Our Kids Play Hockey

We’re closing the book on 2025 with our annual Year in Review—and the numbers are WILD. From 156 episodes (yep—3 per week) to 4,454 minutes of content (74+ hours) and listeners in 100 countries, this show continues to grow because of one thing: the hockey community sharing it.
We also count down the Top 5 episodes of 2025 (plus an honorable mention), talk through the topics parents are clearly searching for most (tryouts, development, myths, and expectations), and pull back the curtain on what happens after we hit “end recording”—including how titles, transcripts, and social clips help families actually find the episodes they need.
And if you’ve ever wondered whether the show is still growing… November + December 2025 were the two biggest months we’ve ever had. Hockey-stick chart. Straight up.
Key Takeaways
Consistency wins: 156 episodes in 2025 and no missed weeks in 6 years
Global reach: listeners in 100 countries and 3,853 cities in 2025
Top cities: Toronto #1, followed by Minneapolis and Chicago
Top 10% on Buzzsprout: driven by listens per episode + community sharing
The search effect is real: the episodes that rank highest are the ones parents need answers to (tryouts, benchmarks, myths)
The Top 5 Episodes of 2025 (Countdown)
#5: Do Early Hockey Stars Stay Ahead? (Ep. 399)
#4: What Skills Should My Kid Have at Their Age? (Ep. 390)
#3: 3 Pieces of Advice Hockey Parents Ask For… and Ignore (Ep. 376)
#2: Debunking Youth Hockey Myths w/ Bruins Performance Coach Kevin Neal (Ep. 358)
#1: The Truth About Tryouts and Evaluations (Ep. 355)
Honorable Mention: The Underappreciated Defenseman (Ep. 343)
Practical Tips for Parents (takeaways from this discussion)
Don’t panic over a 2–3 day tryout window—evaluation happens all season
Use benchmarks as guardrails, not pressure—kids develop at different speeds
When you’re stuck at the rink… search the website + share the episode
Send questions in—some of the best episodes start with a listener email
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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.
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🏒 What does it really take to go from a 9-year-old hockey player with a dream… to an Olympian and professional hockey player?
In this special Our Girls Play Hockey Mailbag Episode (Part 1), hosts Lee Elias and Mike Bonelli are joined by our very own Olympic and professional hockey player Hayley Scamurra to answer your questions — straight from young players, parents, and families across the hockey community.
After posting a simple call for questions, the response was overwhelming. So many thoughtful, curious, and mature questions came in that this mailbag turned into a two-part series. In this episode, we focus on Hayley’s journey — from youth hockey to college, Team USA, and ultimately the pro game.
💬 You’ll hear Hayley answer questions like:
How did she go from a 9-year-old player to an Olympian?
What really separates good players from great ones?
What skills Olympic coaches actually look for (hint: it’s not just goals)
What habit did she have to unlearn to reach the next level?
How important is mindset compared to talent?
Why making mistakes is actually part of becoming elite
✨ This episode is packed with honesty, perspective, and reassurance for young players who feel pressure to be perfect — and for parents navigating the ups and downs of the hockey journey alongside them.
📌 Coming next: Mailbag Part 2 dives into life as a professional hockey player and the current state of women’s hockey — including the PWHL and what the future holds.
🎧 Listen in, take notes, and remind yourself (or your player) that the journey matters just as much as the destination.
📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: From Dreamer to Olympian: What Young Players Can Learn from Hayley Scamurra’s Hockey Journey
#OurGirlsPlayHockey #WomensHockey #GirlsHockey #HockeyJourney #MentalGame #OlympicMindset #PWHL #YouthHockey #HockeyParents
Click 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!

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🚗 What if your best shift actually starts before you step on the ice?
On this episode of The Ride to the Rink, Lee Elias and Mike Bonelli are joined by mindset coach Sandy Cohan to talk about something every player can control — how you prepare mentally on the way to the rink.
Too many players think they can just flip a switch once the puck drops. The truth? Your competitive engine needs to be warmed up before you lace up your skates.
💡 In this ride, we break down:
🧠 Why your brain doesn’t understand “don’t” (and how negative thoughts sneak in)
🔁 How to replace “don’t mess up” with clear, powerful to-do thoughts
🎯 Why choosing a simple daily theme beats focusing on stats or outcomes
⚡ What it really means to be “impossible to ignore”
📈 How to measure gains, not gaps, after every game or practice
🕒 Why champions think in today’s, not seasons
This is a must-listen for players who want to compete harder, parents who want to help without adding pressure, and coaches who care about building confident, resilient athletes.
👊 Wherever you are on your hockey journey — we believe in you. You should too.
Skate hard. Have fun. Get better every day.
📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: The Game Starts Before the Rink — How to Build Your Competitive Mindset Early
#RideToTheRink #HockeyMindset #YouthHockey #MentalPreparation #CompeteEveryDay #HockeyDevelopment #GainsNotGaps
Click 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:
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🧠 What if the most important skill your hockey player needs isn’t taught on the ice?
In this powerful episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee Elias, Christie Casciano-Burns, and Mike Bonelli are joined by Sandy Cohan, founder of Mental Edge Hockey and author of the 99 Rules book series, for a deep, honest, and eye-opening conversation about mindset, confidence, and what it really takes to develop resilient hockey players — and strong humans.
Sandy breaks down why mindset isn’t a “specialty skill,” but the foundation everything else is built on. From youth players struggling with confidence, to parents navigating the balance between protection and pressure, this episode delivers practical insight every hockey family needs.
🏒 In this episode, we discuss:
Why confidence is built, not born
The real difference between belief and confidence
How defining “success” changes everything for young athletes
Why kids don’t need to avoid failure — they need to learn how to get back up
What parents and coaches often get wrong about motivation and grit
How mindset training can (and should) start as early as 6–8 years old
Why hockey is just the vehicle — and character is the destination
📘 Sandy also shares the story behind his 99 Rules Every Athlete Needs to Know and 99 Rules Every Sports Parent Needs to Know books — simple, powerful reminders that resonate far beyond the rink.
If you care about your child’s long-term development, love for the game, and life beyond hockey, this is a must-listen.
🎧 And don’t miss it — Sandy also joins us on The Ride to the Rink for a kid-focused follow-up your players will love.
Listen now and start building confidence from the inside out.
#OurKidsPlayHockey #MentalEdgeHockey #YouthHockeyParents #HockeyMindset #SportsParenting #PlayerDevelopment #ConfidenceAndGrit
Click 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:
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🚨 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 Illinois
Why “competitive balance” is the secret to retention and success
The unique “Peoria Rule” keeping travel fair and affordable
New initiatives linking NIHL with the PWHL and college programs
How alumni like Cammi Granato, Kendall Coyne Schofield, and Abby Murphy continue to inspire
Why 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 #MidwestHockey
Click 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