Your child has the talent. What separates good players from elite ones isn't skill — it's the mindset that performs under pressure, bounces back from failure, and earns the trust of every coach in the room.
For Parents
We Know What You're Worried About
You've invested everything in your child's game. But something's still holding them back.
They give up when things get hard
One bad shift and their head drops. It affects the whole game.
They underperform in tryouts
You see their skill in practice, but when it counts, the nerves take over.
They don't believe in themselves
Talent without confidence stalls. They need to know they belong on the ice.
Their skills are plateauing
They've hit a ceiling that more repetition alone isn't breaking through.
This Is Exactly What We Fix.
At Guild Hockey Development, we build the mental foundation that makes all the physical training stick. We teach players how to compete — how to shake off a bad play, how to lead in a locker room, how to show up every single day with purpose.
"Your child doesn't need to be better. They need to believe they are — and then prove it."
What We Offer
Three Programs. One Standard.
Every program is designed to develop the complete player — technically sharp and mentally unbreakable.
01
Mental Performance Coaching
One-on-one coaching targeting confidence, focus, and adversity management. Choose 30, 45, or 60-minute sessions.
View Program →
02
Private Skills Training
1-on-1 or small-group on-ice sessions focused on puck skills, shooting, hockey IQ, and compete level.
View Program →
03
Online Development
Structured mental performance modules, video breakdowns, and weekly check-ins. Train from anywhere.
View Program →
About Justin
Every program is built from real playing experience at the highest junior levels — NAHL, NCDC, and currently Wilkes University D3.
Meet the Coach →
"
Skill gets you on the ice. Mindset keeps you there.
— Justin Filippelli
The Method
Built on Three Pillars
C
Confidence
The kind earned through doing the work — not the kind that crumbles under pressure.
A
Adversity
Bad games, bad shifts — we treat them as data, not failure. Elite players fall and get back up faster.
A
Accountability
Not because someone is watching — but because they chose to hold themselves to a standard.
What to Expect
What Changes and When
Here's what players and parents typically experience at each stage.
4 Weeks
The Foundation Shift
Players start noticing their own patterns. Attitude shifts — less blame, more ownership. Parents notice this first. A pre-game routine starts to take shape.
"Something feels different about the way he carries himself."
12 Weeks
The Competitive Edge
Players compete harder in pressure situations. Bouncing back from mistakes becomes faster. Coaches start noticing — body language, compete level, and leadership all reflect the work.
"His coach called me to ask what changed."
36 Weeks
They Become Different
The mental habits are no longer something they practice — they're part of who they are. Leadership shows up naturally. The confidence is real, earned, and durable.
"He walks into every rink differently."
Early Results
What Parents Are Saying
★★★★★
"After just a month, my son's entire attitude changed. He stopped blaming teammates and started holding himself accountable. His coach even called me to ask what changed."
Sarah M.
Parent of AAA Bantam Player
★★★★★
"My son had the skill but he was terrified of tryouts. The tools he learned — routines, mental prep, how to reset — made a real difference when it counted."
Dan T.
Parent of U16 Forward
★★★★★
"We'd tried other trainers and nothing clicked. The combination of on-ice work and mental coaching is different. He doesn't just skate better — he competes harder."
Jennifer R.
Parent of Midget Minor Player
FAQ
Questions Answered
Everything parents ask before reaching out — answered honestly.
Every player starts with a free 10-minute intro call. Justin talks with you and your player to understand where they are and recommends the right program.
Guild works with players at any level — from youth hockey all the way through junior and high-performance athletes. The program is tailored to where the player is, not their age.
At this time Guild focuses on skaters — forwards and defensemen at all levels.
Most players and parents notice a shift in attitude within the first 3–4 sessions. Deeper changes show up clearly by weeks 8–12.
It's a 10-minute conversation — no pitch, no pressure. Justin talks with you about your player and tells you honestly whether Guild is the right fit.
Mental performance coaching can be done in person or via video call. Private skills training is on-ice and in person. The online development program is fully remote.
Per-session gives full flexibility. Packages give 10% off when paid upfront and help players stay consistent — which is where real results come from.
Justin asks for 24 hours notice for cancellations. Package cancellations are handled fairly on a case-by-case basis.
Still have questions?
Justin answers every message personally.
Get Started
Your Player's Next Level Starts Here
Reach out directly or fill out our contact form — we'll find the right program for your child together.
Programs
Training Built for the Complete Player
Three programs designed to close the gap between where your player is and where they want to be.
Program 01
Mental Performance Coaching
One-on-one sessions targeting the mental habits that separate competitive players from elite ones. Every session is fully personalized. All ages and levels welcome.
Every player begins with a free 10-minute intro call before any sessions start.
"
The mental game isn't a bonus — it's the foundation everything else is built on.
Justin Filippelli
What the Plan Includes
Self-awareness & mindset development
Managing nerves & recovering from mistakes
Pre-game routine & goal setting
Pressure performance & tryout preparation
In-game adversity management
Post-game reflection reviewed each session
Identity work — competing on purpose
Athletic identity & leadership development
Custom weekly text tied to that week's lesson
Monthly parent alignment call
Session Pricing
30 MINUTES
$50
Per Session
Intro check-ins and quick mental resets.
Most Popular
45 MINUTES
$70
Per Session
The core session. Focused and efficient.
