Our Kids Play Hockey

🏒 Want to get better at hockey? Sometimes the best thing you can do is step away from the rink and go outside.
On this episode of The Ride to the Rink, Lee Elias and Mike Bonelli are joined by longtime NHL forward Mike Knuble for a message every young skater and goalie needs to hear: go play.
Not every rep has to come from a coach. Not every skill has to be built in a formal practice. And not every moment of development has to happen on the ice.
Mike Knuble shares why getting outside, playing other sports, creating your own games, and being active with friends can help young athletes become better hockey players — and better all-around athletes.
In this episode, kids will hear why:
🏒 Street hockey, driveway games, and outdoor play help build creativity
 🥍 Sports like lacrosse, basketball, baseball, and golf can transfer skills back to hockey
 🧠 Free play teaches decision-making, patience, explosiveness, teamwork, and problem-solving
 🎣 Taking breaks from hockey can keep your mind fresh and help you come back excited
 👨‍👩‍👧 Parents and siblings can be part of the fun, too
 🥅 You do not need perfect equipment — you just need imagination, effort, and a way to play
This episode is also a great reminder for parents: when your child asks to go outside, shoot pucks, play catch, hit balls, ride bikes, or build a net — that is an opportunity. Development is not just something kids do alone. It is something families can help create.
The message is simple: it is not about having every resource. It is about being resourceful.
📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Mike Knuble on Why Kids Need to Get Outside and Just Play
🎧 Listen now, then grab a stick, a ball, a glove, a bike, a fishing pole, or a friend — and go be a kid.
#TheRideToTheRink #OurKidsPlayHockey #YouthHockey #MikeKnuble #HockeyKids #HockeyParents #StreetHockey #FreePlay #HockeyDevelopment #HockeyTraining #MultiSportAthlete #SkillTransfer #GrowTheGame #HockeyFamily
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 really separates young hockey players as they get older — talent, pressure, coaching, character, or the ability to keep loving the game through it all?
This week on Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee Elias and Mike Bonelli welcome back longtime NHL forward Mike Knuble, who played over 1,000 NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, and Washington Capitals.
Mike returns for a wide-ranging and honest conversation about the modern youth hockey landscape — what has changed, what parents should be paying attention to, and why the journey still matters more than the chase.
Together, Lee, Mike Bonelli, and Mike Knuble dig into some of the biggest questions facing hockey families today:
🏒 Are kids getting enough unstructured “real hockey” anymore?
 🧠 How do young players build creativity, hockey IQ, and problem-solving?
 🔥 What happens when elite-level pressure hits kids too early?
 🥅 Why do character, effort, and coachability matter more as players get older?
 📈 How can players keep evolving instead of relying on the same early advantages?
 👨‍👩‍👧 What should parents know when navigating today’s overwhelming development path?
Mike also shares stories from his own youth hockey journey, his experiences as a hockey parent and coach, and why the best players are often the ones who keep learning, adapting, and refusing to believe their own hype too early.
The episode also checks in on Mike’s recent Scotland hockey adventure, including games in Edinburgh, passionate international hockey fans, and why hockey’s global reach continues to grow in powerful ways.
Whether you are a hockey parent, coach, or player, this episode is a reminder that development is not about one tournament, one tryout, one path, or one moment.
It is about building a player — and a person — who can compete, adapt, grow, and still love the game.
📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Mike Knuble on Youth Hockey Pressure, Free Play, and What Really Separates Players
🎧 Listen now for one of the most honest and useful conversations we’ve had about youth hockey culture, player development, and what it really takes to keep moving forward.
#OurKidsPlayHockey #YouthHockey #MikeKnuble #HockeyParents #HockeyDevelopment #HockeyCoaching #YouthSports #HockeyIQ #HockeyCulture #FreePlay #PlayerDevelopment #HockeyJourney #NHL #GrowTheGame
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 feel like to win the Walter Cup — not from the stands, not from the broadcast booth, but from the ice?
In Part 2 of our championship edition Day in the Life with Hayley Scamurra, Hayley takes us inside the PWHL Walter Cup Final as Montreal battles Ottawa in a razor-thin, emotional, and unforgettable championship series. From dramatic overtime wins to heartbreaking momentum swings, from Laura Stacey’s miraculous return to Ann-Renée Desbiens’ shutout brilliance, this episode gives listeners a rare player’s-eye view of what it takes to finish the job.
Hayley walks us through her huge Game 3 goal, the emotional lessons of losing when the Cup was within reach, and the mindset Montreal needed to close out Game 4 with a dominant 4–0 win. She also reflects on becoming the first women’s hockey player to win both a gold medal and the Walter Cup in the same year — a historic achievement built on confidence, team trust, and a whole lot of belief.
✨ In this episode, we talk about:
 🏒 Montreal’s dramatic Game 1 comeback with seconds left 
 💪 Laura Stacey’s unforgettable overtime return 
 🔥 Hayley Scamurra’s Walter Cup Final goal and what went through her mind 
 🧠 How players handle pressure when a championship is within reach 
 🥅 Ann-Renée Desbiens’ championship-level performance 
 🏆 What it feels like to lift the Walter Cup 
 👏 The growth of women’s hockey and the city of Montreal embracing its champions 
 🌟 What young players can learn about confidence, resilience, and staying present 
This is more than a championship recap. It’s a front-row seat to history — told by one of the players who lived it. 
📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Hayley Scamurra’s Road to the Walter Cup: What Young Players Can Learn From a Championship Moment
🎧 Listen now, share it with the hockey player in your life, and don’t forget to send us your questions for Hayley at team@ourkidsplayhockey.com.
#OurGirlsPlayHockey #HayleyScamurra #WalterCup #PWHL #MontrealVictoire #GirlsHockey #WomensHockey #YouthHockey #HockeyParents #HockeyMindset #PWHLFinals #OurKidsPlayHockey
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 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
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 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
Have A Topic You Want Us To Cover? Let us know!

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