Our Kids Play Hockey | Hockey Stories & Teamwork Tips

This week on the Wraparound Roundtable, we sit down with Danny Bdzoch, the creative mind behind DB16 Media, known for his viral 711 jersey shoot, custom gear concepts, and wildly unique content that’s capturing the spirit of hockey one post at a time.

Danny shares how a Christmas GoPro turned into a content career, why authenticity beats algorithm, and how he balances fun, fandom, and originality — all while fielding DMs from major brands and fans begging for his custom jerseys.

📌 In this episode:

• The spark behind DB16 Media’s rise — and that double-ended stick
• Behind the viral 711 shoot (and what the fire department had to do with it)
• Why doing it “for the views” isn’t the key to long-term success
• The design process behind his one-off jerseys
• How Danny deals with the flood of DMs and negativity
• What he hopes young players and creators take from his journey

🎁 GIVEAWAY:

This week’s prize:

🧊 Green Biscuit™ + Puckaround™ + BladeShade™ Sunglasses (Danny’s pick!)

🎯 2 episodes per week = 2 chances to win

🎄 10 total episodes = 10 shots at our massive grand prize (including a Sparx sharpener!)

🛒 Enter now at hockeyneverstops.com!

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

💥 Is Women’s Hockey Becoming a Full-Contact Sport? Let’s Talk About It.

In today’s episode of Our Girls Play Hockey, Lee and PWHL/Team USA forward Hayley Scamurra dive into one of the most talked-about topics in the sport right now: physicality, checking, and the evolution of competitive contact in women’s hockey.

With the PWHL playing faster and more physical than ever, parents and coaches everywhere are asking:
➡️ Should girls start learning how to hit earlier?
➡️ What counts as competitive contact?
➡️ Is checking coming to youth or international play?

Hayley brings real on-ice experience from the pro game, comparing PWHL physicality, NCAA standards, international rules, and even her time playing in Canada. Together, she and Lee break down how the women’s game is changing — and what it means for young players coming up today.

🔥 In This Episode:

• What “competitive contact” really means in today’s women’s game
• Why the PWHL is already playing near full-checking hockey
• The difference between PWHL, NCAA, and IIHF rules
• Why learning to receive a hit is just as important as giving one
• Why younger players hesitate physically — and how to help them
• Drills and coaching philosophies to safely introduce physical play
• The future of checking in women’s hockey: is change coming?

#WomensHockey #PWHL #GirlsHockey #HockeyParents #YouthHockey #HockeyDevelopment #CheckingInHockey #CompetitiveContact #TeamUSA #HayleyScamurra

Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!

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

🎙️ Ever felt like there are too many voices on your child’s hockey bench?
This mailbag episode might hit close to home. Lee, Christie, and Mike dive into a letter from a parent-coach navigating a situation many families know all too well — four coaches on the bench, nonstop yelling during games, and a sidelined head coach who isn’t guiding the staff. The result? Chaos, confusion, and kids who don’t know who to listen to.

In this honest and relatable conversation, our hosts unpack:
 ✨ Why “one voice behind the bench” is crucial for development
✨ How yelling instructions at kids on the ice actually makes them play worse
✨ What great coaching actually looks like at the 8U–10U level
✨ How assistant coaches can support without stepping on toes
✨ Why ego — yes, ego — is at the center of most youth hockey conflicts
✨ Simple steps teams can take this week to restore calm and clarity
✨ Why the best coaches (even in the NHL!) coach through relationships, not volume

Lee also shares personal stories about coaching roles, Christie highlights the importance of communication, and Mike brings real-world experience on how to structure a bench so kids thrive—not freeze.

If you’re a parent, an assistant coach, or the head coach trying to manage your staff… this episode is your playbook. 🏒

👉 Have a question for a future mailbag episode? Send it to [email protected]
We love answering real questions from real hockey families.

📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Why One Voice Matters: Fixing Over-Coaching and Bench Chaos in Youth Hockey

🔁 Like the episode? Share it with your team, your coaches, or your hockey board.
Your five-star reviews help the show reach more families who need these conversations.

#youthhockey #hockeyparents #hockeycoaching #hockeydevelopment #ourkidsplayhockey #benchmanagement #coachingtips #positivecoaching

Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!

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

This one’s for the hockey gearheads and budget-savvy parents! In this episode, Lee introduces Mode Hockey, a brand creating elite-level sticks specifically built for youth players. With correct flex, shaft size, and kid-friendly curves, these true one-piece sticks are ideal for mites to intermediates. And right now, it’s BOGO on all sticks—no code needed!

🪄 Pro-quality sticks without the pro price tag.
 🔗 Visit: ModeHockey.com

Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!

