New England Hockey Journal’s RinkWise

Balancing Acts: Parenting, Fan Etiquette, and Navigating Sports Culture Former BC QB & Hockey Dad Scott Mutryn provides insights into fostering children's athletic careers, emphasizing the importance of supportive environments and independent decision-making. He also tackles the unwritten rules of sports fandom, from jersey wearing to the contentious debate on leaving games early. Through personal anecdotes and reflections, the discussion covers the emotional depth of being a sports fan and parent, debating the values of staying till the end of a game against practical concerns.  01:16 Scott's Journey from Football to Hockey Parent 05:30 The Intersection of Football and Hockey in Family Sports 18:15 The Importance of Multi-Sport Participation and Specialization Debate 23:56 Navigating Youth Hockey and the Impact of Practice Over Games 32:23 The Transition from Youth to Prep School Hockey 34:29 Navigating the Hockey Community: An Outsider's Perspective 34:57 The Allure of Hockey: Physicality, Skill, and Community 36:45 Hockey Parenting: Embracing the Journey and Lessons Learned 42:06 Youth Sports Philosophy: Enjoyment Over Winning 47:46 Navigating Sports Fandom: Rules and Etiquette 51:48 The Sports Fan Constitution: Debating the Do's and Don'ts 01:02:00 Concluding Thoughts: The Joy and Pain of Being a Sports Fan

Hosts Evan Marinofsky and Patrick Donnelly chat with Kent head coach Dale Reinhardt about the transition from hockey season to school responsibilities, the recruitment process for student-athletes, and the importance of choosing the right path for youth hockey players. The coach shares insights on balancing sports and academia, the evolving landscape of hockey recruitment, and stories from his coaching career to illustrate the journey of developing players. The discussion also touches upon the benefits of multi-sport participation, the impact of the transfer portal and NCAA changes on recruitment, and personal anecdotes from Reinhardt’s playing and coaching career to shed light on the realities of youth hockey development and recruitment. Topics: 00:59 Life After Hockey Season: Transition and Activities 01:48 Recruitment and Changes in Hockey Culture at Kent 03:01 Balancing Sports and Specialization in Youth Hockey 13:21 The Journey from Youth Hockey to Coaching 19:57 Reflecting on Youth Hockey and the Shift in Team Loyalty 23:40 Exploring a Player's Season and Mental Growth 24:51 The Importance of Personalized Paths in Hockey 27:00 Navigating Junior Hockey and College Commitments 28:26 The Evolution of Prep Hockey and Recruitment Strategies 34:47 Adapting to Changes in the College Recruitment Process 38:00 Guidance for Players Choosing Junior Leagues and Future Prospects

Evan and Pat count down the 10 biggest stars in boys and girls prep hockey.

Evan Marinofsky and Pat Donnelly examine the championships of the boys and girls MIAA seasons and the top storylines and players that paved the way to those titles. 

Evan and Pat previewing and predicting the MIAA title games.

Evan Marinofsky and Pat Donnelly break down the NEPSAC Championships.

Evan Marinofsky and Patrick Donnelly handicap the field for the MIAA playoffs.

Evan Marinofsky and Patrick Donnelly preview the boys and girls prep hockey playoffs.

Evan Marinofsky and Patrick Donnelly do a comprehensive roundup of the race for the NEPSAC Elite 8.

Evan and Pat target some sleeper teams in prep hockey for the Elite 8, then recap which teams stood out in the Ed Burns Tournament. 

The number of female hockey players has grown by almost 40% over the past 10 years. The sport is exploding, especially at the younger levels. So what does that mean for the giant wealth of girls hockey talent in New England? ... Evan Marinofsky and Pat Donnelly also discuss the latest prep school power rankings (20:20).

Evan Marinofsky and Pat Donnelly go down the list of prep and MIAA teams that have impressed so far this season.

Evan Marinofsky and Patrick Donnelly share eyewitness accounts of the prep hockey tournaments from the weekend.

A chat with Frederick Gunn coach Craig Badger followed by Patrick Donnelly joining the show for previews of the boys and girls prep holiday tournaments.

An in-depth preview of the MIAA season for both the boys and girls leagues.

Evan Marinofsky and Pat Donnelly of the New England Hockey Journal preview the upcoming girls prep season.

Hosts Evan Marinofsky and Stephanie Wood preview the boys' prep hockey season.

Salisbury School head coach Andrew Will is the guest on the latest episode of the RinkWise podcast. Raised in Toronto, Will played hockey at Union College and spent two years in the ECHL with the Mobile Mysticks before getting into coaching. He started as an assistant at his alma mater, and then at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.  Will’s first head coaching position was at Upper Canada College at the Canadian prep level before he accepted the top position at Salisbury in 2008.

The guest is Mike Kennedy, Coach of the Brunswick School of Greenwich, CT.

Digit Murphy joins the show, she of an esteemed career in hockey as a player, coach and administrator. Digit is a champion of "Education Empowerment Inclusion Building Leaders using sports as a platform."