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, co-hosted by Olympic Gold Medalist and Walter Cup Champion Hayley Scamurra, 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
567 episodes
The Ride to The Rink: Why Your Skate Edges Matter More Than You Think
🏒 Do you know what your skates are telling you when something just doesn’t feel right on the ice?Your stick gets a lot of attention. Your gloves are fun to pick out. But when it comes to actually moving, stopping, turning, and com...
Skate Sharpening 101 with Sparx Hockey Founder & CEO Russ Layton
🏒 Your player knows their stick flex, curve, and favorite tape job—but do they know what’s happening underneath their skates?Skate sharpening may be one of the most overlooked parts of youth hockey, yet the condition of a player’s...
Our Girls Play Hockey: Why Rest Can Make You a Better Hockey Player
🏒 What if one of the best things a young hockey player can do for her game is… step away from it?In a sport where players constantly hear messages about working harder, training more, and never taking a day off, knowing when to...
The Ride to the Rink: What Your Hockey Team Manager Really Does
🏒 Ever wonder who makes sure your tournaments are booked, your hotel is ready, your ice time is scheduled, and your team actually knows where it needs to be?There’s a good chance your team manager had something to do with i...
The Team Manager Playbook: Christine O’Brien on Communication, Travel & Team Culture
🏒 What happens when you’re “voluntold” to become the team manager—and suddenly an entire hockey season feels like it’s resting on your shoulders?Every successful youth hockey team has players, coaches, and supportive parents. But ...
Our Girls Play Hockey: What Makes a Great Hockey Practice? Chris Howard of Ice Hockey Systems Shares
🏒 What separates a practice that simply fills an hour from one that actually makes players better?Great practices don’t happen by accident. They’re intentional, connected to the game, and designed around what players truly need to...
The Ride to the Rink: How Young Hockey Players Build Winning Habits
🏒 What is one habit you could commit to today that would make you a better hockey player tomorrow?In this episode of The Ride to the Rink, Lee Elias and Mike Bonelli explain why setting personal standards can change the dir...
“Control Your Kids!” The Real Role of Coaches and Parents in Youth Hockey
🏒 When a young hockey player misbehaves, who is responsible—the coach, the parent, or the entire team community?Coaches are often told to “control their kids,” but the truth is more complicated: coaches can guide, mentor, manage, ...
Our Girls Play Hockey: The Ice Time Conversation Every Family Needs
🏒 Not getting enough ice time? Before blaming the coach, it may be time to ask a better question: What can I do to earn more trust?In this episode of Our Girls Play Hockey, Lee Elias and Olympic gold medalist and Walter Cup...
The Ride to the Rink: Kevin Clark on Building Better Hockey Awareness
🏒 What separates players who simply react from players who always seem to be one step ahead?In this episode of The Ride to the Rink, former professional hockey player and development coach Kevin Clark joins Lee Elias, Chris...
Why Great Hockey Players Know the “Why” with Kevin Clark of Cascade Hockey
🏒 Your child may know what happened during a shift—but do they understand why it happened?Goals, assists, wins, and losses are easy to see. But the small decisions that build hockey IQ, earn a coach’s trust, and help a player adva...
Our Girls Play Hockey: Celebrating Women Athletes at She Weekend (A Day in the Life Series)
🏒 What does it look like when women athletes are not simply recognized—but truly celebrated?This episode is powered by NHL Sense Arena.Olympic gold medalist and Walter Cup champion Hayley Scamurra joins Lee Elias and Mike B...
The Ride to the Rink: Gabe Malinski of TeamGenius on Playing Your Best at Tryouts
🏒 Feeling nervous before your next hockey tryout? Take a breath—you have already done the work.In this episode of The Ride to the Rink, Lee and Christie are joined by Gabe Malinski of TeamGenius, a hockey evaluation ...
How to Make Youth Hockey Tryouts Fairer with Gabe Malinski of TeamGenius
🏒 What makes a youth hockey tryout feel fair—and what causes the entire process to break down?Tryouts can be one of the most emotional parts of the hockey season. Players are nervous, parents are analyzing every drill, coaches are...
Our Girls Play Hockey: The Hockey IQ Habits Every Young Player Can Build
🧠 What separates a talented hockey player from one a coach trusts in every situation?Skills may create highlight-reel moments, but hockey IQ influences nearly every second of the game—with or without the puck.In this episode of
The Ride to the Rink: NHL Scout Patrick Rissmiller on What Young Players Should Focus On
🏒 What does an NHL scout really want young hockey players to focus on?According to former NHL player and current NHL scout Patrick Rissmiller, the answer is not complicated: have fun, be coachable, become a great teammate, and enjoy bein...
What NHL Scouts Really Look For in Young Players with Former NHLer and NHL Scout Patrick Rissmiller
🏒 What does an NHL scout really notice—and are youth hockey families focusing on the wrong things?Former NHL player, development coach, and current Anaheim Ducks scout Patrick Rissmiller joins Lee, Christie, and Mike for a...
Our Girls Play Hockey: How Players Can Get More From Every Hockey Camp
🏒 Is your player attending hockey camp—or simply spending more time on the ice?Hockey camps can be an incredible opportunity for girls to improve their skills, meet new teammates, build confidence, and rediscover their love for th...
The Ride to the Rink: You Become Who You’re Around — A Youth Hockey Mindset Lesson with Doug Smith
🚗🏒 What kind of hockey player are you becoming — and what kind of person are you becoming along the way?On this episode of The Ride to the Rink, powered by NHL Sense Arena, Lee and Mike are joined by former NHL player Do...
Former NHLer Doug Smith on Hockey, Identity, and Rebuilding Your Life After the Game
🏒 What happens when the game you’ve built your identity around is suddenly taken away?This week on Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee Elias and Mike Bonelli sit down with Doug Smith, former NHL forward, 1981 second-overall draft pic...
The Ride to The Rink: How Young Hockey Players Can Build Skills On and Off the Ice
🏒 Want to become a better hockey player? It’s not just about what you do during practice — it’s about the habits you build everywhere else, too.On this episode of The Ride to The Rink, Lee, Mike, and Christie are joined by ...
Beyond the Scoreboard: Andrew Trimble on Youth Hockey Development That Lasts
🏒 What really makes a hockey player better — more ice, a higher-level team, a longer commute, or the right culture?This week on Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee Elias, Mike Bonelli, and Christie Casciano-Burns sit down with Andrew Tri...
Our Girls Play Hockey: Hayley Scamurra’s New PWHL Chapter in Las Vegas (A Day in the Life Series)
🏒 What happens when you win a championship, celebrate the biggest season of your career—and then learn that your entire professional future may be changing?In the first Day in the Life episode of the new season, Olympic g...
The Ride to the Rink: How Mind Mapping Can Transform Your Hockey Mindset with Pete Fry
🧠 What if you could begin preparing for your best game before you even stepped onto the ice?In this episode of The Ride to the Rink, Lee is joined by goaltending and mindset expert Pete to introduce young athletes to min...
Our Kids Play Goalie: Pete Fry on Building an Unshakable Goalie Mindset
🥅 What separates a talented goalie from one who consistently performs under pressure? According to renowned mental performance coach Pete Fry, the answer often begins with the picture that goaltender holds in their mind.Pete Fry—k...
