Our Kids Play Hockey

Our Kids Play Hockey is a podcast that focuses on youth hockey, offering insights, stories, and interviews from the hockey community. It provides valuable advice for parents, coaches, and players, covering various aspects of the game, including skill development, sportsmanship, teamwork, and creating a positive experience for young athletes. The show frequently features guests who share their expertise and personal experiences in youth hockey, both on and off the ice.The show features three hockey parents, who all work in the game at high levels: Christie Casciano-Burns - USA Hockey Columnist, Author, and WSYR AnchorMike Bonelli - USA Hockey Coach and Organizational ConsultantLee M.J. Elias - Hockey Entrepreneur, Author, and Team StrategistIn addition to the main podcast, there are several spin-off series that dive into specific aspects of youth hockey:1.Our Girls Play Hockey – This series highlights the growing presence of girls in hockey, addressing the unique challenges they face while celebrating their accomplishments and contributions to the sport.2.The Ride to The Rink – A shorter, motivational series designed to be listened to on the way to the rink, offering quick, inspirational tips and advice to help players and parents get into the right mindset before a game or practice. 3.Our Kids Play Goalie – This series is dedicated to young goalies and the unique challenges they face. It provides advice for players, parents, and coaches on how to support and develop young goaltenders, focusing on the mental and physical demands of the position.Together, these shows provide a comprehensive platform for parents, players, and coaches involved in youth hockey, offering insights for all aspects of the sport, from parenting, playing, or coaching to specialized positions like goaltending.

Episodes

Mentioned books

Nov 28, 2025 • 2min

Our Girls Play Hockey: The Truth About Hockey-Life Balance (and Why It Might Not Exist)

🔥 Is “a hockey-life balance” even real—or is it just about priorities?This week on Our Girls Play Hockey, Lee Elias, Mike Bonelli, and PWHL star Hayley Scamurra dig into one of the biggest questions families face: how do young athletes juggle hockey, school, family, and downtime without burning out?From missed school dances and long road trips to the reality of puberty and injuries, Hayley shares her honest experience growing up in hockey—and what she wishes she knew about balance, rest, and resilience along the way.🎯 In this episode, we cover:What “balance” really looks like for elite athletesWhy priority balance may be more realistic than “life balance”The role parents play in guiding (not forcing) motivationWarning signs of burnout every parent and coach should watch forHow routines and habits build long-term successUnique challenges girls face during puberty and how coaches can support themWhether you’re a player, parent, or coach, this is a can’t-miss discussion on what it really takes to grow in hockey—and in life.👉 Listen now, share with your hockey community, and let us know your thoughts!📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: The Truth About Hockey Life Balance (and Why It Might Not Exist)#GirlsHockey #YouthHockey #HaileyScamurra #HockeyParenting #HockeyLifeBalance #PWHLClick To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!NHL Sense Arena annual memberships are 50% off for the holidays, starting at just $29 a month — plus you can save an extra $25 with code OKPH at checkout.Gift you hockey family the ultimate hockey training experience with NHL Sense Arena ‘26 — available now at hockey.sensearena.com/OKPHHave 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: Facebook Group X Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

