Our Top-5 Guests Championing Girls in Youth Hockey & How They’re Shaping the Game’s Future

Lee MJ Elias [0:00 - 0:34]: hello, hockey friends and families around the world and welcome to another special edition of our Kids Play Hockey. This is a surprise. Today we got something cool for you. I'm Lee Elias with Mike Benelli and today we are very excited to introduce to you the newest member of our broadcast team, Team USA Olympian PWHL star and the new co host of our Girls Play Hockey. Haley Skamora is with us today. Haley, welcome to the team. Team, team, team. 

Hayley Scamurra [0:35 - 0:40]: Thank you so much. I'm so excited to join you guys and get to connect with the great community you guys have started. 

Lee MJ Elias [0:41 - 1:50]: Thanks so much. Look, we're really excited to have you as well. And again, in addition to those qualifications, my friends, Haley is so involved in the youth game through a mentorship program that she runs with her boyfriend Nick. And she's just so dedicated to the growth of the game. So while her hockey skills are obviously credentials, her as a person is really why we chose her to be here today. And what's really cool about it is your first episode. Haley is. We're continuing our celebration of 400 episodes by diving into the best of our Girls Play Hockey today, the series within our network dedicated to growing the women's game through stories, advice and inspiration. Again, a show for everyone. It's been highly success, successful. And in this episode, we're going to walk through five of the most impactful conversations we've had with the trailblazing guests that we've had across the women's game. From drafting nerves to Olympic redemption to co ed transitions to breaking the mental stigma, these stories have really stuck with us and we think they're going to resonate with you as the audience as well. And again, can't think of a better episode for Helio to start with our crew than the celebration of all the episodes we've done so far. So, Haley, Mike, are you ready to run through these? You're ready for this episode? 

Mike Bonelli [1:51 - 1:51]: All right, let's jump in. 

Lee MJ Elias [1:52 - 2:36]: Mike, I can feel your excitement from here. All right, let's jump into it. The top five episodes of our Girls Play Hockey. And the first one, a name everybody knows, Brianna Decker. And her title of her episode was Olympic Journey and mental toughness. And look, she's an Olympic gold medalist. And she recounts her highs and lows on the road to Team USA in this episode, both from losing in 2014 to winning in 2018. She explains explains how the daily commitment of mental training and treating really every practice like a playoff game helped build her championship mindset. So check out this clip of Brianna talking of why Effort and hockey IQ matter far more than flashy skills. Here it is. 

Brianna Decker [2:37 - 3:29]: That's the number one thing that we tell our kids, like, don't come to this program if you're not going to work hard, because, like, we are going to outwork every opponent that we have. So when we're choosing teams, like, that's number one thing. Like, how hard are they competing? How hard are they working? Two, I really watch for, obviously, how smart kids are, and are they able to make plays out of nothing. You know, things like that. The one thing that I really don't pay attention to, and I know you asked me what I do pay attention to, but the skill stuff, to me, you obviously have to have some skill, but a lot of these kids do. But that's, like, things that they're naturally going to get better at here because of how much they're on the ice and how much opportunities they do have to work on skills. So, like, if a kid's shot's not that great, it's like, I'm not going to not take that kid because I'm like, I'm going to go and tell that kid, hey, you made the team for so many other reasons, but you got to get your shots, got to get better. 

Hayley Scamurra [3:30 - 3:54]: One of the things about Brianna Decker, I mean, she was just an incredible teammate and leader she made. She demanded the best out of everyone and of herself, and I think that's why she was so easy to follow. Like, in practice, like that first battle drill, she was always going hard. Like, you knew you were getting her best every single day, and it made you bring your best every day. So it doesn't surprise me that what she's talking about and that's what she values in players that she's looking at. 

Mike Bonelli [3:55 - 4:58]: Yeah. I mean, one of the things I love the fact that Hal's jumping in on this, on the. On the. On the best of, is because she actually has firsthand knowledge of all of this stuff. Like, it's somebody like, Haley's gonna go, oh, yeah. That's what she was like. Oh, yeah. That's the person that said, you know, she does value the fact that if somebody, you know, didn't have a great shot, that they would take that player anyway because they just outworked everyone on the ice like that. That, you know, hockey IQ passion, you know, feeling like, you know, you could overcome the odds are really right. Haley more important or. Or sometimes really more important than just flat out skill. And I think that was a, you know, that was a great piece of the episode. And I think a great piece of, you know, what she focused on because these are the kind of things, you know, you guys at your level, you know, have to deal with in real life, you know. And so, and so the reason probably I would go back and listen to this episode only because it's out there and it gives you the blueprint to go back and really see what aspiring athletes have to focus on and what they should be thinking about outside of just pure skill. 