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

Transform your hockey home setup with this incredible Black Friday deal from Ultimate Hockey Fans! From custom ceiling fans to lamps and wall art, these one-of-a-kind heirlooms bring hockey fandom to life. Lee highlights how his own family uses these amazing pieces and shares an exclusive 35% off code (UHF35)—the deepest discount they’ve ever offered!

🏒 Light up your home like a true hockey fan.
 🔗 Visit: UltimateHockeyFans.com

🔑 Use Code: UHF35

Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!

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

Looking for the ideal hockey gift for a young player or new hockey family? In this micro-episode, Lee introduces Twig & Biscuit: Learn to Play Hockey, an award-winning children’s book co-authored with Paul Cohen. Perfect for ages 4–8, this beautifully illustrated book walks new players through getting dressed for the game. Plus, discover bonus merch like puck lamps and equipment checklists—only at TwigBiscuit.com!

🎁 Support small businesses AND the show this season!
 🔗 Visit: TwigBiscuit.com

Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!

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

Get ready to protect your sticks and your wallet this holiday season! In this special episode, Lee Elias shares a limited-time deal from Hockey Wraparound, the industry leader in off-ice stick protection. For four days only, you can get 25% off all Wraparound and Green Biscuit products—no code needed! Learn how this family-owned business is helping players train smarter and save money, and how supporting it helps keep Our Kids Play Hockey going strong.

🔗 Visit: HockeyWrapAround.com

Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!

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

🍁 This week, we’re giving thanks — for YOU, our listeners, our incredible hockey community, and the five amazing years of Our Kids Play Hockey! Join hosts Lee Elias, Christy Casciano-Burns, and Mike Bonelli for a heartwarming Thanksgiving special that’s all about gratitude, laughter, and celebrating how far this podcast (and our hockey families) have come.

In this special holiday edition, the team shares:
 ✨ Reflections on five years of growing the OKPH community
 ✨ Heartfelt gratitude for listeners, guests, and hockey parents everywhere
 ✨ A behind-the-scenes peek at the amazing crew (shoutout to producer Katelynn, editor Xavier, and Our Girls Play Hockey co-host Haley Scamurra!)
✨ Why the hockey community means so much — and what keeps them inspired week after week

Plus — a fun reminder to check out the Wraparound Roundtable Giveaway happening every Wednesday, and some tips for surviving the youth hockey holiday tournament chaos!

So grab a slice of pie (or your travel coffee mug for the next rink run) and spend this Thanksgiving with your extended hockey family.

📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: 🍂 A Season of Thanks — and Hockey!

🦃 Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Our Kids Play Hockey!

 #OurKidsPlayHockey #HockeyFamily #YouthHockey #ThanksgivingEpisode #Gratitude #HockeyParents #HockeyPodcast #HockeyLife #OKPH #HockeyCommunity

Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!

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

This week, Our Kids Play Hockey is taking a brief break from the Wraparound Roundtable giveaway series to celebrate the holiday season and encourage our community to support small and medium-sized hockey businesses.

While there’s no weekly giveaway this week, the grand prize is still on its way, and the full series continues soon!

🎁 Holiday Shoutouts:

• HockeyWrapAround.com
  – The original wraparound blade protector.
• TwigBiscuit.com
  – Our brand-new youth book series, perfect for new hockey families and a great holiday gift!

💬 Whether you're shopping Black Friday or Cyber Monday, your support of hockey businesses makes a real impact on our community. Thanks for being part of the Our Kids Play Hockey family—we'll be back with a full episode soon!

Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!

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

🔥 Is “a hockey-life balance” even real—or is it just about priorities?

This week on Our Girls Play Hockey, Lee Elias, Mike Bonelli, and PWHL star Hayley Scamurra dig into one of the biggest questions families face: how do young athletes juggle hockey, school, family, and downtime without burning out?

From missed school dances and long road trips to the reality of puberty and injuries, Hayley shares her honest experience growing up in hockey—and what she wishes she knew about balance, rest, and resilience along the way.

🎯 In this episode, we cover:

• What “balance” really looks like for elite athletes
• Why priority balance may be more realistic than “life balance”
• The role parents play in guiding (not forcing) motivation
• Warning signs of burnout every parent and coach should watch for
• How routines and habits build long-term success
• Unique challenges girls face during puberty and how coaches can support them

Whether you’re a player, parent, or coach, this is a can’t-miss discussion on what it really takes to grow in hockey—and in life.

👉 Listen now, share with your hockey community, and let us know your thoughts!

📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: The Truth About Hockey Life Balance (and Why It Might Not Exist)

#GirlsHockey #YouthHockey #HaileyScamurra #HockeyParenting #HockeyLifeBalance #PWHL

Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!

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