Our Hockey Life

Julie Petry is back on the podcast for a solo flight this time!!! Part way through the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Brij & Kodette manage to find a quiet pause in Julie's busy life ... she's not only a rockin' mom of 3 little dancin' dudes, but a sweet Texan with a magnetic personality. Jules walks us through her brand new co-created business venture “Line Change Clothing Company” with her bestie & fellow Montreal Canadiens teammate Angela Price. The girls chat easily about making the most out of this difficult period in time, respecting their own little “Demon's”;), briefing Julie's husband, Jeff Petry on the overblown l'incident de Costco and the anxious excitement of the Playoffs ... with the always anticipated Playoff gear that the teams of girls come up with! Go Habs Go!    

It's time to get to know Francesca Maroon! She's a feisty, passionate Italian from St. Louis with a fierce love for her family & her hometown. Her journey (the past 2 years especially!!!) with her husband, 2 time back-to-back Stanley Cup Champion Patrick Maroon, has been nothing short of insane! Fran shares her own special memories on growing up in her family's Italian restaurant, celebrating her city's first Stanley Cup Championship & then heading into 2020 with the "The Big Rig" turned Tamp Bay "Florida Man" to do it again pandemic-style! Emotions soar high in this particular hockey life ~ from Cup celebrations, "The Bubble", personal losses, nuptials & now a baby on the way ~ there's definitely a lot to cover with this Parade Marshall ;)

Brij and Kodette are back with a great episode featuring Vanessa Vandal ~ a bodacious badass babe who may like to do things a little backwards ;) but is the kind of woman that pays it forward with passion projects, life-long learning and embracing her independent spirit. Join the ladies as they get the details on her Covid wed-gagement to sweetheart David Perron, being the boss of Reserve Interior Design and appreciating none other than her hockey girls! This mom-extraordinaire effortlessly oozes style while also being a protector of self-care & dishing out an impressive eclectic hockey resume to boot!

Brijet and Kodette are back with belly laughs and badassery this week as they finally culminate years of instagram stalking into one hell of a juicy and inspiring podcast.  Genia Tikhonov, not only carries the legacy of her married Tikhonov name but she lives in a constant state of creation in her own right. As an industrial designer, Genia has created protection gear for the likes of Easton, she also discovered her crazy gift of caricature sketches and is planning on writing her future best seller of juicy hockey tales. Genia gives a sampling of her journey respectively, across such leagues as the NHL, AHL, and KHL with her husband, Viktor Tikhonov. Brij and Kodette absolutely eat up her transparency, natural wit,  and dish out mad respect to Genia as she goes from eager participant to "enforcer" against their team's GM in a sold out barn ;) You don't want to miss this one!

Welcome back Hockey Lifer's! This week Kodette and Brij get down for 'that kind of podcast' with Emma Rose, a straight shootin' Mama-to-be, and Fiancé to top-scoring NHL defenseman Tyson Barrie. This high-achieving, take-the-bull-by-the-horns mediation maven is someone you may actually want to get in a bar fight with;) Completely in touch with her emotions; empathy took on a new form of humanity with this one while she used her gift to build her very own namesake company, ROSE RESOLUTIONS. Line up the Jameson & make sure your shoes match because it's time to hit the ground running with this sweet beauty !

It doesn't get any sweeter than this. Welcome, Jenna Hutchinson of "Jenna Rae Cakes" in Winnipeg, MB. She 'rises' to the occasion in everything she does from cake mastery and decor to net-minding and child-raising. A true scientist in the kitchen, she followed her heart and sweet tooth to build her sugar-inspired empire. This self-taught baking boss has gone from the illegal cupcakery world to a namesake baker (& author!!) extending her clientele across North America. Jenna shares how she and her husband, Toronto Maple Leafs' goaltender Mike Hutchinson, met and how they are navigating these COVID times as a growing family. A family girl at heart, you can't help but want to cheer for her because she handles it all like a beauty. Join Brij & Kodette while they share some insanely fun and relevant future projects (with Em Cave) and secret collaborations. Spoiler Alert *NHL Wives beer league showdown?? 

