Pucked Up Parents - Youth Hockey

Michael and Angela start off riding the high of recent Olympic hockey success — because nothing fuels delusion quite like watching elite athletes on TV make it look easy. Inspired by the big stage, they pivot into today’s topic: what actually happens after youth hockey?When your kid hits that 16–21 sweet spot, things get real. They break down the winding road beyond the local rink — from Juniors life (hello, billets)), to elite prep programs, to the dream (and price tag) of juniors & college hockey. They talk about how USA Hockey slices the country into districts and regions, and why geography suddenly matters way more than it did back in Mite house league.Michael and Angela unpack the rollercoaster of realizing your “hockey family” might soon be shipping your kid off to live with strangers in another state. It’s honest, slightly sarcastic, and just hopeful enough to keep everyone paying those hockey fees.Of course, it wouldn’t be Pucked Up Parents without a weekend recap. There were final home games, trips to Pittsburgh and a hotel stay that took a dark turn after Michael saw a TikTok about people washing underwear in coffee makers. Let’s just say… he’s officially sworn off in-room coffee forever. Angela has thoughts. From Olympic dreams to hotel hygiene nightmares, this episode is about chasing the next level — and surviving it as parents.

Michael and Angela lace up for the most stressful “non-season” season of all… youth hockey tryouts. Because nothing says spring flowers like roster anxiety for a season that doesn’t start until the leaves fall.They dive into the absurd timing of tryouts happening months before anyone’s sharpened a skate for real games. The rink rumor mill is already in playoff form: “I heard they already picked the top line.” “NHL Prospect from 2 towns over is gnna tryout.” If it’s whispered near a Zamboni, it must be true.Michael and Angela also tackle the ultimate parent torture device: tryouts that are completely off-limits to parents. No glass-banging. No pacing the bleachers. No lip-reading from the lobby. Just you, a stale coffee, and your imagination assuming your child forgot how to hockey.They take a playful jab at the “organization hoppers” — the families who treat youth hockey like free agency, switching rinks every year in search of greener ice and a coach who “really sees” their kid’s potential. Is it strategic? Is it chaotic? Is it just exhausting? Yes.And because humility builds character (apparently), Michael and Angela share their own war stories of when their kids absolutely tanked tryouts. The missed passes. The invisible shifts. Equal parts painful and priceless, those moments turned into lessons about resilience, perspective and being humble.It’s an episode about hope, hype, heartbreak, and the annual reminder that in youth hockey, everyone’s a scout, nobody’s calm, and somehow we all sign up to do it again next year

This week on Pucked Up Parents, Michael and Angela dive into the myth known as the “off-season.” Spoiler alert: there isn’t one.They break down the world of spring and summer hockey — from skill camps and power skating clinics to tournament teams that are “super laid back” but somehow still require a bit of travel. Is it development? Is it fun? Is it just one more ice slot? Yes.They also tackle the great multi-sport debate. Should hockey kids be playing other sports? (Yes.) Will they? Also yes — between ice times. The conversation covers gymnastics for balance, baseball for hand-eye coordination, golf for patience, and even laid-up fishing for mental recovery… because sometimes the best cross-training is sitting quietly on a creek bank.The duo recap a weekend of high-scoring games that had parents updating GameChanger like it’s the stock market. Michael is slightly under the weather but refuses to sit this one out — especially when it comes to his passionate rant against cowbells at youth hockey games.It’s a lighter, funnier look at spring and summer hockey — where the vibes are chill, the goals are plentiful, and the calendar is somehow still full.

This week, Michael and Angela dive headfirst into the slippery ice of making new hockey friends—because nothing screams bonding like awkward hotel lobbies and forced smiles at team dinners. They tackle how to pass the endless downtime between games, whether it’s surviving board games , watching other sports on a TV in a hotel lobby or quietly judging other parents. Along the way, they explore how youth hockey magically creates lifelong friendships—for kids and parents alike—and dissect the fascinating species of hockey parents: helicopter parents, the sports dad, mama bears, coaches, penalty box monitors , and the overcomplicated scoreboard operators. All this while recapping a weekend of pond hockey, a road trip to a miraculous rink with actual working heaters, and reconnecting with old teammates. Bring your skates, your sarcasm, and a flask—you’re going to need it!

In this episode, Michael and Angela try to decode the wild, confusing, heavy maze that is youth hockey levels. From Mites to Squirts, PeeWees to Bantams, and all the way up to U16s and U18s, they break down what each level actually means—plus all the mysterious sublevels that somehow make it even more complicated. Because apparently “just hockey” isn’t a thing.They also dive into the skill tiers—from house league chaos to AAA intensity—and explain what really changes between levels (hint: it’s not just skill… it’s stress, cost, and how far you get to travel on a weekend).And because karma is undefeated, they share a story from this past weekend where they completely ignored their own advice from Episode 8 about forgotten equipment—leading to a full-blown family meltdown and the ultimate sin: a forgotten jersey. Yes, the podcast hosts became the cautionary tale.It’s chaos. It’s parenting. It’s youth hockey.And it’s another perfectly on-brand episode of Pucked Up Parents 🏒😂

Angela and Michael are back—and they’re frozen solid. 🥶 In this episode, the Pucked Up Parents hosts tackle one of youth hockey’s greatest challenges: surviving the Arctic tundra known as the ice rink. From mastering the art of layering to debating heated vests, wool socks, mittens, and why nothing ever keeps your toes warm, they break down what actually works.They also call out the mysterious “rink heaters”—you know, the ones that exist in every building but are somehow never turned on—and share tips for braving outdoor rinks, where the cold doesn’t mess around and preparation is everything.Along the way, Angela introduces the legendary Walgreens Jockstrap of Shame, and Michael has a life-altering moment when he finally learns the difference between a beanie and a toboggan (spoiler: he’s been wrong for years).

