How do you decide what kind of coach is the right fit for your kid? Mike and Lee breakdown some of the best qualities to look for when joining a new hockey program. Do you need a Level-5 USA Hockey instructor or is a parent volunteer coach the way to…
How would you summarize the 2023 youth hockey season? As this season comes to a close, we talk about moving up (or graduating - CONGRATS Sophia and Christie!!!), thoughts on coaching styles, adversities conquered, coaches gifts, and where our kids are headed next. Be sure to join our Facebook group…
Are you on the path to college hockey? Topher Scott and Jeff LoVecchio of The Hockey Think Tank podcast talk with us this week about what you can do to set yourself up for success when working towards college hockey. Both Topher and Jeff are former NCAA athletes. Jeff played…
Is your kid(s) moving to the next age level this coming season? The gang dives right into how to prepare for that on this week’s episode of Our Kids Play Hockey. -- Hockey friends and families, we need your help! We have been honored with a nomination for the 2023…
Listen to this episode if you want to unlock some incredible insight into what goes on between the pipes. 🥅 Paul Cohen joins us this week to discuss the physical and mental edge that goaltenders need in order to compete in the crease. He gives valuable insight to the position…
Should we be taking a break this spring? It’s a question that’s on the minds of a lot of hockey families right now. Ask yourself - Do YOU want a break? Does your kid want a break? Its okay to take time away from the ice if your answer is…
Coaches are only as great as the standards they keep for themselves and their teams. Aaron Wilbur’s work as the founder of The Coaches Site is no exception. In addition to educating hockey coaches on the tactics of the game, Aaron and his team also help prepare coaches to impact…
The echoes of a hockey game played 43 years ago today still reverberate. There’s a reason the U.S.A. defeating the USSR in 1980 was selected as the most significant sports moment of the 20th century. It lifted a team, a town and a nation - events like that are in…
Youth hockey is stressful on us as parents and coaches, imagine how it must feel for the kids! 😳 Scott Kelsey is a former pro and shared with us how his journey in the game taught him how to approach Youth Hockey as: 🧭 A Journey 📈 A Process 📍…
Tryout & evaluation season is upon us! 🥸 It’s a weird time. 😳 It’s a stressful time. 🙃 It’s an important time. 🏒 (Trust us, we know) The gang shares as many tips and tricks on how to navigate this time of year as calmly as possible in this week’s…
NHL veteran goaltender Clint Malarchuk’s life and story are a testament to the importance of mental health in the sport of hockey and beyond. He is a suicide survivor, someone who has experienced trauma from childhood on, and now dedicates his life to impacting others through speaking regularly on the…
It’s not how many times they get knocked down, but how many times you’re there to coach them back up that matters. Adversity happens to all of us, but how do you help your young athletes overcome it? Lee and Mike drop valuable coaching insight this week to help you…
How do you manage to make child #1’s home game at noon, and child #2’s game across town at 1:15pm?? Parents of multiple kids: you’re in good company! All three of our hosts have, or have had, multiple kids playing hockey at the same time and focus this week on…
How do you continue to inspire your young athlete when the game is no longer fun? We recently received an email from a parent who says that their child is struggling to find the fun in playing now that they’re at the elite level - of course we had to…
This week we’ve decided to have do our very first crossover episode featuring a parent (and a podcast host) that has braved the elements of another youth sport. We thought it would be a great show idea to compare and contrast our crazy sport lifestyle - to see if ours…
FIT CHECK! Are you certain your goalie’s gear fits properly? How about their training, does that fit them well too? On this month’s edition of Our Kids Play Goalie, we brought in goalie gear and coaching expert Brad Johnson to discuss how to find the right fit for your tendy!…
What better time than the start of the year to work on building new habits?? Christie was inspired this week by her hockey community to discuss some of the best habits you may want to start incorporating into your routines. Have another tip that you think would be valuable for…
We’ve officially reached the end of 2022 and so this week we’re wrapping up the past year of Our Kids Play Hockey! Tune in to hear a recap of the Top-5 episodes with guests, Top-5 without guests, and some exciting stats that came this year as a result of our…
Ever wonder what goes into Youth Hockey Journalism? This week the OKPH Line was joined by Sydney Wolf from The Rink Live. She uses her extensive hockey knowledge to cover all levels of hockey for the website and its associated social media, but truly enjoys reporting on youth as well…
Is mental fitness something you take into account when considering your child's hockey career? Tom Chorske returns for a discussion on mental health and ways that we can better serve our young athletes as parents and coaches. This episode is a longer one, so make sure you're ready to listen…
What's your Hockey IQ? Greg Revak's mission is to make the game of hockey better. He does this by coaching on the ice and off, specifically via his podcast The Hockey IQ and articles on his site TheHockeyArsenal.com. Greg joined the Our Kids Play Hockey audience this week to discuss…
Coaches: If You Have A Goalie On Your Team - You're A Goalie Coach, So Listen Up!! Laura Brennan joined the team to discuss goalie development and why its so vital that you research and use resources available in training your tendies. Laura, who now serves as a USA Hockey…
In part two of our most recent conversation with Coach Pete Whitney, he shares with us what it's like to build a (college) team from the ground up, and some things that coaches in young programs should look for when recruiting to ensure a great culture. If you enjoyed this…
Coach Pete Whitney returns to the panel to answer some mailbag questions on the path to NCAA hockey. We discuss players need for passion in the game, essential habits your athlete should foster that will help them on their path to college, and not limiting your kids to the ice.…