Our Kids Play Hockey | Hockey Stories & Teamwork Tips

📊 Stats. Love them. Hate them. Ignore them.
No matter where you fall on the spectrum, one thing is certain — statistics are part of hockey, and how you use them can shape your growth as a player.

On this episode of The Ride to the Rink, Mike and Lee dive into one of the most emotional and misunderstood parts of the game: hockey stats. Goals, assists, plus-minus, turnovers, save percentage — they can motivate you, frustrate you, or even expose parts of your game you’d rather not see.

🚨 But here’s the truth: stats aren’t the enemy — misusing them is.

In this conversation, Mike and Lee break down:

• Why stats can reveal both strengths and blind spots
• How to avoid becoming defined by one number
• Why coaches use stats — and how players should respond
• When stats matter… and when they really don’t
• How elite players use uncomfortable stats to improve
• Why being a well-rounded, reliable player matters more than chasing points

🏒 Whether you’re a player who checks the stat sheet daily or one who avoids it completely, this episode will help you rethink how stats fit into your hockey journey — and how to use them as a tool, not a trap.

💡 Remember: the stats are in the past. Your effort, habits, and mindset decide what comes next.

📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Stats Don’t Define You — How Hockey Players Should Really Use Numbers to Get Better

🎙️ Wherever you are on your hockey path, we believe in you. You should too.

 #RideToTheRink #HockeyStats #YouthHockey #HockeyDevelopment #TeamFirst #HockeyMindset #PlayerDevelopment #HockeyParents #HockeyLife

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📬 It’s time to open the mailbag — and these questions go way deeper than you might expect.

In this episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee, Mike, and Christie tackle two listener questions that hit at the heart of youth hockey development — accountability, stats, and how parents can support learning without getting in the way.

First up, a coach asks a question we hear all the time:
👉 Is there a stat that shows how many mistakes lead to goals — and how do we help kids understand that goals aren’t just on the goalie?

From blue line turnovers and unforced mistakes to age-appropriate stat tracking and accountability, this conversation goes far beyond analytics. It’s about teaching the game, not blaming the game — and knowing when to coach skills, when to coach decisions, and when to let players take ownership.

Then, we shift gears to a brand-new hockey family with a 5-year-old who’s obsessed with skating. 🥹
 🏒 When should kids stop using rental skates?
🏒 Do sticks matter at this age?
🏒 How much should parents really invest early on?

This episode is packed with real-world advice, honest perspective, and reminders of what youth hockey is actually about — development, patience, and love for the game.

🎧 Episode Highlights:

• Why every goal is a team mistake, not just a goalie mistake
• The one stat coaches can track at any level (and how to use it properly)
• How turnovers at the blue line shape wins, losses, and learning
• The fine line between reducing mistakes and killing creativity
• What parents of young players should (and shouldn’t) spend money on
• Why rentals hold kids back — and how to upgrade without breaking the bank

💬 Have a question you want answered on a future mailbag episode?
 Email us at [email protected]
or use the link in the episode description.

🏒 Enjoy the ride, enjoy the rink, and thanks for being part of the Our Kids Play Hockey community.

📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: What Stats Really Matter in Youth Hockey — And When to Buy Your Kid Their First Skates

#OurKidsPlayHockey #YouthHockey #HockeyParents #HockeyCoaching #PlayerDevelopment #YouthSports #HockeyMailbag

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🏒 What does a “normal day” look like when you’re a PWHL player, a Team USA Olympian, and right in the middle of a historic season for women’s hockey?

In this mid-season edition of A Day in the Life, we go behind the scenes with Hayley Scamurra as she balances professional hockey, Olympic preparation, travel, recovery, leadership, and the daily grind that fans rarely get to see.

From getting the call that officially made her a Team USA Olympian to turning the page the very next day and preparing for another PWHL game, Hayley opens up about what it really means to stay present, grounded, and competitive in an Olympic year — especially while playing alongside (and against) future Olympic teammates.

