Our Kids Play Hockey
Our Kids Play Hockey is a podcast that focuses on youth hockey, offering insights, stories, and interviews from the hockey community. It provides valuable advice for parents, coaches, and players, covering various aspects of the game, including skill development, sportsmanship, teamwork, and creating a positive experience for young athletes. The show frequently features guests who share their expertise and personal experiences in youth hockey, both on and off the ice.
The show features three hockey parents, who all work in the game at high levels:
- Christie Casciano-Burns - USA Hockey Columnist, Author, and WSYR Anchor
- Mike Bonelli - USA Hockey Coach and Organizational Consultant
- Lee M.J. Elias - Hockey Entrepreneur, Author, and Team Strategist
In addition to the main podcast, there are several spin-off series that dive into specific aspects of youth hockey:
1.Our Girls Play Hockey – This series highlights the growing presence of girls in hockey, addressing the unique challenges they face while celebrating their accomplishments and contributions to the sport.
2.The Ride to The Rink – A shorter, motivational series designed to be listened to on the way to the rink, offering quick, inspirational tips and advice to help players and parents get into the right mindset before a game or practice.
3.Our Kids Play Goalie – This series is dedicated to young goalies and the unique challenges they face. It provides advice for players, parents, and coaches on how to support and develop young goaltenders, focusing on the mental and physical demands of the position.
Together, these shows provide a comprehensive platform for parents, players, and coaches involved in youth hockey, offering insights for all aspects of the sport, from parenting, playing, or coaching to specialized positions like goaltending.
Episodes
525 episodes
Undrafted to Pro: Scott Howes on Resilience, Rejection & Reality
🏒 What if not making the “top team” was actually the best thing that could happen to a young hockey player?This week on Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee, Christie, and Mike sit down with former pro hockey player and coach Scott Howes for...
Our Girls Play Hockey: Score More Goals - "Hat Trick" Hayley Scamurra’s Net-Front Masterclass
🏒 Three goals. Two minutes and 44 seconds. One historic night for Hayley Scamurra.In this episode of Our Girls Play Hockey, the crew breaks down Hayley’s incredible PWHL hat trick — the fastest in league history — and turns it into a mas...
The Ride to The Rink: Stay or Go? How to Decide If It’s Time to Play at a Higher Level
🏒 Thinking about moving up to the next level in hockey? Before you decide… listen to this.On this episode of The Ride to the Rink, Christie, Mike, and Lee tackle a question so many young players (and parents) face:Should you move up...
From Sweden to Your Rink: My Kid Is the Best on the Team… Now What? (Parent Dilemma Solved)
🏒 What happens when your kid becomes the best player on the team… and there’s no one left to chase?It sounds like a dream—but for many hockey parents, it quickly turns into a big question: Is my child still developing, or are ...
Our Girls Play Hockey: PWHL Playoffs - A Day in the Life with Haley Scamurra
🔥 What does it really take to go from Olympic gold medalist… to chasing a pro championship just months later?In this Day in the Life episode of Our Girls Play Hockey, we go inside the world of Haley Scamurra as she prepares...
The Ride to The Rink: Pressure to Power - Turning Your Parents’ Words Into Confidence
🚗💭 Ever hear something from your parents right before a game… and it just doesn’t sit right?On this episode of The Ride To The Rink, we’re diving into the messages players hear before they step out of the car—and how thos...
3 Things You SHOULDN'T Say To Your Kids Before a Game
🏒 What you say before the game matters more than you think…We’ve all been there — the car ride to the rink, the final words before your child heads into the locker room. You want to motivate them, support them, and set th...
Our Girls Play Goalie: The Journey Isn’t Linear - How Aerin Frankel Became Team USA’s Backbone
🥅 What does it take to go from being cut… to standing on top of the Olympic podium?In this special crossover episode of Our Girls Play Hockey and Our Kids Play Goalie, we sit down with Olympic gold medalist and one of the most dominant ...
The Ride To The Rink: Got Your Bell Rung? Here’s What To Do Next (With Dr. Baric)
🧠 This might not be your favorite hockey topic… but it could be the most important one you ever hear.On this Ride to the Rink, we’re talking about something every player needs to understand: concussions. With the help of co...
What Every Hockey Parent Needs to Know About Concussions
🧠 Concussions can be one of the most misunderstood injuries in youth hockey — and one of the most important for families to understand.In this episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee, Mike, and Christie are joined by Dr. Robert Ba...
Our Girls Play Hockey: Should Your 9-Year-Old Play Up? (A Hayley Scamurra Mailbag)
🏒 Should your 9-year-old play up… or just play?This week on Our Girls Play Hockey, we tackle a question every hockey parent faces sooner or later—and it’s not as simple as it seems.A parent writes in with a tough d...
