Lee MJ Elias [0:07 - 1:02]: Hello hockey friends and families around the world, and welcome back to another edition of our Kids Play Hockey. It's Lee Elias with Christy Cashier Burns and Mike Bonelli. Today, the the A team is here. The Double A, the AAA Tier one podcast Team Elite showcase. You do the rest. You know, when you're listening to this, it's towards the end of the season when we're recording this, I should say, and soon enough your team will be giving out your team awards to all the players. But the thought had crossed our minds. What about the people who don't get awards? What about the people who deserve the awards and don't get the awards? Our very own Christy Casciano Burns in March's issue of USA Hockey Magazine has come up with several awards that really need to be created. We're going to discuss these today. We're going to review them today. We're going to come up with some more of our own today, Christy, but why don't you take it away and tell the people why you did this and obviously make sure you check out, if you're in the United States, the March issue of the USA Hockey Magazine. 

Christie Casciano [1:02 - 2:34]: Well, I was kicking around some ideas with the editor of the magazine. We're trying to think, well, what's going on in March, March, the end of the season is in sight and usually it's award season where your kids get awards. Mvp, you know, best defenseman, best forward. What about us? And my editor was laughing. Yeah, well, what about you? I said, how about if I come up with a couple of award catego, I'll brainstorm with Lee and Mike and some of my other hockey pals and we'll come up with our own categories for awards for parents. And it was a lot of fun. So, ladies and gentlemen, send your tux and your dress to the cleaners. Roll out the carpet, cue those speeches because it's award season for us. I love do we have up our sleeve? How about this one? I love this one. The always on Time award. You know who I'm talking about. Practice, gay extracurricular functions. You're always there right when you're supposed to be. Heck, sometimes you even go to pick up a few of the teammates on the way the rest of the team jokes, you must live at the rink because no one has managed to beat you there. No one can ever be certain that they've actually seen you leave. And doesn't even matter what the weather is. You're always on time. Weather never throws you off. In fact, the weather gives an alert when you're coming. 

Lee MJ Elias [2:36 - 2:38]: Chuck Norris fact there. Yeah. 

Christie Casciano [2:38 - 2:43]: You know, you are the always on time award winner. 

Lee MJ Elias [2:43 - 3:09]: There's always one, right? What's funny is when their kid is usually the last out of the locker room after they get there on time, no matter what. But yeah, look, look, there is, there's. There should be an award for being punct the entire season, right? There could probably be an award, like a funny award for the person who's always late as well. But yeah, the person who's there on time all the time, every day, that person, that family deserves an award. I, I don't disagree with that. I mean, it shouldn't be hard to do, right? 

Mike Bonelli [3:09 - 3:10]: But. 

Lee MJ Elias [3:10 - 3:17]: But it, I'd say to do it every practice, game and situation. Probably rarer than you think. 

Mike Bonelli [3:17 - 3:18]: Yeah. 

Christie Casciano [3:18 - 3:19]: Mike. 

Mike Bonelli [3:19 - 3:39]: Yeah. So if you're from the Map quest generation, I could say, I could say that, like, that was probably harder to do. Like, right now, there is no excuse like me. I, I literally do not. I get up in the morning on a hockey day. Now, I'll preface this by saying I'm never late for hockey stuff, ever. Or any sporting event. Family events. 

Lee MJ Elias [3:39 - 3:42]: Never, Mike. Never. Never happened. 

Mike Bonelli [3:42 - 4:05]: Never ever. I make sure I'm on time. Family events, it's a whole different story. It's a, It's a, It's a, it is. It's a conversation around the house. Like, somehow we can get to every game through, through, through storms and traffic and lane closures, but yet it's hard for us to get to a baptism on time. But I think it's somebody else's. 

Christie Casciano [4:05 - 4:06]: Hilarious. 

Mike Bonelli [4:06 - 4:16]: But I think, But I think it is, you know, today you put it in, it says 2 hours and 15 minutes, and you say, okay, here's. I know, I know I can get there on time. There's no excuse. 

Christie Casciano [4:16 - 4:17]: Yeah. 

Mike Bonelli [4:17 - 4:32]: And I will say this. If you're, if you're winning the award for never being on time and you're always late, just communicate with your coaches and let them know that you're, you know, that you are coming and you do know you're supposed to be there. It's just you happen to be a little tardy. 

Lee MJ Elias [4:32 - 4:33]: That's not that hard to do. 

Christie Casciano [4:33 - 4:34]: Get some apps. Get some apps. 

Lee MJ Elias [4:34 - 4:54]: Yeah. I will say this to all the people and the players listening. That, that little. Even if it, if you're gonna be a second late, that text of hey, I'm running a little bit behind. Yes, we'll let you know where I'm at. That goes so much further than if you just don't say anything, hoping we don't notice. And let me tell you something. We always notice. 

Christie Casciano [4:54 - 4:58]: We notice. And you know, you're setting a good example for your kids, too. 

Lee MJ Elias [4:58 - 4:59]: Yeah. 

Christie Casciano [4:59 - 5:08]: Of being on time and, and showing. Showing the kids that other people's time's valuable. You know, you're not so selfish that you're always thinking about your son. 

Lee MJ Elias [5:08 - 5:15]: Well, I'll say this too, Christy. When, when we. We know the difference of when a kid is making you late and you. You late as a parent. 

Christie Casciano [5:15 - 5:15]: Yes. 

Lee MJ Elias [5:16 - 5:27]: Because when the kid's making you late, we usually can remedy that as a team and as a clan, when you're the one being late. Parents, we know, we talk about you. Just so you know, we all, we. 

Christie Casciano [5:27 - 5:29]: All know who you are. 

Lee MJ Elias [5:29 - 5:31]: There's a discussion. Yeah, it happens. 

Christie Casciano [5:32 - 5:33]: All right, here's another one. 

Mike Bonelli [5:33 - 5:33]: This one. 

Christie Casciano [5:33 - 6:00]: This is a good one. The never going overboard or over the boards award. You know what I mean? There's so. You are the Zen master of the team. No matter the in game situation, no matter the call, you never raise your voice at a player, a coach, a parent, or an official. You know how to keep your emotions in check, even when the checking gets rough. Congratulations. If you've checked that box, you are. 

