🚨 Think tryouts start on evaluation day? Think again.

If you’re heading to a pre-skate or ID skate, this episode is your mindset reset before you walk through those rink doors.

Lee and Mike break down what these “tryout before the tryout” skates really are — and more importantly, how YOU should approach them. Because here’s the truth: it’s not just about what you do on the ice… it’s who you are from the parking lot to the final whistle.

In this episode, we talk about:

🏒 What coaches are really noticing at ID skates
🎒 Why carrying your own bag matters more than you think
🤝 The power of first impressions (and why you don’t get a second one)
🧠 How to handle nerves without adding pressure
⭐ Why one skate won’t define your hockey career
💬 The importance of knowing your strengths — and owning them

Most importantly?

Being a great hockey player starts with being a great person. Character shines through — on good days and bad ones. And no single skate will determine your future… but your habits will.

So if you're on the ride to the rink right now, take a breath.

Work hard.
Be yourself.
Have fun.

We believe in you. You should too. 💙

📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime?

Check out our companion blog: The Pre-Skate Mindset: How to Stand Out Before Tryouts Even Begin

#TheRideToTheRink #HockeyMindset #YouthHockey #HockeyTryouts #IDSkate #PreSkate #HockeyCharacter #HockeyDevelopment #HockeyParents #HockeyLife

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Trusted by our kids! Trust it with yours! Trusted at the NHL level through youth hockey, Sense Arena uses VR and mixed reality to build hockey IQ, confidence, and decision-making for skaters and goalies at their own pace.

And their March offer is huge:
50% off an annual plan compared to paying monthly, plus a free hockey training ball, free Green Biscuit, and free shipping.

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🔥 ID skates. Pre-skates. Early evaluations. Winter “select” teams.
If you’re a hockey parent right now, your inbox is probably full — and your anxiety might be too.

So what are ID skates really?
Are they opportunities… or just early tryouts in disguise?

In this episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee and Mike break down the real story behind pre-skates and ID skates — what they mean, when they make sense, and when parents need to take a deep breath and relax.

Because here’s the truth:

Most teams already have 85–90% of their roster projected.
Most ID skates are not magic auditions.
And the pressure we’re putting on kids? It’s often way too much.

💡 Inside this episode:

• What ID skates are actually being used for
• When attending one makes sense (and when it doesn’t)
• The difference between a coach and a salesman
• Why shopping around has consequences
• Tier 1 vs Tier 2: how to evaluate a move
• Why being on a “B” team is NOT a failure
• How to talk to your child before an evaluation
• And why calm parents raise confident players

⚠️ Buyer beware: If you’re being “yes’d to death,” promised captaincy, or guaranteed a top line… that’s not development — that’s sales.

Most importantly, this episode is about perspective.

Youth hockey is a journey.
ID skates are a moment.
Don’t let a moment define the journey.

Have thoughts on this one? We want to hear them. Email us at team@ourkidsplayhockey.com and tell us what’s happening in your rink.

📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: The Truth About Hockey ID Skates: A Parent’s Guide to Pre-Skates & Tryouts

Enjoy evaluation season — and remember to breathe. 🏒

#OurKidsPlayHockey #YouthHockey #HockeyParents #HockeyTryouts #IDSkates #HockeyDevelopment #Tier1Hockey #Tier2Hockey #HockeyCulture #ParentingInSports

Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!

Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽

Trusted by our kids! Trust it with yours! Trusted at the NHL level through youth hockey, Sense Arena uses VR and mixed reality to build hockey IQ, confidence, and decision-making for skaters and goalies at their own pace.

And their March offer is huge:
50% off an annual plan compared to paying monthly, plus a free hockey training ball, free Green Biscuit, and free shipping.

Or go all in with

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!

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🎉 GIVEAWAY ALERT, Hockey Families! 🎉

Something BIG just dropped in the Our Kids Play Hockey world… and we’re celebrating the best way we know how — by giving back to YOU.