💥 In this episode, we cover:

• 🇺🇸 What it felt like to officially make Team USA — and why the celebration is short
• 🏒 Competing in the PWHL during an Olympic season (and why this year is different)
• 🔁 Flipping the switch between teammates and opponents
• 🧠 Staying mentally locked in while ignoring standings and outside noise
• 🛡️ Why penalty killing is a mindset — and a source of pride
• 🔥 How roles, chemistry, and “doing the little things” earn trust at the pro level
• 🥗 Recovery, nutrition, travel, and managing energy in a relentless schedule
• 🌍 What it means to represent your country — every single day

This episode is a masterclass in professional mindset, elite preparation, and team-first hockey, with lessons for players, parents, and coaches at every level of the game.

📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: A Day in the Life (Mid-Season): Inside the Mind of a PWHL Olympian

🎧 Have a question for Hayley?
Email us at [email protected], message us on Instagram, or tap the link in the episode description to text the show — we love hearing from the hockey community.

#OurGirlsPlayHockey #WomensHockey #PWHL #TeamUSA #Olympian #GirlsHockey #DayInTheLife #HockeyMindset #PenaltyKill #WomenInSports

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🚗💬 What if getting better at hockey isn’t about going faster — but about slowing down?

On this Ride to the Rink, we pull one of the most important messages from our Our Kids Play Hockey conversation with Pavel Barber and turn it into a lesson every hockey family needs to hear.

Pavel shares why today’s kids are more skilled than ever, why their ceilings are higher than they realize, and why comparison — especially on social media — can quietly derail confidence and development.

This isn’t about flashy moves or highlight reels. It’s about:
 🏒 Learning where skills actually apply
 🧠 Understanding that failure is part of growth
 ⏳ Trusting the long development timeline
 🔥 Keeping creativity alive while staying disciplined

Pavel reminds young players (and parents) that every viral clip hides thousands of failed reps — and that the only player worth comparing yourself to is who you were yesterday.

Whether you’re headed to practice, school, or just need a quick reset before stepping on the ice, this is a Ride to the Rink conversation that will stick with you long after the drive ends.

🎧 Listen, talk it over, and take this mindset with you onto the ice.

📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Why Slowing Down Might Be the Fastest Way for Young Hockey Players to Improve

#RideToTheRink #OurKidsPlayHockey #PavelBarber #HockeyDevelopment #YouthHockey #HockeyMindset #PlayerDevelopment #TrustTheProcess

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🔥 What if the secret to elite hockey skills isn’t more ice time… but more patience?

In Part 2 of our powerful conversation with Pavel Barber, we go far beyond highlight-reel moves and viral clips to unpack what real skill development actually looks like.

From mastering the basics to embracing boredom, failing forward, and letting go of ego, Pavel delivers one of the most important messages young players, parents, and coaches can hear right now.

💡 In this episode, we dive into:

• Why slowing down is the fastest way to get better
• How off-ice reps (even 10 minutes a day) can transform a player’s game
• The truth about trick shots, social media, and “instant gratification”
• Why boredom, creativity, and free play are development superpowers
• How floorball, multi-sport play, and other interests build better hockey players
• The role of failure, ego management, and grit in long-term success

🏒 Pavel also shares stories from representing Team Canada in floorball, explains why today’s kids have an incredibly high ceiling, and reminds everyone listening that comparison is the fastest way to lose joy in the game.

This isn’t about becoming the next viral sensation — it’s about learning how to love the process, trust the work, and build skills that actually translate to the ice.

📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Why Slowing Down Might Be the Fastest Way to Help Your Child Get Better at Hockey

🎧 If you’re a hockey parent, coach, or young player trying to navigate development in today’s fast-paced world, this episode is a must-listen.

👉 Have questions or thoughts? Click the link in the show notes and let us know — we love hearing from our hockey community.

