Our Girls Play Hockey: Breaking Barriers & Winning Gold: The Rise of Puerto Rico Women’s Hockey Artwork

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.

All Episodes

Our Kids Play Hockey

Our Girls Play Hockey: Breaking Barriers & Winning Gold: The Rise of Puerto Rico Women’s Hockey

December 16, 2025 • Our Kids Play Hockey • Season 1 • Episode 457

📣 What happens when grit, belief, and a nation’s pride collide on the ice?
In one of the most electrifying moments in recent women’s hockey history, the Puerto Rico Women’s National Team stormed back from a 5–2 deficit to win gold at the IIHF 3-on-3 Series in Buenos Aires — and today, we take you inside that unforgettable run.

Host Lee Elias and co-host Hayley Scamurra sit down with four players who helped make history:
Katie Leffler, Anastasia Sloan, Sabrina Honeycutt, and goaltender Kaylee Awrachow.
Together, they share the leadership moments, mental battles, adjustments, and pure joy that powered their gold-medal comeback.

🌟 Episode Highlights:

How Puerto Rico unlocked the perfect game with only minutes left
The surprising tactical shift that changed everything
Katie “El Diabla” Leffler’s 21-point performance — and the nickname she didn’t ask for
Anastasia Sloan breaking through traditional habits to score the OT winner
Kaylee Awrachow’s mentality in a chaotic, whistle-less 3v3 format
Sabrina Honeycutt’s “flu game” and the goal that lit up a silent arena
What it means to represent Puerto Rico — and inspire the next generation
Leadership insights players can apply at any level of the game

This episode is a celebration of resilience, culture, fun, and the unstoppable rise of women’s hockey across the world. 🇵🇷✨

🎥 Want to see the comeback?
Lee included the full game link in the show notes — trust us, you’ll want to watch it.

📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: How Puerto Rico’s Women’s National Team Made History — And What Young Players Can Learn From Their Gold Medal Run

👉 Have a topic or guest suggestion? Email us anytime at team@ourkidsplayhockey.com

👉 Visit OurKidsPlayHockey.com for more episodes, resources & our children’s book When Hockey Stops.

#WomensHockey #PuertoRicoHockey #HockeyCulture #IIHF #GirlsHockey #LeadershipInSports #HockeyParents #HockeyCoaching #OurGirlsPlayHockey

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