Our Kids Play Hockey

🧠 What separates a talented hockey player from one a coach trusts in every situation?
Skills may create highlight-reel moments, but hockey IQ influences nearly every second of the game—with or without the puck.
In this episode of Our Girls Play Hockey, Team USA gold medalist and PWHL Walter Cup champion Hayley Scamurra joins Lee Elias for an important conversation about hockey IQ, skill development, anticipation, timing, and learning to see the game before the play unfolds.
Hayley explains why she would choose a player with elite hockey IQ and average skills over one with elite skills and average hockey IQ. She also shares how her understanding of the game helped her adapt to different positions, play with different linemates, thrive on the penalty kill, and become the kind of versatile player coaches can use in almost any situation.
🏒 In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why hockey IQ is more than simply “knowing the game”
The difference between reacting to a play and anticipating it
Why watching complete plays is more valuable than only watching highlights
How timing can be more important than speed around the net
Why disrupting a play can be just as valuable as scoring
How playing other sports can improve spacing, awareness, and decision-making
Why young players should learn to embrace different roles
How coaches can build hockey IQ by asking better questions
What “go hunting” and “go smart” can teach developing players
Why communication is one of the most valuable—and overlooked—hockey skills
Hayley also reflects on her development from a young penalty killer and forechecker to a top-line player, center, Olympian, and dependable utility player. Her story is a reminder that a player’s value is not defined only by goals, assists, or flashy puck skills.
For players: Stay curious, ask questions, watch the entire play, and learn what happens away from the puck.
For coaches and parents: Instead of immediately telling a player what went wrong, ask, “What did you see?” or “What other options were available?”
Those conversations may be where hockey IQ truly begins.
📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Why Hockey IQ May Be a Young Player’s Most Important Skill
🎧 Listen now and share this episode with a player, parent, or coach who wants to understand the game at a deeper level.
This episode is powered by NHL Sense Arena.
Have a question for Hayley or the Our Girls Play Hockey team? 
Email team@ourkidsplayhockey.com.
#OurGirlsPlayHockey #HockeyIQ #GirlsHockey #WomensHockey #YouthHockey #HayleyScamurra #TeamUSA #PWHL #HockeyDevelopment #HockeyParents #HockeyCoaching #GameSense
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Keep your player sharp this summer with NHL Sense Arena. Save $25 on an annual plan with code OKPH at hockey.SenseArena.com/okph
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🏒 What does an NHL scout really want young hockey players to focus on?
According to former NHL player and current NHL scout Patrick Rissmiller, the answer is not complicated: have fun, be coachable, become a great teammate, and enjoy being a kid.
In this episode of The Ride to the Rink, Patrick speaks directly to young athletes about what truly matters during their youth hockey journey. Instead of worrying about statistics, highlight-reel goals, rankings, or constantly doing more, he encourages players to build their love for the game through unstructured play, other sports, family time, and self-driven practice.
Patrick also shares an important reminder for players and parents: lasting motivation cannot be forced. A parent can tell a child to shoot more pucks, attend another clinic, or practice every day—but the desire to improve eventually has to come from the player.
🎧 In this episode, young players will learn:
🏒 Why having fun is an essential part of hockey development
⭐ What NHL scouts value beyond goals and statistics
🤝 Why being coachable and becoming a great teammate matter
🚲 How other sports and childhood activities can help athletes develop
🔥 Why the motivation to improve must come from within
🛑 How taking a day off can protect a player’s love for the game
💭 Why young athletes should feel empowered to use their own voice
Young players, loving hockey does not mean you have to play it every minute of every day. Take the day off. Ride your bike. Play another sport. Spend time with your family. When you return to the rink excited and ready to work, you may discover that the break helped you more than another forced practice ever could.
📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: What an NHL Scout Really Wants Young Hockey Players to Know
Remember: your parents and coaches can support your journey, but the belief and dedication ultimately have to come from you.
We believe in you—but you should believe in yourself, too.
#TheRideToTheRink #YouthHockey #HockeyDevelopment #HockeyMotivation #HockeyKids #NHLScout #PatrickRissmiller #MultiSportAthlete #HockeyParents #BeAGreatTeammate
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 with code OKPH at hockey.SenseArena.com/okph
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🏒 What does an NHL scout really notice—and are youth hockey families focusing on the wrong things?

Former NHL player, development coach, and current Anaheim Ducks scout Patrick Rissmiller joins Lee, Christie, and Mike for an honest conversation about how hockey players actually develop.

Patrick’s path was anything but automatic. He went undrafted, entered professional hockey on a tryout, earned an American Hockey League contract, and eventually built a 13-year professional career that included time with the San Jose Sharks, New York Rangers, Atlanta Thrashers, and Florida Panthers. After retiring, he spent seven seasons as a development coach with the New Jersey Devils before moving into NHL scouting.

His story is a powerful reminder that there is no single timeline—and no guaranteed formula—for success in hockey.

In this episode, Patrick explains why parents should resist the urge to fast-forward development, why young athletes benefit from playing multiple sports, and how patience can become one of a hockey family’s greatest strengths.

