Our Kids Play Hockey Episodes

Discover a fresh perspective on youth hockey success in this episode. We delve into an unconventional approach that prioritizes personal growth over the final score. By shifting the focus away from just the outcome of winning, we explore how a mindset of discovering multiple wins can benefit young hockey players, reducing anxiety and enhancing performance. Drawing inspiration from legendary athletes like Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky, we explore the power of being in the moment and how it po...

Ever wondered how one woman could change the game of ice hockey? Let me introduce you to our guest, Michelle Billingsley, a true pioneer in women's ice hockey. In our conversation, Michelle narrates her groundbreaking experience of being the first girl to join a boys-only league, an event that ignited her lifelong commitment to promoting and advancing opportunities for girls and women in this sport. From coaching at the NCAA level to co-founding Women's Hockey United, Michelle has continually br...

One of our most popular episodes was titled “3 things to say to your kids before they take the ice.” Today we are reversing it. Here’s “3 things your kids should say to you before they take the ice.” Grab your kids, grab some Kool-Aid, and enjoy this one. P.S. Kids - we are giving you the secrets to post game slurpees and treats after every game. Listen up! Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team! We're powered by NHL Sense Arena! NHL Sense Arena, is a virtual reality training game designed speci...

Ever wonder how NHL players workout their minds? Our guest this week, Dr. Alicia Naser, is an expert behavioral coach for pro athletes who works with NHL, junior and collegiate athletes and coaches, amongst others, to build mindset skills, emotional agility and other mental skills to help athletes succeed. There a lot of gold in this episode. It’s a great one to listen to with kids. Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team! We're powered by NHL Sense Arena! NHL Sense Arena, is a virtual reality tra...

Imagine playing in D1 college, the world junior championships (and winning gold) and then competing in the Olympics in just 5 years. Then having an NHL and international career after. Our guest, Adrien Plavsic, did just that. But above and beyond that impressive hockey resume, he is a great person who is dedicated to helping others. You will hear about how he has dedicated his life to the mental fitness space and discuss how as a child he used his imagination (or what he now knows is visualiza...

There are a lot of ways to have a professional career in hockey aside from playing. Our guest this week, Caroline Potolicchio, is a former Division 1 hockey player and is the current Director of Fan Development for the Washington Capitals where she oversees many aspects of hockey in the DC area including working closely with the Cap’s youth development department with a major focus on education. This is an awesome listen for anyone that dreams to work in the game one day. Text The Our Kids Pl...

Matteau! (I’m not gonna shout it more than that). We are honored to be joined this week by NHL Alum and NY Rangers Legend Stéphane Matteau. In this episode we dive into the trials and tribulations of being hockey Dad to two children who both played pro hockey in addition to serious talk about how he is working with local youth groups to discuss anxiety and depression, something he has dealt with his whole life. For you Ranger fans out there, Stéphane officially ranks where his famous game 7 OT...

It’s the question almost every hockey parent wants to know, “how do you spot talent at a young age?” In this episode Mike and Lee answer and explore the question while providing listeners with actionable items to make sure they progress in their hockey journey. Remember to share this episode with your hockey family and friends and join our private Facebook group “Our Kids Play Hockey.” Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team! We're powered by NHL Sense Arena! NHL Sense Arena, is a virtual reality ...

Every chapter in this man’s book could be an episode title for one of our episodes. So naturally you are gonna love this episode. Tim Cook played hockey at an extremely high level and now coaches at a high level in Northern New Jersey. We were ecstatic to have him on as a guest this week! Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team! We're powered by NHL Sense Arena! NHL Sense Arena, is a virtual reality training game designed specifically to improve hockey sense and IQ for both players and goalies. Ex...

Hockey has evolved more than most realize over the past decade. Boo Nieves (Former NY Ranger) has seen a lot of these changes first hand during his career and as a coach/trainer at his gym, Top Line Hockey. In this episode we discuss how youth players must grow their games beyond just the talent needed to play if they want to be successful. Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team! We're powered by NHL Sense Arena! NHL Sense Arena, is a virtual reality training game designed specifically to improve ...

How can you use the NHL playoffs as a coaching tool for your young athletes? We discuss the lessons that can be learned just from watching professional athletes perform in a high-stress environment like the playoffs, the mental side of the game, and how to react in high-tension situations. We also stress the importance of parents and coaches discussing the adversity, successes, and failures of pro-athletes with their children as they can be easily equated to their own playing experiences. Text...

A lot of us want to change the game, but where do you start? Our guest today may be the perfect answer. John O’Sullivan is an award winning author, acclaimed speaker and the founder of the “Changing the Game Project” which has taken some incredible steps to push the conversation forward in youth sports. You’re not gonna wanna miss this one. Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team! We're powered by NHL Sense Arena! NHL Sense Arena, is a virtual reality training game designed specifically to improve...