Nov 22, 2025 • 34min

The Car Ride is STILL Not For Coaching

🚗 Every hockey parent has been there. The game ends, emotions run high, and before you know it — the “coaching” starts before the gear’s even off. In one of our most revisited and requested topics, Lee, Mike, and Christie return to a fan-favorite message: the car ride is STILL not for coaching.In this heartfelt follow-up, the trio breaks down why post-game analysis in the car can damage your relationship with your player — and what to do instead. From anxious parents to over-enthusiastic dads (and yes, near-accidents involving coaching boards 😅), this episode brings humor, honesty, and real-world strategies to one of youth hockey’s trickiest habits.✨ Highlights include:Why parents coach from the car (and how to stop)The difference between talking and coachingHow to make the car a “safe space” for your playerTips for coaches on setting car-ride boundaries earlyThe three phrases your kid actually needs to hear before every gameAnd a story involving Metallica, hockey homework, and hard-earned wisdom🎧 Whether you’re a coach, parent, or player, this episode is a reminder: your voice matters most when your kid wants to hear it. Let the rink be for hockey — and the ride home for connection.📩 Have a question or story like today’s listener letter? Send it to team@ourkidsplayhockey.com — we might feature it on a future episode!📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog:The Car Ride Is Still Not for Coaching — Why Parents Need to Hit the Brakes#HockeyParenting #YouthHockey #ParentCoachBalance #HockeyFamily #OurKidsPlayHockeyClick To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!NHL Sense Arena annual memberships are 50% off for the holidays, starting at just $29 a month — plus you can save an extra $25 with code OKPH at checkout.Gift you hockey family the ultimate hockey training experience with NHL Sense Arena ‘26 — available now at hockey.sensearena.com/OKPHHave 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: Facebook Group X Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

Nov 20, 2025 • 11min

The Ride to the Rink: 10 Ways to See the Ice Like a Pro: Situational Awareness in Youth Hockey

🧠 Ever wonder what separates good hockey players from great ones? It’s not just skating or shooting — it’s how they see the game. In this quick but powerful mini-episode, Lee and Mike dive deep into one of hockey’s most underrated superpowers: situational awareness.From blue-line turnovers to risky rushes, goalie decisions to smart dump-ins, this episode breaks down how learning to “zoom out” and see the full 200x80 sheet can transform a young player’s game — and make coaches trust them more.💡 In This Episode:Why goals rarely start where you think they do 🥅The dangers of far-blue-line turnovers (and how to avoid them)What “situational awareness” really means for players, goalies, and coachesHow to stop being a liability and start being the player coaches want on the iceWhy sometimes the smartest move is the simplest one👀 Whether you’re a player learning the ropes or a coach trying to teach smarter hockey, this episode will change how you see every shift.🎧 Tune in, take notes, and remember: great hockey isn’t just about playing hard — it’s about playing smart.📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Seeing the Whole Ice — Why Situational Awareness is the Smartest Skill in Youth Hockey#YouthHockey #SituationalAwareness #HockeyIQ #CoachingTips #PlayerDevelopment #RideToTheRink #OurKidsPlayHockeyClick To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!NHL Sense Arena annual memberships are 50% off for the holidays, starting at just $29 a month — plus you can save an extra $25 with code OKPH at checkout.Gift you hockey family the ultimate hockey training experience with NHL Sense Arena ‘26 — available now at hockey.sensearena.com/OKPHHave 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: Facebook Group X Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

Nov 19, 2025 • 22min

GIVEAWAY - Beyond the Dangles: Pavel Barber on Obsession, Growth & The Truth About Skill Development

Welcome to another Wraparound Roundtable — our holiday special series where we spotlight the biggest creators in the game and give away major prizes!This week, we’re joined by the one and only Pavel Barber — stickhandling phenom, skills coach, and one of the most recognized names in online hockey content.🎁 Giveaway Alert:Every episode = a chance to win a Green Biscuit + Puck AroundThis week’s multiplier: A Goalie Wraparound (Pavel’s pick!)🔗 Head to HockeyNeverStops.com and enter now!📌 In this episode, we cover:Pavel’s start in content creation: from random video posts to global recognitionWhy passion and obsession — not views — drive his creativityHis coaching side: What skills really matter in a game (hint: not flashy toe drags)The mental side of content creation and helping kids through hockeyWhat he learned from working with Itaguchi and players with limited resourcesA powerful message for kids: It’s not about being viral. It’s about being resourceful, consistent, and loving the processWhy the “boring basics” matter more than any highlight reel moveHis own childhood obsession with the game, and how the joy of skating still hits just as hard today💡 Whether you’re a player, parent, or creator, this episode is packed with real talk and rare insights from one of hockey’s most impactful minds.📲 Follow Pavel: @heybarber | @pavelbarbertraining for the game-relevant stuff🛑 REMINDER: There are two Roundtable episodes every week — and every entry = another shot at the grand prize. 10 episodes. 10 chances to win. Thousands in gear.Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!NHL Sense Arena annual memberships are 50% off for the holidays, starting at just $29 a month — plus you can save an extra $25 with code OKPH at checkout.Gift you hockey family the ultimate hockey training experience with NHL Sense Arena ‘26 — available now at hockey.sensearena.com/OKPHHave 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: Facebook Group X Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