Lee MJ Elias [4:58 - 5:51]: You know, Haley, Mike's bringing up a really funny point, but a good one that like, yeah, we can't generally say, oh, yeah, I played with that person, I know that person. But you, they played with you. Actually, some of these people played with you. So that's pretty cool. Next one's another athlete that is on that, that line, Megan Bozak. And she did a great episode on how long should girls play boys hockey. Again, she's a two time Olympian and she really opened up about playing boys hockey through eighth grade and the advantages it gave her in speed and grit. And she walked through the emotional and developmental considerations behind switching to girls hockey and why that should be a player led decision. Right. If there's anything of impact here, and Haley will talk about this too, that there is no direct. This is the age, this is the time, this is when you should do it. It's really different from everyone, for everyone. So before we get to that, look, here's a clip of Megan on why tough conversations with parents can lead to major growth. Check this out. 

Megan Bozek [5:52 - 6:50]: Mom and dad supported me through that all and made sure I was getting into tryouts for that next season to go into the girls game because I was clueless. We were all clueless. We didn't know. We didn't know. And it wasn't as popular as it is now. But having those hard conversations to say, okay, am I going to get better? I was concerned. I was like, will I get better? Will I be able to play next year and make a girls team? It took a lot of effort as well for my parents to do their research on their end to put me in the best environment. You have to have those tough conversations and you have to expect maybe a tough answer back. But know that they are responding with your best interest in mind. Who drives you the rink? They do. Who pays all the, all of your equipment? They do. Who pays all of your fees? They do. So you have to realize that they're trying to help you as well. 

Hayley Scamurra [6:51 - 7:12]: Yeah, I love this. Bose had the Bose bomb is what we called it. Her Slap shot was the hardest shot in women's hockey. It was insane. Like, in practice, we joked, we're like, yep, not stepping in front of that one. And she also was a super physical player. She always battled. She always was hitting people. Maybe got a few too many penalties based on that, but that was just her physicality. That was her game. 

Mike Bonelli [7:13 - 7:56]: Yeah. I mean, if you follow her on social media and her throwing kettle balls around right now, you could see that she's still in that physical. You know, those physical attributes are still there. And, And. And somebody who, you know, back in the day, in the prime, you could. You could imagine somebody you didn't want to get in front of, blocking shots with, you know. But I think. I think also, you know, Haley, from your point of view, too, I mean, her speaking about that transition from, you know, that. I think her. I think I like the one quote, like, you know, we didn't even know this was a thing. Like, we didn't even know girls shouldn't be playing with boys. I was just out there competing. And, you know, can you talk a little bit about that and about how this episode, you know, could impact, you know, some of our listeners about that, that. That time when there is going to be transition? 

Hayley Scamurra [7:57 - 8:35]: Absolutely. I think it's different for every single girl. And especially when we were younger, there was only boys teams to play on. I think nowadays there are more girls teams to play on, which is great. There's more resources. But when you are on that boys team, you really have to be vocal about how you're feeling in that space because it just kind of like there was just like a switch when it happened, because at one point I felt great with the guys and everything was wonderful, and I felt a part of the team. And then at a certain point, I didn't feel part of the team, and I had to communicate that with my parents because otherwise they maybe wouldn't have known. So it's super important to just be vocal and be aware of how you're feeling. 

Mike Bonelli [8:36 - 9:15]: Yeah. So I think. Oh, sorry, go ahead. I'm just saying, I mean, to me, like, that's one of the reasons why you go back and listen to this. Because if you're a parent and you're really unsure about how to navigate this space, like, this is a really good chance to. To navigate with. With in a lot of players. You know, when you get to that level, it's a really huge decision. And one of those decisions, like, you're like, well, that person's not doing it. I don't Know if it's the right decision for me or am I, am I being soft or am I doing something that I shouldn't be doing, you know, because everybody else is playing with the boys. So it's a real, I think Megan really brings a lot to light about the feelings about that and then the realities of why or why you wouldn't, you know, make that transition. 

Lee MJ Elias [9:16 - 10:02]: Yeah. And I'll just say in closing on that one too, Mike, that, that again, it was a great episode no matter where you're at, especially if you're a coach because it gives a perspective. I don't think a lot of, a lot of coaches have, you know, unless you're, you're living it. So moving on, the next one really impactful episode with Kendra Fisher, the title was Breaking the Mental Health Stigma. Kendra Fisher, former Team Canada goalie, got real about leaving the national team due to anxiety and panic disorder. And now she champions mental health awareness in hockey, advocating for emotional fitness as an essential part of player development. So it was a real eye opening episode, but someone who at, at the peak of their playing chose to leave for their own mental mental health. So here's a clip of Kendra on why great players must first be great people. Impactful. Check it out. 

