Our Kids Play Hockey

🏒 Our Kids Play Hockey is growing — and this micro edition is all about YOU.
In this quick community update, Lee shares some exciting new ways hockey families, players, coaches, and listeners around the world can experience, connect with, and support the show.
From video episodes now available on Apple Podcasts to a new and improved way to send fan mail, voicemails, hockey questions, team shout-outs, and future episode ideas, this update is all about making Our Kids Play Hockey even more interactive, personal, and community-driven.
Because at the end of the day, this show has always been built by hockey families — one conversation, one rink, one message, and one shared story at a time.
In this episode, we cover:
🎥 Video on Apple Podcasts
You can now watch Our Kids Play Hockey directly on Apple Podcasts, making it easier than ever to experience the show wherever you listen or watch.
💬 Fan Mail Replies Are Here
The show can now privately reply to listener messages sent through the episode description link, opening the door for better conversations with parents, coaches, and players.
🎙️ Leave Us a Voicemail
Have a question, story, team shout-out, Ride To The Rink moment, or guest question? You can now send it by voice — and maybe even hear it featured in a future episode.
🏒 Help Grow the Hockey Community
Lee shares free and meaningful ways to support the show, including downloading the rink flyer at OurKidsPlayHockey.com, sharing episodes with your team, supporting vetted sponsors, and checking out hockey books created by the hosts.
❤️ A Thank You to Hockey Families Everywhere
After six years of growth, the show continues to thrive because of word of mouth, rink conversations, listener stories, and support from families like yours.
This may be a micro episode, but the message is big: you are the beating heart of Our Kids Play Hockey.
Helpful Links Mentioned:
Visit OurKidsPlayHockey.com to download the rink flyer, send fan mail, and explore more from the Our Kids Play Hockey family.
Check out:
Hockey Never Stops
Twig and Biscuit
The Puck Hog Series

Thank you for listening, watching, sharing, and helping us build better hockey families and better hockey environments.
We’ll see you at the rink.
#OurKidsPlayHockey #YouthHockey #HockeyParents #HockeyFamily #KidsHockey #HockeyCommunity #YouthSports #HockeyPodcast #HockeyCoaches #RideToTheRink #GirlsHockey #GoalieFamilies #HockeyLife
Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!
Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽
Trusted by our kids! Trust it with yours! 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. 
Right now, they’ve got offseason pricing at $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
Have A Topic You Want Us To Cover? Let us know!

