Our Kids Play Hockey

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 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.

  1. The Ride to The Rink: How Young Hockey Players Can Train Smarter This Offseason with Andrew Alberts

    2d ago ·  Video

    The Ride to The Rink: How Young Hockey Players Can Train Smarter This Offseason with Andrew Alberts

    🏒 What should young hockey players actually do in the offseason? In this episode of The Ride To The Rink, Lee is joined by former NHL defenseman Andrew “Albie” Alberts for a motivating conversation every young player should hear before summer training begins. The message is simple but powerful: start with a goal, write it down, believe in it, and then take small steps every day to move toward it. Andrew and Lee talk directly to young skaters and goalies about what it means to dream big, handle doubt, make choices, build confidence, and use the offseason as a chance to grow both on and off the ice. In this episode, kids will hear: 🏒 Why writing down your goals can help you stay focused  💪 How belief becomes a skill you can build over time  🧠 Why hard work, choices, and consistency matter more than talk  📋 How to figure out what parts of your game need improvement  🌊 Why summer should still include fun, creativity, and unstructured play Andrew also reminds players that the game is changing. Whether you are a forward, defenseman, or goalie, today’s players need to become more complete, more creative, and more willing to learn. And yes — summer training matters. But so does being a kid. So write down your goal. Dream big. Put in the work. Try new things. Have fun. And remember: We believe in you. You should too. 📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Offseason Hockey Training Starts With a Goal — And a Whole Lot of Belief #TheRideToTheRink #OurKidsPlayHockey #YouthHockey #HockeyTraining #OffseasonTraining #HockeyMindset #AndrewAlberts #HockeyParents #HockeyKids #SummerHockey #GoalSetting #HockeyDevelopment Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team! Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽 Trusted by our kids! Trust it with yours! Trusted at the NHL level through youth hockey, Sense Arena uses VR and mixed reality to build hockey IQ, confidence, and decision-making for skaters and goalies at their own pace.  Right now, they’ve got offseason pricing at $299 for the year—less than a dollar a day, and up to four profiles. Use code OKPH to save an extra $25 off your purchase 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 GroupXInstagramLinkedInYouTube

    16 min
  2. 4d ago ·  Video

    Former NHLer Andrew Alberts Explains the Best Offseason Plan for Youth Hockey Players

    🏒 Should your young hockey player train all summer… or put the bag away and just be a kid? On this episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee Elias welcomes back Andrew “Albie” Alberts — nine-year NHL veteran, Boston College standout, and Hockey Development Director at NHL Sense Arena — for a timely, honest, and incredibly useful conversation about what youth hockey players should actually be doing in the offseason. With tryouts behind many families and summer hockey decisions ahead, Lee and Albie unpack the pressure parents feel to keep up, keep skating, and keep training — while reminding everyone that development is not just about more ice, more tournaments, and more structure. In this episode, we talk about: 🥅 Why kids need a real mental and physical break after the season 🏒 The value of unstructured play, backyard hockey, and pickup games ⚡ Why skating remains the foundation of hockey development 🏃 How multi-sport athletes build better hockey tools 🧠 Why hockey IQ and playing without the puck may be the next frontier in development 🎯 How parents can help kids set goals without taking ownership away from them 🚦 Albie’s green-light/red-light offseason training advice for ages 10–14 Albie also shares what his NHL offseasons looked like, how training has evolved from heavy lifting to speed, explosiveness, recovery, and cognitive development, and why the best players are often the ones who learn how to think the game — not just shoot 500 pucks a day. Whether your child is 8, 12, 14, or dreaming big, this conversation will help you ask better questions, avoid burnout, and build an offseason that supports the player and the person. 📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Should Youth Hockey Players Train All Summer? Andrew Alberts Says Start With This 🎧 Listen now and enjoy the offseason — because sometimes the best thing your hockey player can do is put the bag away, pick up another sport, and wait until they’re excited to get back on the ice. #OurKidsPlayHockey #YouthHockey #HockeyParents #OffseasonTraining #HockeyDevelopment #MultiSportAthlete #HockeyIQ #SenseArena #AndrewAlberts #YouthSports #HockeyLife #HockeyTraining #LetKidsBeKids Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team! Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽 Trusted by our kids! Trust it with yours! Trusted at the NHL level through youth hockey, Sense Arena uses VR and mixed reality to build hockey IQ, confidence, and decision-making for skaters and goalies at their own pace.  Right now, they’ve got offseason pricing at $299 for the year—less than a dollar a day, and up to four profiles. Use code OKPH to save an extra $25 off your purchase 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 GroupXInstagramLinkedInYouTube