Lee MJ Elias [6:00 - 6:47]: A writer, my friend. That was, that was well put. I have, I have a couple offshoots of this one, too, Kristen. All right, so, like, I think these are all a category, all right, because, because they're out there. I wrote down here the consistent coach. Because I think that there's a lot of assistant coaches out there that keep that level of calm on the bench when the head coach is shouting and losing their voice and begging for some loingers, there's always that calm presence on the bench. The assistant coach never gets enough credit for that, for that balancing act. I think that's one. And then I also wrote down here the Happy Clapper, which I guess is the. The opposite award of no matter what's happening, you are always go team. Go, kid, Go for. Oh, it's okay, goalie, get up. You're great, goalie. It's the 10th goal. Good job. We love you, goalie. 

Christie Casciano [6:47 - 6:48]: Positivity. 

Lee MJ Elias [6:49 - 7:13]: There's gonna be people listening to this. Go. That's me. And Lee knows that's me. And you're making fun of me. I'm not making fun of you. You deserve an award for, for that level of positivity. And I'll tell you why, Christy, because to your point, your award and the two ones I just said, we need you out there. Because for every one of you that's doing the comp thing, there are 10 people screaming at us. 10 or screaming. Yeah. This is not okay. This is not okay. 

Christie Casciano [7:15 - 7:16]: I'm not. 

Mike Bonelli [7:18 - 7:19]: Shoot the puck. 

Lee MJ Elias [7:22 - 7:28]: Like, where's your glasses? Again, my response to those people is always, hey, volunteer. 

Mike Bonelli [7:29 - 7:30]: Right? 

Lee MJ Elias [7:30 - 7:33]: Volunteer Mike, let's hear you chime in. 

Mike Bonelli [7:33 - 8:14]: I love it. I think it's. You know, it's one of those, like, I think there's a lot. I think there. There. There's the. There's a distinct. You can see it in the stands, right. Those people are. Are often scattered within the yellers and the screamers. Like me. Like, I. You'll see me in the course of a game, start to kind of move away. Because every time the refs look up, it's like me sitting next to this idiot. Yeah. You know, so I'm like, okay, you've got to stop because now. Or you could go the other way, like I try to do sometimes, and I'll give the. You know, it's not really helping us win the game. When you're just ripping the refs from the time the puck drops and then you want that call with a minute left in the game, do you really think we're gonna get the call? Because everybody just wants us to get out of the rink, like, so. 

Lee MJ Elias [8:14 - 8:15]: Refs love it when we yell at them. 

Mike Bonelli [8:15 - 8:50]: What are you talking. Listen, you do have to remind them sometimes that they're making poor core calls. But I think it's. I think it's really just. It's that. That award that can go to the person that can be. Be competitive and be. And not even. You don't have to be positive. You just have to be. You just have to watch your kids. There's nothing you can do. There's not. There's zero you can do to influence what's happening with your kid on the ice. Even when, you know, if you're the Zen master, I could just, like, people look at me like, aren't you upset about that hit? Like, what am I supposed to do about it? Like, the rest. The kid. Like, what am I supposed to do about it? 

Lee MJ Elias [8:50 - 8:50]: Like, it's. 

Mike Bonelli [8:50 - 8:57]: It's. It can we learn and. But I love that if we can incentivize people being sane, I'm all for it. 

Christie Casciano [8:57 - 8:57]: Yeah. 

Lee MJ Elias [8:58 - 9:39]: I'm drop a little wisdom. A little wisdom. As we have to do. Even though this is a fun kind of sarcastic episode. Mike, you bring up a really good point here. Right. We're in it. We're in an age of Outrage. Where people feel that outrage gives them some form of power. And the truth is, it gives you nothing because you have no control over the situation. So, Mike, to your point, I always say to people, why are you not mad about this? And I'll come back and say, what is that going to accomplish? I'm aware of this. I'm not happy about it, and I will work it out. But if me screaming at the ref or the player or at you is not going to change the outcome. The age of outrage. We got to calm those egos down. Okay, that's. That's. I'm off the soapbox. Sorry. I had to do it. Part of what I do. 

Christie Casciano [9:40 - 9:42]: Outrage goes out, sanity goes in. 

Lee MJ Elias [9:42 - 9:46]: Yeah. What was the name on the Overboard. Not Overboard. What was the name of that last over. 

Christie Casciano [9:46 - 9:47]: Over the boards. 

Lee MJ Elias [9:48 - 9:50]: I'll take it. Stay in the stands. 

Christie Casciano [9:50 - 9:53]: Jump over the boards. Yeah, we've seen that, haven't we? 

Lee MJ Elias [9:53 - 9:55]: There's videos of it. 

Christie Casciano [9:56 - 10:01]: I saw one recently. This mom just went right after the refs. It was nuts. 

Lee MJ Elias [10:01 - 10:02]: Classy. 

Christie Casciano [10:02 - 10:03]: Absolutely nuts. 

Lee MJ Elias [10:03 - 10:06]: And. And what was the score of that game? Nobody knows. 

Christie Casciano [10:06 - 10:08]: Exactly. No, I couldn't. 

Lee MJ Elias [10:08 - 10:12]: Nobody knows who was playing in that game. Nobody knows. 

Christie Casciano [10:13 - 10:46]: Nobody knows. All right, here's another fun one. This is called the Rink Cyclopedia Award. No matter the rink, you've been there. You know the best way to get there in any direction. You know the spots in the stands where the heaters don't work, the spot with the best view, what snacks to get or avoid at the concession stand. You know, if they have a skate sharpener on hand. You know how long it will take the Zamboni driver to cut the ice. Rumor has it you spend the off season scouting out the rings for next season. 

Lee MJ Elias [10:47 - 10:48]: This is it. 

Christie Casciano [10:48 - 10:53]: You know that guy or that woman who just, like, they know everything about that rig. 

Mike Bonelli [10:53 - 10:53]: Oh, come on. 

Christie Casciano [10:54 - 10:58]: The hot chocolate here is really good. Oh, but don't get the hot dogs. 

Mike Bonelli [10:58 - 10:59]: They're horrible. 