Kendra Fisher [10:03 - 10:12]: At the end of the day, I assure you the superstars in the game, when they are at their best, their mental health is in check. 

Lee MJ Elias [10:12 - 10:12]: Right. 

Kendra Fisher [10:12 - 10:24]: When they are having a bad game, you know, like it's, there's too many, there's too much research, there's too much proof now behind the fact that if you are not both at the top of your game mentally and physically. 

Lee MJ Elias [10:24 - 10:25]: Yeah. 

Kendra Fisher [10:25 - 10:27]: You are not the whole player. You could be. 

Mike Bonelli [10:27 - 10:28]: Right. 

Kendra Fisher [10:28 - 10:51]: So it's not like a, it doesn't have to be like a peace offering. It doesn't have to be a marketing plan. It doesn't have to be like a, hey guys, we, we'll talk about feelings and we'll coach your kid. It can be a, hey, guess what? We recognize that working with your kid on their mental health is just as important as working with your kid on their physical health. And that will make them the best player they can be. 

Lee MJ Elias [10:51 - 11:00]: Right. And again, I love everything we're talking about and one of our monikers is that good people become good players, great people become great players. 

Hayley Scamurra [11:01 - 11:18]: I think this is a really impactful story, super important in the female hockey space, I think to really talk about this. I feel like it's maybe not talked about enough and the mental health stigma that can be around it about maybe it Makes players weak, but I really think it makes them strong if they're being vulnerable about what they're going through. 

Mike Bonelli [11:19 - 11:52]: Right. I think that's the reason I would go back and listen to this. If you're with, you know, as yourself, maybe you're struggling or you're an athlete that says, you know, I really don't know what to do in these situations. It really is one, I mean, for us on these episodes, it's one of the most honest conversations that we've had with an athlete talking about this and must listen for anyone. Coaches, parents, players, you know, that value athlete wellness. So I think it's a really good, really good opportunity to go back and kind of listen to this and really dig into what she had to say and learn from it. Yeah. 

Lee MJ Elias [11:52 - 12:42]: And look, there's a reason it made the top five, right? Was because it was that impactful. Another one that made the top five. Our next one is with Katie Million, who is really the general manager of USA Hockey for Women. We were very fortunate to have her on her. Her episode actually is one of her ride to the rinks about becoming an Olympian. And again, look, she distills the Olympic journey to its core values of joy, character and daily discipline in this episode. But she also explains how athletes should balance fun with focus and develop the off ice habits that set them apart. You know, obviously you need talent to make Team usa. You obviously need talent to be playing professional hockey. But to be selected, something else has to be there. And I think she dives into that here. So here's Katie on why building in fun is critical to sustaining that grind. Check it out. 

Hayley Scamurra [12:44 - 12:44]: Grind. 

Katie Million [12:45 - 13:36]: You guys know what it's like on high level teams and you know, you're, you're working hard and you know, you might be giving up going to your high school prom or friends, you know, parties or, you know, I don't know, summer camp that, you know, wherever. To be part of these camps and to be training all the time and to, to have that elite mindset and working on all the different aspects. It, it is a grind. And you know, how, how we have fun is a. Is. But we do try to make sure we're having activities and having time for them to, you know, just relax and not be on the go and on the grind all the time. 

Lee MJ Elias [13:37 - 13:44]: You know, Haley, I love that clip, but I can't help but listening to it. Katie Million's kind of your boss on Team usa, isn't she? 

Hayley Scamurra [13:44 - 13:58]: Yeah, she is. But you know, I think we definitely instill this, you know, the fun aspect in terms of Team USA and making sure that we're staying serious in our focus and. But also adding in that fun so we're not getting burned out. 

Lee MJ Elias [13:59 - 13:59]: 100. 

Mike Bonelli [14:00 - 14:20]: Yeah. And 101 of those people to listen to. You know, kind of go back on. Go back on the episode. It's a great one to pull up if you want a clear, inspiring summary. What of what it really takes to be the complete athlete, somebody to play at that highest level. I thought that it was really a great episode to hear, you know, all of those. The pieces that go into play to find the best athletes in the US. 

