Our Kids Play Hockey

What does it take to build a hockey franchise from the ground up—and keep it thriving for 30+ years? In this inspiring episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, we’re joined by Howard “Howie” Dolgon, the founder, owner, and president of the Syracuse Crunch, AHL affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning.From growing up on the streets of Brooklyn to hosting the first outdoor AHL game in history, Howie shares his incredible journey and the lessons he’s learned about perseverance, community, and building something bigger than yourself. We cover:✅ How he brought pro hockey to Syracuse after four teams had failed✅ Why the Crunch became a model of success—and a family for so many players✅ What makes an impactful coach at every level of the game✅ The powerful community culture surrounding the Crunch—and how it all starts with giving back✅ Stories of NHL stars like Yanni Gourde and Jon Cooper that began in SyracuseWhether you’re a parent, coach, or just love the game, this episode is a masterclass in turning passion into purpose. Don’t miss this behind-the-scenes look at how one team—and one leader—can change an entire community.🎧 Listen now and share with the hockey people in your life!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: Facebook Group X Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

Team USA gold medalist and NCAA champion Caroline Harvey joins us for a special The Ride to the Rink edition—and she’s talking directly to young players chasing big goals.Whether you dream of playing high school, college, or even Olympic hockey, this quick conversation is packed with the kind of advice that helps you take the next step in your game.🏒 In this episode:✅ Why small, daily habits matter more than highlight-reel moments✅ What Caroline still does every day to improve her game✅ The balance between having fun and putting in the work✅ How muscle memory helps you stay confident on the ice✅ Why practice is just as important as game dayThis one’s short, powerful, and meant to be played on the way to your next skate.💬 “Whatever your goals are, you can achieve them—if you’re consistent, focused, and having fun along the way.”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: Facebook Group X Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

Fresh off a national championship with Wisconsin and a gold medal at the 2025 Women’s World Championship, Caroline Harvey joins Lee, Sherry, and Mike for a powerful conversation about her rise through the hockey world—and what it really takes to make it.From playing boys’ hockey in New Hampshire to becoming the best defenseman on the planet, Caroline (aka “KK”) shares the real behind-the-scenes work that led to her success. She opens up about what helped her stay driven, how to handle nerves before the biggest games of your life, and why the daily grind is the most important part of any athlete’s journey.🏒 Topics include:✅ How Caroline knew she wanted to play D1 hockey—at age 12✅ The importance of choosing hockey for yourself—not your parents✅ The transition from boys to girls hockey—and why both mattered✅ Team USA vs. Canada: inside the gold medal rivalry✅ What today’s youth players need to know about commitment, failure, and goals✅ Why representation, mentorship, and giving back matter now more than everWhether you’re a young player with big dreams or a parent navigating the development path, this episode is filled with honesty, inspiration, and elite-level wisdom from one of the best in the world.💬 “If you have goals in mind and you set your mind to it… you can achieve it if you put in the work—consistently, every day.” —Caroline HarveyClick 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: Facebook Group X Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

We get asked for advice all the time… but what happens when that advice goes in one ear and out the other?In this episode, Lee and Mike dive into three common pieces of guidance that youth hockey parents frequently seek out—then completely disregard. From multi-sport overload, to the myth of showcases, to chasing teams hours away for more letters, we tackle the realities of what kids really need to develop and thrive in this sport.🏒 Topics include:✅ Why playing multiple sports at the same time can backfire✅ The truth about “showcases” and being “seen”✅ Travel time vs. development time—what matters more?✅ How burnout often starts way before it shows up✅ Choosing development over “the best” team✅ Why off-ice habits and creativity are just as important as ice timeWhether you’re new to the game or a seasoned hockey parent, this one is packed with real talk, proven experience, and thoughtful questions to help guide your hockey family’s journey.💬 As always, we’re not here to judge—just to share what we’ve seen and learned along the way.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: Facebook Group X Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

🏒 Ever wondered what it takes to create a winning goalie partnership in youth hockey? Discover the secrets behind successful team dynamics with insights from Olympian Sami Small on "Ride to the Rink." This episode is packed with valuable advice for young players and coaches, emphasizing the power of teamwork and mutual support.Key Discussion Points:- Multiple Goalies on a Team: Understanding the dynamics and choices involved in who plays.- Goalie Partnerships and Support: Why there's no "backup goalie"—just teammates supporting each other.- Skater-Goalie Interactions: Tips for skaters on effective communication and interaction with goalies.- Goalies Advocating for Themselves: Strategies for young goalies to enhance practice engagement.- Dealing with a Goalie's Bad Game: How teammates can constructively support a struggling goalie.Sami Small shares her wisdom on fostering a positive environment where every player thrives. Whether you're a goalie, skater, or coach, these insights will help you build a cohesive and supportive team. 🥅#YouthHockey #GoaliePartnerships #Teamwork #RideToTheRink #HockeyInsightsClick 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: Facebook Group X Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

