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Breaking the Ice
Breaking the Ice episodes
- Never Underestimate What You Bring to a Team with Hali Laxdal
Hali Laxdal, wife of Derek Laxdal, who is the Head Coach for the Coachella Firebirds in the AHL, joins me today on Breaking the Ice! Hali and Derek have spent 40 hockey seasons together and have moved a total of 51 times!
In this episode we chat about:
- Raising kids through constant moves, uncertain contracts and starting over.
- Making each new place feel like home, even when it’s temporary.
- The transition from player’s wife to coach’s wife and how their marriage evolved with hockey over the years
- Financial stress, sacrifice and the side of hockey life people rarely see.
- Bringing team families together and why wives deserve to feel included.
and SO much more!
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1 hr 16 min - Life 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 - Identity, 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!
Check out Well Inspired Travels
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Episode Sponsors
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1 hr 10 min - Say 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 - Behind 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 - Mental 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
Get 20% off your Violent Gentlemen order with the code BREAKING20
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Support Jordan and Patrik's Non Profit: From Us to You
Mental Health Resources
51 min - You 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!
Get 20% OFF Your VIOLENT GENTLEMEN ORDER with the code BREAKING20 at check out!
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1 hr 10 min - When 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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Support Elle's business/follow on Instagram: Peach Lab Charleston
LINKS:
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1 hr 15 min - Say 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 - Goodbye 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
About Breaking the Ice
From the publisher's feed
Breaking the Ice is the podcast sharing the real stories behind life in professional hockey!
Each week, you'll hear honest conversations with hockey wives, girlfriends, coaches' wives, and the women who navigate the unique realities of this lifestyle. From moving across the world and raising families to marriage, motherhood, identity, mental health, and everything in between, these are the conversations that happen beyond the rink.
Whether you're living the hockey life yourself or simply curious about the people behind the game, welcome to our community!