Rinkside Rundown

What does a journey look like from small town Indiana to the pros?

This week on Rinkside Rundown, I catch up with friend of the show Megan McKay, defender and graduate of Clarkson University, who grew up in Zionsville, Indiana and is now preparing for a professional career in the PWHL.

Since Megan last appeared back on Episode 96 of the show (https://youtu.be/q6yg3V-ip9w), she wrapped up her collegiate career and declared for the PWHL Draft. In this episode, she shares the lessons she learned and growth she achieved while at Clarkson University, and how it’s helped prepare her for the next step of her career.

We also chat about her own podcast, Her Shift, her blossoming broadcasting career, and the work she’s done within her community to help support and develop the next generation of women’s hockey stars.

This conversation was recorded before the 2026 PWHL Draft. Since then, Megan has accepted an invite to PWHL San Jose’s camp this fall.

If you’re enjoying these conversations, consider subscribing and sharing with your fellow hockey fans. New episodes drop every Thursday at 3:00pm EST and feature talented players from across the world of women’s hockey. Link in bio.

Community, leadership, and resilience.

Three words to describe the journey of forward Maddy Christian, who joins me this week on Rinkside Rundown to share her inspiring hockey story.

Maddy talks about the importance of community back home in Elk River, Minnesota and how they helped shape her into the player she is on the ice and the person she is away from it. She also reflects on the growth she went through in becoming part of the leadership group at Penn State University and what it took to pursue her dreams of playing alongside the best in the world.

This conversation was recorded before the 2026 PWHL Draft where Maddy was selected 33rd overall by her hometown Minnesota Frost.

If you’re enjoying these conversations, consider subscribing and sharing with your fellow hockey fans. New episodes drop every Thursday at 3:00pm EST and feature talented players from across the world of women’s hockey.

Antigonish, Nova Scotia native Sara Stewart joins me this week on Rinkside Rundown to talk about her early love of hockey, the impact of community and family on her career, her growth and development at Colgate University, and what it means to be representing the East Coast for her and the next generation of female hockey players.

This conversation took place prior to the 2026 PWHL Draft, where Sara also shares what it would mean to hear her name called at the draft and to embark on a career in the best league in the world.

Since we spoke, Sara has signed her first professional contract, joining MoDo Hockey of the SDHL.

If you’re enjoying the conversations, make sure to click that subscribe button so you never miss a brand new episode, releasing every Thursday at 3:00pm EST.

This week on Rinkside Rundown, I sit down with Belleville, Ontario native Zoe Uens.

Zoe walks me through how her love of hockey started from watching her dad and brother play, why playing multiple sports mattered for her development, and what it was like growing up in Belleville. We talk about her junior career with the Kingston Ice Wolves, her decision to commit to Quinnipiac, and the growth she went through over four years as a Bobcat.

Since we recorded this conversation, Zoe was drafted in the third round, 36th overall, by the Montreal Victoire.

Follow Zoe’s food journey on Instagram: @chueyeats

If you like deep dives into women’s hockey and hearing the stories behind the players, click that follow button and subscribe on Substack.

Alex Therien went from playing her junior career in her hometown to representing Canada on the international stage to beginning an NCAA career with the University of New Hampshire, and this week, she joins me on Rinkside Rundown.

We talk about the value of being a multi-sport athlete, Alex’s leadership experiences, and what it means to have a professional women's hockey team, the Ottawa Charge, playing in her hometown.

Since our conversation, Alex has begun a new chapter with St. Lawrence University.

Chloe Glass, founder of the Girls and Women's Hockey Academy, joins me this week on Rinkside Rundown to discuss her transition from a college athlete and professional player in Germany to a leading advocate for athlete development, both on and off the ice.

Chloe shares her journey from a young hockey player inspired by her father to a college athlete and eventually a coach, and the lessons learned along the way. We dive into how her academy supports young players by focusing on personalized physical wellness, psychological training, and proactive health habits to help keep athletes on the ice.

We also discuss the Girls and Women’s Hockey Academy’s workshops, their work with the PWHL, and its future plans to continue making a positive impact on the next generation.

Website: https://www.gwhockeyacademy.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580099482512

Instagram: @gw.hockeyacademy

Contact: [email protected]

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Margot Page has seen the women’s game from every angle, first as an elite athlete on the world stage and now as the head coach of the Brock University Badgers.

In this week’s episode of Rinkside Rundown, we dive into her transition from the ice to the bench and her perspective on the growth of women’s hockey, both in Canada and in the PWHL.

In this episode, we explore:

• Her journey from collegiate and international competition to elite coaching.
• The critical role of multi-sport participation for developing well-rounded athletes.
• Reflections on her time competing at the World Championships and the Olympics.
• The rapid growth of U Sports and the shifting landscape for female athletes.
• Her vision for bridging the gap between collegiate hockey and the PWHL.

This week on Rinkside Rundown, I sit down with Dr. Katie Peterson, a licensed sports psychologist at Achieve Performance Psychology and two-time NCAA champion, as we discuss the mental side of sports and its impact on performance, growth and development.

Dr. Katie Peterson shares her own journey through hockey, including championship success, as well as what inspired her to swap the locker room for the doctor’s office when her playing days came to an end.

Join us for a really interesting conversation where you’ll also learn practical tools for managing stress in your own life, and just how important confidence can be for success.

Achieve Performance Psychology: https://www.achieveperformancepsych.com/

Instagram: @achieveperformancepsych

Follow Dr. Katie Peterson on Instagram: @kmf_peterson

Girls and Women’s Hockey Academy: https://www.gwhockeyacademy.com/

Michelle Pasiechnyk grew up in Ottawa playing mini sticks and falling in love with hockey before going on to a collegiate career that saw her take home NCAA Goaltender of the Year.

On this episode of Rinkside Rundown, I sit down with the Ottawa native to discuss a career defined by success on the ice, what it meant to step away from the game and the perspective she learned from doing so.

With the 2026 PWHL Draft on the horizon, Michelle also shares what it would mean to hear her name called, and the importance of creating a true pathway for the next generation of girls in hockey.

Discover more about Michelle Pasiechnyk and her hockey journey at www.rinksiderundown.ca, and follow the podcast on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/rinksiderundownpod.

This week, I'm joined by University of Minnesota forward Jamie Nelson, as we discuss her early days growing up in Andover, Minnesota where she was put in skates at three years old, to how important it was to remain close to home and the growth and development that led to a career year in 2025-26.

With the PWHL Draft around the corner, we also discuss the anticipation Jamie feels ahead of this next chapter of her career, and how important it is to her to recognize the players who paved the way for her to have this moment.

Some of the key topics we cover include:

• Jamie Nelson's early hockey influences in Minnesota
• The importance of multi-sport athleticism
• Building a championship mindset and resilience
• Transitioning between college programs and growth
• The significance of community support and role models
• Reflections on collegiate achievements and awards
• The journey to the PWHL draft and professional aspirations

Discover more about Jamie Nelson and her hockey journey at www.rinksiderundown.ca, and follow the podcast on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/rinksiderundownpod.