Christie Casciano-Burns — award-winning journalist, USA Hockey Magazine columnist, and the original inspiration behind this podcast — has officially released Puck Hog 3: Trophy Thief Mystery… and we’re giving away FIVE copies!

In this special edition episode, we dive into:

🏆 The mystery behind the missing Lake Placid Invitational Trophy
📚 Why hockey books matter more than medals
❤️ The life lessons woven into the Puck Hog series — teamwork, empathy, compassion & celebrating differences
⛸️ The fun rivalry between hockey players and figure skaters
🎨 The heart behind the hand-drawn illustrations
🌍 And exciting news about worldwide distribution through Globe Pequot & Simon & Schuster

If you’ve got a hockey-loving kid who doesn’t love reading… this might just be the book that changes that.

And yes — it’s a true mystery. We’re not giving away the ending.

🎁 Want to win a copy?
It’s simple:
✔ Like Our Kids Play Hockey
✔ Tag a friend
✔ Share the post

We’ll select FIVE winners!

Because at the end of the day, hockey is about more than trophies. It’s about stories, relationships, and the lessons our kids carry long after the final buzzer.

Grab your copy of Puck Hog 3: Trophy Thief Mystery wherever books are sold — and good luck in the giveaway!

Skate hard. Have fun. And keep building great hockey humans. 🏒

#OurKidsPlayHockey #PuckHog3 #YouthHockey #HockeyParents #HockeyBooks #ChristieCascianoBurns #HockeyFamily #YouthSports #HockeyLife #BookGiveaway

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Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽

Trusted by our kids! Trust it with yours! Trusted at the NHL level through youth hockey, Sense Arena uses VR and mixed reality to build hockey IQ, confidence, and decision-making for skaters and goalies at their own pace.

🎯 Visit NHL.SenseArena.com/OKPH for their lowest price of the season and use code OKPH to get $25 off an annual plan or headset bundle.

Have A Topic You Want Us To Cover? Let us know!

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🥇 She wrote it on the whiteboard for a year: “I am a gold medalist.” Now it’s real.

In this unforgettable crossover episode of Our Kids Play Hockey and Our Girls Play Hockey, Olympic Gold Medalist Hayley Scamurra joins us fresh off Team USA’s historic championship run — and yes… she’s still wearing the medal.

Seven games. Seven wins. Two goals in the opener. A perfect penalty kill. A 2–1 overtime thriller against Canada. And the most-watched women’s hockey game in history.

This wasn’t just a win. This was a moment.

Hayley takes us inside the locker room before overtime, the emotional release when the golden goal hit the back of the net, and what it felt like to step over the boards and jump into history.

We talk about:

✨ Manifestation and mindset
🥇 The leadership of Hillary Knight
💪 Playing the 13th forward role to perfection
🚫 A 100% penalty kill (yes, really)
🔥 The most dominant Olympic performance ever?
📈 The explosion of women’s hockey
🧠 Coaching lessons youth coaches can apply tomorrow
🎤 Meeting Snoop (multiple times)

Hayley also opens up about the sacrifices, the lonely moments growing up, and what holding that gold medal truly represents.

This episode isn’t just about winning.

It’s about belief.
It’s about preparation.
It’s about team culture.

And it’s about what happens when women’s hockey takes center stage — and the world finally watches.

🎧 Listen now, then share it with a young player who needs to hear it.

📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: From Whiteboard Words to Olympic Gold: Hayley Scamurra’s Historic Moment

Because this gold medal belongs to more than just one team.

🙌 Thank you, Hayley. Thank you, Team USA.

The ripple effect has already begun.

#OurKidsPlayHockey #OurGirlsPlayHockey #HayleyScamurra #TeamUSA #OlympicGold #WomensHockey #GirlsHockey #Manifestation #HockeyMindset #YouthHockey #HockeyParents #GoldMedalMoment

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Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽

Trusted by our kids! Trust it with yours! Trusted at the NHL level through youth hockey, Sense Arena uses VR and mixed reality to build hockey IQ, confidence, and decision-making for skaters and goalies at their own pace.