Today's guest is bringin' it with a full tank ;) ... She's got a lot on the go but Gina Valentine , soon to be Gina ... Gostisbehere (whew that’s a tricky one to say !?! ~ as in Shayne Gostisbehere of the Philadelphia Flyers) is a badass, career-driven woman that anyone would be lucky to have in their hockey family. Her passion & job as a Pediatric Intensive Care Nurse, is undeniably one that many wouldn't be able to handle. The ladies talk about celebrating the small moments, wedding planning for the standard off-season nuptials, all the while pre-PRE-gaming ~ and Brij & Kodette are so into it. Buckle up as Gina Valentine brings the love today ... maybe grab a snack baggy of treats, your own “pre-game" (aka bevie/drink/cocktail) & dive in! 

Ladies & Gentlemen ... Hayley Thompson is in the house!!! The girls catch Hayley on a normal day in the not-so-normal-covid2021-hockey life and are briefly interrupted when her fiance Mark Stone (Captain of the Vegas Golden Knights) walks in and shares the team's latest schedule change! She rolls easily with it as the 3 new friends chat about desert living, giving back to the community and her passion for horses / Equestrian riding! Hayley is a Canadian girl with some serious current NHL family connections ... Let's just say she doesn't have a shortage of teams to cheer for !!! Kodette reminds everyone that kissing (ok licking) frogs in the desert could prove deadly. Thank you fairy godmother.  

Celebrating Black History Month with Kevin Weekes, former NHL goaltender, sports broadcaster and history maker himself as the first ever black analyst in hockey, was an honor for Brijet & Kodette. On the heels of a year that magnified racism and brought the words EDUCATE, EMPATHY & COMPASSION to the forefront, today's guest focuses his message of INCLUSIVITY & SERVICE as a great Ambassador of Diversity. "Weekesy" shares his love and gratitude for his family & upbringing while fondly recalling just how enriching his childhood and minor hockey experience was. The ladies experience first hand how he simply leaves people better than when he found them and discover what propels him to move forward and be the badass human that he is each and every day. A man like this reminds us that we all have the power to affect CHANGE, it's what we are going to do with it that really matters. And hey, there are plenty of giggles in the convo too ... Kevin shares some fun stories, hopeful fashion comebacks, plus your hosts can't help but discuss his access to the fountain of youth (nor his "hotness") and can barely bring themselves to end their enjoyable time with him!!! 

The crowd goes wild as Kecia Morway enters the field / takes the mic and joins Kodette & Brij for a championship chat! Besides being an overall amazing woman, Kec (it's pronounced "Keesh" friends;)) has her MAT degree, is a D1 NCAA Women's Soccer Champion, a retired professional soccer player with the Chicago Red Stars, certified nutrition coach & personal training 'student'!!! Her & her fiancé, Riley Sheahan (Buffalo Sabres centerman) are finding their groove in Buffalo while she sets some new goals and continues to be his ultimate DUET partner! Kodette & Brij enjoy bragging about Kec, their husband's home handy-work and the fact that one of them tried out a new recipe ... in the kitchen, not for disaster (or maybe both?!!).

Once upon a time there was a "World Class Snowboarder" named Krista Bradford (pssst she & Brijet are actually cousins!) ... Today she joins the podcast with her championship mentality and fabulous self, under her married name of Krista Ference. Hang with the ladies as Krista shares her journey from ski-swapping-snowboarder to Canadian National team competitor to spouse of NHL alum/Stanley Cup Champion Andrew Ference, advocate for women's health AND proud new style sharing entrepreneur and owner of life/styled consulting & concierge. The trio chat red bottom shoes, red wigglers, and Mount Kilimanjaro ... One of them climbs mountains, one climbs stairs & one gets climbed. Choose your own adventure buddy ;)

Nothing screams LOVE and the celebration of GALentine's Day & fierce female friendships quite like a sit-down with these 2 Hockey besties, Aleah Smith & Kayla Price. The 2 fabulous women met when their sweethearts, Craig Smith (Boston Bruins) & Yannick Weber (Pittsburgh Penguins) played together in Nashville. Although they are settling into their new hockey homes in different states, it's clear that this friendship has no borders as they are already talking about building a commune & retiring together (... maybe "too close" according to Kayla & maybe "never close enough" according to Aleah ;)) The foursome have some fun getting to know one another while discussing the current season's obstacles, shocking home decor choices, marathon musts & figuring out WHO can lick WHAAAAT??? It's Valentine's Day ... maybe grab some whipped cream. 