#OurKidsPlayHockey #PavelBarber #YouthHockeyDevelopment #HockeySkills #DelayedGratification #HockeyParents #HockeyCoaches #LoveTheProcess #MultiSportAthlete

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🇺🇸 Some hockey moments live forever — and some deserve to be remembered forever.

This is one of those special Our Kids Play Hockey announcement episodes that hits right in the heart.

We’re proud to share that Our Kids Play Hockey is officially teaming up with the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team to help support something truly meaningful: the creation of a Monument to a Miracle at Lake Placid — a permanent tribute to one of the greatest moments in sports history.

🏒 Here’s how you can be part of it:

• 😎 We’ve partnered with Hockey Wraparound to release Miracle Sunglasses inspired by the 1980 team
• 🇺🇸 Red, white, and blue details with “1980” on one arm and “Miracle” on the other
• 💙 For every pair sold, $10 is donated directly to the Monument to a Miracle Fund
• 💸 Bonus: You’ll also get $5 off additional Wraparound products

This episode is short, powerful, and all about community — because hockey families always show up when it matters.

👉 Grab your sunglasses, support a historic team, and help ensure this moment is never forgotten.

Thanks for supporting the show, supporting hockey history, and being the best hockey community in the world. We’ll see you at the rink. 🏒

 #OurKidsPlayHockey #MiracleOnIce #1980OlympicTeam #HockeyHistory #LakePlacid #HockeyFamilies #YouthHockeyCommunity #MonumentToAMiracle

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🔥 “We want a team!”
That’s what 17,228 fans shouted inside Capital One Arena — and it perfectly captured what made the PWHL Takeover Tour stop in Washington, D.C. such a historic, emotional, and game-changing moment for women’s hockey.

In this episode of Our Girls Play Hockey, Lee sits down with Hayley Scamurra to recap an unforgettable weekend that was about so much more than a final score.

From a sold-out open practice packed with young girls and families, to record-breaking game-day energy, to a late-game scrum that reminded everyone that hockey is hockey, this takeover was a powerful statement about where the women’s game is right now — and where it’s headed.

🏒 In this episode, we talk about:

• Why PWHL Takeover Tours are so impactful for players, fans, and future markets
• What it felt like to hear fans chanting “We want a team!”
• The importance of visibility — and how one practice changed a youth team’s season
• The reality behind the end-of-game scrum (and why it shouldn’t surprise anyone)
• Alex Ovechkin, NHL support, and what respect across the game really looks like
• Hayley’s emotional homecoming in D.C. and her family’s deep Capitals connection
• How parents, coaches, and organizations can use takeover events to grow the game

💬 This wasn’t just a game. It was a reminder that women’s hockey is here, it’s thriving, and it’s demanding space — loudly.

🎙️ Have a question for Hayley or a topic you want us to cover?
 Email [email protected]
or text us using the link in the episode description — we’d love to hear from you.

📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: The PWHL Takeover Tour in Washington, D.C. Was Bigger Than Hockey

#OurGirlsPlayHockey #PWHL #WomensHockey #TakeoverTour #GrowTheGame #GirlsHockey #HockeyParents #YouthHockey #WomensSports

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🚗💨 Kids, buckle up — this one’s special.

On this episode of The Ride to the Rink, we’re joined by one of the most creative and recognizable puck handlers in the world — Pavel Barber.

If you’ve ever dreamed of dangling like the pros, pulling off trick shots, or making defenders look silly… Pavel is here to tell you what actually matters most when it comes to getting better at hockey.

And spoiler alert: it’s not the tricks.

🏒 In this episode, Pavel shares:

• Why skating and edge work matter more than hands or shooting
• How puck control really works (hint: it’s about options and awareness)
• Why failure isn’t something to avoid — it’s something to chase
• How to manage your ego when trying new skills feels uncomfortable
• When creative moves do make sense — and when they don’t
• A powerful message for kids with big hockey dreams 💙

This is a masterclass in patience, confidence, and trusting the process, delivered in a way every young player can understand.