🎯 Visit NHL.SenseArena.com/OKPH for their lowest price of the season and use code OKPH to get $25 off an annual plan or headset bundle.

Have A Topic You Want Us To Cover? Let us know!

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🚨 Parents — this one’s for you. 🚨

Tryout season is here. Emotions are high. FOMO is real. And decisions made right now can shape your child’s hockey journey for years to come.

In this special Parent Edition of The Ride to the Rink, Lee and Mike Bonelli flip the script and ask the kids to turn to YOU and say: “Are you listening?”

Because when it comes to hockey evals, team jumping, chasing elite labels, and negotiating during tryouts… parents matter more than anyone.

Mike brings the perspective of a hockey director and lays it out clearly:

• Stop chasing what isn’t realistic right now.
• Stop negotiating like it’s Division I athletics.
• Start focusing on environment, development, and long-term growth.

This episode is about stepping back, thinking clearly, and choosing the right path — not the flashy one.

🏒 In This Episode:

• Why chasing “AAA” or the winning team can backfire
• The danger of team-hopping and how coaches really see it
• The right (and wrong) way to talk to directors during tryouts
• Why development beats records every time
• How adversity years may actually help your player more
• Eliminating stress by knowing who you are as a hockey family

✨ The goal isn’t to win the tryout season.
✨ The goal is to build a healthy, happy, developing hockey player.

Parents, take a breath. Think. Make a decision you won’t regret in six months.

And kids… thanks for making sure they listened 😉

We believe in you. You should too.

📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog:Youth Hockey Tryouts: Don’t Let Emotions Make the Decision

#YouthHockey #HockeyParents #HockeyTryouts #HockeyDevelopment #ParentingInSports #AAAYouthHockey #HockeyEvals #TheRideToTheRink

Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!

Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽

Trusted by our kids! Trust it with yours! Trusted at the NHL level through youth hockey, Sense Arena uses VR and mixed reality to build hockey IQ, confidence, and decision-making for skaters and goalies at their own pace.

🎯 Visit NHL.SenseArena.com/OKPH for their lowest price of the season and use code OKPH to get $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!

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🏒 Is your child developing as a hockey player… or just playing more hockey?

In this powerful episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee and Mike sit down with Jimmy Law, Director of Sports Performance at TPH Academy and founder of Habits of Hockey, to unpack what real development looks like.

Spoiler alert: It’s not more ice time.

Jimmy shares his journey from first-generation roller hockey player to shaping hundreds of student-athletes in a blended academic and hockey development model built around study, train, and play. Together, the guys dig into the missing piece in youth hockey today — character.

💡 Inside this episode:

• Why talent alone won’t get your child to the next level
• The six core habits that separate elite performers from average players
• What junior and college scouts REALLY ask about your kid
• Why being “present” is a competitive advantage
• How parents can support without burning kids out
• What makes a great coach (and why it’s not just hockey IQ)
• The truth about hockey academies — and who they’re really for

Jimmy breaks down his six core athlete values — work ethic, accountability, preparation, consistency, focus, and character — and explains why these habits matter more than your child’s skating stride.

This conversation isn’t just about building better hockey players.

It’s about building better people.

And in today’s hockey world? That’s the real separator.

🎯 If you’re a parent wondering how to support without overstepping…
🎯 A coach trying to elevate your impact…
🎯 Or a player serious about leveling up…

This one’s packed with gold.

Let’s keep developing the person behind the jersey.

📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Why Talent Isn’t Enough in Youth Hockey with Jimmy Law

#OurKidsPlayHockey #YouthHockeyDevelopment #HockeyMindset #HockeyParenting #TPHAcademy #HabitsOfHockey #HockeyCharacter #RaisingAthletes #HockeyTraining #HockeyLeadership

Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!

Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽

Trusted by our kids! Trust it with yours! Trusted at the NHL level through youth hockey, Sense Arena uses VR and mixed reality to build hockey IQ, confidence, and decision-making for skaters and goalies at their own pace.