On this episode of Pucked Up Parents, hosts Angela and Michael tackle one of the most inevitable parts of youth hockey life: forgotten, broken, or mysteriously missing gear. From skates left at home to sticks snapped in warmups, if it can go wrong on a hockey trip—it probably will.Angela shares a emergency goalie glove repair at an away tournament that proves lacrosse string, a needle, borrowed tools, and pure parental determination can save the day when panic is setting in. Together, Angela and Michael break down what to do when mishaps strike, offering practical tips like stay calm, assess the damage, make a plan, ask for help, and remember—YouTube is your best friend.Whether you’re a seasoned hockey parent or new to the chaos, this episode is a reminder that gear disasters happen to everyone, and surviving them is practically a rite of passage. Laugh, learn, and maybe double-check that bag before you leave the house. 🏒😅

Join Michael and Angela as they dive headfirst into the wonderfully sticky world of hockey tape! From the essentials—cloth tape and clear tape—to the art of taping your stick, your gear, and maybe even your sanity, they cover it all. They’ll break down hockey wax tricks, clever shortcuts (yes, even duct tape), and share tips and laughs that every youth hockey parent and player can relate to. Whether you’re a rookie parent trying to wrap a stick without it falling apart, or a seasoned veteran who thinks you’ve seen it all, this episode is packed with sticky stories, practical hacks, and a few laughs along the way. Get ready to tape it, wax it, and stick with it!

Angela and Michael lace up for one of the most relatable episodes yet as they dive headfirst into the wild world of youth hockey travel. From hotel hacks that save your sanity (and your sleep) to road-trip survival tips that keep the car from smelling like a locker room by mile 10, they cover it all. The duo breaks down what to pack (and what you’ll definitely forget), how to plan for those inevitable “oh no” emergency moments, and why preparation is the real MVP of any tournament weekend.They also tackle the ultimate boss level: flying with hockey gear. From oversized bags and airline surprises to protecting sticks, skates, and goalie gear, Angela and Michael share hard-earned lessons, practical advice, and a few laughs along the way. Whether you’re a seasoned travel team parent or gearing up for your first out-of-town tournament, this episode is packed with tips, stories, and reassurance that you’re not alone on the hockey highway—or in the hotel hallway at 6 a.m. 🏒✈️

Angela and Michael welcome fellow youth hockey parent Shawna to the show for a deep (and slightly stressful) dive into the world of goalie parenting. Shawna’s son, Chase, guards the crease as the goalie for his senior varsity team, and she shares what it’s really like raising the last line of defense.From Chase declaring himself a goalie at a very young age to the eye-watering cost of goalie gear, Shawna walks us through the unique journey that comes with the position no one else wants. The conversation hits on the familiar goalie-parent experiences: the phrases constantly yelled from the stands, the pressure of every single shot, and the emotional roller coaster that comes with knowing one mistake can change the entire game.If you’ve ever paced the rink during a breakaway, held your breath on a penalty shot, or wondered why your kid chose to get hit by pucks, this episode is for you. And while we cover a lot, we’ll be the first to admit—this conversation barely scratches the "ice" surface of what it truly means to be a goalie parent

Michael & Angela break down the mysterious world of youth hockey practice — where cones multiply, relay races feel oddly competitive, and kids skate endless circles while coaches shout things that sound important. They talk through how practices are actually run, from props and drills to full-tilt chaos, and what parents are supposed to be doing during all of it. Spoiler alert: Michael enjoys reading a book… and Angela perfects the art of sleeping in the car. Tips, laughs, and survival tactics for every hockey parent stuck at the rink on practice night.

Michael & Angela dive into the chaos of the weekend’s youth hockey adventures—starting with Michael’s epic misfire en route to the rink. Then it’s all things Mites as they unpack the wild world of 8U and 6U hockey: split rinks, pint-sized goals, goalie rotations, and the all-important post-game snack strategy. It’s unfiltered and straight from the trenches of youth hockey parenting.

Michael and Angela kick things off by breaking down the journey from Learn-to-Skate to full-blown hockey obsession. They recap a few highlights (and lowlights) from the weekend’s games, decode the mysterious phrases you constantly hear yelled around the rink, and introduce you to the wild, lovable cast of characters that will soon become your new Hockey Family. Lace up—this one’s a beauty!

Youth Hockey; why are we here? what are the rules? why the smell? how much is this costin' me?

Michael & Angela drop the puck on the very first episode of Pucked Up Parents—and immediately question every life choice that led them into youth hockey.They kick things off by attempting to decode the endless pieces of a hockey uniform. (Why does a child need more protective gear than a medieval knight? A cup for a girl is called a what? Why are the socks actually not socks?)From there, they take listeners on a tour of the rink spectrum—from the “crappiest of barns” with questionable smells and negative-12° locker rooms, to the rare, majestic “ice palaces” where the coffee is actually drinkable and the bathrooms don’t require hazmat suits.Finally, they dive into the eye-opening, wallet-opening, sleep-depriving world of youth hockey and how it’s completely transformed their lives. Spoiler: They wouldn’t have it any other way… probably.