Breaking the Ice

By breakingtheicepodSociety & Culture Sports Relationships Hockey

Breaking the Ice episodes

August 26Life Abroad, Building a Career + Saying Goodbye to Pro Hockey with Lo Carr
Lo Carr, wife of Kevin Carr, who finished last season in Nottingham, England in the EIHL.
In this episode we chat about:
In this episode, we talk about:
How Lo and Kevin met in college, lost touch and unexpectedly found their way back to each other years later
Their experience living and playing hockey in England, Germany, Norway and Scotland
Learning to adapt to new countries, teams and communities season after season
Lo’s “say yes” mentality and how it shaped her experience living abroad
Building and maintaining her own career while moving internationally for hockey
Finding remote jobs and her advice for hockey partners trying to do the same
The emotions that come with knowing your final hockey season is actually your final season
Going out on your own terms versus having the game make the decision for you
Lo’s biggest advice after years in the hockey world: say yes, embrace where you are, and make the most of every season
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54 min
July 29Identity, Burnout and Building Chapter Two with Lauren Pronger
This week, I'm joined by Lauren Pronger, wife of Chris Pronger, who is a NHL Hall of Famer. Lauren is a entrepreneur, certified Integrative Nutrition Coach, bestselling author, founder of Super Well and Well-Inspired Travels!
Lauren shares the honest, often unseen side of life behind professional hockey. From meeting Chris at the start of his NHL career to navigating multiple moves, raising three children, and eventually facing his career-ending concussion, she opens up about the identity shifts, burnout, and rebuilding that followed.
One of my favorite parts of this conversation is Lauren's reminder that supporting your spouse and building something of your own are not mutually exclusive. Whether you're in the middle of the hockey grind, preparing for retirement, or simply wondering what's next for you, this episode is full of wisdom, encouragement, and practical advice.
In This Episode We Cover:
Why every hockey wife should nurture an identity outside of the game
How Lauren and Chris first met and built a life together through hockey
Navigating the mental load of motherhood during the hockey season
The devastating impact of Chris's career-ending concussion on their family
Lauren's experience with severe burnout and what finally helped her recover
How she turned a passion for travel into a successful luxury wellness business
Preparing for life after professional sports before retirement arrives
Raising children in the spotlight of professional athletics
Why investing in yourself ultimately benefits your marriage and family

If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love if you'd subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another hockey wife or sports family who could use this conversation.
Follow Breaking the Ice on Instagram @breakingtheicepod for more stories from behind the scenes of professional hockey, and be sure to connect with Lauren to learn more about her wellness journey and businesses.
Follow Lauren Pronger on Instagram + her website!
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1 hr 10 min
July 15Say Yes to Europe with Rachael Czarnik
Rachael Czarnik, wife of Austin Czarnik, who plays in Lausanne, Switzerland, joins me today on Breaking the Ice!
In this episode, we cover:
Making long-distance work during the early years of professional hockey
Why they chose Switzerland over the uncertainty of the AHL/NHL lifestyle
Raising young children abroad and creating stability through constant change
What to know and what to pack before making the move overseas
The biggest culture shocks after arriving in Europe
Building community in a new country
Processing the loss of her mother
Giving birth in Switzerland and why the experience exceeded every expectation
Rachel's advice for families considering taking the leap overseas
and so much more! This is such a great conversation.

