Our Kids Play Hockey

What does it actually take to get your kid to the NHL? We're all hockey parents on this show, and this week we've welcomed an NHL hockey mom. Juliana MacEwen joins us to share her family's journey in raising her sons Kurtis and Zack, and she spills all the success secrets that led Zack to a career in the NHL. Listen carefully...you're going to want to hear this. Click To Text T...

How much do you know about the American Special Hockey Associations? Listen up - we had their director, Jennifer O’Brien, on for a discussion and some amazing stories from her work with ASHA! Be sure to grab your copy of Lee and Christie’s new children’s book, “When Hockey Stops,” at WhenHockeyStops.com or wherever books are sold! Follow León’s journey in mental fitness as he learns how he can sta...

I’ve been pondering for the past few days how I wanted to share my end-of-season review for my son’s Mite team. Then I remembered that I am privileged to be the co-host of a very popular youth hockey show! Here’s my thoughts on the 2021-22 season as a Coach and Parent. Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team! Keep your player sharp this summer with NHL Sense Arena. Save $25 on an annual plan w...

Let's reflect: What did you and your child take away from this hockey season?  The EARLY ACCESS copies of "When Hockey Stops" are going away soon!! Order yours now to receive a limited edition hockey card with artwork from the book, a signed copy of "When Hockey Stops," and more!!  Visit WhenHockeyStops.com to order! Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team! Keep your p...

What are your thoughts on end of season evaluations? How does your organization handle them? We deep dive and evaluate the evaluation process this week on Our Kids Play Hockey! Be sure to grab an early access copy of "When Hockey Stops" while you can! All copies ordered before March 29th will be signed and will include a limited edition trading card with art from the book! Order now at W...

How can we better impact the lives of youth hockey players? Are select teams really where it's at? Mark Gilman shares his thoughts this week on Our Kids Play Hockey. Grab your copy of When Hockey Stops now for a signed copy, early access, and some limited edition add-ins! Go to WhenHockeyStops.com to purchase! Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team! Keep your player sharp this summer wit...

Do you coach your kid(s) in the car on the way to and from the game? What kind of reactions or response do you get? Is it influencing their attitude toward the team or the game? We explore all of these questions and more on this episode of Our Kids Play Hockey. Read the first chapter of Lee and Christie's new children's book and order for early access at WhenHockeyStops.com ! Click To Te...

Hockey's Top Performance Coach, Darryl Belfry, recently joined the Our Kids Play Hockey crew and dropped SO MUCH coaching wisdom that we just had to split it into two episodes! Tune-in to part two to hear the panel's discussion focused on coaching ethics and learn Coach Belfry's philosophy about how to treat young athletes. If you missed part one, be sure to go back and listen - Coa...

This week on Our Kids Play Hockey we welcome coaching legend, Darryl Belfry. Darryl has worked with some of the top athletes and biggest names in hockey and joined our panel this week to talk about skill development.  This episode is part 1 of a two part series - the wisdom was absolutely flowing from Darryl, so we cut it in half to release in parts. Be sure to tune back next week to catch part 2!...

Building the best coaching staff possible is no easy task, but it is an important one to keep things running smoothly on and off the ice. Lee, Mike, and Christie breakdown how you can build the best team of coaches. Don't forget to order Lee and Christie's new children's book ""When Hockey Stops"" for early access!! Get a signed copy of the book, a collectable tr...

Frank Buonomo, a former NHL executive, and current coach and president for the Pittsburgh Predators Youth Organization and the Vice President at Dollar Bank, joins the panel to discuss how we can make youth hockey a more conducive environment. We discuss Sidney Crosby, habits, the power of influence in the game, and so much more this week on Our Kids Play Hockey. Don't forget to order When Ho...

MOST PEOPLE THINK THAT IN ORDER TO BE AN EFFECTIVE COACH YOU NEED TO YELL AT YOUR PLAYERS...but is that true? This week on Our Kids Play Hockey the panel discusses if you should yell, when you should yell, and why you should yell. Bet you can't guess which member of the panel is the yeller... "When Hockey Stops" is releasing soon! Catch all the exclusives now before they disappear b...

