Rinkside Rundown

Nina Jobst-Smith, captain of the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs, shares the story of her journey from North Vancouver to representing Germany on the international stage. Jobst-Smith reflects on the challenges of leading a top collegiate program, building team culture, and navigating life as an elite athlete balancing academics and international competition.

Jobst-Smith discusses what it means to take the next step into professional women’s hockey and how her leadership experiences shaped her approach to the game.

This episode was recorded before the 2025 PWHL Draft, where Jobst-Smith was selected in the third round by PWHL Vancouver.

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Olivia Muhn shares her journey from Burlington, Ontario, to Yale University, where she became a standout defender both on the ice and in her community. In this episode, we explore her growth as a player, the leadership and mentorship roles she’s embraced, and what’s next as she prepares for the next chapter in her hockey journey, including a recent camp invite from the Boston Fleet.

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Thanks to MB Performance Nutrition for sponsoring this episode. Fuel your game with expert guidance at melissaboufounos.com

Note: This conversation was recorded prior to the 2025 PWHL Draft.

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Natálie Mlýnková shares her journey from Zlín, Czechia, to NCAA stardom and now the PWHL’s Montreal Victoire. In this episode, we explore her growth as a player, the pride she carries representing her country, and what’s next in her pro hockey career.

Please note: This conversation was recorded prior to the 2025 PWHL Draft, where Mlýnková was selected 12th overall by the Montreal Victoire.

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Thanks to MB Performance Nutrition for sponsoring this episode. Fuel your game with expert guidance at melissaboufounos.com

Find more episodes at linktr.ee/rinksiderundownpodcast

The Grindstone Award Foundation is helping young girls break through financial barriers and chase their hockey dreams.

In this episode, host Chris Sinclair speaks with Danielle Bell and Jehan Jiwa, the President and Vice President of Grindstone, as they dive into the incredible impact of Grindstone and the power of community support in women’s hockey.

Learn how this Canadian nonprofit provides grants, gear, and opportunity to girls who love the game but face financial challenges.

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Thanks to MB Performance Nutrition for sponsoring this episode. Fuel your game with expert guidance at melissaboufounos.com

Find more episodes at linktr.ee/rinksiderundownpodcast

Kendall Cooper joins Rinkside Rundown for an in‑depth interview about her journey from backyard rinks in Burlington, Ontario to becoming a standout defender and leader at Quinnipiac University.

She shares what it takes to grow as a player and leader, and how she’s preparing to take the next step toward professional women’s hockey and the PWHL.

This conversation was recorded before the 2025 PWHL Draft, where Kendall was selected sixth overall by the Minnesota Frost.

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Sponsored by MB Performance Nutrition, helping hockey players fuel and perform at their best. Learn more: https://melissaboufounos.com

Join me this week as I talk with Alanna Mah, captain of Canada’s National Women’s Para Hockey Team and a practicing Exercise Physiologist. Born in Edmonton and diagnosed with neuroblastoma as a baby, Alanna found her passion through the Paralympic Sports Association and has risen to lead Team Canada.

In this episode, Alanna shares her inspiring journey, what it takes to captain a national team, and how she’s preparing for the first-ever Women’s World Para Hockey Championship. We dive into leadership, resilience, and breaking barriers in women’s para hockey.

Whether you’re a hockey fan, athlete, or interested in stories of overcoming challenges and leading change, this episode offers powerful insights and inspiration.

Sponsored by MB Performance Nutrition: Get free tools and coaching to help hockey players perform at their best. Learn more at melissaboufounos.com

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In this episode of Rinkside Rundown, host Chris Sinclair sits down with Olivia Mobley to explore her remarkable journey from skating on backyard rinks in Minnesota to a standout five-year NCAA career.

Olivia shares insights from competing across multiple collegiate programs, the passion and persistence that have driven her growth, and what it means to prepare for the next step into professional women’s hockey.

This interview was recorded before the 2025 PWHL Draft, where Olivia was later selected by Boston.

If you’re a fan of NCAA women’s hockey, the PWHL, or inspiring stories about chasing pro dreams, this episode is a must-listen.

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Sponsored by MB Performance Nutrition: Free tools and coaching to help hockey players perform at their best. Learn more at melissaboufounos.com

Emma Bergesen joins host Chris Sinclair to share her journey from Norway to the PWHL’s Ottawa Charge. As the league’s first Norwegian player, she talks about following in her mother’s footsteps, adapting to different levels of play, and developing her game at Mount Royal University and in Sweden’s SDHL.

She also reflects on what it means to join a growing professional league and be part of a key moment in women’s hockey.

Sponsored by MB Performance Nutrition – free tools and coaching to help hockey players perform at their best.
Learn more: www.melissaboufounos.com

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On Episode 78 of Rinkside Rundown, host Chris Sinclair is joined by Alexis Paddington, a forward from Minnesota State University whose hockey journey reflects resilience, leadership, and a deep love for the game.

She what it was like growing up in Thunder Bay, learning the game on a backyard rink, and choosing hockey over dance at a young age. She opens up about playing boys hockey, transitioning into the women's game, and the friendships and community that helped shape her path.

We also discuss the challenges she faced with injury setbacks, how she stayed mentally strong, and the growth that followed. From on-ice development to off-ice reflection, it's a conversation rooted in perspective, passion, and pride.

This episode is sponsored by MB Performance Nutrition, offering free resources and coaching to help hockey players perform at their best. Learn more at melissaboufounos.com

Be sure to subscribe, like, and share Rinkside Rundown, the podcast that brings you inside the world of women's hockey, one story at a time.

On Episode 77 of Rinkside Rundown, host Chris Sinclair is joined by Rory Guilday, a standout defender from Minnesota who, shortly after this interview, was selected in the 2025 PWHL Draft by the Ottawa Charge.

Recorded prior to the draft, she shares her hockey journey, from growing up in Minnesota to her collegiate career at Cornell, and how those experiences shaped her development as a player. We talk about her defensive mindset, competing at the NCAA level, and what she was focusing on as she prepared for the professional game.

She also reflects on the pride of representing Team USA, the growth of women’s hockey, and what she was looking forward to as she approached the next chapter in her career.

This episode is sponsored by MB Performance Nutrition, offering free resources and coaching to help hockey players perform at their best. Learn more at melissaboufounos.com.

Be sure to subscribe, like, and share Rinkside Rundown—the podcast that brings you inside the world of women’s hockey, one story at a time.