credit for all of the above, Dave was an early, early pioneer in youth hockey development, powerskating, skill development and the private lesson/skill development industry which is now a global staple in the hockey and sports world.
Dave himself is well past 50,000 private lessons given personally, in a career that spans over 3 decades. If you include his former industry leading hockey development company, Maksymiu Hockey, Dave has been involved in hundreds of thousands of private lessons given, as well as clinics and camps. For over 30 years Dave has impacted the lives of thousands and thousands of young hockey players and hockey families.
The Rock N Hockey Show is an extension of Dave’s long career and a platform to continue to serve and service the hockey community and hockey world. While most podcasts, hockey specialists, and hockey people focus on the NHL and elite level hockey players, Dave and the RNH Show start with youth and rec hockey and work up from there. RNH is a place that ALL hockey players, hockey parents and hockey enthusiasts can land, listen, learn and be entertained. By adding entertainment, funny skits and music to a show that already offers great insight, knowledge and real life tips, RNH offers something for everyone.
Meet the team
Dave Maksymiu - ROCKER
RJ Henrichs - SWIFTY
RJ and Maksy have been friends and hockey colleagues for 30 years.
RJ has been on the Hockey Retail and Rink Management side since he started in the hockey industry nearly 30 years ago.
RJ has been the eyes and ears of youth hockey running elbows daily for 3 decades with hockey players, hockey families and hockey coaches.He and Maksy have teamed up to share inside information and hockey stories that you just can’t make up.
Dave "Churchie" Church - ROCKER
Dave was a former D1 goaltender and teammate with Maksy during their college playing years.
Hailing from Flushing Michigan, (just a hop/skip and a jump from Swartz Creek Michigan, where Maksy is from) Dave prides himself on homegrown Michigan things like the Tigers, the Red Wings, the Lions, Bob Seger, Grand Funk Railroad and Ted Nugent.
Dave shares stories and insight from years and years of hockey and rock n roll music.
Just like Maksy, Churchie played his youth hockey for the famed Flint Icelanders and went on to play D1 at Michigan Dearborn University
Morpheus Blak - ROCKER
Morpheus is our official NHL analyst and fits the Rock n Hockey Show team perfectly as a hockey and a Rock 'n Roll fanatic.
He grew up in Eastern Canada and is a lifetime ice hockey player, NHL enthusiast, and has been a pro and semi-pro Rock guitarist for most of his adult life. Morpheus is a die hard Boston Bruins fan but offers up great insight and analysis of all the teams and players.
Morpheus can talk puck or music without skipping a beat. In fitting style, as the conversation swings back and forth from hockey to kick @$$ rock music, Morpheus is our guy.
Our mission
The Rock N Hockey Show came about as an extension or another chapter of a lifelong hockey journey.
As a kid, I had 2 loves, hockey and music. I dedicated my life to playing hockey, then teaching hockey. But with that said, music was always with me. It influenced me. It inspired me. It was my escape and my refuge. Always longing to be a “Rock Star”, my life of hockey never allowed me to truly dive into music the way I really wanted to.
Fast forward a few decades, as I pondered my hockey future, one day I was standing on the toilet seat fixing something on the wall. I slipped and hit my head on the sink and… the rock n hockey show appeared to me. Wait…that was the flux capacitor…never mind. That’s a different story. Seriously though, I thought how can I combine the 2 things I love. Bamm…the Rock N Hockey Show was born. I knew I needed a side kick, so I immediately went to RJ as my right-hand man. Together we developed the show from scratch.
This shows is about combining hockey and great music. With every show and every guest, regardless of what they do, we discuss how music impacts their life. Because I’m a rocker by nature, we talk a lot of rock music but also respect all genres and the way music “inspires us” and “brings us together “.
This show is meant to be like a “late night talk show” where we have a guest and discuss hockey, sports, development and more. But it’s not about NHL or elite athletes. It’s about their journey and how they got there. What advice can they offer to young players. What assistance can they offer to young hockey parents. And their path to get where they’re at isn’t much different than anyone else’s.
Then the show offers “real life” skill development tips either by me or by an NHLer or hockey specialist. When I say “real life” I mean skills that any level player can try or use. Too many social media hockey people focus on the elite player and elite skills. We too, do elite skills, but focus more on everyday skills to help the majority of players.
Funny skits and comedic bumps and interludes, keep the show light and entertaining.
Then…there’s the music.
From our house band Lord Stanley’s Brother (see "The Music" page), to tons of other musicians and bands, each show offers snippets, solos, full songs, music videos and basement acoustic performances. From national touring musical guests to guitar snippets…
this show ROCKS!