Lee MJ Elias [10:59 - 11:28]: Or don't get your skate sharpener here, because this is another, like, pre MapQuest one, too, because, you know. You know, before we had the Internet. Mike, to your point, I remember, like, oh, no, no, you don't want to go that way. You gotta. You gotta take this way. And you want to come in from the back entrance, because the front entrance. I remember that now, now, now, with technology, we have a little more information, but, yeah, there's always someone in parents. Just so you know, it's usually when. When the game, you know, schedule comes out, they comment, oh, that rank. 

Mike Bonelli [11:28 - 11:28]: This. 

Lee MJ Elias [11:28 - 11:35]: This this and this, Right? Oh, that's three hours away. This, this, this, and this. But, hey, look, I won't turn down a good hot chocolate. 

Mike Bonelli [11:35 - 12:02]: Yeah. And a lot of times that award is probably going to somebody who won a previous award because they're probably a seasoned hockey parent. Like, they're probably somebody that had, like, one or two kids already go through the system. They've been to every rink in New Jersey, Long Island, Connecticut, Maine, and they've done the tournaments. Like, oh, yeah, I went to that tournament. And that was. That was great. And guess what you have to look for here? These are the great bars that are next door, and I think they all know those things, and I think that's great. I think you got it. You got those. It is invaluable, though, to know. 

Lee MJ Elias [12:02 - 12:03]: Yeah. 

Mike Bonelli [12:03 - 12:09]: Like, oh, by the way, when you get there, this is a cold rink. Like, just like, not every rink is. Is cold. 

Lee MJ Elias [12:09 - 12:12]: It's a barn. It's a literal bar. But just be. 

Mike Bonelli [12:12 - 12:17]: Just. Just be aware that, you know, you need to prepare your kids for this scenario. 

Christie Casciano [12:18 - 12:21]: Bring your quarters, because you gotta feed the meter at that. 

Mike Bonelli [12:21 - 12:25]: And these must be the people that are starting the websites that like the best snack bars. 

Lee MJ Elias [12:25 - 13:16]: And. Yeah, you know, so, I mean, Yelp already exists, guys. So, I mean. But yeah, yeah, there could be some other ones. I'll tell you guys. You know, I know a guy onlines with this award, a parent who. Who follow me here, scouts all of our opponents. And I'm talking at 10U. And anybody who. Who knows me and listens this knows exactly who I'm talking about. And it's funny because when you first meet this guy, most of the time you kind of raise an eyebrow like. Like you're doing this at this age. But I'll be honest with you, as a coach, he does such a good job, and he does it in. In the right way. It's not. It's not, like, annoying. You know, he's like, oh, I saw these guys play, and this is what I saw. And, yeah, I saw that. And he'll go out of his way, even travel sometimes to watch the other teams. My listeners that know me know exactly who it is, but I'm gonna tell. 

Mike Bonelli [13:17 - 13:22]: You the influence in the game. I mean, really. I mean, are you gonna have a strategy to win that game because of the kids? 

Lee MJ Elias [13:22 - 13:52]: I'll tell you what, he will come to me and say, these three players are the guys I gotta look out for. And he's usually right. So. So he has earned a little bit of. Actually, yes, for me on that, on that mic. Now, he doesn't. This is why I like him. He doesn't go, you got to play this strategy and you got to put these players out. He just goes, this is what I saw. And he, look, he enjoys doing it. He doesn't just do it in hockey. He doesn't baseball. And like he, he enjoys it. And I'll tell you what, his scouting report's not that bad. I trust and verify. Right. So I don't know if you could. 

Mike Bonelli [13:52 - 14:06]: If I'm in the stands, can I see the whole rink from where. What part of the stands? I'm in. That's all. And where is the Live Barn? Tell me where, where's the microphone? There's the microphone for Live Barn and let me know where that is and then let. Where I'm gonna stand. 

Lee MJ Elias [14:06 - 14:07]: Yeah, well, I. 

Christie Casciano [14:08 - 14:15]: Parents have gotten caught saying trash and talk. Talking trash about other teams or other players and they're right under the microphone. 

Mike Bonelli [14:15 - 14:16]: Not enough. 

Lee MJ Elias [14:16 - 14:17]: Why would you do that? 

Mike Bonelli [14:17 - 14:18]: Like, like that? 

Lee MJ Elias [14:18 - 14:23]: I always hear that story. Why would you even do that? Like, who makes fun of a youth hockey team? 

Christie Casciano [14:23 - 14:24]: They're clueless. 

Lee MJ Elias [14:24 - 14:44]: They really are. Like, like, who does that? Like, yeah, the, the self soothing ego you need to have to make fun of another kid's hockey team. Yeah, you might want to explore those feelings. By the way, everybody listening. Those people aren't listening to our show. So that's, that's okay. That's. That's why I can make fun of them with a microphone. Share it with them, let them. I bring the heat. 

Christie Casciano [14:45 - 14:52]: But I love when they get caught, though. That's the best. Like, hey, I heard you talking trash about my kids all on camera. 

Mike Bonelli [14:52 - 15:08]: I've had one parent text their husband while they're watching the game on Live Barn and say, yeah, listen, you. You gotta, you gotta move. Like you've got. Not, not. You've got to cut it off and you can't do that. You literally have to go somewhere else. 

Lee MJ Elias [15:09 - 15:12]: Because you're, you're, you're going to be arrested. 

Christie Casciano [15:12 - 15:14]: We could hear everything you're saying. 

Mike Bonelli [15:14 - 15:18]: That's the best. That's the best. And you're getting the text, like, move away from the Live Barn camera. 

Lee MJ Elias [15:18 - 15:26]: Oh, yeah, it should automate. They should actually let the cameras have speakers of like, please refrain. Please mind the gap. Right. Please watch. 

Mike Bonelli [15:26 - 15:33]: You are in a 10 foot radius of our microphone. You have now, like, maybe just draw a yellow line in the rink somewhere. 

Lee MJ Elias [15:33 - 15:39]: We have deemed your language as inappropriate. Please remove yourself from the staff. It's Got to be. It's got to be a polite voice. 

Mike Bonelli [15:39 - 15:44]: Hey, good. Do that. Stand the closing doors, please, are being recorded, right? 