    59 min
  3. 6d ago ·  Video

    Angie Lion on Emotional Intelligence, Team Culture, and Raising Resilient Hockey Players

    🧠 What if the most important hockey skill your child learns this season has nothing to do with skating, shooting, or scoring? This week on Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee Elias, Mike Bonelli, and Christie Casciano-Burns welcome Angie Lion, author of Emerge: Rise from the Depths, Realign Your Soul, and Reclaim What Matters and co-founder/chief soul officer of Black River Performance Management, for a powerful conversation about emotional intelligence, transitional intelligence, and why “soft skills” may actually be the hardest—and most valuable—skills our kids can build through hockey.  Angie explains why emotions are not weaknesses, distractions, or excuses. They are data. And when young athletes learn how to name, understand, and regulate those emotions, they gain tools that help them far beyond the rink. In this episode, we explore: 🏒 Why emotional intelligence is a true performance advantage for hockey players  🧠 How parents and coaches can help kids manage triggers, frustration, rejection, and disappointment  📓 The power of a “trigger journal” and how it can help athletes understand their reactions  🔁 What transitional intelligence is—and why every hockey season is filled with transitions  👨‍👩‍👧 Why parents must model emotional regulation before expecting it from their kids  🧊 How coaches can build team culture around EQ, accountability, and resilience  💬 Why phrases like “calm down” often backfire—and what to say instead  🌱 How failure, discomfort, and change can become opportunities for growth Angie also shares why every transition begins with an ending, moves through a “messy middle,” and eventually creates space for growth. For hockey families, that means new teams, new coaches, new roles, tryouts, injuries, disappointments, and every challenge that comes with the youth sports journey. This episode is a must-listen for parents, coaches, and hockey leaders who want to raise not just better players—but stronger, more self-aware, more resilient human beings. 👉 Learn more about Angie Lion at AngieLion.com and BlackRiverPM.com. 📬 Have a question, comment, or episode idea? Email us at team@ourkidsplayhockey.com or use the text link in the episode description. 📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Emotional Intelligence in Youth Hockey: The Skill That Lasts Beyond the Game Thanks for being part of the Our Kids Play Hockey community. Enjoy your hockey, enjoy your day, and keep building the skills that last long after the game ends.  #OurKidsPlayHockey #YouthHockey #HockeyParents #HockeyCoaching #EmotionalIntelligence #MentalSkills #SportsParenting #YouthSports #HockeyDevelopment #Resilience #TeamCulture #AngieLion #TransitionalIntelligence Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team! Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽 Trusted by our kids! Trust it with yours! Trusted at the NHL level through youth hockey, Sense Arena uses VR and mixed reality to build hockey IQ, confidence, and decision-making for skaters and goalies at their own pace.  Right now, they’ve got offseason pricing at $299 for the year—less than a dollar a day, and up to four profiles. Use code OKPH to save an extra $25 off your purchase 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 GroupXInstagramLinkedInYouTube

    1h 2m
  4. The Ride to The Rink: How to Handle Hockey Nerves, Pressure, and Pregame Anxiety

