Listen Now!

🏒 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...

🏒 What if everything you’ve been told about youth hockey development… is wrong? This week, we’re joined by 1,000+ game NHL veteran Mike Knuble—a Stanley Cup Champion who built his career the hard way: through patience, persistence, and learning how to truly play the game. From growing up in Michigan with no “elite path”… to earning his way through college, the minors, and eventually becoming a 30-goal scorer in the NHL, Mike shares what actually matters in development—and what families are ge...

🔥 You asked. We delivered. The Mailbag Episode is BACK — and this one is packed with real answers from a real pro. In this special Q&A episode of Our Girls Play Hockey, Hayley Scamurra sits down with Lee and Mike to answer YOUR biggest questions about what it actually takes to play hockey at the highest level. From game day meals to mental prep, training habits to scoring goals — nothing is off limits. And the best part? These are the exact questions coming from young players just like you. W...

🏒 Ever walk off the ice feeling like you were either the best player out there… or the worst? This week on The Ride to the Rink, we’re joined by former NHL star Bobby Ryan (800+ NHL games, 2nd overall draft pick) to talk about one of the most important skills young players can develop: how to reflect, reset, and get better—without being too hard on yourself. Bobby shares a simple but powerful mindset that every hockey player (and parent) needs to hear. 🔑 In This Episode: Why you’re never as g...

🏒 What if the rink isn’t just where kids play… but where they feel safest? In this powerful and deeply personal episode, former NHL star Bobby Ryan joins us to share a perspective every hockey parent and coach needs to hear. From a difficult childhood to a 14-year NHL career—and now life as a hockey dad—Bobby opens up about how the game shaped him, saved him, and continues to guide how he raises his own child today. This conversation goes far beyond goals and assists. It’s about identit...

🔥 What were YOU doing at 14 years old? Because Estela Vazquez was winning GOLD on the international stage. In this inspiring episode of Our Kids Play Goalie, we sit down with Estela Vazquez — a rising star goaltender for the Connecticut Junior Rangers, Greenwich Country Day School, and the Puerto Rico Women’s National Team 🇵🇷. At just 13 years old, Estela stepped onto the international stage in Buenos Aires and walked away as Goaltender of the Tournament, helping Puerto Rico capture gold. But ...

🏒 What’s the one thing every young hockey player can control every single day? On this Ride to the Rink, the hosts are joined by 17-year NHL veteran Scott Hartnell, who shares the mindset that helped him build a long, successful NHL career. Growing up as the youngest of three hockey-playing brothers, Hartnell learned early what it meant to compete, battle, and push himself just to keep up. Those backyard games, bumps and bruises, and sibling rivalries helped shape the hardworking style that d...

🏒 What does it really take to make it to the NHL—and what lessons can young players and parents learn from the journey? In this episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee Elias, Mike Bonelli, and Christy Casciano-Burns are joined by 17-year NHL veteran Scott Hartnell. Known for his grit, personality, and relentless work ethic, Hartnell shares stories from growing up as a rink rat in small-town Saskatchewan to becoming a 300-goal scorer with over 1,200 NHL games played. But this conversation goes far ...

🏒 What does it actually feel like to win Olympic gold? In this special Our Girls Play Hockey listener Q&A, Olympic gold medalist Hayley Scamurra pulls back the curtain on the Olympic experience — from the electric energy of playing in front of fans to the unforgettable moments inside the Olympic Village. In Part 1 of this two-part series, Hayley joins Lee Elias to answer questions sent in by the audience, teammates, and young players around the hockey world. The result? A behind-the-scene...

🚗 Heading to a hockey tryout or evaluation? Take a deep breath — this Ride to the Rink is exactly what you need to hear. Evaluations can bring out a lot of emotions: excitement, nerves, pressure, and sometimes even fear. But the truth is, a great tryout isn’t about doing something flashy or trying to be someone you’re not. It’s about preparation, mindset, and showing coaches the best version of YOU. In this episode of The Ride to the Rink, the guys break down how young hockey players should app...

🏒 Hockey tryout season is here… and for many families, that means nerves, pressure, and a lot of unanswered questions. What are coaches actually looking for? How are teams really selected? And what should parents and players focus on when the stakes feel high? In this annual Our Kids Play Hockey Tryout Episode, hosts Lee Elias, Christie Casciano-Burns, and Mike Bonelli break down the reality of youth hockey evaluations — from both the parent perspective and the coach’s perspective. This episod...

🏒 You asked… and the mailbag is back! In this special Our Girls Play Hockey Mailbag Episode, hosts Lee and Mike sit down with professional hockey player Hayley Scamurra to answer rapid-fire questions straight from young players, parents, and coaches around the hockey world. From game-day meals and pregame routines to scoring goals, getting faster, and handling the fear of missing out during the offseason, Hayley shares real insight into what life looks like as a pro — and what young athletes ...

🚨 Think tryouts start on evaluation day? Think again. If you’re heading to a pre-skate or ID skate, this episode is your mindset reset before you walk through those rink doors. Lee and Mike break down what these “tryout before the tryout” skates really are — and more importantly, how YOU should approach them. Because here’s the truth: it’s not just about what you do on the ice… it’s who you are from the parking lot to the final whistle. In this episode, we talk about: 🏒 What coaches are reall...

🔥 ID skates. Pre-skates. Early evaluations. Winter “select” teams. If you’re a hockey parent right now, your inbox is probably full — and your anxiety might be too. So what are ID skates really? Are they opportunities… or just early tryouts in disguise? In this episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee and Mike break down the real story behind pre-skates and ID skates — what they mean, when they make sense, and when parents need to take a deep breath and relax. Because here’s the truth: Most team...

🥇 She wrote it on the whiteboard for a year: “I am a gold medalist.” Now it’s real. In this unforgettable crossover episode of Our Kids Play Hockey and Our Girls Play Hockey, Olympic Gold Medalist Hayley Scamurra joins us fresh off Team USA’s historic championship run — and yes… she’s still wearing the medal. Seven games. Seven wins. Two goals in the opener. A perfect penalty kill. A 2–1 overtime thriller against Canada. And the most-watched women’s hockey game in history. This wasn’t just a ...

🎉 GIVEAWAY ALERT, Hockey Families! 🎉 Something BIG just dropped in the Our Kids Play Hockey world… and we’re celebrating the best way we know how — by giving back to YOU. Christie Casciano-Burns — award-winning journalist, USA Hockey Magazine columnist, and the original inspiration behind this podcast — has officially released Puck Hog 3: Trophy Thief Mystery… and we’re giving away FIVE copies! In this special edition episode, we dive into: 🏆 The mystery behind the missing Lake Placid Invitat...

🚨 Parents — this one’s for you. 🚨 Tryout season is here. Emotions are high. FOMO is real. And decisions made right now can shape your child’s hockey journey for years to come. In this special Parent Edition of The Ride to the Rink, Lee and Mike Bonelli flip the script and ask the kids to turn to YOU and say: “Are you listening?” Because when it comes to hockey evals, team jumping, chasing elite labels, and negotiating during tryouts… parents matter more than anyone. Mike brings the perspectiv...