In this week's episode of Our Kids Play Goalie, Lee Elias, Christy Casciano-Burns, and Mike Bonelli welcome a true icon in women’s hockey—Sami Jo Small, three-time Olympian, two-time gold medalist, and a lifelong advocate for inclusion, purpose, and team unity.From being the only girl on the street in Winnipeg playing road hockey with her brother’s friends, to starting in net for Team Canada, Sami’s path wasn’t just unconventional—it was groundbreaking.We explore:Her early days as “the girl goalie” and how inclusion, support, and street hockey shaped her identity.Why playing in boys’ leagues taught her resilience—and what we can all learn from being “different” on the team.What her parents got right about letting her play—and how small decisions from adults can shape a child’s future.Stanford, mechanical engineering, and club hockey on a men’s team—how she kept joy in the game without the pressure of being seen.How she made Team Canada almost by accident, thanks to a chance meeting, a bold leap of faith, and one coach who believed in her.How it felt to be told she wouldn’t start in the 2002 Olympic gold medal game—and how that moment shaped her understanding of roles, leadership, and humility.The myth of the “one goalie system” and how goalies can and should support each other.What it really means to be part of a championship team—and how we can teach this to our kids now, at every level of youth hockey.Why joy—not ambition—should drive a young athlete’s development.Her daughter’s decision to leave hockey and how Sami learned to support a completely different kind of journey.This episode is a masterclass in humility, perspective, and purpose. Whether you’re raising a goalie, coaching one, or are one, Sami’s story will change the way you see the game—and the people in it.📚 Also mentioned: The Role I Played by Sami Jo Small – a must-read memoir about elite sports, adversity, and identity.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: Facebook Group X Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

What’s your role on the ice—and how can you lean into it, even if it’s not the one you wanted? In this Ride to the Rink, NHL veteran and current youth coach Zac Rinaldo shares real-world advice for players navigating team dynamics, finding their identity, and expanding their skillset.From his own evolution through junior, pro, and now coaching, Zac breaks down how players can:🔑 Understand and embrace their role🧰 Build a versatile “toolbox” of skills💬 Communicate effectively with coaches🧠 Develop the mindset to grow through challengesWhether you’re a first-liner or still figuring it out, this episode is packed with practical insights for becoming a more complete hockey player—and teammate.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: Facebook Group X Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

Getting cut from a team hurts—but it doesn’t define your future. Olympic gold medalist and broadcaster Tessa Bonhomme joins The Ride to the Rink to deliver an inspiring message to every young player who didn’t make the team this season.In just 10 minutes, Tessa shares:Why being cut can actually be a giftHow to turn disappointment into fuel for growthThe truth about building a winning team (hint: it’s not all top scorers)Her personal “Google Maps” analogy for navigating your unique hockey pathA powerful mindset shift: “Face Everything And Rise”Whether you’re on a new team or still searching for your next opportunity, this episode is a reminder that adversity is part of every great hockey story—including yours.🎙️ Press play, get motivated, and get to the rink ready to rise.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: Facebook Group X Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

How do young players find their identity, toughness, and purpose—on and off the ice? This week on Our Kids Play Hockey, we’re joined by former NHL forward and current junior hockey coach Zac Rinaldo, whose career was defined by grit, heart, and relentless work ethic.Zac shares his journey from leaving home at 14 to attend Notre Dame in Saskatchewan, to becoming a fan favorite in Philadelphia and playing 11 years in the NHL. Now coaching the Pelham Panthers, Zac is focused on developing the next generation of athletes—not just as hockey players, but as resilient, team-first individuals.In this episode, we cover:🛣️ Zac’s unconventional path from OHL longshot to NHL mainstay🏒 The lost art of physicality and why roles matter more than ever📚 What today’s youth development models are missing🧠 The mindset coaches need to connect with players—and how to earn their trust🧰 Why every young player needs a full “toolbox,” not just highlight-reel skillsZac’s perspective is honest, refreshing, and full of valuable insight for players, parents, and coaches alike. Whether you’re chasing a dream or helping someone else chase theirs, this episode is packed with real talk and practical advice.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: Facebook Group X Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

The birds are chirping, the season’s winding down—and that means it’s the perfect time to start thinking about how to build a better hockey player this off-season.In this episode of Ride to the Rink, Lee and Mike dive into how players (and parents) can start planning a development calendar that fits real life and drives real growth. From simple 20-minute habits like daily push-ups or shooting pucks, to blocking out time in a shared Google Calendar, it’s all about building consistency, not cramming in ice time.You’ll also hear:     ✅ Why structured planning beats “winging it” every time     ✅ How daily effort—even 15 minutes—adds up in a big way     ✅ Tips for integrating hockey into your lifestyle without burning out     ✅ Why the off-ice work matters just as much (if not more) than spring tournamentsWhether your player wants to hit the next level or just stay sharp during the off-season, this short ride is packed with advice for setting goals, building habits, and staying balanced.📌 Because greatness—on the ice or off—starts with what you do every day.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: Facebook Group X Instagram LinkedIn YouTube