Our Kids Play Hockey
Our Kids Play Hockey is a podcast that focuses on youth hockey, offering insights, stories, and interviews from the hockey community. It provides valuable advice for parents, coaches, and players, covering various aspects of the game, including skill development, sportsmanship, teamwork, and creating a positive experience for young athletes. The show frequently features guests who share their expertise and personal experiences in youth hockey, both on and off the ice.
The show features three hockey parents, who all work in the game at high levels:
- Christie Casciano-Burns - USA Hockey Columnist, Author, and WSYR Anchor
- Mike Bonelli - USA Hockey Coach and Organizational Consultant
- Lee M.J. Elias - Hockey Entrepreneur, Author, and Team Strategist
In addition to the main podcast, there are several spin-off series that dive into specific aspects of youth hockey:
1.Our Girls Play Hockey – This series highlights the growing presence of girls in hockey, addressing the unique challenges they face while celebrating their accomplishments and contributions to the sport.
2.The Ride to The Rink – A shorter, motivational series designed to be listened to on the way to the rink, offering quick, inspirational tips and advice to help players and parents get into the right mindset before a game or practice.
3.Our Kids Play Goalie – This series is dedicated to young goalies and the unique challenges they face. It provides advice for players, parents, and coaches on how to support and develop young goaltenders, focusing on the mental and physical demands of the position.
Together, these shows provide a comprehensive platform for parents, players, and coaches involved in youth hockey, offering insights for all aspects of the sport, from parenting, playing, or coaching to specialized positions like goaltending.
- Update frequency
- every 2 days
- Average duration
- 39 minutes
- Episodes
- 416
- Years Active
- 2020 - 2025
The Ride to The Rink - Mistakes Not To Make This The Summer
☀️ Are you making the most of your summer—or just skating through it?
In this empowering episode of The Ride to the Rink, Lee MJ Elias, Christie Casciano, and Mike Bonelli break down the top five summ…
The Top 5 Mistakes Hockey Parents Make In The Summer (And How to Avoid Them)
Are you making these 5 summer hockey mistakes with your kids? 🏒☀️
In this eye-opening episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee MJ Elias, Christie Casciano, and Mike Bonelli reveal the top five mistakes ho…
The Ride to the Rink - Are You Spending Time or Investing It?
In this episode, Lee shares a powerful concept from a conversation with longtime coach and mentor Pete Whitney: the difference between time spent and time invested.
Whether it’s hockey, school, or lif…
The Ride to The Rink - Hall of Fame Lessons from Brianna Decker: What Matters Most in Youth Hockey
What does a Hockey Hall of Famer really think youth hockey players need to succeed?
On this special Ride to the Rink, We spotlight key insights from none other than Brianna Decker, fresh off her induc…
What Skills Should My Kid Have at Their Age? A Parent’s Guide to Youth Hockey Development
“Is my kid where they’re supposed to be?”
It’s one of the most common questions we hear—and this week on Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee, Christie, and Mike break it all down with a level-headed, age-by-age…
The Ride to The Rink - Backyard Drills to The NHL with Matt Moulson
🏒 Ready to unlock your hockey potential without breaking the bank?
NHL veteran Matt Moulson joins "The Ride to the Rink" to share game-changing tips for young players looking to level up their skills—…
Hard Work Over Hype: Lessons from Matt Moulson’s NHL Career
What does it really take to beat the odds in hockey—and stay at the top?
In this inspiring episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, former NHL forward Matt Moulson joins Lee, Christie, and Mike to share the s…
The Ride To The Rink - Maximizing Your Ice Time at Hockey Clinics
In this episode of The Ride to the Rink, Lee shares a step-by-step guide for skaters and goalies to get the most out of any skills clinic—whether you’re focused on skating, shooting, passing, or defe…
Are Skills Clinics Worth It? : A Parents Guide to Navigating Extra Ice
Are hockey skills clinics worth your time and money? 🏒💰
In this eye-opening episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, hosts Lee, Christie, and Mike tackle the hot topic of youth hockey skills clinics. From def…
The Ride To The Rink - How to Get the Most Out of Private Lessons
Private lessons can be a great way to grow your game—but only if you approach them the right way.
In this Ride to the Rink, Lee shares advice directly with young players on how to make private coachin…
The Ride to The Rink: Character Counts—On and Off the Ice
On this episode of The Ride To The Rink, Lee shares a simple story that left a big impression—and reminds every young player (and parent) why the way you act off the ice matters just as much as the w…
📬 Quick Update: Our Email Is Back Online!
Heads up, hockey families! We recently found out that our email—[email protected]—was down for a while, and we may have missed your messages. The good news? It’s back up and running!
If you’v…
Do You Really Need Private Lessons?
Are private hockey lessons worth the investment for your young player? 🏒💰
In this eye-opening episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, hosts Lee, Christie, and Mike tackle the hot topic of private hockey less…
Mailbag: Navigating AAA Costs, Team Culture, and When to Step Back
In this special mailbag episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee and Mike dive into some powerful listener-submitted questions that hit at the heart of today’s youth hockey experience—from the overwhelmi…
The Ride To The Rink: Build Something That Lasts With Syracuse Crunch Owner Howard Dolgan
On this episode of Ride to the Rink, we’re joined by a true hockey visionary—Howard Dolgon, founder and longtime owner of the Syracuse Crunch, who turned a dream into a franchise and a franchise into…
Building a Hockey Town: Howard Dolgon on the Syracuse Crunch, Community, and Chasing the Dream
What does it take to build a hockey franchise from the ground up—and keep it thriving for 30+ years? In this inspiring episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, we’re joined by Howard “Howie” Dolgon, the foun…
The Ride to the Rink: World Champion Caroline Harvey on Habits That Build Champions
Team USA gold medalist and NCAA champion Caroline Harvey joins us for a special The Ride to the Rink edition—and she’s talking directly to young players chasing big goals.
Whether you dream of playing…
Our Girls Play Hockey - NCAA and World Champion Caroline Harvey on Playing With the Boys and Dominating With the Girls
Fresh off a national championship with Wisconsin and a gold medal at the 2025 Women’s World Championship, Caroline Harvey joins Lee, Sherry, and Mike for a powerful conversation about her rise throug…
Three Pieces of Advice Hockey Parents Ask For—Then Ignore
We get asked for advice all the time… but what happens when that advice goes in one ear and out the other?
In this episode, Lee and Mike dive into three common pieces of guidance that youth hockey par…
The Ride To The Rink - Mastering the Goalie Mindset with Olympian Sami Small
🏒 Ever wondered what it takes to create a winning goalie partnership in youth hockey? Discover the secrets behind successful team dynamics with insights from Olympian Sami Small on "Ride to the Rink.…