🏒 What does it really take to go from a 9-year-old hockey player with a dream… to an Olympian and professional hockey player?

In this special Our Girls Play Hockey Mailbag Episode (Part 1), hosts Lee Elias and Mike Bonelli are joined by our very own Olympic and professional hockey player Hayley Scamurra to answer your questions — straight from young players, parents, and families across the hockey community.

After posting a simple call for questions, the response was overwhelming. So many thoughtful, curious, and mature questions came in that this mailbag turned into a two-part series. In this episode, we focus on Hayley’s journey — from youth hockey to college, Team USA, and ultimately the pro game.

💬 You’ll hear Hayley answer questions like:

• How did she go from a 9-year-old player to an Olympian?
• What really separates good players from great ones?
• What skills Olympic coaches actually look for (hint: it’s not just goals)
• What habit did she have to unlearn to reach the next level?
• How important is mindset compared to talent?
• Why making mistakes is actually part of becoming elite

✨ This episode is packed with honesty, perspective, and reassurance for young players who feel pressure to be perfect — and for parents navigating the ups and downs of the hockey journey alongside them.

📌 Coming next: Mailbag Part 2 dives into life as a professional hockey player and the current state of women’s hockey — including the PWHL and what the future holds.

🎧 Listen in, take notes, and remind yourself (or your player) that the journey matters just as much as the destination.

📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: From Dreamer to Olympian: What Young Players Can Learn from Hayley Scamurra’s Hockey Journey

#OurGirlsPlayHockey #WomensHockey #GirlsHockey #HockeyJourney #MentalGame #OlympicMindset #PWHL #YouthHockey #HockeyParents

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

Heading into 2026, hockey families are asking: How do we get better? More ice time isn’t always realistic — but smarter training is. Sense Arena uses VR and mixed reality to build hockey IQ, confidence, and decision-making for skaters and goalies at their own pace.

🎯 Visit SenseArena.com/OKPH and use code OKPH to get 50% off plus $25 off an annual plan or headset bundle.

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🚗 What if your best shift actually starts before you step on the ice?

On this episode of The Ride to the Rink, Lee Elias and Mike Bonelli are joined by mindset coach Sandy Cohan to talk about something every player can control — how you prepare mentally on the way to the rink.

Too many players think they can just flip a switch once the puck drops. The truth? Your competitive engine needs to be warmed up before you lace up your skates.

💡 In this ride, we break down:

• 🧠 Why your brain doesn’t understand “don’t” (and how negative thoughts sneak in)
• 🔁 How to replace “don’t mess up” with clear, powerful to-do thoughts
• 🎯 Why choosing a simple daily theme beats focusing on stats or outcomes
• ⚡ What it really means to be “impossible to ignore”
• 📈 How to measure gains, not gaps, after every game or practice
• 🕒 Why champions think in today’s, not seasons

This is a must-listen for players who want to compete harder, parents who want to help without adding pressure, and coaches who care about building confident, resilient athletes.

👊 Wherever you are on your hockey journey — we believe in you. You should too.

Skate hard. Have fun. Get better every day.

📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: The Game Starts Before the Rink — How to Build Your Competitive Mindset Early

#RideToTheRink #HockeyMindset #YouthHockey #MentalPreparation #CompeteEveryDay #HockeyDevelopment #GainsNotGaps

Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!

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

Heading into 2026, hockey families are asking: How do we get better? More ice time isn’t always realistic — but smarter training is. Sense Arena uses VR and mixed reality to build hockey IQ, confidence, and decision-making for skaters and goalies at their own pace.

🎯 Visit SenseArena.com/OKPH and use code OKPH to get 50% off plus $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 skill your hockey player needs isn’t taught on the ice?

In this powerful episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee Elias, Christie Casciano-Burns, and Mike Bonelli are joined by Sandy Cohan, founder of Mental Edge Hockey and author of the 99 Rules book series, for a deep, honest, and eye-opening conversation about mindset, confidence, and what it really takes to develop resilient hockey players — and strong humans.

Sandy breaks down why mindset isn’t a “specialty skill,” but the foundation everything else is built on. From youth players struggling with confidence, to parents navigating the balance between protection and pressure, this episode delivers practical insight every hockey family needs.

🏒 In this episode, we discuss:

• Why confidence is built, not born
• The real difference between belief and confidence
• How defining “success” changes everything for young athletes
• Why kids don’t need to avoid failure — they need to learn how to get back up
• What parents and coaches often get wrong about motivation and grit
• How mindset training can (and should) start as early as 6–8 years old
• Why hockey is just the vehicle — and character is the destination

📘 Sandy also shares the story behind his 99 Rules Every Athlete Needs to Know and 99 Rules Every Sports Parent Needs to Know books — simple, powerful reminders that resonate far beyond the rink.

If you care about your child’s long-term development, love for the game, and life beyond hockey, this is a must-listen.

🎧 And don’t miss it — Sandy also joins us on The Ride to the Rink for a kid-focused follow-up your players will love.

Listen now and start building confidence from the inside out.

#OurKidsPlayHockey #MentalEdgeHockey #YouthHockeyParents #HockeyMindset #SportsParenting #PlayerDevelopment #ConfidenceAndGrit

Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!

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

Heading into 2026, hockey families are asking: How do we get better? More ice time isn’t always realistic — but smarter training is. Sense Arena uses VR and mixed reality to build hockey IQ, confidence, and decision-making for skaters and goalies at their own pace.

🎯 Visit SenseArena.com/OKPH and use code OKPH to get 50% off plus $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!

Follow Us On Social Media:

• Facebook Group
• X
• Instagram
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• YouTube