The Ride to the Rink: 10 Ways to See the Ice Like a Pro: Situational Awareness in Youth Hockey
🧠 Ever wonder what separates good hockey players from great ones? It’s not just skating or shooting — it’s how they see the game. In this quick but powerful mini-episode, Lee and Mike dive deep into one of hockey’s most underrated superpowers: situational awareness.From blue-line turnovers to risky rushes, goalie decisions to smart dump-ins, this episode breaks down how learning to “zoom out” and see the full 200x80 sheet can transform a young player’s game — and make coaches trust them more.💡 In This Episode:Why goals rarely start where you think they do 🥅The dangers of far-blue-line turnovers (and how to avoid them)What “situational awareness” really means for players, goalies, and coachesHow to stop being a liability and start being the player coaches want on the iceWhy sometimes the smartest move is the simplest one👀 Whether you’re a player learning the ropes or a coach trying to teach smarter hockey, this episode will change how you see every shift.🎧 Tune in, take notes, and remember: great hockey isn’t just about playing hard — it’s about playing smart.📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Seeing the Whole Ice — Why Situational Awareness is the Smartest Skill in Youth Hockey#YouthHockey #SituationalAwareness #HockeyIQ #CoachingTips #PlayerDevelopment #RideToTheRink #OurKidsPlayHockeyClick To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!NHL Sense Arena annual memberships are 50% off for the holidays, starting at just $29 a month — plus you can save an extra $25 with code OKPH at checkout.Gift you hockey family the ultimate hockey training experience with NHL Sense Arena ‘26 — available now at hockey.sensearena.com/OKPHHave 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 Group X Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
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GIVEAWAY - Beyond the Dangles: Pavel Barber on Obsession, Growth & The Truth About Skill Development
Welcome to another Wraparound Roundtable — our holiday special series where we spotlight the biggest creators in the game and give away major prizes!This week, we’re joined by the one and only Pavel Barber — stickhandling phenom, skills coach, and one of the most recognized names in online hockey content.🎁 Giveaway Alert:Every episode = a chance to win a Green Biscuit + Puck AroundThis week’s multiplier: A Goalie Wraparound (Pavel’s pick!)🔗 Head to HockeyNeverStops.com and enter now!📌 In this episode, we cover:Pavel’s start in content creation: from random video posts to global recognitionWhy passion and obsession — not views — drive his creativityHis coaching side: What skills really matter in a game (hint: not flashy toe drags)The mental side of content creation and helping kids through hockeyWhat he learned from working with Itaguchi and players with limited resourcesA powerful message for kids: It’s not about being viral. It’s about being resourceful, consistent, and loving the processWhy the “boring basics” matter more than any highlight reel moveHis own childhood obsession with the game, and how the joy of skating still hits just as hard today💡 Whether you’re a player, parent, or creator, this episode is packed with real talk and rare insights from one of hockey’s most impactful minds.📲 Follow Pavel: @heybarber | @pavelbarbertraining for the game-relevant stuff🛑 REMINDER: There are two Roundtable episodes every week — and every entry = another shot at the grand prize. 10 episodes. 10 chances to win. Thousands in gear.Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!NHL Sense Arena annual memberships are 50% off for the holidays, starting at just $29 a month — plus you can save an extra $25 with code OKPH at checkout.Gift you hockey family the ultimate hockey training experience with NHL Sense Arena ‘26 — available now at hockey.sensearena.com/OKPHHave 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 Group X Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
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GIVEAWAY: From Beer League to Viral Saves: Meet RSpike20, The Purple Goalie
This week on the Wraparound Roundtable, we sit down with one of the most colorful personalities in hockey — literally. Known online as RSpike20, the Purple Goalie has taken the beer league world (and Instagram) by storm with his hilarious skits, mic’d-up moments, and genuine love for the game.🎧 In this episode, we dive into:How a love for the Lightning sparked his late start in hockeyWhat it’s like learning to play goal as an adult — and turning that journey into contentHis creative process behind viral videos and his signature purple personaThe tight-knit support of the local hockey community and fans who recognize him at the rinkWhat most people don’t understand about goaltending (hint: stretch more!)Advice for young creators dreaming of turning their passion into contentBehind-the-scenes stories, including the goalie creator game you’ve probably already seen!💥 RSpike20 might have started from rec league, but his mission to spread fun, positivity, and passion through hockey content is making a major impact — all while fully dressed 60 minutes before puck drop.🎁 GIVEAWAY ALERT:This week’s prize:🥅 Green Biscuit + Puck Around + Hockey Wraparound (courtesy of RSpike20)🎄 Two episodes weekly = Two chances to win🧊 10 total episodes = 10 shots at our massive grand prize🎯 Enter now at HockeyNeverStops.comClick To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!NHL Sense Arena annual memberships are 50% off for the holidays, starting at just $29 a month — plus you can save an extra $25 with code OKPH at checkout.Gift you hockey family the ultimate hockey training experience with NHL Sense Arena ‘26 — available now at hockey.sensearena.com/OKPHHave 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 Group X Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
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Our Girls Play Hockey: Do Girls Take Hockey Coaching More Literally Than Boys?
