Our Kids Play Hockey | Hockey Stories & Teamwork Tips

Have you checked out the Rivalry Series yet?

In this episode of The Ride To The Rink, Sheri and Lee dive into the growing excitement around women’s hockey and the impact of watching Team USA and Canada face off in their annual Rivalry Series.

They explore how USA Hockey is building the sport’s fanbase through outreach events like “try hockey for free” sessions and meet-and-greets with Olympians, making hockey more accessible and inspiring the next generation of fans.

With the latest Rivalry Series game held at the Maverik Center in Salt Lake City, this nearly 40-year-old USA-Canada rivalry is now one of the oldest in hockey, even surpassing some men’s rivalries.

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Key Discussion Points

- Intense USA vs Canada Game Highlights

- Growing Women's Hockey Fanbase

- Importance of Experiencing Games Live

- USA Hockey Outreach Events

- Utah's Emerging Hockey Market

- Historical USA-Canada Rivalry

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Are you raising a future sports star?

John O'Sullivan offers his insights into nurturing confident, competitive athletes and discusses his upcoming book "The Champion Sports Parent: Practical Wisdom for Raising Confident, Competitive, Mentally Tough Athletes." 

Discover the significance of self-awareness for parents, as John emphasizes examining personal motivations in youth sports. Learn how gratitude can transform the sports experience for both parents and athletes, fostering a positive environment. Explore techniques to help your child develop a healthy inner dialogue and mental resilience. 

Finally, John shares his vision of an ideal game day, where support triumphs over pressure, ensuring a fulfilling experience for your young athlete.

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0:00 Intro

1:12 Introduction of John O'Sullivan

3:11 The Champion Sports Parent Book

5:15 Traits of a Champion Sports Parent

9:03 Detachment from Control

12:33 Book Structure and Content

16:25 Coaching Conversations

20:50 Parental Gratitude and Communication

28:35 Gratitude Practices

34:13 Inner Dialogue and Self-Esteem

41:17 Parental Pressure and Youth Sports

47:58 Reflective Questions for Parents

55:26 Trust and Consistency

1:00:07 Ideal Game Day for Parents

1:04:23 Developing the Human and the Athlete

1:06:49 Closing Remarks

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Are you missing out by focusing on just one sport? 

This episode of The Ride To The Rink explores why playing multiple sports can enhance long-term athletic development and enjoyment. Kevin Shier of TOP Sports shares insights on managing the challenges of balancing various sports and activities, offering practical advice on communicating with coaches and prioritizing passions. 

The conversation highlights the importance of playing sports for the love of the game, not external pressures, ensuring that fun remains at the forefront. 

The hosts also discuss the benefits of exploring diverse interests, such as music and theater, to cultivate well-rounded individuals. Mike Bonelli emphasizes the power of modern resources, encouraging young athletes to utilize technology and information on nutrition, training, and sports science to boost their physical and mental well-being.

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0:00 Intro

0:08 Christy's Son's Dilemma

3:04 Advice for Multi-Sport Kids

5:19 Importance of Playing Multiple Sports

7:30 Advice to Young Mike Benelli

9:34 Conclusion

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In this week's episode of the Wraparound Roundtable, host Lee MJ Elias welcomes Anthony Morra, CEO of BladeTech Hockey, to discuss the company’s latest innovations. 

BladeTech has been pushing the envelope in the hockey industry, specifically with the launch of their highly-anticipated ice hockey sticks. These sticks are crafted with performance in mind and offered at a price point that’s designed to make high-quality gear more accessible to all players. 

Anthony also shares news of BladeTech’s newly opened public-facing shop in Mississauga, offering personalized services like profiling and sharpening for the local hockey community.

To celebrate, we’re giving away one of BladeTech’s blackout sticks, paired with a Hockey Wraparound blade protector for a complete on-and-off-ice experience. Listen carefully for the code word during the episode and enter it at https://hockeywraparound.com/blogs/the-wraparound-roundtable/bladetech_stick to participate!

Catch the full conversation and get a chance to win by heading over to our site now!

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How can we expand the world of girls' hockey? 

This episode of Our Girls Play Hockey explores this question with Kristen Bowness, who shares her journey of growing girls' hockey programs in Nashville and now in Utah. She highlights the importance of girls-only hockey, emphasizing how these programs and tournaments foster camaraderie and provide unique opportunities for those who prefer not to play co-ed. 

The discussion also touches on how events like the Preds Girls Classic can drive the sport's growth by offering both playing opportunities and social experiences. 

Kristen also sheds light on the success of women's learn-to-play programs for adults, helping parents connect with their children's hockey experiences.

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0:00 Intro

5:20 Tournaments and Their Importance

10:18 Role of Tournaments in Girls' Hockey

15:15 Challenges in Girls' Hockey

20:13 Starting New Programs in Utah

25:26 Potential Rivalries and Branding

30:33 Passion and Career in Hockey

35:12 Creativity in Hockey Development

36:31 Closing Remarks

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Are kids missing out by specializing in just one sport at a young age?