The Our Kids Play Hockey Team puts on a clinic for you this week when they discuss everything hockey parents should know about clinics! Listen in for Lee, Mike, and Christie's thoughts on what to look for when signing your kids up, and whether you should even be looking for a clinic for your athlete this year! Don't forget to pre-order your copy of "When Hockey Stops" to take a...

Former NHL goaltender Mike McKenna was fresh off an 8u hockey tournament when he joined the Our Kids Play Hockey team earlier this week! Tune in to hear about the amazing time he spent with his daughter and team, the troubles they ran into with an opposing team, his tips for young goalies on their own paths to successful careers, AND his famous smoked brisket recipe! Don't forget to pre-order...

It may be January, BUT spring hockey is right around the corner...or so it would seem by how many people have already begun focusing on it. What's the deal for your athlete or team? Will you be playing spring hockey? What will you be doing instead if not? Our panel discusses all the pros and cons to committing to the next few months on the rink. Be sure to check out WhenHockeyStops.com to pre...

Lou Vairo is considered by many to be the Godfather of USA Hockey. In this episode, which spawned from an interview in late 2019, Mike and Lee sit down with Lou and Dave Starman to share some stories from Lou's time in the game (which is vast) and how we can all work to grow the game in the future. This podcast originally aired as an anthology series in 2019 as part of the WeLive. Hockey Podc...

How can we help raise our young athletes to be leaders on and off the ice and prepare them for life beyond sport? Coach Wendy Glover joins the show this week to discuss Athleadership and how she is impacting the lives of kids through her curriculum to build future coaches and leaders in athletics while they're in high school. Visit https://www.athleadership.info/ for more information on Athle...

Happy Holidays!! This week our expert panel of Hockey Parents and Coaches discuss how to prepare and approach the magical time of the year when things can make or break your season - Christmas! Lee, Mike, and Christie share their tips and tricks to keep your team gelled even as they start to feel tired of each other at this critical point in the youth hockey season! Make sure you get your pre-orde...

Our panel this week, joined by our culture and leadership expert, JB Spisso, discusses their viewpoints of how what we think is development can be destructive and what we should be on the look out for when coaching and raising young athletes. Be sure to pre-order a copy of our new children's book, "When Hockey Stops," written by Lee and Christie. The first 500 pre-orders will receiv...

Mental fitness has become a major point of discussion in sports from the youth level to the pro levels, and is something we care deeply about on this show.  Our guest today, Dan Blackburn, is an award winning speaker on mental fitness and the habits, rituals, and skills needed to build mental resilience on an athlete's path to success. -- Don't forget to check out WhenHockeyStops.com to...

While life after hockey isn't something we all want to think about all the time, it is a reality that all players must eventually face. Former NHL Defenseman Mike Weaver joins the show this week to discuss his journey in and out of the game and the traits he learned along the way that helped him in his professional career and his life post-hockey. Stay tuned to hear about Mike's program...

Pre-Order Our New Children's Book: When Hockey Stops ! Lee and Christie have been hard at work behind the scenes to bring the world a new children's book, titled “When Hockey Stops”! The story follows a character who suffers a season ending injury and serves as a guide for kids to overcome adversity when their worlds suddenly come to a halt. Join Lee, Christie, and Mike as they discuss w...

Ice Hockey In Puerto Rico has recently made headlines with their participation, and victory, in the Amerigol Latam Cup. Our guest today, Scott Vargas, has been working hard to help grow the game for Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. He shares his hockey story and the mission behind Ice Hockey Puerto Rico. Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team! Keep your player sharp this summer with NHL Sense A...

Based on an article from USA Hockey's October 2021 edition - Christie, Mike, and Lee discuss the 5 tips given to ensure the best youth hockey practices. Tune in now to hear their professional advice and opinions on what you should and shouldn't do when it comes to practice! Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team! Keep your player sharp this summer with NHL Sense Arena. Save $25 on a...

Former NHL Captain, Bryce Salvador, recently made the decision to forfeit a championship game in lieu of putting his 12u team's mental health first following a traumatic injury to not one but two of their teammates. He opens up on what went into his decision, the push back and support he has received, and the conversations that he hopes to see in the youth hockey culture moving forward. Click...