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🎥 Most young hockey players watch highlights. The best players? They study the game.
On this episode of The Ride To The Rink, Lee, Christie, and Mike welcome former pro player and youth coach Scott Howes for an important conversation about one of the most overlooked skills in hockey: Hockey IQ.
From learning how to watch games with purpose to breaking down your own shifts on video, Scott shares practical advice every young player can start using immediately — no extra ice time required.
This episode is packed with simple habits that can help players better understand the game, make smarter decisions, and grow confidence on the ice. 🏒
In this episode, we talk about:
 Why watching full games matters more than watching highlights 
 How Wayne Gretzky studied hockey differently 
 What players should actually look for on video review 
 Why “three or four plays before the goal” matter most 
 Questions players should ask coaches after watching film 
 How hockey IQ helps players anticipate instead of react 
 Why fun still matters more than anything else ❤️ 
One of the best lessons from this episode? Great questions lead to great answers. The more curious you are about the game, the more you’ll grow as a player.
Whether you’re heading to practice, a game, or school, this is a must-listen ride for hockey players who want to think the game at a higher level.
🎧 Listen now and start seeing hockey differently.
#TheRideToTheRink #HockeyIQ #YouthHockey #HockeyDevelopment #HockeyLife #HockeyTraining #YouthSports #HockeyPlayers #IceHockey #HockeyParents #PlayerDevelopment #MentalGame #HockeyMindset
Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!
Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽
Trusted by our kids! Trust it with yours! 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. 
Right now, they’ve got offseason pricing at $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
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
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Instagram
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🏒 What if not making the “top team” was actually the best thing that could happen to a young hockey player?
This week on Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee, Christie, and Mike sit down with former pro hockey player and coach Scott Howes for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had about youth hockey development, adversity, confidence, and what really matters in the game.
Scott’s journey is anything but traditional.
He went from playing free house league hockey in downtown Toronto… to being overlooked in the OHL Draft… to carving out his own path through junior hockey, the AHL, and the ECHL. Along the way, he scored one of the most unforgettable highlight-reel goals hockey fans still talk about today.
But this episode isn’t just about the goal.
It’s about:
 ✅ Why early success in hockey guarantees nothing
 ✅ How adversity can become a player’s biggest advantage
 ✅ The dangers of “super teams” and youth hockey pressure
 ✅ Why Hockey IQ matters more than flashy skills
 ✅ How parents accidentally take kids out of the moment
 ✅ What great teammates actually look like
 ✅ Why development matters more than wins at young ages
 ✅ The importance of keeping hockey FUN
Scott shares incredible stories from pro hockey life — the bus trips, healthy scratches, sacrifices, pressure, and mental battles — while also giving parents and coaches a much-needed perspective shift on what youth sports should really be about.
And yes… we finally break down THAT viral goal. 👀
Whether you’re a hockey parent, coach, or player, this episode is packed with perspective, truth, and reminders about why we all fell in love with this game in the first place.
📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Why Hockey Development Isn’t About Winning Young | Scott Howes
🎧 Listen now and share this episode with a hockey family who needs to hear it.
#OurKidsPlayHockey #YouthHockey #HockeyDevelopment #ScottHowes #HockeyParents #HockeyCoaching #AAA Hockey #HockeyIQ #YouthSports #HockeyLife #MentalStrength #HockeyJourney #HockeyPodcast #PlayerDevelopment #HockeyTraining
Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!
Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽
Trusted by our kids! Trust it with yours! 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. 
Right now, they’ve got offseason pricing at $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
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:
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Instagram
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🏒 Three goals. Two minutes and 44 seconds. One historic night for Hayley Scamurra.
In this episode of Our Girls Play Hockey, the crew breaks down Hayley’s incredible PWHL hat trick — the fastest in league history — and turns it into a masterclass for young hockey players looking to score more goals.
But here’s the twist: none of the goals were flashy breakaways or highlight-reel toe drags.
Every single one came from the hardest place to play in hockey: right in front of the net.
🎯 Deflections
 🎯 Screens
 🎯 Timing
 🎯 Hockey IQ
 🎯 Competing in traffic
Hayley, Lee, and Mike dive deep into what really makes elite net-front players successful — from reading cues and tracking pucks to mastering the “tip and turn” technique that creates rebounds, chaos, and goals.
If your player wants to become harder to defend, more valuable to coaches, and more dangerous offensively, this episode is packed with practical lessons they can start using immediately.
💥 Inside this episode:
 Hayley Scamurra’s breakdown of her historic PWHL hat trick 
 Why most goals are scored around the crease 
 The mindset needed to play in traffic 
 How to properly tip and redirect pucks 
 Why timing matters more than simply standing in front 
 How elite players create chaos without the puck 
 Tips for practicing redirects at home and at the rink 
 Why smaller players can still dominate net-front roles 
 The hidden hockey IQ behind screening goalies 
🔥 One of the biggest takeaways?
 Net-front scoring isn’t luck. It’s a skill.
Whether your player is chasing goals, confidence, or a bigger role on their team, this conversation shows why the “dirty areas” are often where games are won.
🎧 Listen now and learn how to become the player coaches trust in the biggest moments.
📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: How Hayley Scamurra’s Historic PWHL Hat Trick Teaches Young Players to Score More Goals
#OurGirlsPlayHockey #HayleyScamurra #PWHL #HockeySkills #HockeyIQ #NetFrontPresence #YouthHockey #GirlsHockey #HockeyTraining #ScoreMoreGoals #HockeyTips #TeamUSAHockey #PWHLHighlights #HockeyDevelopment
Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!
Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽
Trusted by our kids! Trust it with yours! 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. 
Right now, they’ve got offseason pricing at $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
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:
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🏒 Thinking about moving up to the next level in hockey? Before you decide… listen to this.

On this episode of The Ride to the Rink, Christie, Mike, and Lee tackle a question so many young players (and parents) face:
Should you move up to a higher team—or stay where you are?

It’s exciting to be recognized for your talent. But is moving up always the right move?

This conversation is all about helping YOU take ownership of your hockey journey—because your voice matters more than you think.

🔑 In this episode, we talk about:

-Why confidence and fun should guide your decisions
-How to know if you're truly ready for the next level
-The importance of speaking up and advocating for yourself
-Why being a leader on your current team can be just as valuable
-What you’re doing away from the rink that really drives improvement

💡 You’ll also hear a powerful reminder:
You don’t have to change teams to get better—you just have to stay committed to getting better every day.

🎯 The bottom line:
There’s no “one right path” in hockey. Whether you stay or move up, the best decision is the one that helps you grow, stay confident, and love the game.

So ask yourself:
👉 Am I happy where I am right now?
📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Should Kids Play Up in Hockey? How to Make the Right Development Decision

💬 Share this episode with a teammate or parent who needs to hear it—and keep the conversation going on your next ride to the rink.

#RideToTheRink #YouthHockey #HockeyDevelopment #HockeyParents #ConfidenceInSports #HockeyJourney #WorkHardHaveFun #DreamBig #YouthSports
Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!
Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽
Trusted by our kids! Trust it with yours! 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. 
Right now, they’ve got offseason pricing at $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
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