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🏒 Should your young hockey player train all summer… or put the bag away and just be a kid? On this episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee Elias welcomes back Andrew “Albie” Alberts — nine-year NHL veteran, Boston College standout, and Hockey Development Director at NHL Sense Arena — for a timely, honest, and incredibly useful conversation about what youth hockey players should actually be doing in the offseason. With tryouts behind many families and summer hockey decisions ahead, Lee and Albi...

🧠 What if the most important hockey skill your child learns this season has nothing to do with skating, shooting, or scoring? This week on Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee Elias, Mike Bonelli, and Christie Casciano-Burns welcome Angie Lion, author of Emerge: Rise from the Depths, Realign Your Soul, and Reclaim What Matters and co-founder/chief soul officer of Black River Performance Management, for a powerful conversation about emotional intelligence, transitional intelligence, and why “soft skills” ma...

🏒 Ever feel nervous before a game, unsure of yourself in the locker room, or like your emotions are getting in the way of how you want to play? You’re not alone — and you’re not broken. On this episode of The Ride To The Rink, Lee, Mike, and Christie talk directly to young hockey players about something every athlete faces at some point: nerves, confidence, pressure, and emotional control. Whether you’re heading into a big game, joining a new team, playing in a new rink, or just feeling “off,” ...

🏒 What do you do when your child loves hockey, has the skill, makes the higher-level team… but freezes when everything feels new? In this fan mail episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee Elias, Christie Casciano Burns, and Mike Bonelli respond to a heartfelt letter from a hockey dad in Connecticut whose 2019 birth-year player thrives once he’s on the ice — but struggles with nerves, unfamiliar teammates, new coaches, and chaotic scrimmage environments. The big question: How do parents help young p...

🏒 Our Kids Play Hockey is growing — and this micro edition is all about YOU. In this quick community update, Lee shares some exciting new ways hockey families, players, coaches, and listeners around the world can experience, connect with, and support the show. From video episodes now available on Apple Podcasts to a new and improved way to send fan mail, voicemails, hockey questions, team shout-outs, and future episode ideas, this update is all about making Our Kids Play Hockey even more inte...

🎥 Most young hockey players watch highlights. The best players? They study the game. On this episode of The Ride To The Rink, Lee, Christie, and Mike welcome former pro player and youth coach Scott Howes for an important conversation about one of the most overlooked skills in hockey: Hockey IQ. From learning how to watch games with purpose to breaking down your own shifts on video, Scott shares practical advice every young player can start using immediately — no extra ice time required. This ...

🏒 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 one of the most honest conversations we’ve had about youth hockey development, adversity, confidence, and what really matters in the game. Scott’s journey is anything but traditional. He went from playing free house league hockey in downtown Toronto… to being overlo...

🏒 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 masterclass for young hockey players looking to score more goals. But here’s the twist: none of the goals were flashy breakaways or highlight-reel toe drags. Every single one came from the hardest place to play in hockey: right in front of the net. 🎯 Deflections...

🏒 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 to a higher team—or stay where you are? It’s exciting to be recognized for your talent. But is moving up always the right move? This conversation is all about helping YOU take ownership of your hockey journey—because your voice matters more than you think. 🔑...

🏒 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 they stuck in a comfort zone? In this powerful mailbag episode, we hear from a hockey parent in Sweden whose 12-year-old son is thriving—but may lack the competition to push him further. What follows is a deep, honest conversation about development, confidence, and the ...

🔥 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 for the PWHL playoffs and the pursuit of the Walter Cup. From finishing first in the league to navigating the unique playoff format, Haley shares what life is actually like at the highest level — the grind, the mindset, and the habits that separate good from great. 💡 This...

🚗💭 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 those words can impact confidence, nerves, and performance. Here’s the truth: your parents care. A lot. ❤️ But sometimes, even well-meaning words can add pressure instead of helping you play your best. So what can you do about it? 🎯 In this episode, we break down: The 3 mo...

🏒 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 them up for success. But what if some of those well-intentioned phrases are actually doing the opposite? In this episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee, Christie, and Mike flip one of their most popular topics on its head — breaking down the top things you should NOT say to your...

🥅 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 goaltenders in the world, Aerin Frankel. From growing up playing boys hockey in New York… to leaving home for Shattuck-St. Mary’s… to being cut from the 2022 Olympic team… and ultimately becoming the backbone of Team USA’s gold medal run in 2026 — Aerin’s jo...

🧠 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 concussion expert Dr. Baric (myconcussiondr.com), we break down what actually happens when you take a hit to the head—and why speaking up could protect your entire hockey future. 💥 You’ll learn: What a concussion really is (in simple terms)The signs your body gives you when ...

🧠 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 Baric, founder of MyConcussionDoctor.com, for a practical, eye-opening conversation about concussion awareness, brain health, and what hockey parents really need to know. This isn’t about fear. It’s about being informed. Dr. Baric breaks down what a concussion actually i...

🏒 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 decision: ➡️ Stay at 10U close to home ➡️ Play co-ed locally ➡️ Or accept a 12U opportunity that comes with a 2-hour commute multiple nights a week Sounds like a great opportunity… but is it really? Olympian Haley Scamurra joins Lee and Mike to break down what act...

🏒 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 impact across hockey: the “Shoulder Check.” It’s not about looking over your shoulder on the ice—it’s about checking in on the people around you. Because the truth is, you never know what a teammate might be going through. 💬 Inspired and supported by NHL players l...

🔥 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 Foundation, to talk about how one simple idea — checking in on each other — can change lives. After the heartbreaking loss of his son Hayden, Rob turned pain into purpose, creating a movement that’s transforming locker rooms, teams, and communities across hockey and be...

🚨 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 in hockey analytics. From working with NHL teams to breaking down the game on major broadcasts, Meghan is helping redefine how hockey is played, evaluated, and understood. In this episode, we dive into how analytics is shaping the future of hockey—from youth development all ...

🏒 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. 🤯 But this conversation isn’t about stats—it’s about mindset, toughness, and understanding your body. Karl shares what it takes to stay consistent at the highest level, how to handle bumps and bruises, and—most importantly—how young players can learn the difference between bei...

🏒 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 of the most dependable players of his era—to unpack what really matters in player development. From a 428-game ironman streak to raising kids in today’s hockey culture, Karl shares powerful insights on leadership, consistency, and why doing the “little things” right is what ...

🥇 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 after the gold medal—where life didn’t slow down… it sped up. From jet lag and packed schedules to jumping straight into high-stakes PWHL games, this is the reality of elite women’s hockey at its peak. And oh yeah… did we mention appearances on The Kelly Clarkson Show (hosted by ...

🏒 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 hard things: going to the net, battling in tough areas, and evolving his game year after year. Mike shares a powerful mindset shift that every young player needs to hear: if you want more goals, you have to go where the goals actually happen. 💥 In this episode, we cove...