Holly Horvat "throws rocks at a house" like the Canadian champion that she is (IYKYK) ;) With a natural flare & passion for care giving, she has taken her nursing degree and love for pediatrics and turned it into further giving back with her new business The Mama Coach. Her and her husband Bo Horvat (Vancouver Canucks Captain) welcomed their first baby this past summer and she's excited to do what she can to help educate & provide support to new mom's all over! As the NHL heads into this very unique 2021 season, Holly shares her feelings of excitement and uncertainty and reminisces about the announcement of Bo's captaincy and how the couple shared the news with their families. The ladies share some of their own post-natal experiences, Kodette throws out an "eat me" from the Wives Room & Brij proves that there were in fact hockey games that she was on time for with "true patriot love". 

She is a hard-working, goal achieving global entrepreneur from Sweden and her name is Annica Englund. From being a social media influencer to a top Swedish DJ/ music producer in just a few short months, Annica talks about how she filled her days with music and used her intense focus to help relieve her anxiety all while finding joy in a new realm. This independent expat is now exploring the hockey life in Calgary alongside her Flames sweetheart, Elias Lindholm and opens up about her own challenges transitioning from her personal success in Sweden to adapting to someone else's life in another country. Annica is realizing that her values are happily shifting, Kodette reveals a passion, Brij tries her hand at translating Swedish Expressions & the ladies share some laughs on getting shit done, while (quite literally) getting shit done ;)

She said: Yes, of course I'd love to come on your podcast!!! ... but just so you know, my kids are homeschooling & my pets are needy!                              They said: We'll happily take your everyday-life chaos if it means that we can get to know you better!Just a week into the New Year & days before the start of the 2021 season, Kodette & Brij were lucky enough to actually sit down (together but apart) with CHRISTINA MARLEAU, one of the NHL’s most beloved & veteran wives (in history!!!) She’s been the loyal partner, loving wife  & ultimate supporter of long time San Jose Shark, Patrick Marleau for over 22 years & nearly all of his 1700+ NHL games. With a story that starts out something like ... “an arena accounting employee sees an usher at the Shark Tank ...” and continues with 4 boys, 2 dogs, a cat , a baby snake + 2 mannies disguised as Auston Matthews & Mitch Marner, who wouldn’t be ready to hang with her for all of the in-between-details!?! Feelings get real, Hockey bubble activities are compared, exotic drink recipes for disaster are revealed and you'll find out exactly what Christina means by “dressing up for Home Games”;) 

Sara Olivova brings some international flair to this episode! She is a bright young woman with a badass drive for EVERYTHING!!! As a Czech National Pro Beach Volleyball player her obvious passion & competitive spirit go far beyond the court (*ahem beach;)) while she continues her studies and looks forward to "what comes next". The ladies get the scoop on what the lockdown situation was in Czech and compare notes on being competitive with their own partners ;) Sara shares her perspective on one of last season's most memorable NHL moments, when an Emergency back-up goalie went in for her injured boyfriend, Carolina Hurricane's goaltender Petr Mrazek. And by the way, if you just can't get enough of her here ... head over to her instagram "Czechmeoutt" ... 'cuz you need to. 

Anne Gill crushes this episode with her magnetic personality and inspirational entrepreneur story! She created HAIST Designs (luxury leather hand bags & accessories) and walks us down the path from her personal "need", to vision, design, awesome name story, launch & evolution of her beautiful handbags!!! Of course Anne sprinkles in a couple of good NHL stories ~ with a husband like NHL alum, Hal Gill on your forever team, you know there are some good ones!?? Great partners aside, the ladies have a fun easy chat about Canadian snack addictions, the liberation of traveling solo, some Christmas gift WANTS plus Kodette finds herself tongue-tied over an (ahem;) sCOOTER...

Brijet & Kodette respectfully welcome today's guest, Emily Cave. She has been a voice for mental health awareness for the past few years and is bravely navigating her own unimaginable journey after the sudden passing of her love & newlywed husband, Colby Cave. Emily shares some fond memories of their life together and passes along some sweet stories of Colby's impact on not only her, but his friends, teammates & anyone he encountered during his far too short life. Her vulnerability is apparent during her heartbreaking recollection over their final days & moments together along with how she did her best to handle the swift media attention. Please join us in empathy, as we honor her story.

