Our Kids Play Hockey

🏒 What does it really take to coach youth hockey the right way?
This week on Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee Elias, Mike Bonelli, and Christie Casciano-Burns sit down with Coach Tre Berg, a youth hockey coach, hockey dad, police officer, and longtime player who brings a true “in the trenches” perspective to the game.
Tre grew up playing hockey in the Syracuse area, played juniors and college hockey, and now coaches with the Syracuse Nationals and Syracuse Galaxy AAU program while also serving as the Mid-State MITE coordinator. He coaches players from A to AAA, runs skills clinics, works full-time as a police officer, and is raising hockey players of his own. In other words, he understands the reality many hockey families live every day. 
In this episode, we dive into what parents often don’t see: the hours of preparation, the emotional investment, the pressure of tryouts, the financial realities of travel hockey, and the responsibility coaches have to create a culture where kids can develop, compete, and still love the game.
In this episode, we discuss:
🥅 What “fun” really means in youth hockey
It’s not just winning. It’s competing, learning, building friendships, being engaged, and creating memories that last.
🚨 Why coachability matters at every level
Tre explains why attention, effort, communication, and willingness to learn can matter just as much as raw skill.
💬 How coaches should communicate with parents
From preseason meetings to expectations around ice time and behavior, transparency can prevent major issues later.
💰 The rising cost of youth hockey
The group talks honestly about ice time, travel, fundraising, sponsorships, and the pressure families face.
🏒 The debate around 8U AAA and full-ice hockey
Tre, Lee, Mike, and Christie have a thoughtful conversation about development, puck touches, structure, and whether young players need that level of competition so early.
👏 Building culture beyond the scoreboard
Respect, accountability, discipline, cleaning up locker rooms, representing the logo, and becoming better humans all matter.
This episode is a must-listen for hockey parents, youth coaches, program leaders, and anyone who cares about keeping kids engaged in the game for the right reasons.
📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: What Youth Hockey Parents Need to Know About Coaching, Culture, and Development
👉 Listen now and share this episode with a hockey parent or coach who needs to hear it.
#OurKidsPlayHockey #YouthHockey #HockeyParents #HockeyCoach #YouthSports #HockeyDevelopment #HockeyTryouts #AAA hockey #8UHockey #VolunteerCoaches #HockeyCulture #Coachability #HockeyFamily
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Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽
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. Special Offseason pricing: $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 - http://nhl.sensearena.com/OKPH
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🏒 What happens when hockey creators, roller hockey, youth hockey values, and a great cause all collide in Nashville? You get Team GG at the Wish Cup — and a conversation every hockey family should hear.
In this special edition of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee connects with Team GG live from the Wish Cup in Nashville, Tennessee, featuring hockey creators Kaxzi, Danny / DB16 Media, Hintzy, Keegan Olivera, and Zachary Hockey.
Together, they dive into what makes tournament weekends unforgettable, why the best hockey memories often happen away from the rink, and how events like the Wish Cup create friendships, community, and purpose far beyond the final score.
This episode also explores one of the biggest conversations in youth hockey today: how do we keep the game accessible, affordable, creative, and fun for the next generation?
The Team GG crew shares their honest thoughts on:
🏒 Why tournament culture builds lifelong friendships
 🥅 How roller hockey and street hockey can help kids develop creativity and confidence
 🤝 Why in-person connection still matters in an online world
 🌟 The impact creators can have when they inspire someone to start playing hockey
 💙 What makes the Wish Cup feel more like a family event than just another tournament
 🔥 Why growing the game means getting sticks in kids’ hands — anywhere, anytime
Whether your child plays ice hockey, roller hockey, street hockey, or is just starting to fall in love with the game, this episode is a reminder that hockey is bigger than one rink, one surface, or one path.
Sometimes, the best way to grow the game is simple: give kids a stick, give them space, and let them play.
📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Team GG at Wish Cup: Roller Hockey, Youth Hockey, and Growing the Game
🎧 Listen now and follow Team GG throughout the Wish Cup as they continue using their platforms, personalities, and passion to make hockey more fun, welcoming, and accessible.
#OurKidsPlayHockey #YouthHockey #WishCup #TeamGG #RollerHockey #StreetHockey #GrowTheGame #HockeyParents #HockeyTournament #HockeyCreators #InlineHockey #MakeAWish #HockeyCommunity #KidsPlayHockey
Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!
Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽
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. Special Offseason pricing: $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 - http://nhl.sensearena.com/OKPH
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🏆 What does it really take to win when the pressure is at its highest?
On this very special Championship Edition of Our Girls Play Hockey, we sit down with Olympic gold medalist and Walter Cup champion Hayley Scamurra for part one of a two-part conversation about the Montreal Victoire’s unforgettable playoff run.
And this is not just any championship story.
Hayley became the first female hockey player in history to win Olympic gold and a Walter Cup championship in the same season, making this one of the most remarkable years in women’s hockey. In this episode, Hayley takes us inside the Montreal Victoire’s first-round playoff battle against the Minnesota Frost — a series packed with overtime drama, razor-thin margins, pressure, resilience, and championship-level belief. 
✨ In this episode, we cover:
 🏒 Hayley’s historic season and what it means for women’s hockey 
 🏆 The growth of the PWHL and the rise of the Montreal Victoire 
 🔥 Why Montreal chose to face Minnesota in the playoffs 
 ⏱️ The emotional and physical toll of triple overtime playoff hockey 
 🧠 How elite players reset after tough losses 
 💪 What championship mentality looks like in real time 
 🥅 Hayley’s role in key defensive moments, faceoffs, and matchups 
 👏 The importance of leadership, confidence, and trusting the process 
Hayley also opens up about the uncertainty that existed before the PWHL became reality — including moments when she wondered whether she should keep playing — and reflects on just how far women’s hockey has come in such a short time.
This episode is a must-listen for girls hockey players, hockey parents, coaches, and anyone who wants to understand what it takes to compete, lead, and win at the highest level.
🎧 Listen now to part one of our Championship Edition with Hayley Scamurra — and stay tuned for part two as we continue the journey into the Walter Cup Final.
📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Hayley Scamurra’s Historic Hockey Season: Olympic Gold, Walter Cup Glory, and the Mindset of a Champion
#OurGirlsPlayHockey #HayleyScamurra #PWHL #MontrealVictoire #WalterCup #WomenInHockey #GirlsHockey #HockeyParents #OlympicGold #WomensHockey #YouthHockey #HockeyPodcast
Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!
Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽
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. Special Offseason pricing: $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 - http://nhl.sensearena.com/OKPH
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🏒 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 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. Special Offseason pricing: $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 - http://nhl.sensearena.com/OKPH
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🏒 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 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. Special Offseason pricing: $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 - http://nhl.sensearena.com/OKPH
Have A Topic You Want Us To Cover? Let us know!

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