Imagine being thrown into net during an NHL game without any warm-up and very little heads up. Our guest, David Ayres, did just that - and won. Many of you will remember when he took over our hockey news feeds for a short time in 2020 after he stepped into a game for the Carolina Hurricanes as an EBUG. On today’s episode of Our Kids Play Goalie, we dive in deeper beyond that moment and into David’s life as a hockey coach to explore his thoughts on the importance of preparation and a coach's rol...

Who does your child get their work ethic from? In the Carmichael-Hart household there’s no shortage of examples of hard work for their children. Lauren Hart and Todd Carmichael are both Philadelphia legends in their own right, but beyond all their personal accolades they are hockey parents - and that’s exactly what we brought them on our show to talk about. -- Look what y'all did! Our Kids Play Hockey has been named the BEST HOCKEY PODCAST of 2022 and it's all thanks to our amazing community! ...

How do you decide what kind of coach is the right fit for your kid? Mike and Lee breakdown some of the best qualities to look for when joining a new hockey program. Do you need a Level-5 USA Hockey instructor or is a parent volunteer coach the way to go? What factors will help you decide? Leave a comment in our group with your thoughts and let us know how you’re choosing the right coach for your athlete this season. Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team! We're powered by NHL Sense Arena! NHL Sen...

How would you summarize the 2023 youth hockey season? As this season comes to a close, we talk about moving up (or graduating - CONGRATS Sophia and Christie!!!), thoughts on coaching styles, adversities conquered, coaches gifts, and where our kids are headed next. Be sure to join our Facebook group and share a post with your own season in review! We want to know what went right, what went wrong, and where you’re headed too! Go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/ourkidsplayhockey/ to join now i...

Are you on the path to college hockey? Topher Scott and Jeff LoVecchio of The Hockey Think Tank podcast talk with us this week about what you can do to set yourself up for success when working towards college hockey. Both Topher and Jeff are former NCAA athletes. Jeff played professionally after college and now impacts athletes of all ages through his personal training. Topher has worked both at the college level as a coach at Cornell University and now as the Director of Hockey Operations at ...

Is your kid(s) moving to the next age level this coming season? The gang dives right into how to prepare for that on this week’s episode of Our Kids Play Hockey. -- Hockey friends and families, we need your help! We have been honored with a nomination for the 2023 Hockey Podcast of the year with the Sports Podcast awards. Like most things, we need our team community to help us win. Click this link, create a free account, and vote for our show. (Navigating to the awards tab, selecting vote, ...

Should we be taking a break this spring? It’s a question that’s on the minds of a lot of hockey families right now. Ask yourself - Do YOU want a break? Does your kid want a break? Its okay to take time away from the ice if your answer is yes, and it might actually be more beneficial to your child’s development. Make sure to listen to this week’s episode before you sign your hockey players up for their spring or summer season! Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team! We're powered by NHL Sense Arena...

Coaches are only as great as the standards they keep for themselves and their teams. Aaron Wilbur’s work as the founder of The Coaches Site is no exception. In addition to educating hockey coaches on the tactics of the game, Aaron and his team also help prepare coaches to impact the lives of their athletes On this week’s episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, we dive into the genius platform that Aaron and his team have built and look at ways they are impacting a large portion of the global hockey ...

The echoes of a hockey game played 43 years ago today still reverberate. There’s a reason the U.S.A. defeating the USSR in 1980 was selected as the most significant sports moment of the 20th century. It lifted a team, a town and a nation - events like that are in short supply today. This team also thought us something that I have based my professional life on; that when a group of people believe, trust and work for each other - miracles are possible. This week we’re re-releasing a recap of t...

Youth hockey is stressful on us as parents and coaches, imagine how it must feel for the kids! 😳 Scott Kelsey is a former pro and shared with us how his journey in the game taught him how to approach Youth Hockey as: 🧭 A Journey 📈 A Process 📍 Not Just A Means To An End Scott is the CEO and Founder of Shareapy, the Founder of Edge For Athletes and works closely with The Ranch: Teammates For Life to help bring mental health awareness to athletes everywhere. You can find out more ...

Tryout & evaluation season is upon us! It’s a weird time. 😳 It’s a stressful time. 🙃 It’s an important time. 🏒 (Trust us, we know) The gang shares as many tips and tricks on how to navigate this time of year as calmly as possible in this week’s episode. Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team! We're powered by NHL Sense Arena! NHL Sense Arena, is a virtual reality training game designed specifically to improve hockey sense and IQ for both players and goalies. Experience the next generation of o...

It’s not how many times they get knocked down, but how many times you’re there to coach them back up that matters. Adversity happens to all of us, but how do you help your young athletes overcome it? Lee and Mike drop valuable coaching insight this week to help you coach your kids through failure. Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team! We're powered by NHL Sense Arena! NHL Sense Arena, is a virtual reality training game designed specifically to improve hockey sense and IQ for both players and goal...