🎯 Visit NHL.SenseArena.com/OKPH for their lowest price of the season and use code OKPH to get $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!

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🏒 What would an Olympian tell her 10-year-old self?

On this episode of The Ride to the Rink, we get something special — two Olympians talking directly to young hockey players.

Haley Winn joins Hayley Scamurra, Lee Elias, and Mike Bonelli for a powerful conversation about confidence, development, rest, and what really matters if you dream of playing at the highest level.

If you're a young player chasing big goals — or a parent supporting one — this episode is your reminder that the journey matters just as much as the destination.

💬 In this episode, Haley shares:

• Why having fun is the foundation of long-term success
• The mindset shift that changed her career: “Hockey isn’t your identity.”
• How confidence fuels development
• Why taking 3 days off might actually make you better
• The truth about rest, recovery, and playing the long game

🔥 One of the most powerful moments? Haley explaining how she used to believe that if she wasn’t thinking about hockey 24/7, she wouldn’t make it — and how learning to step away actually made her stronger.

This one’s for:

• The 10-year-old who wants to make the national team
• The teenager scared to take a day off
• The player who ties their self-worth to their last game

Remember — a bad game doesn’t mean you’re a bad player. And it definitely doesn’t mean you’re a bad person.

📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: What Would an Olympian Tell Her 10-Year-Old Self? With Haley Winn

🎧 Hit play, take a breath, and enjoy the ride.

#TheRideToTheRink #OurKidsPlayHockey #HaleyWinn #HayleyScamurra #GirlsHockey #YouthHockeyDevelopment #HockeyMindset #RestAndRecovery #HockeyConfidence #LongTermAthleteDevelopment

Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!

Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽

Trusted by our kids! Trust it with yours! Trusted at the NHL level through youth hockey, Sense Arena uses VR and mixed reality to build hockey IQ, confidence, and decision-making for skaters and goalies at their own pace.

🎯 Visit NHL.SenseArena.com/OKPH for their lowest price of the season and use code OKPH to get $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!

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🏒 What if the most important hockey development tool isn’t a skills coach… but a backyard rink?

This week on The Ride to the Rink, Lee and Mike are joined by Stanley Cup Finalist, Team USA alum, and all-around great human Ryan Carter — and he’s taking us back to where it all started.

Not in a fancy arena.
Not at an elite showcase.
But on a Minnesota cul-de-sac with a tennis ball.

Ryan shares how street hockey, outdoor rinks, and unstructured play shaped his hands, his hockey IQ, his toughness — and most importantly — his love for the game.

🔥 In this episode, we talk about:

• 🏒 Why outdoor hockey is the “real-life YouTube” for skill development
• 🧠 How free play builds creativity you won’t learn in structured practice
• 💪 The moment Ryan realized he could compete with older players
• ⏳ Why hockey development is a slow cooker, not a microwave
• 🚨 Getting placed on NHL waivers — and how it led to a Stanley Cup Final run
• ❤️ How to keep your love for hockey alive at every stage

Ryan’s message to kids is powerful:
You’re never out of it. Keep playing. Keep loving it. The game will give back what you put in.

Parents — this one’s a reminder that sometimes the best development happens when you just drop them off at the rink with a lunch pail and let them play.

🎧 Listen in, then grab your stick and go create your own highlight reel — outside.

Because wherever you are on your journey… we believe in you. You should too.

#RideToTheRink #RyanCarter #OutdoorHockey #HockeyDevelopment #YouthHockey #StreetHockey #BackyardRink #HockeyMindset #StanleyCupFinal #LoveTheGame

Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!

Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena! 🏒🥽

Trusted by our kids! Trust it with yours! Trusted at the NHL level through youth hockey, Sense Arena uses VR and mixed reality to build hockey IQ, confidence, and decision-making for skaters and goalies at their own pace.

And their March offer is huge:
50% off an annual plan compared to paying monthly, plus a free hockey training ball, free Green Biscuit, and free shipping.

Or go all in with

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
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