Christie Casciano [15:44 - 16:22]: Yes, it's funny. Okay, we've got another one here. It's called I, I think you guys are gonna like this one because everybody knows somebody like this, too, and I love this person. The Go Go Gadget Gear Award. A kid forgets a glove, an elbow pad, a sock. You've got one, maybe three. A screw flies off the helmet. You've got a helmet repair kit. You're able to place a skate blade before the player can even miss a shift. You may be running an underground pro shop out of the trunk of your car, but we're glad you're on our team. Congratulations. Go Go Gadget Gear Award. 

Lee MJ Elias [16:22 - 16:26]: What you need, man? What you need straps for your helmet? I got those straps, man. What you need? 

Mike Bonelli [16:28 - 17:14]: I would win this award. I come, I have my mike's on time and prepared, but I can't. Do you still win the award? Do you still win the. I got off, I got all these. So do you still. Do you still win the award? If it's always your kid that needs the stuff. But, but, you know, helmets, that would be anybody. Extra tape, laces, stick. You know, a blister repair kit. You know, anything. Ear, earpieces for the helmets. When the kids take them out and they lose them, you know, all the straps and all the chin guards and extra mouth guards and like anything I black, you know, so you go. You. When you were with me, if you go to a rink, you are, you are, you are, you are pure hockey. You don't need to go to a pure hockey. 

Lee MJ Elias [17:14 - 17:15]: We might, we might. 

Christie Casciano [17:15 - 17:16]: Mike is pure hockey. 

Lee MJ Elias [17:16 - 17:20]: We might have to rename this show like the Mike Benelli Memorial Award or something. 

Mike Bonelli [17:20 - 17:35]: Let me tell you something right now. I'll tell you right now. You go, you go with. Back in the day, it was like I'd have the skate sharpener with me. And every now, now we get smarter. Now, I, I, you know, I convince these, these parents to make sure the kids have multiple sets of steel and then they never have to worry about having, like. 

Lee MJ Elias [17:35 - 17:38]: You're an enabler. You're a massive enabler. 

Mike Bonelli [17:39 - 17:47]: Well, I will say, I will say it depends on who the kid is, but sometimes, you know, you just can't find the extra shin guard. You're like, okay, no, can't play. Sorry. 

Lee MJ Elias [17:47 - 17:50]: Put some, put some socks in there. Look, I do love to you. 

Mike Bonelli [17:50 - 18:10]: Oh, if you don't have extra pair of socks and a blood jersey, you gotta have blood jersey. Blood jersey, extra pair of socks. You got to have an extra set of Breezers covers. You have to make sure you do. Christy, you have to have an extra set of gloves, usually a size like 13 inch. Gloves usually fit anything from a, from a mite to a, a midget. You're in good shape. You got to have this stuff. 

Christie Casciano [18:10 - 18:21]: Wow. See, I would have loved you on her team because I was that parrot that usually needed something, whether it be an extra glove. Sophia forgets her, her socks. 

Mike Bonelli [18:21 - 18:23]: You know, hold on, Christy. 

Lee MJ Elias [18:23 - 19:17]: I got, I got another offshoot of this one too. Yeah, I called this one the shop award. This is usually awarded to a parent in might or squirt. I think as you get older, it doesn't happen. But I wrote down you've replaced every piece of gear that your kid forgot this season and got a brand new set of gear. So at some point they forgot literally one piece of equipment every game. Yeah, you, you've done it. You got new skates, new shins, new pants, new elbows, new chest protector, new helmet because your kid forgot them. I hope you punish them and make sure that they understand or at least change the allowance to make sure they pay it back. But I know, I know a lot of kids who have reset a lot of gear in one season just by forgetting stuff. I'm a believer is you forget it, you either don't play or you better find a replacement because I'm not buying it for you. Right, right, it is. But there are the parents that go, oh, you forgot your skates, let's go buy a new pair. 

Mike Bonelli [19:18 - 19:25]: And there's a difference, there's a difference between forgetting a piece of a bunch. There's a, there's a difference between forgetting a piece of equipment and having something break in. 

Lee MJ Elias [19:26 - 19:27]: Big, big difference. Yeah. 

Mike Bonelli [19:27 - 19:50]: So if, you know, if a chin strap breaks, you want to be able to repair if, if now, and I guess I can debate back and forth, if your laces break, I'll be like, well, you knew your laces afraid. Like, why'd you let that happen? Like you should have. Like, again, if you're a mite in your laces break, it's a lot different than if you're a, a 15 year old, your laces break. Like, it's just a matter of, okay, you knew that, you knew this was going to break. You were just hoping it was gonna last you just enough time for it to break at practice. 

Lee MJ Elias [19:50 - 20:08]: I, I will tell a very quick story here. I will not say any names. I, There's A player that I know that is extremely close to me. That's the only hint I'm gonna give. And we had told this player, do not flex your stick like that before the game. They lean into it, and we're at the rink, and I hear a snap. 

Mike Bonelli [20:08 - 20:09]: Oh, yeah. 

Lee MJ Elias [20:09 - 20:19]: Yes. And this player is looking at my eyes with the shaft and the other side of the stick in both hands, like, what do I do? And he goes, you know, the pro shop. I said, guess what? We're not going to pro shop. 

Christie Casciano [20:20 - 20:20]: Yeah. 

Lee MJ Elias [20:20 - 20:28]: You will figure it out. And. And the kid's young enough. There's not a lot of backup sticks. So he and another one of his teammates traded sticks off every shift. 

Christie Casciano [20:28 - 20:29]: Wow. 

Lee MJ Elias [20:29 - 20:53]: And I will say, too, that this player, if you guys figure out who it is, has been working very hard at this this year to be better at it. But there was a lesson learned that day of, like, no, I'm not just gonna go buy a new 200 stick because you were a schmuck and decided to check a flex out, which everyone's telling you not to do, and you learned your lesson. And that, you know, he did earn a new stick later on. Not. Not that day, obviously. We made it work. 

Christie Casciano [20:54 - 20:55]: He'll probably never do that again. 

Lee MJ Elias [20:55 - 20:56]: Never again. 

Mike Bonelli [20:56 - 20:56]: Yeah. 