✨ Do young girls take coaching more literally than boys? That’s the big question we dig into on this week’s episode of Our Girls Play Hockey!Lee, Mike, and Team USA’s Hayley Scamurra share their coaching insights and personal experiences on how language, confidence, and context impact the way girls receive and process feedback compared to boys.From locker room dynamics to building trust, the panel gets real about what works (and what doesn’t) when helping young female players thrive — and why it’s not about coaching them differently, but coaching them better.🔥 Highlights from this episode:Why young girls often follow instructions to the letter — and how to encourage creativity without causing confusionThe pressures girls feel in co-ed teams and how that shapes their approach to mistakesSpecific language swaps coaches can use to make instructions clearer and more effectiveThe importance of trust, body language, and context when coaching young female athletesWhy positive feedback must be earned — and how to balance encouragement with accountabilityWhether you’re a coach, parent, or player, this conversation will spark new ideas on how to support the next generation of girls in hockey. 🏒💪👉 What do you think? Email us at [email protected] or text us using the link in the description. We’d love to feature your thoughts in a future episode!📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Do Girls Take Hockey Coaching More Literally Than Boys?#GirlsHockey #YouthHockey #CoachingTips #HockeyParents #PWHL #WomensHockey #OurKidsPlayHockeyClick To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!NHL Sense Arena annual memberships are 50% off for the holidays, starting at just $29 a month — plus you can save an extra $25 with code OKPH at checkout.Gift you hockey family the ultimate hockey training experience with NHL Sense Arena ‘26 — available now at hockey.sensearena.com/OKPHHave 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 Group X Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
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The Hidden Stress of Being a Hockey Parent
💭 Feeling the weight of being a hockey parent? You’re not alone. In this heartfelt and honest episode, Lee Elias, Christie Casciano-Burns, and Mike Bonelli open up about the mental and emotional load that comes with youth hockey — the long weekends, the money, the pressure, and the expectations we quietly carry.🔥 In this conversation:Why so many parents tie their own worth to their kids’ performance 🧠The guilt, stress, and second-guessing that come after every gameHow money, time, and competition fuel anxiety for hockey familiesWhy behavior—not outcomes—should be your real “win” metricWhat emotional resilience really looks like at home and at the rinkWhy “family first” isn’t just a saying — it’s a sanity saver ❤️✨ Key moments include:Christie’s powerful reminder that “youth hockey is the good old days.”Lee’s story of skipping practice to prioritize family — and why it mattered more.Mike’s candid reflections on managing expectations as both coach and parent.At the end of the day, this episode is a deep breath for every parent who’s ever thought, “Am I doing enough?” Spoiler: You are.📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: The Mental Load of Being a Hockey Parent: Managing Pressure, Guilt & Joy🎧 Listen, laugh, and remember — you’re not crazy, the hockey world is.#OurKidsPlayHockey #HockeyParenting #YouthHockey #SportsParenting #MentalHealthInSports #ParentPerspective #ChristieCascianoBurns #LeeElias #MikeBonelli #HockeyLife #FamilyFirst #YouthSportsBalanceClick To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!NHL Sense Arena annual memberships are 50% off for the holidays, starting at just $29 a month — plus you can save an extra $25 with code OKPH at checkout.Gift you hockey family the ultimate hockey training experience with NHL Sense Arena ‘26 — available now at hockey.sensearena.com/OKPHHave 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 Group X Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
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 StrategistIn 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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