Come On Ref!: An Interview with Youth Hockey Referee Jeremy MacWalter

Come On Ref!: An Interview with Youth Hockey Referee Jeremy MacWalter

Hosts Michael and Angela venture into dangerous territory by inviting a real-life youth hockey referee, Jeremy, onto the show. That's right—the guy everyone yells at from the stands finally gets a chance to share his side of the story. Jeremy shares his hockey journey, from player to official, and explains what led him to being a referee. He breaks down the different levels of officiating and what it takes to move up the referee ranks. Of course, Michael and Angela don't let him off easy. They ask the hard-hitting questions every hockey parent secretly wants answered: * Are referees secretly biased toward the home team? * How embarrassing is it when you wipe out in front of a packed rink? * Can refs actually hear everything parents yell from the stands? * How do officials deal with rowdy parents, emotional coaches, and players who think every penalty is a conspiracy? Jeremy gives an honest look behind the curtain at one of the toughest and most misunderstood jobs in youth sports. The conversation is funny, insightful, and may even convince a few listeners to think twice before screaming "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" after every offside call. Whether you've been tossed from a rink, sat next to that parent, or spent years blaming the refs for your team's losses, this episode shines a spotlight on the truly thankless, unsung heroes of youth hockey—the referee

Hockey Rituals, Routine & Superstitions: "Tap It, Don't Touch It, Don't Wash It"

In this episode Michael and Angela kick things off with a recap of another chaotic week in hockey life. Michael shares the boys latest adventures from beer league and squeezing in ice time, while Angela recounts a travel nightmare trying to get home from a work trip—proving once again that hockey parents aren't the only ones who spend their lives battling schedules, delays, and unexpected drama. The main topic this week dives deep into the strange, hilarious, and sometimes downright ridiculous world of hockey rituals and superstitions. From players refusing to touch a championship trophy before it's officially won, to carefully tiptoeing around team logos in the locker room, Michael and Angela explore the traditions that have become part of hockey culture. They discuss lucky socks, lucky meals, pregame routines, and the questionable decision by some players to avoid washing gear for weeks—or even months—in the name of preserving a winning streak.

Expecting the Unexpected: Adventures in Youth Hockey Chaos

On this episode of Pucked Up Parents, Michael and Angela dive headfirst into the unpredictable world of youth hockey adventures and all the chaos that comes with it. Because let's be honest—if you've spent enough weekends at the rink, you've probably learned that the game itself is often the least dramatic part of the trip. The hosts swap stories about dead car batteries in freezing parking lots, flat tires on tournament mornings, white-knuckle drives through snowstorms, torrential rain, and just about every weather condition Mother Nature can throw at hockey families. They also discuss hotel mishaps, power outages, food poisoning, lost reservations, closed rinks, missing equipment, and the countless other surprises that seem to appear at the worst possible moments. Michael and Angela share some of their own memorable travel disasters, while also reading stories submitted by listeners and followers who have experienced everything from getting stranded hundreds of miles from home with no clothes to discovering that a rink schedule had changed without anyone noticing. In Hockey This Week, Michael recounts a personal defeat that may sting even more than a championship loss: getting smoked in a 5K race by his 12-year-old son. Not only did his son beat him fair and square, but he made sure to rub salt in the wound with some smack talk via text It's an episode full of laughs, cautionary tales, and a reminder that in youth hockey, the best-laid plans are often just the opening act for whatever unexpected adventure awaits around the next corner. Pack an extra charger, bring a spare tire, and maybe keep some pedialyte hady—because when it comes to hockey, expect the unexpected.

College Hockey: NCAA, ACHA, Intramurals — The Long Road to Beer League

This episode Michael and Angela tackle one of the biggest topics in post youth hockey: the college hockey path. From the bright lights of NCAA Division I hockey to the late-night beer-league-adjacent glory of campus intramurals, they break down the many roads available to players who want to keep skating after high school. Angela takes listeners through the different college hockey options, explaining the structure of NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, while Michael attempts to follow all the eligibility rules straight without needing a whiteboard and a legal team. The hosts also dive into the world of ACHA hockey, discussing how club programs have grown into highly competitive opportunities for players who still want a serious hockey experience without the NCAA route. Michael and Angela also discuss the importance of finding the right fit, reminding families that there are many successful hockey journeys beyond Division I scholarships and NHL dreams. In this week's hockey update, disaster strikes. After weeks of swagger and confidence, The Big Cheese Elite finally falls from the ranks of the unbeaten. Whether you're navigating recruiting emails, considering an ACHA camp, or just trying to figure out what exactly NCAA compliance means, this episode provides a practical guide to the world of college hockey.

The Anti-Hockey Dad Hockey Dad; The Mind of Michael

Angela is out of town this week, so Michael takes over the microphone for a solo episode that dives into his unique journey as a youth hockey parent. Unlike many sports dads, Michael didn't grow up playing hockey, following hockey, or really excelling at sports at all. In fact, he admits that becoming a hockey dad was never part of the plan. Michael reflects on what it's like entering the youth hockey world as a complete outsider and how he's learned the unwritten rules of "Hockey Dad Culture" simply by watching the dads around the rink. The episode also explores the spectrum of sports dads—from the overbearing, live-through-their-kid parent to the dad who's barely seen at the rink all season. Michael takes a look at where he falls on that scale and discusses the challenge of being involved and supportive without becoming "that guy." Along the way, he talks about finding his place in youth hockey, embracing the rink life he never expected to love, and how a self-proclaimed anti-hockey hockey dad somehow ended up spending his weekends in freezing cold arenas. .