Is specializing in one sport too soon hindering our kids' development? Discover how Kevin Shire and Top Sports are transforming youth athletics with a multi-sport approach that encourages playing hockey, soccer, and lacrosse within a single organization. 

Top Sports is a multi-sport model that lets young athletes explore hockey, soccer, and lacrosse within the same organization. This approach not only delays specialization but also supports long-term athletic growth. The focus is on fun and skill development, using creative techniques that draw from various sports. By offering seasonal sports, the program aims to prevent burnout, allowing kids to anticipate and enjoy each sport rather than sticking to one year-round. With high retention rates and a commitment to affordability.

Learn how this innovative model fosters long-term athletic growth and keeps the fun in sports.

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0:00 Intro

1:12 Introduction of Kevin Shier

3:01 Program Growth and Structure

5:12 Age Groups and Competitive Streams

8:27 Philosophy on Athlete Development

11:54 Balancing Fun and Competition

15:35 Parental Reception and Challenges

19:40 Seasonal Structure and Scheduling

23:19 Managing Multi-Sport Participation

26:31 Transitioning Between Sports

31:12 Development Across Multiple Sports

36:02 Seasonal Excitement and Anticipation

40:37 Success Stories and Retention

44:50 Advice for U.S. Organizations

51:07 Future Plans for Top Sports

56:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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How do you handle the pressure of negative comments from the stands? 

This episode of "The Ride To The Rink" tackles this pressing issue, offering practical advice for young hockey players facing critical remarks from parents during games. 

Christie, Lee, and Mike explore the impact of such behavior on performance and focus, encouraging open communication between players and their parents. They highlight the significance of self-esteem, emphasizing that a player's worth isn't defined by others' opinions. 

The hosts also share strategies for tuning out distractions and turning negativity into a powerful motivator, illustrated by a compelling story of a player who transformed criticism into a drive for success.

Key Discussion Points

- Handling Negative Yelling from Parents

- Communicating with Parents

- Developing Self-Esteem

- Strategies for Blocking Out Noise

- Turning Negativity into Motivation

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In this week’s episode of the Wraparound Roundtable, host Lee MJ Elias welcomes Andrej Dula, the founder of Rezztek.

Rezztek has revolutionized the hockey stick tape market with its durable and easy-to-apply product, offering a significant improvement over traditional tape, and now they’ve moved the needle even further with the newest edition to their catalog - the “Learn To Play Rezztek!”

Andrej also updates us on his newly expanded distribution on Amazon and  highlights the small, dedicated team behind Rezztek and their commitment to customer satisfaction. 

We’re giving away five of Rezztek’s Learn to Play 3-Packs, so if you have a young player who’s blade is the right size, be sure to enter before it’s too late.

Head over to https://hockeywraparound.com/blogs/the-wraparound-roundtable/rezztek_ltp now to enter!

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Is your mental game on point? 

This week on The Ride To The Rink, Olympian and Professional Hockey Player Hayley Scamurra as she shares invaluable insights on the importance of mental fitness, reflecting on lessons she wishes she had learned earlier in her career. 

Discover how positive self-talk can significantly boost confidence and performance on the ice. This episode also explores effective strategies for young players to manage their emotions, recognizing the fleeting nature of both highs and lows. 

Haley offers her unique perspective on embracing gratitude in sports, drawing from her experiences, including winning an Olympic silver medal.

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Have you ever witnessed a youth hockey game where the parents seemed more intense than the players? 

This episode of Our Kids Play Hockey tackles the pressing issue of inappropriate parent behavior at games, where cursing at referees and yelling at children can become all too common. 

This episode explores the ripple effects of such negativity, from driving referees away and causing shortages to impacting the overall experience for young players. The hosts highlight the crucial role of organizational culture in setting the tone for positive behavior, emphasizing the need for education and clear communication among coaches, parents, and players. They also remind listeners of practical strategies, like the "24-hour rule" for parent-coach interactions, to curb problematic conduct. 

By focusing on positive reinforcement and respect, the discussion aims to shift the narrative towards celebrating the majority of uplifting experiences in youth hockey.

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00:00:08: Introduction

00:01:18: Lee's Story: Inappropriate Parent Behavior at Youth Hockey

00:03:35: Discussion on Parental Behavior and Challenges

00:05:07: Education and Culture in Youth Sports

00:08:20: Importance of Culture and Education in Teams

00:11:56: Addressing Inappropriate Behavior and Teaching Moments

00:14:58: Impact of Parental Behavior on Kids

00:20:20: Referee Shortage and Parental Impact

00:24:36: Role of Coaches and Referees in Youth Hockey

00:28:44: Addressing Parental Behavior and Culture

00:32:32: Establishing Team Culture and Rules

00:37:17: Personal Responsibility and Addressing Inappropriate Behavior

00:44:42: Challenges in Addressing Inappropriate Behavior

00:49:55: Positive Influence and Culture in Youth Hockey

00:54:31: Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

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