    May 23 ·  Video

    The Ride to The Rink: How to Handle Hockey Nerves, Pressure, and Pregame Anxiety

    🏒 Ever feel nervous before a game, unsure of yourself in the locker room, or like your emotions are getting in the way of how you want to play? You’re not alone — and you’re not broken. On this episode of The Ride To The Rink, Lee, Mike, and Christie talk directly to young hockey players about something every athlete faces at some point: nerves, confidence, pressure, and emotional control. Whether you’re heading into a big game, joining a new team, playing in a new rink, or just feeling “off,” this episode gives players simple tools they can use right away to recognize what they’re feeling, take control of their mindset, and step onto the ice with more belief. The biggest message? Your feelings are real — but they don’t have to run the show. In this episode, we talk about: 🥅 Why feeling nervous before hockey is completely normal  💬 How naming your emotions helps you control them  🧠 Why negative thoughts don’t define who you are  🔥 How positive self-talk and affirmations can help before games  🚗 Why pregame routines can calm nerves and build confidence  🙏 How gratitude can become a powerful competitive mindset  👊 Why belief is one of the biggest separators in hockey — and in life Lee also shares a powerful lesson from a recent conversation with an NHL athlete: at the highest levels, the difference often isn’t just skill — it’s belief. So, players, before your next practice or game, remember this: You can feel nervous and still play great.  You can feel pressure and still compete hard.  You can have doubts and still choose belief. Wherever you are on your hockey journey, we believe in you — and you should too. 📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: How Young Hockey Players Can Handle Nerves, Pressure, and Build Confidence 🎧 Listen now and take this one with you on your next ride to the rink. #TheRideToTheRink #OurKidsPlayHockey #YouthHockey #HockeyMindset #HockeyConfidence #MentalSkills #YoungAthletes #HockeyParents #PregameRoutine #PositiveSelfTalk #HockeyLife Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team! Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽 Trusted by our kids! Trust it with yours! Trusted at the NHL level through youth hockey, Sense Arena uses VR and mixed reality to build hockey IQ, confidence, and decision-making for skaters and goalies at their own pace.  Right now, they’ve got offseason pricing at $299 for the year—less than a dollar a day, and up to four profiles. Use code OKPH to save an extra $25 off your purchase 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 GroupXInstagramLinkedInYouTube

    14 min
  5. May 21 ·  Video

    Fan Mail - Your Kid Loves Hockey but Lacks Confidence in New Situations

    🏒 What do you do when your child loves hockey, has the skill, makes the higher-level team… but freezes when everything feels new? In this fan mail episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee Elias, Christie Casciano Burns, and Mike Bonelli respond to a heartfelt letter from a hockey dad in Connecticut whose 2019 birth-year player thrives once he’s on the ice — but struggles with nerves, unfamiliar teammates, new coaches, and chaotic scrimmage environments. The big question: How do parents help young players grow, compete, and build confidence without pushing so hard that they lose their love for the game? The hosts unpack why hesitation in new environments is normal, why confidence often comes before compete, and why parents need to be careful not to put adult expectations on seven-year-old players. As Mike puts it, sometimes the answer is simple: put the child where hockey feels fun, social, and confidence-building — because that’s where growth actually begins. In this episode, we discuss: 🥅 Why nervousness in new hockey environments is common — and not a red flag  💬 How helping kids name their feelings can reduce overwhelm  🏒 Why “confidence breeds compete” at every age  👥 How parents and organizations can “shrink the newness” for young players  ⚠️ Why pushing too hard at mites can backfire  ❤️ Why protecting a child’s love for hockey matters more than chasing early status  📣 How to ask your child what they actually want from the game Whether your player is seven, twelve, or sixteen, this conversation is a reminder that development is not just about skating, shooting, and compete level. It’s about confidence, communication, emotional awareness, and creating an environment where kids want to keep coming back. 📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Confidence Before Compete: Helping Young Hockey Players Handle New Teams, New Coaches, and Big Feelings Have a question for the show? Send it in — anonymously if needed — and you may hear it discussed on a future episode. #OurKidsPlayHockey #YouthHockey #HockeyParents #TravelHockey #MiteHockey #HockeyDevelopment #YouthSportsParenting #ConfidenceInSports #HockeyFamily #LetKidsPlay Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team! Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽 Trusted by our kids! Trust it with yours! Trusted at the NHL level through youth hockey, Sense Arena uses VR and mixed reality to build hockey IQ, confidence, and decision-making for skaters and goalies at their own pace.  Right now, they’ve got offseason pricing at $299 for the year—less than a dollar a day, and up to four profiles. Use code OKPH to save an extra $25 off your purchase 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 GroupXInstagramLinkedInYouTube