She's got style & creativity oozing out of her pores, she's a designer, a realtor, a mom, a business owner, a yogi, an absolute blast and her name is Rebecca Seidenberg. The girls catch up with Rebecca after a day of bein' a boss at her concept boutique "Offseids" and settling into an easy chill-night with her son. Brij & Rebecca start out with a 'party trick' challenge and relax into a convo about what makes this badass tick. Rebecca comes clean on making a rather BIG purchase, without including her husband Dennis (on a playoff game day no less?!!), but you'll soon find out that things seems to work out just fine when she sets her mind to it! Between a "party trick" challenge and Storage War advice, the girls cover almost everything and even find time to wtf about the trick-or-treat dispenser that may find it's way to Kodette's 'hood . 

The hockey world is a better one for having Janelle Foligno & her family in it. The one-time french immersion teacher graces this episode with her contagious spirit & sweet soul, while sharing the unimaginable whirlwind start to parenthood that her & her husband Nick (Columbus Blue Jackets' Captain) were thrust into when their first child, Milana, was born with a congenital heart defect. Janelle speaks about being led by her own heart (out of a Tim Horton's in Sudbury ;)) and down the path of generously giving back with Nick, plus their newly shared "The Heart's Playbook" platform. The girls chat about everything from first dates & first wedding dances (brij & kodette may 'plead the fifth' on that one for completely different reasons;)) to the first thing on their post-covid-to-do-list ... there's always time to focus on the positive, especially with this incredible woman! 

It's National Hispanic Heritage Month in the U.S. & the ladies are celebrating with Latina Powerhouse, Jess Molina!!! She is a first generation American raised by the 2 most special & influential people in her life ... her spicy-sweet Mexican Abuelita & her mom, whose collective force has given her the drive & wings to do ANYTHING she wants. Jess takes the girls on a journey from how she met her fiancé, NHL free agent Jon Merrill (recently of the Vegas Golden Knights), introducing him to her family & hispanic heritage, to getting her masters in social work in 4 years while moving 6 times & having 3 babies!?!! Kodette notices Jess's tattoo collection & Brij dies over the location & presumed pain of one them ... Más tequila por favor.  

On this episode, Jessica Klinkhammer guests as she prepares to leave for Belarus and her family's 5th season in the KHL. Her husband Rob, is former NHLer and current Captain for the HC Dinamo Minsk. This dynamo of a woman shares their journey from the NHL to the KHL along with the initial fear & then joy of living in Russia and traveling 'home' during the world-wide border closures at 37 weeks pregnant!!!! WHAAAT??! You may even pick up some Russian vocab & learn a thing or two about how they are advertising covid-safe-sex over there on the other side of the world;) 

While hockey fans & NHL families awaited the 2020 Eastern Conference final winners, the girls caught up with the ultimate "insider", Alberta native, Meg Dowling! She & her 6 month old baby girl, Perri were the first family members to break the BUBBLE & slide into an experience that no other hockey family had had. Meg's husband, Justin Dowling, is a forward for the Dallas Stars and was awaiting his first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals when the girls stole her for some scoop. The three discuss Meg's childhood summers on the Pro Rodeo circuit & how the couple went from their titles of 'BeerLeagueRinkRats' to 'husband&wife' to 'parents'! While she navigates being a first time mom, Meg shares her own feelings and honest observations as she tells us about her first week inside the NHL Bubble. The trio weigh in on Superstitions playing their own part in these unique playoffs, Brij discusses her "must have" in Edmonton and Kodette relays her desire to travel to the capital city to meet the newest member of her own family of donkey's ;)  

Jessica Kohout joins the ladies for a conversation ( Pre-Round 2, Game 6) about Baby Billie Ann entering the world and how her fiancé Jordie Benn (Vancouver Canucks) was able to be there for her arrival in between the pre-playoff Training Camp and his entry into The Bubble. Jess is a fierce woman with a competitive spirit ... teasing with some Dallas bar + young-hockey-life-stories beyond the fact that she danced competitively and landed a FULL RIDE softball scholarship to college. The 3 women weigh in on Mike Milbury's insensitive & insulting comment about women just a couple of weeks ago & discuss how professionals in all walks of life handle the pleasant chaos of a family while still focusing on their jobs. Brij & Kodette want to take this time to CONGRATULATE Jess & Jordie on the arrival of their first baby & thank Jess for sharing the unique circumstances that came with welcoming her in the middle of a Pandemic and the resuming of play in the NHL ...

