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.

All Episodes

Our Kids Play Hockey

GIVEAWAY - From Nashville to Michigan: Katie Cummings on Grit, Growth & Women’s Hockey

December 10, 2025 • Our Kids Play Hockey

This week on The Wraparound Roundtable, we’re honored to welcome Katie Cummings — a women’s hockey forward whose journey from a non‑traditional hockey market in Nashville all the way to collegiate ice proves that passion and perseverance break barriers.

From starting hockey at age 12 as one of just a few girls in her area, to logging basement stick‑handling hours to catch up — Katie opens up about what it truly takes to chase the dream when the odds aren’t stacked in your favor. She also talks about discovering a deeper mission: giving visibility to women’s hockey, creating representation for girls who never saw someone like them in the game, and using her platform to inspire others.

📲 We dive into:

Her late start and relentless dedication — how she balanced basement drills, travel hockey, and stick handling to make college hockey.
What it was like growing up a female player in a city with limited ice access — and how her love for the sport kept her driven.
The moment she decided to share her hockey journey on social media, and how the reaction helped her realise there was a hole to fill: female hockey representation.
Stories from her followers — including one fan who reached out after moving to Nashville, picked up hockey because of Katie, and ended up on the ice herself.
The bigger picture: why she believes visibility and authenticity matter more than follower counts.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to chase hockey from an unlikely place — or how a simple social‑media post can spark inspiration in someone else — this episode with Katie Cummings will hit you right in the heart.

🎁 As always: don’t forget to head to hockeywraparound.com, hit the Roundtable button, and enter this week’s giveaway — a Green Biscuit + Puckaround, plus Katie’s bonus: a Hockey Wraparound.

Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!

NHL Sense Arena annual memberships are 50% off for the holidays, starting at just $29 a month — plus you can save an extra $25 with code OKPH at checkout.

Gift you hockey family the ultimate hockey training experience with NHL Sense Arena ‘26 — available now at hockey.sensearena.com/OKPH

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