👊 Kids — listen closely. If Pavel Barber is telling you skating comes first… that’s something worth remembering.

📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: What Pavel Barber Wants Young Hockey Players to Understand About Getting Better

🎧 Take this conversation with you to the rink, the driveway, or the basement — and let it shape how you practice, how you think, and how you grow as a hockey player.

👉 Have fun. Work hard. We believe in you.

#TheRideToTheRink #PavelBarber #YouthHockey #HockeySkills #HockeyDevelopment #EdgeWork #HockeyMindset #FailToSucceed #OurKidsPlayHockey

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🏒 Is creativity in hockey being misunderstood… or mis-taught?

If your player loves skill moves, toe drags, and trick shots — but struggles to know when to use them — this episode is a must-listen.

This week on Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee Elias, Christie Casciano-Burns, and Mike Bonelli are joined by global skills coach and viral hockey creator Pavel Barber for a powerful, thoughtful conversation about skill development, creativity, and application in today’s game.

Pavel pulls back the curtain on what truly matters in player development — and it might surprise you coming from one of the most skilled puck handlers on the planet.

🧠 In this episode, we dive into:

• 🔄 Creativity vs. application — why skill only matters if it solves a problem
• 🏎️ Why skating is still the foundation (yes, even according to Pavel Barber)
• 🎯 How to teach kids when to use moves like toe drags and Michigan attempts
• 🧩 Helping players build their own identity, not just copy what they see online
• ❌ Why labeling moves as “flashy” can actually stunt development
• 🔁 How failure, when done right, accelerates growth and confidence

This conversation is packed with practical insights for parents, coaches, and players navigating modern youth hockey — especially in an era where highlights are everywhere, but understanding often isn’t.

⚠️ Important note: This is Part 1 of a 2-part series. In Part 2, we’ll go deeper into Pavel’s journey as an international athlete, his discipline behind the scenes, and the mindset that separates good players from great ones.

🎧 Listen now — and then bring this conversation to your next ride to the rink.

📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Creativity, Skill, and the Truth About Development: What Pavel Barber Wants Hockey Families to Understand

👉 If you found value in this episode, please rate, review, and share it with another hockey family.
📘 Don’t forget to check out our children’s book When Hockey Stops at WhenHockeyStops.com.

#OurKidsPlayHockey #PavelBarber #HockeyDevelopment #YouthHockey #HockeySkills #CreativeHockey #HockeyParents #PlayerDevelopment #HockeyCoaching

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💥 This is one of the most requested topics we’ve ever received — and for good reason.

Body image. Confidence. Strength. These are conversations that affect almost every girl hockey player and family at some point… yet they’re rarely talked about openly.

In this powerful and honest episode of Our Girls Play Hockey, Lee Elias and former Olympian Hayley Scamurra dive deep into the evolving definition of strength in girls hockey — from youth levels all the way to the pros.

Together, they unpack:

• The body image pressures female athletes face (often starting way earlier than we realize)
• Why the number on the scale is not a measure of performance or worth
• Strength training myths — including the fear of “getting too bulky”
• How social media fuels comparison (and how to protect confidence in a scroll-heavy world)
• Why reframing strength as what your body can do changes everything

Hayley shares her own journey — from struggling to fit into jeans as a kid, to embracing her physical strength as one of her greatest assets on the ice. Lee brings the perspective of a coach, parent, and lifelong hockey advocate, challenging outdated narratives around health, fitness, and confidence.

💬 This episode isn’t just for players.
It’s for parents, coaches, and hockey dads who want to support girls the right way — with empathy, education, and leadership.

📩 We want to hear from you.
 If this episode resonates, email us at [email protected]
or use the text link in the show notes to share your thoughts or questions.

Have fun, work hard, get better — and remember: strong looks different on everyone.

#OurGirlsPlayHockey #GirlsHockey #Confidence #BodyImage #FemaleAthletes #HockeyParents #StrengthTraining #YouthSports

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