Lee MJ Elias [14:22 - 15:44]: And I'm gonna say it as well. Katie Million is one of the most impactful hockey people in the United States. So you should probably also go to listen to it for that. She's also one of the nicest people I've ever spoken to in my life. She is such a caring tone and personality, and she's someone who has to make extremely hard decisions. I think that's one of the most amazing things about her. All right, this last one I have here, I gotta tell the audience we picked these prior to Haley being picked as our co host because the next episode includes someone named Haley Skamora. On the. The title of the episode was the Road to Pro Hockey. Haley, I'm sure you'll have something to say about this one, but you know, what was great about this one is you really reflected on your journey from Team USA to the pwhl, sharing draft day emotions and the leap from college to pro and just the evolution of women's hockey as a whole. And you really offered a grounded, honest advice for aspiring players, you know, entrusting your path, knowing there is no direct path. Embracing the grind, which we just spoke about with Katie Million and. And also not comparing timelines with everybody else. So a little weird with you here with us today, but here's a clip of Haley on how the pro game raises the bar and why young players better come ready. New player could potentially, you know, move an. A veteran player out if you're not careful. These kids want to make the lineup. 

Hayley Scamurra [15:44 - 16:55]: It's a good point. It's definitely an interesting aspect. I think you kind of see it like on the national team level as well. There's like all these college girls who are coming up who are talented and they want to make that team. And I think. But it's also important to have the veteran presence on your team for that experience factor because I think it is a jump right like this. The pro game is going to be. It's a lot more physical, and we. We all love it, and it's amazing, but it's definitely very different than the college game and very different than the international play. So I think those kind of factor in as well. And I. I love to see the college girls come in and be excited because I think it makes our league stronger and, you know, more fans watching, more visibility. I think it can only help. Yeah, it's fun to listen back to this episode. I think, you know, it's just. It reigns true to every player at any level. It's just to kind of just stay focused on your own journey and not think too far ahead and to just enjoy where you're at in your process and not compare timelines. I just see it all the time with girls that I'm mentoring. They're worried about players next to them and how they're going to do it, fitness testing and things like that. And it's like, just focus on yourself, your journey, and it'll lead you to where you're meant to be. 

Mike Bonelli [16:57 - 18:02]: Yeah. The reason I would think you'd go back now. You don't have to go back to this episode, actually. If you just listen to the next 400 episodes, you'll probably get a lot of what Haley talked about in the future, you know, so we. We can. We can approach a lot of these subjects with her as we move on. But I think, you know, really reminds the listener to respect every stage of the journey. I think, Haley, what you talked about in that episode, too, you know, just about, you know, how players are always trying to take your spot and, you know, the veterans aren't always safe and. But you're always working, you know, but if you can remember that there's a bigger journey, that there's a bigger goal, that there's. There's not. One weekend is not making your whole career, you know, in. In the scheme of things. Right. I think it's really important that that episode will be really impactful for somebody to go back, listen, and then say, okay, well, let's hold Haley to the test here for the next bunch of episodes and really see, you know, how. You know, how she speaks. But I think ultimately it's one of those really cool episodes that kind of sets the table for why, you know, you're sitting in this seat now and being able to, you know, give us an opportunity to inspire all these, you know, next generation of. Of young athletes. 

Lee MJ Elias [18:03 - 18:06]: As I said, she passed the test, Mike. That's why she's here. 

Mike Bonelli [18:06 - 18:10]: Yeah, well, you're always good. You're always being dead. You're always being. 

Lee MJ Elias [18:10 - 18:54]: There's the public opinion. Yeah, there's the public opinion. Well, look, guys, that was actually it. I mean, that was our five best our Girls play hockey episodes. And we really hope that these episodes helped you see what's possible in women's hockey. Whether your. Your daughter just joined for her first learn to play or is really chasing college or pro or USA Hockey or hockey Canada dreams, we want to give a huge thanks and welcome again to Haley's Famura for joining us to not just celebrate these amazing episodes of our girls play hockey, but to celebrate what's coming on our girls Play Hockey. And again, there's going to be a lot of new ones soon that you can, you can watch, you can reflect to with Haley. And we're going to have a lot of fun on this Haley. So I just want to say it again for Mike and I, congratulations. We're so happy to have you here on the show. 

Hayley Scamurra [18:55 - 18:57]: Thanks. I'm super excited to join you guys. 

Lee MJ Elias [18:58 - 19:11]: All right, that's going to do it for this 400th celebration episode for Mike Thor Hailey. I'm Lee Elias. Remember, keep coming back to our kids play hockey. We are just getting started. Have fun. Skate hard. Skate on. We'll see you soon, everybody.