Lee MJ Elias [20:56 - 21:00]: Or he will, and he'll learn. Well, we'll do the same thing. Yeah. 

Christie Casciano [21:00 - 21:42]: All right, we've got another award. This one is called the Hockey Math Award. You know exactly what time you need to get the kids up. Do the hockey bag equipment check, leave the house on time, fill up the tank, stop for coffee and breakfast sandwiches, add some cushion to the drive weather, traffic delays, wrong turns, finding a good parking space to arrive at the rig, a little more than an hour, which is game time. It goes something like this. Game starts at noon, minus one hour to arrive at 11, minus an hour drive time, minus 15 minutes for traffic delays, minus 15 for the gas, minus 15 for the coffee. Stop equals 9. 9:15am departure time to be safe. 

Lee MJ Elias [21:43 - 21:45]: Like calculus, Christy. You know, it's funny. 

Christie Casciano [21:45 - 21:47]: Is that a calculus? 

Lee MJ Elias [21:47 - 21:55]: I think I'm a candidate for this one. But this is what's funny about it with me, is that I do math a very weird way. And my friends are laughing right now that know me. But. 

Christie Casciano [21:55 - 21:56]: Let's hear it. 

Lee MJ Elias [21:56 - 22:17]: But. But. And I can't. They just call it. They call it Lee Math because I don't use actual math. I just am able to come to a correct answer using these really weird, like, scenarios in my head. But it depends on the situation. I'll Give you one. All right, so. So here's the thing. I never, I never, I rarely, rarely ever arrive late. Okay? So the way it goes is this, is that like. Let's just say we need to be there an hour before the game. 

Mike Bonelli [22:17 - 22:18]: Okay. 

Lee MJ Elias [22:18 - 22:34]: My calculus is, what is the. The latest minute I can leave in the shortest amount of time to get there at the time I want to be there. Right? So a rational person would just say, well, I'll leave early and we won't have that problem. I don't do that. I go. If I leave at 9:52. 

Christie Casciano [22:34 - 22:34]: Right. 

Lee MJ Elias [22:34 - 22:37]: GPS says this will take 37 minutes. 

Christie Casciano [22:37 - 22:37]: Okay. 

Lee MJ Elias [22:37 - 23:27]: And then if I want to get a coffee, that's another 15 minutes I gotta add on. If I don't do the coffee at the house, I do the coffee at the house. That reduces that down to five minutes. And then do I need the travel mug? Where's my kid at? Did we put the bag in the night before? Because I don't want to deal with the extra 4 minutes, 35 seconds it's going to take him to figure out that he doesn't have something in his bag. And that could be extended to 15 to 16 minutes, depending on what that piece of equipment is. I don't know where your inhaler is. That's your responsibility. That's another 35 minutes if he doesn't know where it is. So we're just going to pack everything the night before and we're going to leave at 9:32. I'm going to make the coffee at the house. We'll arrive at the rink exactly on time, if not a few minutes early, and everybody wins. That's what my brain sounds like now. Again, normal person would just be. Yeah, we'll wake up an hour early. We'll do everything then. It'll be great. That's like my wife. She's a great at that. Not me. No. I want to leave at the last minute. I could possibly leave to get there at the time I want to get there. 

Christie Casciano [23:28 - 23:30]: All right, you win the award. 

Lee MJ Elias [23:30 - 23:32]: Yeah, yeah, I win the award. 

Mike Bonelli [23:34 - 24:11]: So right here, this is my. You can't see it. This is, this is me. This is just a day. All right. 9:30. 9:30 up. And this is the broadcast to the. My son and the kids were driving. 9:30 up for breakfast. 10:00am leave rink after pickup. 10:15am arrive at rink for trip. 1:00pm arrive at game in. I'll say where the rink is. 3:00pm depart from game. 6:10pm drop off. 8:10pm Drop off at home. 

Lee MJ Elias [24:11 - 24:14]: You're an enabler, Mike. No, I'm just kidding. That's a good. 

Mike Bonelli [24:14 - 24:20]: I have to get somewhere because I need to know that they know where I'm going. I do this, why I'm going there. 

Christie Casciano [24:20 - 24:22]: So you text this to them? 

Mike Bonelli [24:22 - 24:26]: Everybody goes to the three goes to my little text chat. 

Lee MJ Elias [24:26 - 24:27]: Yeah. 

Mike Bonelli [24:27 - 24:57]: And it could be different kids each week, depending on who we're picking up and driving and who's going. Could be just. Just one kid. My son. Okay. I'm like, here's what you're getting, because we don't talk. Like I kind of have a conversation. So it's like I have to text it to him and say this or Snapchat it to them or whatever I've got to do. Here is your schedule for tomorrow. And then, Lee, to your point, it's okay. Now, as part of all of that, the bag being packed, the lunch being set up, the clothes being laid out, the suit being prepared, the sticks being pre taped. 

Lee MJ Elias [24:57 - 24:58]: Yeah. 

Mike Bonelli [25:00 - 25:05]: The blades being sharpened, all that stuff's in the other list. But, I mean, that's the checklist. Right. 

Lee MJ Elias [25:05 - 25:34]: Well, Mike, I will say this. When I'm a coach, especially a head coach, I'm very particular about times with my teams, and I do hold them accountable to. I'm gonna. I'm gonna baby feed you the schedule. And I don't mind doing that because I think it does help a lot of people. But when it's in my house, it's a calmed chaos in my mind. Now, listen, you think you want this? You think you won the award? You left no time for coffee. Now, I'm not giving this award to someone who doesn't leave time for coffee. That's just ridiculous. 

Mike Bonelli [25:34 - 25:42]: I got. I got the Dunkin Donut app. I just. I do. I do. You know, and it's free, you know, because I already have money on the app. So when I get my coffee at Dunkin, don't. It's basically free. 

Lee MJ Elias [25:42 - 25:46]: America runs on Duncan. And Duncan, if you want to support this podcast, you can become our primary. 

Mike Bonelli [25:46 - 25:47]: I mean, how you not. 

Lee MJ Elias [25:48 - 25:50]: Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's what. People listen to this in their card. 