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1 hr 8 min
June 17Behind the Net: Lumberyard Edition with Brittany Wedgewood
Brittany Wedgewood, wife of Scott Wedgewood, who is the goalie for the Colorado Avalanche joins me back on Breaking the Ice! Brit is no stranger to the podcast and I am so excited for you to listen in for this conversation.
In this episode we chat about:
Life updates, more stability in Colorado, and playoff run emotions
Behind the scenes as a goalie family during high pressure moments
Dealing with social media negativity and the impact of sports betting culture
The realities and misconceptions of life as a hockey wife
Building a support system through the hockey community
Navigating motherhood with two young children and finding balance
Hockey life with pets, constant moves, and the everyday chaos of hockey life
Favorite hockey cities and what makes different organizations stand out
The importance of veteran leadership, community, and team culture
and as always, so much more!
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1 hr 12 min
May 06Mental Health, Uncertainty and Hockey Life BTS with Jordan Laine
Today on Breaking the Ice, I am joined by Jordan Laine, wife of Patrik Laine, who plays for the Montreal Canadiens, and we have a conversation about grief, mental health, and the constant in between. Jordan opens up about losing her mom at 14, navigating this life alongside her husband, and how those experiences led her to co-found with her husband From Us to You.
In this episode we talk about:
Life before hockey and holding onto your identity
Grief and how it shapes you long-term
The mental load that comes with this lifestyle
The reality of trades, uncertainty, and constant change
Supporting a partner while managing your own mental health
Turning personal experiences into something that helps others
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Mental Health Resources
51 min
April 22You Can Do Hard Things with Carley Carrick
Carley Carrick, wife of Sam Carrick, who plays for the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL joins me today on Breaking the Ice! It was so fun connecting with her IRL after chatting back and forth for years!
In this episode we chat about:
How the hockey life pushes you out of your comfort zone and shapes your personal growth
Navigating major life transitions, pregnancies during call ups and send downs and with young kids
What a NHL housing letter is and what it symbolizes when you get one
What the NY Rangers set up looks like for the players and families
Managing solo roadtrips and the logistics and mental load of trades with kids
The hockey community and the community you build in the city you play in
Starting over in the middle of the season and how she encourages herself to keep on keepin on!
and so much more!
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1 hr 10 min
April 01When The Hockey Life Stops Feeling Like a Dream with Elle Mingoia
Elle Mingoia, wife of Trevor Mingoia, who finished his last professional hockey season playing in Valerenga, Norway, joins me on the podcast today. This episode is real, raw and vulnerable and an episode where I know a lot of women will feel heard.
We chat about:
Having kids adds a whole new layer to hockey decisions
The mental load of hockey life (on and off the ice)
How the business side of hockey is changing for families: Logistics, Needs and being told one thing and showing up to another
The uncertainty of what comes next after hockey
Why no one really prepares you for retirement
The identity shift that comes with this lifestyle
Thinking about life beyond hockey… before you have to
and so much more! I can't wait for you guys to listen to this episode. If you are struggling in this lifestyle, please reach out or confide in someone you trust. You are not alone!

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LINKS:
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1 hr 15 min
February 18Say Yes to the Adventures with Yakira Gill
Yakira Gill, wife of Sahir Gill, who plays in Hannover Germany in the Del3, joins me on the podcast! Over the past 8 years in Europe, Yakira has such a positive perspective about their hockey journey and this is a must listen if you need a little inspo to make the best of it!
In this episode we chat about:
What her and her family ask for from teams when making a decision of where to sign
Finding joy in the small moments
The European Hockey experience and what that has been like for her and her three kids
First year culture shock and the adjustment period
Her birth experiences in Europe vs. North America
Birth Advice for those giving birth abroad
and so much more!

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1 hr 1 min
February 04Goodbye Europe, Hello North America....Again with Devyn Dodero
Buckle up. Today is the day my solo episode is out and I am catching you up you up to speed on my life. This episode is HONEST. This isn't a universal episode, or an episode where I am speaking for everyone. It's simply me sharing my truth. Whenever I record these solo episodes, I always listen back and think there are more things I wish I said or described! But I sat down one night during an away game, and shared my truth!
In this episode I am chatting about:
Why we originally went overseas and what drew us to hockey there
Walking through our Euro journey
What I enjoy about the lifestyle over there
Why we made the decision to be done with Europe
Loneliness abroad and how that deeply affected my mental health
Sharing our conversations about what life may look like after hockey
Online noise about the hockey life
the ECHL strike over Christmas
How I am staying grounded and what I am focusing on with a crazy North American hockey schedule
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55 min
January 07Navigating Unpredictability, 3 under 3, and What Really Matters in the Hockey World with Caitlyn Mantha
Today on Breaking the Ice, I am joined by Caitlyn Mantha, wife of Anthony Mantha, who plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL! In this episode we chat about:
Navigating Unpredictability in this lifestyle: trades, moves and what they do every season with their living arrangements
Flexibility and her roll with it attitude for surviving constant change
How they prioritize and focus on their relationship throughout the hockey season
Solo parenting and long roadtrips
How she has evolved throughout her years in the hockey lifestyle
and so much more!

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51 min

About Breaking the Ice

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Breaking the Ice is the podcast sharing the real stories behind life in professional hockey!

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Breaking the Ice

Breaking the Ice episodes

About Breaking the Ice