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Description
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 Anchor
- Mike Bonelli - USA Hockey Coach and Organizational Consultant
- Lee M.J. Elias - Hockey Entrepreneur, Author, and Team Strategist
In 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.
504 Episodes
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🏒 What if the rink isn’t just where kids play… but where they feel safest? In this powerful and deeply personal episode, former NHL star Bobby Ryan joins us to share a perspective every hockey parent and coach needs to hear. From a difficult childhood to a 14-year NHL career—and now life as a hockey dad—Bobby opens up about how the game shaped him, saved him, and continues to guide how he raises his own child today. This conversation goes far beyond goals and assists. It’s about identit...
🔥 What were YOU doing at 14 years old? Because Estela Vazquez was winning GOLD on the international stage. In this inspiring episode of Our Kids Play Goalie, we sit down with Estela Vazquez — a rising star goaltender for the Connecticut Junior Rangers, Greenwich Country Day School, and the Puerto Rico Women’s National Team 🇵🇷. At just 13 years old, Estela stepped onto the international stage in Buenos Aires and walked away as Goaltender of the Tournament, helping Puerto Rico capture gold. But...
🏒 What’s the one thing every young hockey player can control every single day? On this Ride to the Rink, the hosts are joined by 17-year NHL veteran Scott Hartnell, who shares the mindset that helped him build a long, successful NHL career. Growing up as the youngest of three hockey-playing brothers, Hartnell learned early what it meant to compete, battle, and push himself just to keep up. Those backyard games, bumps and bruises, and sibling rivalries helped shape the hardworking style that d...
🏒 What does it really take to make it to the NHL—and what lessons can young players and parents learn from the journey? In this episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee Elias, Mike Bonelli, and Christy Casciano-Burns are joined by 17-year NHL veteran Scott Hartnell. Known for his grit, personality, and relentless work ethic, Hartnell shares stories from growing up as a rink rat in small-town Saskatchewan to becoming a 300-goal scorer with over 1,200 NHL games played. But this conversation goes fa...
🏒 What does it actually feel like to win Olympic gold? In this special Our Girls Play Hockey listener Q&A, Olympic gold medalist Hayley Scamurra pulls back the curtain on the Olympic experience — from the electric energy of playing in front of fans to the unforgettable moments inside the Olympic Village. In Part 1 of this two-part series, Hayley joins Lee Elias to answer questions sent in by the audience, teammates, and young players around the hockey world. The result? A behind-the-scene...
🚗 Heading to a hockey tryout or evaluation? Take a deep breath — this Ride to the Rink is exactly what you need to hear. Evaluations can bring out a lot of emotions: excitement, nerves, pressure, and sometimes even fear. But the truth is, a great tryout isn’t about doing something flashy or trying to be someone you’re not. It’s about preparation, mindset, and showing coaches the best version of YOU. In this episode of The Ride to the Rink, the guys break down how young hockey players should a...
🏒 Hockey tryout season is here… and for many families, that means nerves, pressure, and a lot of unanswered questions. What are coaches actually looking for? How are teams really selected? And what should parents and players focus on when the stakes feel high? In this annual Our Kids Play Hockey Tryout Episode, hosts Lee Elias, Christie Casciano-Burns, and Mike Bonelli break down the reality of youth hockey evaluations — from both the parent perspective and the coach’s perspective. This epi...
🏒 You asked… and the mailbag is back! In this special Our Girls Play Hockey Mailbag Episode, hosts Lee and Mike sit down with professional hockey player Hayley Scamurra to answer rapid-fire questions straight from young players, parents, and coaches around the hockey world. From game-day meals and pregame routines to scoring goals, getting faster, and handling the fear of missing out during the offseason, Hayley shares real insight into what life looks like as a pro — and what young athletes ...
🚨 Think tryouts start on evaluation day? Think again. If you’re heading to a pre-skate or ID skate, this episode is your mindset reset before you walk through those rink doors. Lee and Mike break down what these “tryout before the tryout” skates really are — and more importantly, how YOU should approach them. Because here’s the truth: it’s not just about what you do on the ice… it’s who you are from the parking lot to the final whistle. In this episode, we talk about: 🏒 What coaches are reall...
🔥 ID skates. Pre-skates. Early evaluations. Winter “select” teams. If you’re a hockey parent right now, your inbox is probably full — and your anxiety might be too. So what are ID skates really? Are they opportunities… or just early tryouts in disguise? In this episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee and Mike break down the real story behind pre-skates and ID skates — what they mean, when they make sense, and when parents need to take a deep breath and relax. Because here’s the truth: Most tea...