The Ride to The Rink: Why Checking In Might Be the Most Important Thing You Do on Your Team
🏒 What if the most important thing you do for your team today…has nothing to do with hockey skills?In this powerful Ride to the Rink episode, Lee, Mike, and Christie are joined by Rob to talk about a simple idea that’s making a BIG impac...
The Shoulder Check Movement: Changing Mental Health in Youth Hockey with Rob Thorsen
🔥 What if the most important thing in youth hockey isn’t winning… but noticing when someone isn’t okay?In this powerful and deeply moving episode, we sit down with Rob Thorsen, founder of the Shoulder Check Foundation and HT40 Fou...
Our Girls Play Hockey: Stathlete's Meghan Chayka On The Data Behind Greatness
🚨 What if the difference between good and great in hockey… wasn’t just talent—but data?This week on Our Girls Play Hockey, we’re joined by trailblazer Meghan Chayka, co-founder of Stathletes and one of the leading voices ...
The Ride to The Rink: The Secret to Playing 400+ Games in a Row 🏒 (Karl Alzner Explains)
🏒 What does it really take to show up every single day—no matter what?This week on The Ride to the Rink, Lee and Mike are joined by former NHL defenseman Karl Alzner, who played an incredible 428 consecutive NHL games
From NHL Ironman to Hockey Dad: Karl Alzner on Development, Leadership & Balance
🏒 What if the most important skill in hockey isn’t scoring… but being trusted?This week on Our Kids Play Hockey, we’re joined by former NHL defenseman Karl Alzner—a World Junior captain, Olympic-level competitor, and one ...
Our Girls Play Hockey: Life After Gold: Haley Scamurra’s Wild Return to the PWHL
🥇 What happens after you win Olympic gold?For most athletes, it’s a moment frozen in time. For Haley Scamurra… it was just the beginning.In this episode of Our Girls Play Hockey, Haley takes us inside the whirlwind...
The Ride to The Rink: Mike Knuble’s Net-Front Scoring Secrets (Go Where the Goals Are)
🏒 Want to score more goals? It might be simpler—and tougher—than you think.On this episode of The Ride to the Rink, we’re joined by former NHLer and Stanley Cup Champion Mike Knuble, a player who made a career out of doing ...
The Secret to Hockey Success? Patience. (with NHL Veteran Mike Knuble)
🏒 What if everything you’ve been told about youth hockey development… is wrong?This week, we’re joined by 1,000+ game NHL veteran Mike Knuble—a Stanley Cup Champion who built his career the hard way: through patience, persistence,...
Our Girls Play Hockey: Inside the Olympic Experience & MORE with Hayley Scamurra (Part 2)
🔥 You asked. We delivered. The Mailbag Episode is BACK — and this one is packed with real answers from a real pro.In this special Q&A episode of Our Girls Play Hockey, Hayley Scamurra sits down with Lee and Mike to an...
The Ride to The Rink: The 5-Minute Reset Every Hockey Player Needs (with NHL Veteran Bobby Ryan)
🏒 Ever walk off the ice feeling like you were either the best player out there… or the worst?This week on The Ride to the Rink, we’re joined by former NHL star Bobby Ryan (800+ NHL games, 2nd overall draft pick) to talk a...
More Than Goals & Assists: NHL Veteran Bobby Ryan on Raising Confident Hockey Players
🏒 What if the rink isn’t just where kids play… but where they feel safest?In this powerful and deeply personal episode, former NHL star Bobby Ryan joins us to share a perspective every hockey parent and coach needs to hear. From a...
Our Kids Play Goalie - Estela Vazquez On What It Takes to Be a Young Elite Goalie (At Just 14!)
🔥 What were YOU doing at 14 years old? Because Estela Vazquez was winning GOLD on the international stage.In this inspiring episode of Our Kids Play Goalie, we sit down with Estela Vazquez — a rising star goaltender for t...
The Ride to The Rink: NHL Veteran Scott Hartnell on the Mindset That Built a 17-Year Career
🏒 What’s the one thing every young hockey player can control every single day?On this Ride to the Rink, the hosts are joined by 17-year NHL veteran Scott Hartnell, who shares the mindset that helped him build a long, succes...
Why Roles Matter in Hockey (and Life) – Featuring NHL Veteran Scott Hartnell
🏒 What does it really take to make it to the NHL—and what lessons can young players and parents learn from the journey?In this episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee Elias, Mike Bonelli, and Christy Casciano-Burns are joined ...