Show Notes: In this engaging episode of “Our Kids Play Hockey,” hosts Lee Elias and Mike Bonelli welcome Luke Croucher, a Division III hockey player from Neumann University with a passion for motivating, inspiring, and educating young hockey players. Luke shares his unique hockey journey from Ancaster, Ontario, to college…
Welcome back to another exciting edition of “The Ride To The Rink!” Today, host Lee Elias dives into a significant change coming to youth hockey players: the mandatory use of neck guards starting August 1, 2024. Whether you’re new to neck guards or have been wearing them for years, this…
Welcome back, hockey friends and families! This week on Our Kids Play Hockey, hosts Lee Elias, Christie Casciano Burns, and Mike Bonelli dive into the crucial rule changes coming to USA Hockey for the 2024-25 season. From mandatory neck guards to SafeSport certification for 18U players and updated locker room…
In this inspiring episode of “The Ride to the Rink,” we are joined by, Kim Davis, an extremely high-ranking official at the NHL and a global influencer in the world of hockey. Kim shares a powerful message directly aimed at young hockey players about the importance of courage and leadership…
On this week's episode of “Our Kids Play Hockey,” Lee Elias and Mike Bonelli sit down with Kim Davis, the Senior Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives, and Legislative Affairs for the National Hockey League. Kim Davis is a transformative figure in hockey, working tirelessly to promote inclusivity…
Welcome to a special holiday edition of "Our Kids Play Hockey" with your host, Lee Elias! As we celebrate the 4th of July and reflect on Canada Day, Lee emphasizes the importance of family time during these festive occasions. In this brief but heartfelt episode, Lee reminds us that: -…
In this episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee Elias, Christie Casciano Burns, and Mike Bonelli tackle a critical topic for hockey parents and coaches alike: burnout. Is your young athlete losing their passion for the game? Are they showing signs of exhaustion and lack of enthusiasm? Today, we delve…
In this episode of The Ride to The Rink Mike and Lee dive into the joys and opportunities of summer and spring league hockey. With the summer heat in full swing, it’s time to embrace the fun and freedom these leagues offer, while still focusing on personal growth and development.…
On this episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, hosts Lee Elias, Mike Bonelli, and Christie Casciano Burns are joined by Bob Apter, President of the Northern Illinois Hockey League (NIHL), the largest youth hockey league in the United States. Bob shares his journey from a passionate young player to the…
On this week's episode of The Ride to The Rink, Mike and Lee discuss the critical role of environment in a young hockey player’s development. Drawing from a recent interview with professional goaltending coach Brian Daccord and insights from numerous players, coaches, and parents, Mike and Lee emphasize the significance…
In this week's episode of “Our Kids Play Goalie,” Lee Elias and Mike Bonelli sit down with Brian Daccord, goaltending coach for Boston University. Brian’s illustrious career includes coaching stints with the Boston Bruins, Arizona Coyotes, and Toronto Maple Leafs, as well as winning a German championship in 2015. He…
In this episode of "The Ride to the Rink," hosts Lee Elias, Christie Casciano-Burns, and Mike Bonelli are joined by Jenna Trubiano, head coach of the University of Michigan Women’s ACHA Division I hockey team. Jenna shares invaluable advice for young hockey players and their parents about the importance of…
In this week's episode of "Our Kids Play Hockey," hosts Lee Elias, Christie Casciano-Burns, and Mike Bonelli welcome Jenna Trubiano, head coach of the University of Michigan Women’s ACHA Division I hockey team. Jenna shares her inspiring journey from a late-start youth player to leading one of the most promising…
Hello, hockey skaters and goalies around the world! Welcome back to another edition of The Ride to the Rink. This is Lee Elias with you today, and we have a special guest from the Vegas Golden Knights, Sheri Hudspeth. Sheri is the Director of Development for Youth Hockey and Fan…
In this week’s episode of "Our Kids Play Hockey," Lee, Mike, and Christie are joined by Sheri Hudspeth, Director of Youth Hockey Programs and Fan Development for the Vegas Golden Knights. With an extensive background as both a player and coach, Sheri discusses her journey through the world of hockey…
On this week's episode of "Our Kids Play Hockey" we chat with Dave Caruso, former Ohio State University goaltender and professional player, now the Senior Director of Hockey Programming for the Columbus Blue Jackets. From growing up in non-traditional hockey markets to coaching in the New Jersey Devils organization and…
In this episode of The Ride To The Rink, we're thrilled to have Sean Ellis, Vice President of Hockey Operations for the NHL, join us. Sean works in the NHL’s Situation Room in Toronto, making crucial calls during games that can turn the tide of play. In this episode, Sean…
On this week's episode of "Our Kids Play Hockey," we take you behind the scenes look at NHL operations with our special guest, Sean Ellis, a Vice President of Hockey Operations at the NHL. We dive deep into the mechanics and the thrill of managing the famed NHL Situation Room.…
In this week's episode of "Our Kids Play Hockey," Lee Elias speaks with Rob Baer, the Director of Youth Hockey and Amateur Programs for the Philadelphia Flyers. Rob has dedicated over two decades to the sport, significantly impacting both youth and amateur hockey through various programs and initiatives. Notably, he's…
On this week's Ride To The Rink, Lee takes a detailed look into one of the most crucial aspects of hockey strategy — understanding "time and space." This episode is especially valuable for young players and their parents as we decode what coaches mean when they instruct players to "create…
In this episode of "Our Kids Play Hockey," Lee Elias, Christie Casciano Burns, and Mike Bonelli host Amber Ross, a trailblazer for women's hockey in Minnesota. A former collegiate player and current youth hockey coach, Amber shares her journey from a late start in the sport at age 15 to…
This week's episode of Our Kids Play Hockey tackles a pivotal question straight from the Our Kids Play Hockey community: How can you be a good teammate or supportive parent, especially when you or your child doesn't make the desired team? Lee delves into the importance of maintaining a positive…
In this episode of "Our Kids Play Hockey," Lee takes us on a reflective journey through the 23-24 hockey season, sharing personal anecdotes, triumphs, challenges, and the invaluable lessons learned along the way. From the early skating strides of his daughter, Alina, in her first mite hockey season, to his…
In this week's episode of "Our Kids Play Hockey," hosts Lee Elias and Mike Bonelli dive into the crucial topic of youth athlete health and workload management. The episode features a special guest, Dr. Addison Lerner-Lentz, a seasoned expert in physical therapy and sports coaching. With Christie Casciano-Burns on assignment,…