🎉 GIVEAWAY ALERT, Hockey Families! 🎉 Something BIG just dropped in the Our Kids Play Hockey world… and we’re celebrating the best way we know how — by giving back to YOU. Christie Casciano-Burns — award-winning journalist, USA Hockey Magazine columnist, and the original inspiration behind this podcast — has officially released Puck Hog 3: Trophy Thief Mystery… and we’re giving away FIVE copies! In this special edition episode, we dive into: 🏆 The mystery behind the missing Lake Placid Invitat...
🥇 She wrote it on the whiteboard for a year: “I am a gold medalist.” Now it’s real. In this unforgettable crossover episode of Our Kids Play Hockey and Our Girls Play Hockey, Olympic Gold Medalist Hayley Scamurra joins us fresh off Team USA’s historic championship run — and yes… she’s still wearing the medal. Seven games. Seven wins. Two goals in the opener. A perfect penalty kill. A 2–1 overtime thriller against Canada. And the most-watched women’s hockey game in history. This wasn’t just a ...
🚨 Parents — this one’s for you. 🚨 Tryout season is here. Emotions are high. FOMO is real. And decisions made right now can shape your child’s hockey journey for years to come. In this special Parent Edition of The Ride to the Rink, Lee and Mike Bonelli flip the script and ask the kids to turn to YOU and say: “Are you listening?” Because when it comes to hockey evals, team jumping, chasing elite labels, and negotiating during tryouts… parents matter more than anyone. Mike brings the perspectiv...
🏒 Is your child developing as a hockey player… or just playing more hockey? In this powerful episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee and Mike sit down with Jimmy Law, Director of Sports Performance at TPH Academy and founder of Habits of Hockey, to unpack what real development looks like. Spoiler alert: It’s not more ice time. Jimmy shares his journey from first-generation roller hockey player to shaping hundreds of student-athletes in a blended academic and hockey development model built around...
🏒 What would an Olympian tell her 10-year-old self? On this episode of The Ride to the Rink, we get something special — two Olympians talking directly to young hockey players. Haley Winn joins Hayley Scamurra, Lee Elias, and Mike Bonelli for a powerful conversation about confidence, development, rest, and what really matters if you dream of playing at the highest level. If you're a young player chasing big goals — or a parent supporting one — this episode is your reminder that the journey mat...
🏒 What if the most important hockey development tool isn’t a skills coach… but a backyard rink? This week on The Ride to the Rink, Lee and Mike are joined by Stanley Cup Finalist, Team USA alum, and all-around great human Ryan Carter — and he’s taking us back to where it all started. Not in a fancy arena. Not at an elite showcase. But on a Minnesota cul-de-sac with a tennis ball. Ryan shares how street hockey, outdoor rinks, and unstructured play shaped his hands, his hockey IQ, h...
🏒 What if chasing the “best” team is actually holding your player back? This week on Our Kids Play Hockey, we sit down with former NHL forward and Stanley Cup champion Ryan Carter to unpack the truth about youth hockey development — and why the “slow cooker” might beat the “instant pot” every time. From growing up in White Bear Lake, Minnesota to carving out a 10-year NHL career (after going undrafted), Ryan shares the mindset shifts, parenting lessons, and culture-building philosophies that ...
🏒 What does it actually feel like to get the call that you’ve made Team USA? In this unforgettable episode of Our Girls Play Hockey, hosts Lee Elias, Mike Bonelli, and Hayley Scamurra sit down with Boston Fleet rookie and newly named Team USA Olympian Haley Winn to talk about the moment her childhood dream became reality. From backyard battles with her three older brothers to the USA Hockey Development Program, starring at Clarkson University, and now playing professionally in the PWHL — Hale...
📊 Stats. Love them. Hate them. Ignore them. No matter where you fall on the spectrum, one thing is certain — statistics are part of hockey, and how you use them can shape your growth as a player. On this episode of The Ride to the Rink, Mike and Lee dive into one of the most emotional and misunderstood parts of the game: hockey stats. Goals, assists, plus-minus, turnovers, save percentage — they can motivate you, frustrate you, or even expose parts of your game you’d rather not see. 🚨 But he...
📬 It’s time to open the mailbag — and these questions go way deeper than you might expect. In this episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee, Mike, and Christie tackle two listener questions that hit at the heart of youth hockey development — accountability, stats, and how parents can support learning without getting in the way. First up, a coach asks a question we hear all the time: 👉 Is there a stat that shows how many mistakes lead to goals — and how do we help kids understand that goals aren’...
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