Lee Elias Recommends: Top 5 NHL Guests on "Our Kids Play Hockey" and What They Taught Us About Youth Development

If you’ve ever wondered what the greatest minds in hockey think about youth development, locker room culture, or parenting in the game — this is your all-access pass. These five NHL icons joined Our Kids Play Hockey and delivered some of the most powerful, perspective-shifting episodes we’ve ever recorded.

Bryan Trottier: The Hall of Famer Who Still Believes in Backyard Hockey

Bryan Trottier, seven-time Stanley Cup champion, reflects on the roots of joy, the spirit of mentorship, and how family and community shaped his remarkable career.

Mike Keenan: From NHL Bench Boss to Youth Hockey Coach

Mike Keenan, Stanley Cup-winning coach, reveals how he approaches youth coaching today, what he values most in player development, and why communication with parents matters more than ever.

Chris Therien: From NHL Defenseman to Mental Health Advocate

Chris "Bundy" Therien opens up about his playing career, personal battles, and why supporting mental health in young athletes is more important than ever.

Steve Valiquette: The Analytics That Matter in Youth Hockey

Steve Valiquette, goaltending expert and MSG analyst, shares how real performance data can help kids — and coaches — focus on what really moves the needle.

Daniel Briere: What I Learned as a Hockey Dad

Before becoming Flyers GM, Daniel Briere sat in the stands like every other parent. He shares how watching his sons shaped his philosophy on development, pressure, and balance.

Bonus Listen: Kerry Fraser: Life Lessons from the NHL’s Most Iconic Ref

Kerry Fraser talks poise under pressure, enforcing the rules fairly, and the human side of hockey’s most misunderstood position.

About Our Kids Play Hockey

Our Kids Play Hockey is one of the most trusted youth sports podcasts in North America—named a Top Hockey Podcast three times by the Sports Podcast Awards. Hosted by Lee Elias, Christie Casciano Burns, and Mike Bonelli, the show offers a front-row seat to the challenges and triumphs of the youth hockey world through candid conversations with NHL players, coaches, Olympic athletes, mental performance experts, and hockey parents.

Each week, the hosts dig into the real-life questions families, coaches, and players face—from tryouts and team culture to mindset and motivation—with warmth, humor, and deep experience. With over 400 episodes and a rapidly growing audience, the podcast has become a go-to resource for hockey families looking to stay informed, inspired, and connected to the game.

Host Lee Elias is also a proud Youth.Inc ambassador and contributor, where he brings his experience as an award-winning author, team-building strategist, and longtime coach at the youth, collegiate, and professional levels to a wider network of families and leaders across youth sports.

To learn more, visit OurKidsPlayHockey.com or listen wherever you get your podcasts.