You’ll also hear:

🏒 Why doing more hockey does not automatically create a better player
🏒 What scouts evaluate beyond skating speed and point totals
🏒 How hockey sense, competitiveness, character, and versatility separate prospects
🏒 Why players should learn multiple positions instead of specializing too early
🏒 How coaches can create confidence by developing every player
🏒 Why youth hockey wins should never come at the expense of development
🏒 How accepting a different role can lead to more opportunities and ice time
🏒 Why being a great teammate may matter more than families realize
🏒 What Patrick learned after going from an offensive player to an NHL penalty killer
🏒 Why one coach believing in a young athlete can change everything

Patrick also shares memorable moments from his professional career, including earning a contract through a tryout, adapting his game to stay in the NHL, and learning that opportunity often comes to players who are ready to say, “Yes, I can do that.”

This conversation is essential listening for parents, coaches, and players who feel pressure to chase teams, specialize early, or measure development only through goals, rankings, and wins.

The message is simple: Give young players time. Let them explore. Teach them to compete, adapt, and become the kind of teammate every coach wants.
📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: What NHL Scouts Really Look For in Young Hockey Players
🎧 Listen now and share this episode with a hockey parent or coach who needs the reminder that development is a journey—not a race.

#OurKidsPlayHockey #YouthHockey #PatrickRissmiller #HockeyDevelopment #HockeyParents #HockeyCoaching #NHLScout #MultiSportAthlete #HockeyIQ #PlayerDevelopment #YouthSports #HockeyFamily

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 with code OKPH at hockey.SenseArena.com/okph
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🏒 Is your player attending hockey camp—or simply spending more time on the ice?
Hockey camps can be an incredible opportunity for girls to improve their skills, meet new teammates, build confidence, and rediscover their love for the game. But with so many camps available, how can families tell the difference between a meaningful development experience and an expensive week that offers little lasting value?
In this episode of Our Girls Play Hockey, Lee Elias and Olympic gold medalist and PWHL champion Hayley Scamurra break down what players and parents should look for before registering for a hockey camp—and how to make the most of the experience once they arrive.
Hayley also takes listeners behind the scenes of the Scamurra Camp in Buffalo, where she coached alongside her father and created an experience that combined on-ice instruction, off-ice training, mentorship, games, and a family fun skate.
🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:
🏒 How to identify a camp that is truly focused on player development
🚩 Why coach-to-player ratios, pricing, and scheduling can reveal major red flags
💡 The difference between recreational camps and specialized skills camps
📈 What realistic improvement should look like after a week of training
🧠 Why players should leave camp with new tools—not expect an overnight transformation
⏰ How preparation, punctuality, and professionalism affect the camp experience
🤝 Why meeting new players can build confidence, communication, and important life skills
👂 How coachability and constructive criticism help players grow
🌟 What parents should say before dropping their daughter off at camp
The biggest takeaway? A successful camp is not measured by whether a player becomes completely different in five days. It is measured by whether she leaves more knowledgeable, more curious, and better equipped to continue improving.
Encourage your player to arrive early, introduce herself, ask questions, listen closely, and write down what she learns. The best camp experience often begins with a willingness to be coached.
📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: How to Choose the Right Hockey Camp—and Help Your Kid Get the Most From It
Listen now and discover how the right hockey camp can help your player grow on the ice—and far beyond it.
This episode is powered by NHL Sense Arena.
Have a question for Hayley or the Our Girls Play Hockey team? Email team@ourkidsplayhockey.com.
#OurGirlsPlayHockey #GirlsHockey #WomensHockey #YouthHockey #HockeyCamp #HockeyDevelopment #HockeyParents #PlayerDevelopment #GrowthMindset #Coachability #HayleyScamurra
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 with code OKPH at hockey.SenseArena.com/okph
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🚗🏒 What kind of hockey player are you becoming — and what kind of person are you becoming along the way?
On this episode of The Ride to the Rink, powered by NHL Sense Arena, Lee and Mike are joined by former NHL player Doug Smith — a second overall NHL Draft pick and a member of the legendary Miracle on Manchester, one of the greatest playoff comebacks in NHL history.
But today’s message goes far beyond goals, skating, and hockey highlights.
Doug speaks directly to young players about identity, mindset, peer pressure, and the power of choosing who you surround yourself with. His message is simple but powerful: you become what you’re around.
For kids who love hockey, dream big, and spend countless hours training, this episode is a reminder that your identity is bigger than the game. You are not just a hockey player. You are a teammate, a friend, a student, a family member, and a person still learning who you want to become.
In this episode, kids and parents will hear about:
🏒 Why your identity should never be limited to being “just a hockey player”
🧠 How the people around you can shape your mindset, habits, and future
💬 Why communication is a skill you need to practice just like skating or shooting
🚀 How seeking out better players and positive people can help you grow
👨‍👩‍👧 Why parents are part of the village that helps young athletes find their path
🔥 Doug Smith’s advice to young players: “Get faster. The faster you are, the safer you are.”
This is a great episode for young athletes and parents to listen to together on the way to the rink, especially if your player is navigating confidence, peer pressure, team dynamics, or figuring out who they are beyond hockey.
Wherever you are on your hockey journey, we believe in you. You should too.
🎧 Listen now and share this episode with a hockey family who needs the reminder that growth happens both on and off the ice.
📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Doug Smith on Building Your Hockey Identity Beyond the Ice
#TheRideToTheRink #OurKidsPlayHockey #YouthHockey #HockeyParents #DougSmith #NHL #HockeyMindset #YouthSports #HockeyLife #PlayerDevelopment #HockeyConfidence #SportsParenting #NHLsenseArena
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 with code OKPH at hockey.SenseArena.com/okph
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