Our Kids Play Hockey More Than a Hockey Player – Building Self-Worth and Mental Toughness with Danielle McDonough
How do young athletes build confidence, resilience, and a strong mindset both on and off the ice? This week on Our Kids Play Hockey, we welcome Danielle McDonough, former professional hockey player, mindset coach, and author of The Empowered Athlete.
Danielle shares her incredible journey from playing boys’ hockey in Southern California to earning a full scholarship at Providence College, playing professionally in the NWHL and Switzerland, and ultimately transitioning into mental performance coaching. She discusses the mental challenges young athletes face, including anxiety, pressure, and self-doubt, and provides actionable strategies to help players, parents, and coaches develop mental toughness and confidence.
In this episode, we cover:
🏒 Danielle’s journey from youth hockey to professional play
🧠 The importance of mindset training in sports and life
💡 How visualization, self-awareness, and breathing techniques help athletes perform under pressure
🚗 The “car ride home” conversation – what parents should (and shouldn’t) say
🔑 Why mental skills training is just as important as physical training
This episode is packed with golden nuggets for players, parents, and coaches who want to support young athletes in their development—not just as hockey players, but as confident individuals.
📖 Check out Danielle’s book, The Empowered Athlete, for even more tools on self-confidence, self-acceptance, and self-worth in sports.
🔊 Listen now!
Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!
Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena!
🚨 Big news—Dangle Pro is here, the world’s first mixed-reality stickhandling trainer. Using Meta Quest, players dangle through live 3D obstacles, earn points, and build faster hands with their head up. Officially licensed by the NHL and trusted by USA Hockey, it’s the future of training.
Sign up at SenseArena.com/OKPH with code OKPH for $25 off an annual subscription. 🏒
Have A Topic You Want Us To Cover? Let us know!
Please Be Sure To Subscribe & Leave A Review For Us On Apple Podcasts, doing so helps our show grow!
Follow Us On Social Media: