Our Kids Play Hockey

🚨 How do you grow a girls hockey league from a handful of teams to one of the largest in the country?This week on Our Girls Play Hockey, hosts Lee Elias and Hayley Scamurra sit down with Bob Apter, President of the Northern Illinois Hockey League (NIHL) — an organization now home to 75 girls travel teams across five states and counting.From humble beginnings to a multi-state powerhouse, Bob shares the inside story of how NIHL became a model for competitive balance, accessibility, and innovation in youth hockey. You’ll hear how creative ideas — like the “Peoria Rule” that makes travel more affordable and charm bracelet championships that celebrate every player’s journey — are reshaping the culture of girls hockey.💡 Highlights include:The origin story of NIHL’s girls division — and how it scaled beyond IllinoisWhy “competitive balance” is the secret to retention and successThe unique “Peoria Rule” keeping travel fair and affordableNew initiatives linking NIHL with the PWHL and college programsHow alumni like Cammi Granato, Kendall Coyne Schofield, and Abby Murphy continue to inspireWhy now is the best time ever to start or grow a girls hockey program👀 Whether you’re a parent, coach, or player — this episode is full of lessons on what it takes to build a thriving, inclusive hockey community.📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: How the NIHL Built One of the Largest Girls Hockey Leagues in America🎧 Tune in, share with your team, and keep growing the game!#GirlsHockey #YouthSports #PWHL #NIHL #CammiGranato #KendallCoyneSchofield #AbbyMurphy #OurGirlsPlayHockey #HockeyDevelopment #GrowTheGame #MidwestHockeyClick To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽Heading into 2026, hockey families are asking: How do we get better? More ice time isn’t always realistic — but smarter training is. Sense Arena uses VR and mixed reality to build hockey IQ, confidence, and decision-making for skaters and goalies at their own pace.🎯 Visit SenseArena.com/OKPH and use code OKPH to get 50% off plus $25 off an annual plan or headset bundle.Have 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

🚗💨 What if not being “identified” as a top player early… actually worked in your favor?On this episode of The Ride to The Rink, Lee Elias and Mike Bonelli are joined by their good friend Matt Dumouchelle, creator of Hockey Factories and a global student of hockey development. Matt has traveled the world studying how different countries develop players — and what he’s learned challenges a lot of the North American mindset around early selection, elite teams, and “being picked.”Together, they dive into one of the most important messages young players and families can hear:👉 Being selected at 10, 12, or 14 doesn’t determine how good you’ll be — but your habits, mindset, and effort absolutely will.🔥 In this episode, you’ll learn:Why European hockey development focuses on developing everyone, not just early standoutsWhy being cut from a team is not the end of the roadHow work ethic, attitude, and energy outlast early talentWhy your role as a player will (and should) change every yearHow playing different positions builds hockey IQ and long-term successWhy consistency and commitment matter more than highlights🏒 Whether you’re an 8-year-old just starting out, a teenager chasing your next opportunity, or a parent wondering how to support your child through the ups and downs — this episode is packed with perspective, reassurance, and motivation.💡 Remember: You don’t have to be the best player right now. You just have to keep showing up and getting better.🎧 Buckle up and enjoy the ride.📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Youth Hockey Development: Why Early Selection Doesn’t Define Success #TheRideToTheRink #YouthHockey #HockeyDevelopment #HockeyMindset #LongTermDevelopment #TrustTheProcess #HockeyParents #YouthSports #PlayerDevelopment #HockeyLifeClick To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽Heading into 2026, hockey families are asking: How do we get better? More ice time isn’t always realistic — but smarter training is. Sense Arena uses VR and mixed reality to build hockey IQ, confidence, and decision-making for skaters and goalies at their own pace.🎯 Visit SenseArena.com/OKPH and use code OKPH to get 50% off plus $25 off an annual plan or headset bundle.Have 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

🏒 Are we building great hockey teams… or just chasing superstars way too early?In this episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee Elias and Mike Bonelli are joined once again by hockey development consultant and writer Matt Dumouchelle for a deep, thoughtful, and at times uncomfortable conversation sparked by the World Junior Hockey Championship.After watching Canada eliminated by Czechia for the third straight year, Matt shared a post that stopped a lot of people in their tracks — and it raised a question every hockey parent, coach, and administrator needs to hear:👉 What if smaller hockey nations aren’t developing better players — but better teams?With fewer resources, fewer rinks, and far fewer registered players, countries like Czechia, Finland, Sweden, and Latvia continue to punch above their weight on the world stage. Meanwhile, North America pours massive resources into identifying and developing a very small percentage of players at increasingly younger ages.This episode dives into:The difference between team development vs. early superstar identificationWhy many European models are forced to develop every kid longerThe hidden cost of early selection, constant movement, and “elite” labelsWhy hunger, cohesion, and shared identity still matter in modern hockeyHow youth coaches and organizations can shift focus without abandoning competitivenessWhat parents should actually expect at each age level — and why benchmarks matter💡 This is not a Canada vs. Europe debate. It’s a conversation about how we grow the game, keep kids playing, and help more players reach their potential — on and off the ice.If you care about development, culture, and the future of youth hockey, this one’s a must-listen.🎙️ Listen. Reflect. Share the conversation.📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Are We Developing Hockey Players Too Early? Lessons from World Juniors & European Models#OurKidsPlayHockey #YouthHockey #HockeyDevelopment #WorldJuniors #TeamOverTalent #PlayerDevelopment #HockeyParents #CoachingYouthHockey #GrowTheGameClick To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽Heading into 2026, hockey families are asking: How do we get better? More ice time isn’t always realistic — but smarter training is. Sense Arena uses VR and mixed reality to build hockey IQ, confidence, and decision-making for skaters and goalies at their own pace.🎯 Visit SenseArena.com/OKPH and use code OKPH to get 50% off plus $25 off an annual plan or headset bundle.Have 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

💭 Do you ever feel guilty for missing hockey? Missing a practice for school. Saying no to a tournament. Choosing family time, another sport, or just a much-needed break. If that knot in your stomach feels familiar, this episode is for you.In this powerful conversation, Lee Elias and Hayley Scamurra tackle a topic that players, parents, and even coaches experience — but rarely talk about out loud: the guilt of not always being at hockey.From youth hockey pressures to elite-level perspective, Lee and Hayley unpack why this guilt exists, where it comes from, and how it can quietly lead to burnout if left unchecked. They also share practical advice for players and parents on how to communicate with coaches, recognize signs of overload, and create healthier expectations around commitment and balance.✨ In this episode, we cover:Why missing hockey doesn’t mean you care lessThe difference between commitment and burnoutHow family, school, and other interests actually help developmentWhat healthy communication with coaches really looks likeSigns your player may need rest — physically and mentallyWhy guilt shouldn’t be the driver in youth sports decisionsThis episode is a must-listen for families navigating packed schedules, emotional pressure, and the belief that hockey must always come first. Because sometimes, the healthiest choice is stepping away — and that’s okay.🎧 Listen in, reflect, and let us know what resonated with you.📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Is It Okay to Miss Hockey? Navigating Guilt, Balance, and Burnout in Girls Hockey📩 Have a topic you want us to tackle? Email us at [email protected] or click the link in the show notes to submit your question.#OurGirlsPlayHockey #YouthHockey #HockeyParents #GirlsHockey #SportsParenting #AthleteWellbeing #HockeyLife #AvoidBurnoutClick To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽Heading into 2026, hockey families are asking: How do we get better? More ice time isn’t always realistic — but smarter training is. Sense Arena uses VR and mixed reality to build hockey IQ, confidence, and decision-making for skaters and goalies at their own pace.🎯 Visit SenseArena.com/OKPH and use code OKPH to get 50% off plus $25 off an annual plan or headset bundle.Have 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

🧠 What if your thoughts and emotions were actually your biggest teammates?On this episode of The Ride to The Rink, hosts Lee Elias and Mike Bonelli are joined live from Sweden by sports psychology experts Johan Fallby and Henrik Cronebäck for a powerful conversation just for young hockey players.Together, they break down simple, practical mental fitness tools kids can use:On the way to practice 🚌Before a big game 🏒Even before a test at school 📚💡 You’ll learn why feeling nervous is completely normal — and how to use those feelings to your advantage instead of fighting them.🔑 Key takeaways for players:Why thoughts and emotions are your friends, not something to avoidThe SOAL method (Stop, Observe, Accept, Let Go) for managing nerves and pressureHow mental training is just as important as skating, shooting, and puck skillsA simple “Top Three” nightly habit that boosts confidence, well-being, and sleep👨‍👩‍👧 Parents, this one’s for you too — these tools work for kids and adults.🎒 Two golden nuggets. One short ride. Tools you can use for the rest of your hockey journey — and life.🏒 No matter where you’re at on your journey, we believe in you. You should too. Skate hard. Get better. Have fun.📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Mental Strength for Young Hockey Players: Simple Tools to Build Confidence Before the Game#TheRideToTheRink #MentalFitness #YouthHockey #HockeyMindset #MentalStrength #SportsPsychology #GrowthMindset #HockeyKids #ConfidenceBuildingClick To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽Heading into 2026, hockey families are asking: How do we get better? More ice time isn’t always realistic — but smarter training is. Sense Arena uses VR and mixed reality to build hockey IQ, confidence, and decision-making for skaters and goalies at their own pace.🎯 Visit SenseArena.com/OKPH and use code OKPH to get 50% off plus $25 off an annual plan or headset bundle.Have 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