60 MINUTES
$90
Per Session
Deep work for complex mental challenges.
Packages — 10% Off Paid Upfront
Plan
Sessions
30 Min
45 Min
60 Min
4-Week
Try it out
4
$180
saves $20
$252
saves $28
$324
saves $36
8-Week
Build momentum
8
$360
saves $40
$504
saves $56
$648
saves $72
12-Week
Best Value
Real results
12
$540
saves $60
$756
saves $84
$972
saves $108
24-Week
Full season
24
$1,080
saves $120
$1,512
saves $168
$1,944
saves $216
36-Week
Elite
Become different
36
$1,620
saves $180
$2,268
saves $252
$2,916
saves $324
All sessions are weekly. Pay per session for flexibility, or save 10% when paid upfront.
Program 02
Private Skills Training
On-ice sessions focused on the skills that directly impact game performance. 1-on-1 or small group (max 6).
Private Lesson
1-on-1 Session
Every rep built around your player. All ages and levels.
Small Group
Group Session
Competitive environment. Players push each other. Max 6.
Pricing available upon inquiry
01
Puck Skills
Stickhandling, puck protection, deking at game speed.
02
Shooting
Release mechanics, shot selection, finishing under pressure.
03
Hockey IQ
Reading plays, zone coverage, making the right decision early.
04
Compete Level
Battle habits and mental edge to perform under pressure.
Program 03
Online Development
Coming Soon
Train From Anywhere.
A structured digital program for players who want to develop their mindset and game regardless of season or location.
Be the First to Know
Drop your email and Justin will reach out when the program launches.
You're on the list — Justin will reach out when it launches.
Mental Performance Modules
Self-paced content covering every pillar of the Guild method.
Video Breakdowns & Dryland Drills
Off-ice training you can do anywhere, any time of year.
Weekly Accountability Check-ins
Direct touchpoints to keep players on track.
Guild Community Access
A private group of players holding each other to the same standard.
Questions?
Not Sure Which Program Fits?
Reach out — Justin will have a straightforward conversation about your player's goals.
About
I Wish I Had This Growing Up
A serious playing career taught Justin one thing above everything else — skill alone isn't enough.
Justin Filippelli
Founder, Guild Hockey Development
The Story
More Than A Coach
I played hockey my entire life — Freeport Arrows AA, PAL Jr Islanders AAA, Long Island Royals, North Jersey Avalanche, Westchester Express, Long Island Gulls, Chippewa Steel and Amarillo Wranglers in the NAHL, Wilkes-Barre Scranton Knights, Connecticut Jr Rangers, and New Jersey Hitmen in the NCDC, and currently playing at Wilkes University D3.
Through all of it, the thing that held me back most wasn't my skating or my shot. It was my confidence and consistency. I had the skill — but there were games, tryouts, and moments where my own head got in the way before anyone else did.
"I wish someone had taught me what I now teach my players. It would have changed everything."
That's exactly why I built Guild. Not because I read about mental performance in a textbook — but because I lived the cost of not having it.
Playing Background
Youth
Freeport Arrows · PAL Jr Islanders · LI Royals · NJ Avalanche · Westchester Express · LI Gulls
NAHL
Chippewa Steel · Amarillo Wranglers
NCDC
WBS Knights · CT Jr Rangers · NJ Hitmen
D3
Wilkes University · Current
What We Stand For
Three Words. One Standard.
C
Confidence
Not the loud kind. The quiet, earned kind that shows up when the game is on the line and everyone else is rattled.
A
Adversity
We don't protect players from hard things. We teach them how to use hard things. Every setback is information.
A
Accountability
Not to me. Not to their parents. To themselves. Players who own their development — not because someone is watching.
Work Together
Ready to Start the Conversation?
No obligation. Just an honest conversation about where your player wants to go.
Contact
Let's Talk About Your Player
Start with a free 10-minute intro call. No pressure, no pitch.
01
Fill Out the Form
Justin will reach out within 24 hours to schedule your free intro call.
02
Find the Right Program
Together we figure out which program fits your player's goals.
Insights on the mental side of hockey — for players and parents who want to understand what actually separates good from elite.
Confidence
Why Confidence Breaks Down in Tryouts — And How to Fix It
Your player has the skill. But the moment tryout skates go on, something changes. It's not a skill problem — it's a pressure problem.
The moment a player starts playing to not fail instead of playing to compete, performance drops. Confidence under pressure is a skill — it has to be trained before the tryout, not during it.
Habits
The One Habit Every Elite Hockey Player Has That Most Youth Players Don't
It's not a drill. It's not extra ice time. It's something that happens before the game, after the game, and in the quiet moments in between.
The players who improve fastest aren't the ones with the most ice time. They're the ones who get the most out of every rep — because they're paying attention.
For Parents
How to Help Your Child Bounce Back After a Bad Game
The car ride home after a bad game might be the most important 20 minutes in your child's athletic development.
The players who handle adversity best almost always have parents who showed them — through their own actions — that a bad game is not a crisis.
Coaching
What Coaches Actually Notice Before a Player Touches the Puck
Coaches make a significant mental note about a player before they've touched the puck once. Here's what they're watching.
I can teach a player to shoot. What I can't easily teach is compete level, body language, and the will to be useful when the puck isn't on their stick.
Want to go deeper on any of this?
This is exactly what Justin works on in every session.
