The Ride to the Rink: Finish Strong — What the End of the Season Reveals About You 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.

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Our Kids Play Hockey

The Ride to the Rink: Finish Strong — What the End of the Season Reveals About You

January 24, 2026 • Season 1 • Episode 473

🏒 The season is winding down… but the work isn’t over yet.

As playoffs approach — or the final games come into view — this episode of The Ride to the Rink is all about how you finish. Because whether you’re chasing a championship or counting down the last few skates, the habits you build right now matter more than you think.

In this solo ride, Lee shares the exact messages he’s delivering to teams across age groups as the season enters its final stretch — lessons that apply no matter where your team sits in the standings.

🚨 In this episode, we cover:

Why the end of the season is the best time for honest self-reflection
How to fight burnout, refocus your mindset, and reset your standards
Why “slow starts” and “slow finishes” are team habits — not accidents
What coaches really notice during the final games and evaluations
Navigating ice time, shortened benches, and understanding your role
How finishing strong impacts how coaches, teammates, and organizations remember you

💡 Whether you’re a player fighting for every shift, a leader trying to pull your team together, or a parent listening along in the car — this is a reminder that character shows up loudest at the end.

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👊 Finish strong. Always.

#RideToTheRink #YouthHockey #FinishStrong #HockeyMindset #Playoffs #TeamCulture #HockeyDevelopment #OurKidsPlayHockey

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