Apple Podcasts 
Spotify 
iHeartRadio 
Amazon Music 
RSS Feed Our Girls Play Hockey: Hayley Scamurra on Leadership, Confidence, and Finding Your People in Hockey
Olympic gold medalist Hayley Scamurra shares advice for girls on teammates, leadership, new teams, confidence, nerves, and thriving in hockey.
Key Takeaways
- Olympic gold medalist and PWHL forward Hayley Scamurra shares expert advice on youth hockey dynamics, leadership, and confidence during Part 2 of the Our Girls Play Hockey Q&A.
- Players learn practical strategies for handling difficult teammates, protecting their energy, and building meaningful connections even in brand-new locker rooms.
- Hayley breaks down what separates great leaders like Hilary Knight and Marie-Philip Poulin from the rest, highlighting the importance of consistency, genuine care, and showing up when no one is watching.
- Young athletes discover how to manage pre-game nerves, separate nervous thoughts from true confidence, and believe in their ability to succeed.
- The episode emphasizes a core message for girls in hockey: you do not need to be best friends with everyone, but you must always be respectful, supportive, and focused on being a great teammate.
🏒 What do you do when you don’t get along with a teammate? How do you make friends on a new team? And what separates a good captain from a truly great leader?
Olympic gold medalist and PWHL forward Hayley Scamurra is back for Part 2 of our Our Girls Play Hockey Q&A, answering real questions from young players about some of the hardest—and most relatable—parts of being an athlete.
From navigating difficult teammates and coaches to joining a new locker room, managing pre-game nerves, and learning what elite leadership actually looks like, Hayley shares lessons built from youth hockey, Team USA, the Olympics, and the professional game.
She also takes us inside what makes leaders like Hilary Knight and Marie-Philip Poulin so impactful—not just because of what they do in big moments, but because of how they show up for teammates when nobody is watching.
🎧 In this episode:
🤝 How to handle teammates you don’t naturally connect with
⚡ Why protecting your energy matters in a team environment
👋 How shy players can make friends on a new hockey team
🏒 Why small locker-room conversations can build big connections
⭐ What Hayley looks for in a great captain and leader
🇺🇸 What Hilary Knight’s intensity brought to Team USA’s gold-medal run
🍁 How Marie-Philip Poulin leads through consistency, sacrifice, and genuine care
🧠 How elite athletes separate nervous thoughts from real confidence
🥇 Why Hayley believed she would make Team USA—and win Olympic gold
🌎 Her favorite memories from competing at the Olympics
🥦 And, in perhaps the most important question of all… does Hayley eat her vegetables?
One of the biggest messages in this episode is simple: you do not have to be best friends with everyone on your team to be a great teammate.
Find your people. Make an effort. Be respectful. Support the players beside you. And remember that the way you respond to difficult situations is one of the few things you can always control.
For every girl navigating a new team, dealing with locker-room dynamics, learning to lead, or wondering whether nerves mean she isn’t ready—this episode is for you.
Keep showing up, keep connecting, and keep believing that you belong in the room.
📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Finding Your People, Leading with Confidence, and Handling Pressure in Hockey
#OurGirlsPlayHockey #HayleyScamurra #GirlsHockey #WomensHockey #YouthHockey #HockeyLeadership #TeamUSA #HilaryKnight #MariePhilipPoulin #PWHL #HockeyConfidence #HockeyTeamwork #OlympicHockey
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is featured on this episode of Our Kids Play Hockey?
Olympic gold medalist, PWHL forward, and Team USA player Hayley Scamurra joins the show for Part 2 of the Our Girls Play Hockey Q&A.
How can young hockey players handle teammates they don't get along with?
Hayley Scamurra advises that you do not have to be best friends with everyone, but you must remain respectful, protect your energy, and continue to support the players beside you.
What makes Hilary Knight and Marie-Philip Poulin great hockey leaders?
They lead through unmatched intensity, daily consistency, personal sacrifice, and by genuinely caring for their teammates both on the ice and behind the scenes.
How do elite athletes manage pre-game nerves and build confidence?
Elite athletes learn to separate standard nervous thoughts from true self-confidence by trusting their preparation and focusing on the things they can control.