Pucked Up Parents - Youth Hockey

House of Hockey; Youth Hockey Rinks from Barns to NHL Luxury

On this episode of Michael and Angela dive into one of the true characters of youth hockey — the rink itself. From freezing cold “barns” with pothole-filled parking lots to immaculate NHL practice facilities with heated viewing areas and bars, they break down every type of hockey rink parents and players experience along the journey. The two discuss everything that makes a rink memorable: the quality (or horror) of the ice, boards that bounce, low benches and seating situations ranging from cushion seats to standing room only. Michael goes off on a passionate rant about youth hockey parking lots — including parents who stop in fire lanes, or double park . Angela puts her HBI skills from the Hockey Mom episode to work on figuring out all the rinks the oldest son has played at in his 12 year career. They also recap “Last Week in Hockey,” where the oldest son's Beer League Big Cheese Elite squad remains undefeated and the youngest son had his new jersey order made .

The Kid In The Box: A Youth Hockey Penalty Special

On this episode Michael and Angela dive headfirst into one of hockey’s most unavoidable traditions: penalties. From the confusion of offsides and icing calls that leave first-year full ice hockey parents nodding like they totally understand, to the chaos of minors, majors, and misconducts, the duo breaks down the rules every hockey family eventually learns the hard way. Of course, no penalty conversation would be complete without the legendary Penalty Box. The hosts discuss the strange culture surrounding “the box” — how long kids actually stay in there, which unlucky parent gets stuck opening and closing the door all game, and why Michael apparently treats his penalty box monitor duties like an evening at home by showing up with a blanket a book. The episode also touches on the more serious side of hockey discipline, including game ejections and suspensions under USA Hockey rules. As usual, this week in hockey is covered as Michael and Angela give an update on their son’s beer league... errr... “rec league” team — the Big Cheese Elite.

The Hockey Mom Files; Life as a Hockey Mom with the HBI

In this special Mother’s Day episode of Pucked Up Parents, host Michael steps aside and hands the mic over to Angela and two fellow veteran hockey moms, Shawna and Leslie, for a hilarious and heartfelt conversation about life as hockey parents. As first-generation hockey moms, the trio (known as the HBI) reflects on how they were thrown headfirst into the wild world of youth hockey and somehow survived years of early mornings, freezing rinks, road trips, tournaments, emotional rollercoasters, and endless team group chats. The moms open up about the emotional side of hockey parenting — from handling their sons’ wins, losses, injuries, and disappointments, to learning when to cheer loudly and when to just stay quiet in the car ride home. They discuss how hockey became more than just a sport for their families and how the friendships and bonds they built with other rink parents helped carry them through the chaos. Of course, it wouldn’t be Pucked Up Parents without some laughs. Angela, Shawna, and Leslie swap funny stories from years on the road, tournament weekends gone wrong, hockey bag disasters, and the little things only hockey moms truly understand. The group even dives into questions like: What’s your hockey mom superpower? Whether it’s finding missing gear in seconds, surviving on no sleep, or somehow packing an entire weekend into one rink bag, every hockey mom has one. The episode wraps up with advice for newer hockey moms entering the hockey world for the first time: embrace the craziness, enjoy the moments while they last, and most importantly — find your people. Because the friendships built at the rink often become just as important as the game itself.

Interview with Author Christie Casciano: Hockey Parenting, Puck Hogs & Life Lessons Beyond the Rink”

Christie Casciano; Author of the Puck Hog Series and My Kids Play Hockey. Available now! In this episode of Pucked Up Parents, Michael and Angela sit down with book author, USA Hockey Magazine colunist, news anchor and hockey mom Christie Casciano for a candid and relatable conversation about life as a hockey parent. Christie dives into the inspiration behind her youth hockey parent guide, My Kids Play Hockey, sharing practical advice, hard-earned wisdom, and plenty of “you can’t make this stuff up” moments from the rink. She also highlights her lighter side with her preschool book series, The Puck Hog, designed to introduce the game to the next generation in a fun, approachable way. The conversation goes beyond the ice, exploring how hockey has shaped their kids’ lives and the parent lives in unexpected ways—from building resilience through failure to influencing paths like law school and even poetry, to making life long friends at the rink. Christie also talks about writing for USA Hockey, sharing how her article came together and unpacking some of the key themes around parenting, pressure, and perspective in youth sports. Throughout the episode, Christie reads excerpts from her work, giving listeners a firsthand feel for her voice and message—equal parts heartfelt and humorous. In the “Hockey This Week” segment, Michael and Angela keep things real with a quick (and painful) story about a roller hockey mishap that led to an unexpected ER visit. It’s an episode packed with insight, laughs, and a reminder that no matter how wild the ride gets, hockey parenting is a shared experience.

Rink Rats - The Siblings of Your Players

In this episode of Pucked Up Parents, Michael and Angela dive into one of the most overlooked species in youth hockey culture: the siblings—aka the legendary “rink rats.” From toddlers wrapped like burritos in oversized blankets to pre-teens living off vending machine snacks and chaos, they break down what it really takes to keep the non-playing kids alive, warm, and relatively entertained during those long rink days. Angela shares practical survival tactics—snack bag strategy, layering like you’re prepping for Everest, and the delicate art of finding seating that’s within eyesight of your kid who just wandered off. Meanwhile, Michael takes a more… scientific approach, comparing rink rats to wildlife in a nature documentary. He narrates their movements like a National Geographic special—migrating between bleachers, clustering near power sources, and forming temporary alliances with other siblings. They also get into the long-term outlook: does today’s rink rat become tomorrow’s hockey player, or do they run as far from the sport as possible? Michael and Angela talk about that fork in the road, sharing stories of their son who caught the hockey bug because of his older hockey playing brother. Of course, it wouldn’t be Pucked Up Parents without the logistical nightmare discussion: divide-and-conquer parenting. Splitting schedules, managing overlapping games, and figuring out who’s driving where. They recap their week in hockey life—highlighted by scoring a clutch Chipotle discount thanks to a hockey jerseys, plus both kids heading into tryouts at the same time. Bottom line: raising hockey players is hard… but managing the rink rats? That’s a whole different league