    53 min
  6. Our Kids Play Hockey Is Growing! - New Ways to Watch, Connect, and Be Heard

    May 19 ·  Video

    Our Kids Play Hockey Is Growing! - New Ways to Watch, Connect, and Be Heard

    🏒 Our Kids Play Hockey is growing — and this micro edition is all about YOU. In this quick community update, Lee shares some exciting new ways hockey families, players, coaches, and listeners around the world can experience, connect with, and support the show. From video episodes now available on Apple Podcasts to a new and improved way to send fan mail, voicemails, hockey questions, team shout-outs, and future episode ideas, this update is all about making Our Kids Play Hockey even more interactive, personal, and community-driven. Because at the end of the day, this show has always been built by hockey families — one conversation, one rink, one message, and one shared story at a time. In this episode, we cover: 🎥 Video on Apple Podcasts You can now watch Our Kids Play Hockey directly on Apple Podcasts, making it easier than ever to experience the show wherever you listen or watch. 💬 Fan Mail Replies Are Here The show can now privately reply to listener messages sent through the episode description link, opening the door for better conversations with parents, coaches, and players. 🎙️ Leave Us a Voicemail Have a question, story, team shout-out, Ride To The Rink moment, or guest question? You can now send it by voice — and maybe even hear it featured in a future episode. 🏒 Help Grow the Hockey Community Lee shares free and meaningful ways to support the show, including downloading the rink flyer at OurKidsPlayHockey.com, sharing episodes with your team, supporting vetted sponsors, and checking out hockey books created by the hosts. ❤️ A Thank You to Hockey Families Everywhere After six years of growth, the show continues to thrive because of word of mouth, rink conversations, listener stories, and support from families like yours. This may be a micro episode, but the message is big: you are the beating heart of Our Kids Play Hockey. Helpful Links Mentioned: Visit OurKidsPlayHockey.com to download the rink flyer, send fan mail, and explore more from the Our Kids Play Hockey family. Check out: Hockey Never Stops Twig and Biscuit The Puck Hog Series Thank you for listening, watching, sharing, and helping us build better hockey families and better hockey environments. We’ll see you at the rink. #OurKidsPlayHockey #YouthHockey #HockeyParents #HockeyFamily #KidsHockey #HockeyCommunity #YouthSports #HockeyPodcast #HockeyCoaches #RideToTheRink #GirlsHockey #GoalieFamilies #HockeyLife Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team! Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽 Trusted by our kids! Trust it with yours! Trusted at the NHL level through youth hockey, Sense Arena uses VR and mixed reality to build hockey IQ, confidence, and decision-making for skaters and goalies at their own pace.  Right now, they’ve got offseason pricing at $299 for the year—less than a dollar a day, and up to four profiles. Use code OKPH to save an extra $25 off your purchase 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 GroupXInstagramLinkedInYouTube

    9 min
  7. The Ride to The Rink: Scott Howes on Hockey IQ, Video Review & Smarter Hockey Habits

    May 16 ·  Video

    The Ride to The Rink: Scott Howes on Hockey IQ, Video Review & Smarter Hockey Habits

