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 - Trailer Park to Puck Drop: Will Stephens on Building Hockey From the South

December 10, 2025 • Our Kids Play Hockey

0:00 | 28:18

Welcome to this week’s Wraparound Roundtable, where the game meets grit and grassroots passion. We’re joined by Will Stephens — founder of Trailer Park Sports Network — a one‑man media machine operating out of a trailer in North Alabama, with a mission to grow hockey (and other under‑the‑radar sports) in nontraditional markets.

Once a skeptic, Will became a fan of the game after witnessing the intensity of the 4 Nations Face-Off — and that moment flipped a switch. Since then, he’s used roller hockey, street‑hockey scrimmages, commentary, and social content to build community where ice rinks are rare.

In this episode we dive into:

How a southern upbringing and a chance view of the 4 Nations Face‑Off ignited Will’s love for hockey
Why he believes street and roller hockey are the keys to growing the game in the South
The founding story behind Trailer Park Sports Network and how one man can start a movement
The challenges and surprises of being a hockey voice outside traditional markets
His bigger goal: shining a spotlight on athletes and sports that mainstream media often ignores

If you believe hockey belongs everywhere — not just in cold‑weather cities — this episode is for you.

As always: remember to head over to hockeywraparound.com, hit the Roundtable button, and enter for this week’s prize pack: Green Biscuit + Puckaround, plus Will’s bonus: a Hockey Wraparound.

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