Nov 19, 2025 • 17min

GIVEAWAY: From Beer League to Viral Saves: Meet RSpike20, The Purple Goalie

This week on the Wraparound Roundtable, we sit down with one of the most colorful personalities in hockey — literally. Known online as RSpike20, the Purple Goalie has taken the beer league world (and Instagram) by storm with his hilarious skits, mic’d-up moments, and genuine love for the game.🎧 In this episode, we dive into:How a love for the Lightning sparked his late start in hockeyWhat it’s like learning to play goal as an adult — and turning that journey into contentHis creative process behind viral videos and his signature purple personaThe tight-knit support of the local hockey community and fans who recognize him at the rinkWhat most people don’t understand about goaltending (hint: stretch more!)Advice for young creators dreaming of turning their passion into contentBehind-the-scenes stories, including the goalie creator game you’ve probably already seen!💥 RSpike20 might have started from rec league, but his mission to spread fun, positivity, and passion through hockey content is making a major impact — all while fully dressed 60 minutes before puck drop.🎁 GIVEAWAY ALERT:This week’s prize:🥅 Green Biscuit + Puck Around + Hockey Wraparound (courtesy of RSpike20)🎄 Two episodes weekly = Two chances to win🧊 10 total episodes = 10 shots at our massive grand prize🎯 Enter now at HockeyNeverStops.comClick To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!NHL Sense Arena annual memberships are 50% off for the holidays, starting at just $29 a month — plus you can save an extra $25 with code OKPH at checkout.Gift you hockey family the ultimate hockey training experience with NHL Sense Arena ‘26 — available now at hockey.sensearena.com/OKPHHave 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: Facebook Group X Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

Nov 18, 2025 • 35min

Our Girls Play Hockey: Do Girls Take Hockey Coaching More Literally Than Boys?

✨ Do young girls take coaching more literally than boys? That’s the big question we dig into on this week’s episode of Our Girls Play Hockey!Lee, Mike, and Team USA’s Hayley Scamurra share their coaching insights and personal experiences on how language, confidence, and context impact the way girls receive and process feedback compared to boys.From locker room dynamics to building trust, the panel gets real about what works (and what doesn’t) when helping young female players thrive — and why it’s not about coaching them differently, but coaching them better.🔥 Highlights from this episode:Why young girls often follow instructions to the letter — and how to encourage creativity without causing confusionThe pressures girls feel in co-ed teams and how that shapes their approach to mistakesSpecific language swaps coaches can use to make instructions clearer and more effectiveThe importance of trust, body language, and context when coaching young female athletesWhy positive feedback must be earned — and how to balance encouragement with accountabilityWhether you’re a coach, parent, or player, this conversation will spark new ideas on how to support the next generation of girls in hockey. 🏒💪👉 What do you think? Email us at team@ourkidsplayhockey.com or text us using the link in the description. We’d love to feature your thoughts in a future episode!📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Do Girls Take Hockey Coaching More Literally Than Boys?#GirlsHockey #YouthHockey #CoachingTips #HockeyParents #PWHL #WomensHockey #OurKidsPlayHockeyClick To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!NHL Sense Arena annual memberships are 50% off for the holidays, starting at just $29 a month — plus you can save an extra $25 with code OKPH at checkout.Gift you hockey family the ultimate hockey training experience with NHL Sense Arena ‘26 — available now at hockey.sensearena.com/OKPHHave 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: Facebook Group X Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

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