Mike Bonelli [25:50 - 25:56]: Okay, so I'll. I'll take a runner up to Lee because I think he. He. He allows a lot more work from his own. 

Lee MJ Elias [25:56 - 26:02]: No, I'm. I'm a schmuck with this. I'm not. I don't like the way I do it. I should just get up early and be smart about it, like you are. So listen. 

Mike Bonelli [26:02 - 26:06]: Well, I like it only because at the end and again, this is all for me. It has nothing to do with the kids. 

Lee MJ Elias [26:06 - 26:10]: I don't want to ruin your undefeated streak on this episode. Mike, you can have this one too. 

Mike Bonelli [26:10 - 26:22]: This is me. This is me. This calms me down. Like. Yeah, because. Because most of the time we don meet any of these goals, it's me screaming and yelling that. Do you. Did anybody not read the agenda? Read the agenda. 

Lee MJ Elias [26:22 - 26:24]: I put together an itinerary. 

Mike Bonelli [26:24 - 26:32]: What the hell am I doing? So, yes, so, no, but I. But I do win it in my own mind. 

Christie Casciano [26:32 - 26:34]: Mike, you are sweeping the awards. 

Lee MJ Elias [26:35 - 26:36]: The Mike Penelli Awards. 

Mike Bonelli [26:36 - 26:37]: Thank you. 

Christie Casciano [26:37 - 26:41]: It's like, stay up here at the podium because you look, you're winning everything. 

Mike Bonelli [26:41 - 26:43]: I'm just gonna wait right here to the right. 

Lee MJ Elias [26:44 - 26:49]: We won't pull you off stage. The music's playing, Mike. Go ahead, Christy, what's next? 

Mike Bonelli [26:49 - 26:50]: My next award. 

Lee MJ Elias [26:50 - 26:52]: What's Mike's next award? 

Christie Casciano [26:52 - 27:12]: All right, so your next award, we've got the. The Yelp reviewer award. This is one that Lee came up with. So you always know the best restaurant. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, or highway snacks, no matter what town or what state you're in. Nothing less than five star eating for your team. 

Lee MJ Elias [27:12 - 27:43]: And smart food too, right? Like. Like there's nothing worse. Like I said, there's an antithesis to this award of like a pizza. There's a pizza place nearby. We got a game in about three hours. Like, what are you doing, man? Yeah, what are you doing? Like, go find the place that has the right food for the pre game. Yeah, I think this is an important one because I'll tell you what, even when you don't have a game, I want to go to a nice. You know, assuming we can do it, I want to go to a nice place where at least we can chat as a team. Like, sometimes people go and there's just loud music and the TVs are blaring. It's not really what I want. After coaching your kid. 

Christie Casciano [27:43 - 27:43]: Right. 

Mike Bonelli [27:43 - 27:44]: Yeah. 

Lee MJ Elias [27:44 - 28:08]: You know, I like to go to a nice place. We could sit down, maybe have a beverage. But yeah, you got to know those. The area of where you're at and. And look again. Pre MapQuest, man. Good luck. Pre Google Maps. Good luck. You're gonna end up probably at a fast food joint that you just know. But yeah, thank God for Google Maps, where it's like restaurants, five stars. What's nearby? What kind of food do you want? It's a pretty. Pretty good time to be alive when you think about that. 

Mike Bonelli [28:08 - 28:11]: Yeah, yeah, yeah. 

Lee MJ Elias [28:11 - 28:13]: MapQuest is dating us we're stopping. 

Mike Bonelli [28:13 - 28:50]: I don't win this award. But I think if, if it's. I concede, but I think. No, but. Well, okay, so going back to what Lee was saying earlier. If I'm coaching and directing a program and a team, then I win this award because that's mapped out knowing that, you know, like for instance, I will 100 get a catered or an in house dinner at a hotel banquet room or an extra room in a hotel over a restaurant any day of the week. It enables the parents to be the. With the parents. They could drink if they want, but it just puts, I don't know, bars and, and Doug and Busters and, and all these other places. 

Lee MJ Elias [28:51 - 28:52]: I mean, Dave and Busters. 

Mike Bonelli [28:52 - 28:53]: Oh, Dave and Busters. 

Lee MJ Elias [28:53 - 28:55]: Doug and Busters. 

Mike Bonelli [28:56 - 28:58]: Whatever it is, I gotta call it out when I see it. 

Lee MJ Elias [28:58 - 29:08]: Mike, you're making a, you're making a, a plea here to win this award. You said you could see it, then you went. You would. I cater. I go beyond restaurants. Who needs help? And I can cater because. 

Mike Bonelli [29:08 - 29:38]: What? Well, just because this restaurants can't. I mean, it's a nightmare sometimes. Like you have. It's like sometimes. And if you don't prepare for the kind of stuff, like sometimes you go. And the parents like, hey, let's go order by number of the kid. Okay, great, let's. Or, or somebody said, hey, why don't we just split the bill? The splitting the bill piece is like, to me, who, who? You know, it all depends. I mean, I'm looking at this guy, he's got five gin and tonics down already, and he wants us to split the bill. And I'm drinking steak and I'm going, yeah, you're getting a tomahawk steak in the Lobster Troubadour. And I, I just got a salad and you want me. And everybody's paying 80 bucks. 

Lee MJ Elias [29:38 - 29:56]: So here again, Mike, my favorite, my favorite moment to watch sometimes is the parent. And I see this all the times, like, yeah, do you have room for a party of 27? You don't. You do not have room for 27 people. Okay, thank you. Thank you very much. I see that call every season and it's like, that's, that's a tough sell for a lot of places. 

Christie Casciano [29:56 - 29:59]: It is a tough sell. Yeah, yeah. 

Lee MJ Elias [29:59 - 30:03]: No, the kids will be fine. We have 12 children that will scream in your restaurant. It'll be great though. 

Mike Bonelli [30:03 - 30:13]: But 100, if you're a manager on a team, you're going to win this award. If you are the person who says, hey, Next weekend we're here. I. I found this place, this place and this place. 

Christie Casciano [30:13 - 30:14]: Yeah. 

Mike Bonelli [30:14 - 30:25]: And then make a decision. Don't say, don't put it in the group chat. Hey, what would you all like to do? Don't do that. Don't do that. Just say, here's what we're doing. We hate that. Then don't come. Yeah, you're out. 

Lee MJ Elias [30:25 - 30:25]: Right? 

Christie Casciano [30:25 - 31:04]: I. I totally agree. We got into trouble one year where there was one parent who. She was the hockey mom of the team. So she was the organizer and would always put out these informal surveys. Hey, do you want to do, you know, go play laser tag or would you rather go to the museum or do you want to go to the zoo or do you want to go to the ice pond? You know, and everybody had different opinions and no one would agree. So I like the idea of just take charge. Here's what we're going to do. We're going to go play laser tag between the tournament. I've already made the reservations. You want to go, go. 

Mike Bonelli [31:04 - 31:12]: If you don't go, you're going to get critiqued anyway. So just, just make the decision, take it off the parents hands and then done with it. 

Lee MJ Elias [31:12 - 31:14]: People don't want people. 

Christie Casciano [31:14 - 31:20]: Great advice. Going forward next season, just make the decision. And those who aren't board great. 

Mike Bonelli [31:20 - 31:26]: If not, what's the saying? It's better to ask for forgiveness and permission. Just do it. Just do it. 

Christie Casciano [31:26 - 31:30]: Yeah. Yeah. Well, that's it. That wraps up our award season. 

Lee MJ Elias [31:30 - 31:31]: Oh, you got, I got, I got. 

Christie Casciano [31:31 - 31:32]: Congratulations. 

Lee MJ Elias [31:32 - 31:32]: One more to give out. 

Christie Casciano [31:33 - 31:34]: Mike Pelli. 

Mike Bonelli [31:34 - 31:39]: Thank you. Thank you. I'll expect one more to get out. Is that a gift certificate to Doug and Buster? 

Lee MJ Elias [31:39 - 31:56]: I got, I got one more. Let's see. If you win this one, Mike, you actually might be. You win a year's supply, you might be the. This one I've made up. Mike might actually be the. The poster child of this one. But I made one more for a coach, okay. That successfully played everyone on the bench all season long. 

Christie Casciano [31:56 - 31:58]: Ah, that's a good one. 

Lee MJ Elias [31:58 - 32:32]: Right? And I think this one, this one, we want this one to be given out as much as humanly possible. Yeah. Because Mike has said this on the show so many years now. If I pick you for my team, it's because I want to play you. Now, not all ice time is equal, especially when there's two minutes left in the game and it's a big game. But if you've been effectively playing almost all your players every game, you deserve an award for that. Because the temptation to not put kids out there is there all the time. But if you, if you're doing it, it means you care about development. I'd like to proudly award this to my friend Michael Benelli. 

Mike Bonelli [32:32 - 33:40]: Thank you. I'll accept the award. I will accept the award because I do do that. And I, and I, and I think there is no big games. 14 and under, there are no big games. So if there's two minutes left in the game, there's no big game. There isn't. I, I, you can make whatever argument you want, blah, blah, blah. Play your team. Your team. If the next group is up and you're looking at the kid like, can you handle this? And the kid's not cowering in the corner like, please don't put me out there. This is the worst experience I'm ever gonna have, my life. Then don't put them out there like you want you, you know, your team. But if the kid wants to be out there and you just know they're not good enough, you're like, well, you're up, buddy. Let's go. And then you hopefully, hopefully you've built something with the team that understands that it's important for that player to be on the ice. Now at 17 and 18, listen, I get it. There's. And this is when we go back to all of our episodes, there are roles, kids aren't all equal. There are players that are specialists in certain times in the game. And then you do that. But at the end of it, if you're, if you're playing, if you're playing with a team of 10 year olds and it's a minute left in the game, you're putting your kid out in the ice. It's. That hasn't been on the ice for the last two shifts. 

Lee MJ Elias [33:41 - 33:43]: I'll say this too, and hide that too. 

Mike Bonelli [33:43 - 33:45]: Put your best two defensemen out there with them. I don't know. 

Lee MJ Elias [33:45 - 33:59]: It's so important no matter where you are in this one, that every player understands their role and that they have a role. And Mike, that role could be, you're the best player on the bench. You're not the best player on the bench. You have a role to support your teammates in that situation. 

Mike Bonelli [33:59 - 33:59]: Yeah. 

Lee MJ Elias [34:00 - 34:38]: And I think that that's an important one too. You know, when, when I'm with a team and we get into those situations at any age. Right. I think it's important for the players on the bench to not sulk and say, well, why am I not out there and have the attitude of we need to come together here. And it. Players listening and parents listening and coaches listening. It does make a difference when you're on the ice and you can hear your teammates pushing for you. All right. It doesn't guarantee anything, but it. It's a lot better than thinking, oh, this. This kid's upset because he's not on the ice or she's not on the ice. You know, you have a responsibility to your team as an athlete. That's part of the learning process, too, right? 

Mike Bonelli [34:38 - 34:54]: Yeah. And it's really cool when you're. When you're on the bench and your coach is up there saying, hey, you're next up and let's go. Let's be positive on it. And you know that everyone on the bench is with you. Like, they might not all agree, like, oh, my God. Because if you're really a competitor, like, you want to be on the ice. 

Christie Casciano [34:54 - 34:55]: Sure. 

Mike Bonelli [34:55 - 35:06]: Like, you want to be out there. Like, so sometimes. And I think this is where us as coaches, not to get off on a tangent, but, like, we get a little. Like, we get a little clouded because some kids just don't really want to be out there. 

Lee MJ Elias [35:06 - 35:06]: That's true. 

Mike Bonelli [35:06 - 35:41]: Like, it's not as. They're not as hungry for that opportunity. So you have to know your kids. Like. Like, if, you know you're not going to put a kid out there and he's not really that hungry anyway for it, you're like, okay, well, then it doesn't really matter to that person. Then it's. Then it. But it really matters to this kid. Like, this kid's going to be devastated if they don't get a chance to. To win a game or shut a game down or be on the ice in the big moment. It's all just. That's all managing your team. But there. There's. There should be. You know, I don't even know if it's an award so much, Lee, as the expectation that if you're on a team, you play well. 