    🎥 Most young hockey players watch highlights. The best players? They study the game. On this episode of The Ride To The Rink, Lee, Christie, and Mike welcome former pro player and youth coach Scott Howes for an important conversation about one of the most overlooked skills in hockey: Hockey IQ. From learning how to watch games with purpose to breaking down your own shifts on video, Scott shares practical advice every young player can start using immediately — no extra ice time required. This episode is packed with simple habits that can help players better understand the game, make smarter decisions, and grow confidence on the ice. 🏒 In this episode, we talk about:  Why watching full games matters more than watching highlights  How Wayne Gretzky studied hockey differently  What players should actually look for on video review  Why “three or four plays before the goal” matter most  Questions players should ask coaches after watching film  How hockey IQ helps players anticipate instead of react  Why fun still matters more than anything else ❤️ One of the best lessons from this episode? Great questions lead to great answers. The more curious you are about the game, the more you’ll grow as a player. Whether you’re heading to practice, a game, or school, this is a must-listen ride for hockey players who want to think the game at a higher level. 🎧 Listen now and start seeing hockey differently. #TheRideToTheRink #HockeyIQ #YouthHockey #HockeyDevelopment #HockeyLife #HockeyTraining #YouthSports #HockeyPlayers #IceHockey #HockeyParents #PlayerDevelopment #MentalGame #HockeyMindset Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team! Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽 Trusted by our kids! Trust it with yours! Trusted at the NHL level through youth hockey, Sense Arena uses VR and mixed reality to build hockey IQ, confidence, and decision-making for skaters and goalies at their own pace.  Right now, they’ve got offseason pricing at $299 for the year—less than a dollar a day, and up to four profiles. Use code OKPH to save an extra $25 off your purchase 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 GroupXInstagramLinkedInYouTube

    11 min
  8. May 14 ·  Video

    Undrafted to Pro: Scott Howes on Resilience, Rejection & Reality

    🏒 What if not making the “top team” was actually the best thing that could happen to a young hockey player? This week on Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee, Christie, and Mike sit down with former pro hockey player and coach Scott Howes for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had about youth hockey development, adversity, confidence, and what really matters in the game. Scott’s journey is anything but traditional. He went from playing free house league hockey in downtown Toronto… to being overlooked in the OHL Draft… to carving out his own path through junior hockey, the AHL, and the ECHL. Along the way, he scored one of the most unforgettable highlight-reel goals hockey fans still talk about today. But this episode isn’t just about the goal. It’s about:  ✅ Why early success in hockey guarantees nothing  ✅ How adversity can become a player’s biggest advantage  ✅ The dangers of “super teams” and youth hockey pressure  ✅ Why Hockey IQ matters more than flashy skills  ✅ How parents accidentally take kids out of the moment  ✅ What great teammates actually look like  ✅ Why development matters more than wins at young ages  ✅ The importance of keeping hockey FUN Scott shares incredible stories from pro hockey life — the bus trips, healthy scratches, sacrifices, pressure, and mental battles — while also giving parents and coaches a much-needed perspective shift on what youth sports should really be about. And yes… we finally break down THAT viral goal. 👀 Whether you’re a hockey parent, coach, or player, this episode is packed with perspective, truth, and reminders about why we all fell in love with this game in the first place. 📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Why Hockey Development Isn’t About Winning Young | Scott Howes 🎧 Listen now and share this episode with a hockey family who needs to hear it. #OurKidsPlayHockey #YouthHockey #HockeyDevelopment #ScottHowes #HockeyParents #HockeyCoaching #AAA Hockey #HockeyIQ #YouthSports #HockeyLife #MentalStrength #HockeyJourney #HockeyPodcast #PlayerDevelopment #HockeyTraining Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team! Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽 Trusted by our kids! Trust it with yours! Trusted at the NHL level through youth hockey, Sense Arena uses VR and mixed reality to build hockey IQ, confidence, and decision-making for skaters and goalies at their own pace.  Right now, they’ve got offseason pricing at $299 for the year—less than a dollar a day, and up to four profiles. Use code OKPH to save an extra $25 off your purchase 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 GroupXInstagramLinkedInYouTube

    1h 12m
4.8
out of 5
69 Ratings

About

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 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.

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