Michael & Angela kick things off with a look back at both kids’ hockey weekends—which, in a rare hockey-parent miracle, were ALL at the same rink! They also discuss the NHL’s new uniform rules and what they mean for players.

Then it’s time to tackle one of the most painful phrases in youth hockey: Stay to Play.

What may have started as an innocent way to bring teams together for tournaments has evolved into what many hockey parents see as a complicated, expensive and restrictive. Michael and Angela break down how Stay to Play works, how hotels are selected, the rules parents and teams have to follow, and why the hotel portion can become the biggest headache of the entire tournament.

They also share a few Stay to Play hacks that might help parents get a little more value out of the system, talk about national cases where teams and organizations have challenged Stay to Play policies, and dive into feedback from hockey parents who have experienced the good, the bad, and the downright ridiculous.

And finally, Michael unveils his brilliant idea for the Pucked Up Parents Stay to Play Tournament—an idea Angela is, unfortunately for Michael, not exactly sold on.

Because nothing says youth hockey like paying a fortune for a hotel room that you could have gotten cheaper elsewhere.

This week on Pucked Up Parents, Michael and Angela kick things off with This Week in Hockey, including a huge first weekend of college hockey for their son—complete with his first college goal and then a hat trick! They also talk about the unique experience of heading to a midnight hockey game and what that does to the hockey-parent sleep schedule.

Then they go Beyond the Boards with special guest Ashlee from Beyond The Boards Travel. The conversation focuses on one of the biggest challenges of tournament travel: what the heck do you do between hockey games?

From museums and hiking to checking out local attractions, finding great places to eat, and exploring the city, Ashlee shares ideas for keeping the family entertained without packing the schedule so full that the kids are exhausted when it’s time to hit the ice.

Ashlee also explains how Beyond The Boards Travel helps youth hockey families plan the non-hockey part of their tournament trips—providing ideas for things to see, places to visit, food to try, and experiences to make the most of each destination.

Because a hockey tournament doesn’t have to mean rink → hotel → rink → hotel all weekend!

Stick around for the hockey, stay for the adventure—because there’s life beyond the boards!

The Hockey Stink is real—and Michael and Angela are diving straight into it!

This episode Pucked Up Parents, the 12-year-old’s team kicks off the season with a trip to Cleveland, college hockey gets ready to drop the puck—including a midnight game—and Michael celebrates a second-place finish in a firefighter 5K. Plus, Michael has some choice words about out-of-control rink rats and the parents who reserve rink-side seats but apparently forgot they’re supposed to sit in them.

Then comes the main event: THE HOCKEY STINK.

From sweaty gear and hockey bags to locker rooms, rinks, cars, garages, and whatever room in your house has been sacrificed to hockey, Michael and Angela break down the smells every hockey parent knows all too well. They share listener stories, explore the science behind the stink, and try to figure out exactly why hockey equipment can smell like something died inside it.

Most importantly, they share tips and tricks to help fight the funk and keep the hockey stink under control.

Because hockey doesn't just get in your blood…

It gets in your nose, too.