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🏒 What if hockey’s greatest lessons have nothing to do with goals, assists, or scholarships? In this episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee Elias and Mike Bonelli sit down with Zechariah Thomas, founder of Swift Hockey, former high-level Ontario player, major junior athlete, and international player for Team Jamaica. Zechariah’s story is a powerful reminder that there is no single path through this game — and sometimes the biggest wins come from what hockey builds inside you. Zech started hocke...

🏆 What happens after you win the Walter Cup, celebrate in front of a packed Montreal crowd, meet the Buffalo Bills, and cap off one of the most historic years in women’s hockey? In this special season finale of Our Girls Play Hockey, we close out the 2025–26 “Day in the Life” series with Olympic gold medalist, Walter Cup champion, and Montreal Victoire forward Hayley Scamurra. Hayley takes us behind the scenes of Montreal’s unforgettable championship parade — from the double-decker bus and red ...

🏒 Want to get better at hockey? Sometimes the best thing you can do is step away from the rink and go outside. On this episode of The Ride to the Rink, Lee Elias and Mike Bonelli are joined by longtime NHL forward Mike Knuble for a message every young skater and goalie needs to hear: go play. Not every rep has to come from a coach. Not every skill has to be built in a formal practice. And not every moment of development has to happen on the ice. Mike Knuble shares why getting outside, playing o...

🏒 What really separates young hockey players as they get older — talent, pressure, coaching, character, or the ability to keep loving the game through it all? This week on Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee Elias and Mike Bonelli welcome back longtime NHL forward Mike Knuble, who played over 1,000 NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, and Washington Capitals. Mike returns for a wide-ranging and honest conversation about the modern youth hockey landsc...

🏆 What does it really feel like to win the Walter Cup — not from the stands, not from the broadcast booth, but from the ice? In Part 2 of our championship edition Day in the Life with Hayley Scamurra, Hayley takes us inside the PWHL Walter Cup Final as Montreal battles Ottawa in a razor-thin, emotional, and unforgettable championship series. From dramatic overtime wins to heartbreaking momentum swings, from Laura Stacey’s miraculous return to Ann-Renée Desbiens’ shutout brilliance, this episo...

🏒 What does it really take to coach youth hockey the right way? This week on Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee Elias, Mike Bonelli, and Christie Casciano-Burns sit down with Coach Tre Berg, a youth hockey coach, hockey dad, police officer, and longtime player who brings a true “in the trenches” perspective to the game. Tre grew up playing hockey in the Syracuse area, played juniors and college hockey, and now coaches with the Syracuse Nationals and Syracuse Galaxy AAU program while also serving as th...

🏆 What does it really take to win when the pressure is at its highest? On this very special Championship Edition of Our Girls Play Hockey, we sit down with Olympic gold medalist and Walter Cup champion Hayley Scamurra for part one of a two-part conversation about the Montreal Victoire’s unforgettable playoff run. And this is not just any championship story. Hayley became the first female hockey player in history to win Olympic gold and a Walter Cup championship in the same season, making this...

🏒 What should young hockey players actually do in the offseason? In this episode of The Ride To The Rink, Lee is joined by former NHL defenseman Andrew “Albie” Alberts for a motivating conversation every young player should hear before summer training begins. The message is simple but powerful: start with a goal, write it down, believe in it, and then take small steps every day to move toward it. Andrew and Lee talk directly to young skaters and goalies about what it means to dream big, handl...

🏒 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...