Lee MJ Elias [35:43 - 35:49]: I'm dangling the award. Look, here's a. Here's a Rocky Balboa statue that we can use as kind of an Oscar. 

Mike Bonelli [35:49 - 35:49]: Yes. 

Lee MJ Elias [35:49 - 36:00]: You did it. You played every. My brother got me this for my birthday. God bless. I love that the last award is the. The podcast award, and it goes to parents who share their favorite podcast episodes. 

Mike Bonelli [36:00 - 36:01]: Yeah, right. 

Lee MJ Elias [36:01 - 37:43]: Particularly from our kids play hockey now. You know, I actually appreciate that everybody appreciates. I do appreciate when there's a parent or even more so when there's a coach that shares educational or really great Conversations with their team of. Hey, I listened to this great. I mean, obviously it sounds weird with me saying this on a podcast, but I love them. Hey, I heard this great episode with Wayne Gretzky that you should listen to. I had a parent do that this year. Like, they sent me this episode of a podcast with Wayne Gretzky. I'd never heard. It was a great show. I appreciate that kind of stuff. And it's like, if you don't want to listen, just don't listen, Right? But I think we should do more of that in the chat, especially with shows like Our Kids Play Hockey. If you have a favorite episode of this show, you can win the podcast award by sharing it with your friends, wherever your team snaps are or wherever you guys communicate. Obviously, I'm half joking, but we do want to say a big shout out to the audience. You always win our award as these hosts. The communication, the conversation, the humor, the thank yous, the emails, the texts, everything that we get from you. And this audience continues to grow and grow and grow, thus showing that you're not crazy. The hockey world is crazy, right? And we, I, I just so proud that the three of us and all the listeners that I feel like that the. We'll call it the Sane Hockey Parent has a voice here. Right? And we're trying to share that more and more because the hockey world's a wonderful place to have life lessons and learn and for Mike to make, you know, itineraries for his team and. And things like that. So, Christy, these were great. I'm glad we shared them. I'm saying one more time, March issue, USA Hockey, they're going to be in print. If you're a USA Hockey person, obviously you can read that if you're in Canada, we'll send them up to you. Just let us know if you want them. 

Mike Bonelli [37:43 - 37:48]: Digital. The digital version of USA Hockey. I read Christie's column all the time. Digitally. 

Lee MJ Elias [37:48 - 37:52]: USA Hockey is not just for the usa. It can be in Canada, too. All right, we're happy to share that. 

Christie Casciano [37:52 - 38:12]: At your own awards. We'd love to hear from you, too. But for all parents, for all the miles that you put on your suv, for all that vending machine coffee you drank, for all the weekends that you gave up for the past five months, pat yourself on the back, take a bow, take a moment to reflect and feel good about what you just did at the end of the season. 

Lee MJ Elias [38:13 - 38:16]: Yeah, really bless you all for what we did. 

Mike Bonelli [38:16 - 39:28]: And if you're. If you're in this mode right now, you're listening to this episode and you don't have awards laid out for the end of the season. Literally do this like you don't need. You could just. It could be a certificate. I'll tell you right now, like think about, think about if you're a parent, if you're a manager or coach, if you could give an award out to every single family, somehow make them up. This is a made up award. You get your MVPs, you got your MO. You know, you got your player of the game, you got your defensive player, you got your offensive player. Give out these. Even if these are kids, every kid leaves with like a certificate. Doesn't have to be a medal, but if you get a little certificate or, or you find a great hockey book somehow like that's on hockey, like, and give the award out that way you can you. There's so many cool things you can do at the end of the year to everybody leaves with some kind of recognition. And I'll tell you, it could be as stupid as the person who did the clock the most this year because I see like I, I know the email goes out. I see it. And that's the only reason I coach, by the way, so I don't have to do the clock. But I think I see that email. Next weekend we have four home games. Can anybody do the clock? And you just like the cricket. 

Lee MJ Elias [39:29 - 39:30]: I'll do it. No. 

Mike Bonelli [39:30 - 39:35]: And I'm like, I'm not doing the clock. I don't know what the hell's going on over there. It's hard. And our team takes too many penalties. I would never. 

Lee MJ Elias [39:35 - 39:43]: It's easy. It's easy. You just start and stop. You just start and stop. You won't be able to watch the game at all, but it's easy. 

Christie Casciano [39:43 - 39:46]: I love when the parents yell out this dance Claire music. 

Mike Bonelli [39:47 - 39:52]: Yeah, get the guy. It's like a 12 year old girl sitting there like, okay, I got it, I got it. I'm trying to start the clock. 

Lee MJ Elias [39:53 - 40:22]: Well, this has been a phenomenal episode. You guys had fun listening to it. Remember, you obviously share this or let us know what we forgot if there's any awards we didn't didn't get to today. Comment below wherever you're watching this or let us know. Remember, there's a text link accompanying the episode in the description. You click on that, it texts right to us. Or you can old school email us. I love saying old school with that team. At our kids by hockey.com we don't take snail mail at this time. So I apologize to all of you with that. But great episode, guys. This was fun. 

Christie Casciano [40:22 - 40:23]: Good stuff. Good stuff. 

Lee MJ Elias [40:23 - 40:29]: All right. We'll see you on the next. Yeah. The Mike Benelli annual Awards. 

Mike Bonelli [40:29 - 40:31]: I'm working on next year's awards right now. 

Lee MJ Elias [40:31 - 40:32]: Right. 

Mike Bonelli [40:32 - 40:34]: I'm working on running the table next year. 

Lee MJ Elias [40:34 - 41:10]: You already did. It's every year. There's only one candidate for all these awards every year. It's just. All right, gang, that's gonna do it for this episode. We'll see you on the next Our Kids Playhouse. Hockey. Have a great one. We hope you enjoyed this edition of Our Kids Play Hockey. Make sure to like and subscribe right now if you found value wherever you're listening, whether it's a podcast network, a social media network, or our website, Our Kids Play Hockey dot com. Also, make sure to check out our children's book, When Hockey Stops at When Hockey Stops dot com. It's a book that helps children deal with adversity in the game and in life. We're very proud of it. But thanks so much for listening to this edition of Our Kids Play Hockey and we'll see you on the next episode.