Ahhhh the sounds of (pre NHL Bubble) summer ... the sweet easy song of Kelly Talbot's Texas voice, the fizz of opening a can of seltzer (with a kick of course;), mixed in with some early June sunshine, some spotty lake-house-wifi (insert annoyed hosts eye-roll here) plus a dose of salty sarcasm from Kodette ~ The recipe for a fun episode for sure! Kelly takes a break from her 3 year old twins and gets real with the girls about meeting her husband Cam (Calgary Flames goalie) & how he was her chief supporter while they navigated her anxiety and his early NHL career together. The episode just wouldn't be complete without a catastrophic tale from Kelly's NY Rangers party days and some sage advice from Brij for all ... "Check your props before you mount them." You're welcome.

The girls catch Tampa Bay Lightning forward, Pat Maroon just a few short days before he heads into "The Bubble" & the unique 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.  Coming off of the 'best year of his life' with his son Anthony, fiance Fran & the St. Louis Blues Stanley Cup Championship, he weighs in on the reality that NHL players & personnel were faced with as they made the choice to 'Return to Play' and leave their families behind. Consider yourselves warned on multiple levels as the new friends deal with a delayed Zoom connection, Brij dates herself with a not-so-innocent question and the 2 women lend their thoughts on what they would have made sure was on hand if their own husbands were off to "The Bubble" ... ;)

She is a dancin’ dentist, includes Zumba instructor as her side hustle and her name is Sarah Gudbranson. “Dr. Sweets” (her maiden name is Sweetnam) shares some stories about her smile-enhancing family’s dentistry legacy, dancing in living rooms, her impressive studies and of course how she balances her career + personal life with her husband Erik Gudbranson (Anaheim Ducks defenseman). Sarah & Brij exchange go-to-party-tricks & Kodette (sometimes known as Dickie Lynn ;)) has an on air ‘moment’. Is it gettin’ Hot In Here or did Erik just walk by shirtless?

Sydney Thompson will have you hooked from her first sweet hello! She's a pilates teaching/ recent fly fishing enthusiast from LA who found fast love (on an app!!!) with Philadelphia Flyers' centerman, Nate Thompson from Anchorage, Alaska. This beauty opens up and shares her diagnosis with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, the couple's journey through Nate's sobriety, their desire to start a family with a surrogate and MORE! She's a "Hab Nots" alumni with some fun superstitions that have Kodette & Brij giggling. The hosts get seriously unserious about some 'male entertainment' and decide that Alaska should be the new trendy spot for a #GirlsTrip. 

The Nashville Predators' Female Hockey Ambassador, Lauren Bonino joins us straight from Music City, where she is hunkered down with her own 'hunk'/ BEST-Halloween-Costume-Ever partner/ husband, Nick Bonino (Preds Centerman) & their 2 Littles. The fan-girling starts over this fun duo's life together starting with their own hockey playing, "sweatcedo" wearing days at Boston University right up to their current Quarantine antics. Who can resist a self admitted "Crazy-for-Swayze" cool chic dressing the part ??? Nope, neither can we. 

On your mark, get set, GO !!! The girls grabbed Michelle McGrattan for a catch up on her life before, during and after Pro Hockey with former NHL Enforcer Brian McGrattan. She is a fitness junkie, certified nutrition coach & creator of "The Michelle Method", a collection of online digital cookbooks:) There's never a shortage of things to talk about with this go-getter of a woman as the trio cover topics from Hot Priests, Cupcakes & Tattoos and quite possibly one of the best Trade-Deadline/Time-Travel stories yet. 

"A Star is Born" ... might be the perfect soundtrack for our guest, SYDNEY MARTIN for multiple reasons. Recorded in March during the early days of our Covid-19 Quarantine, the girls catch up with this former sports broadcaster from the office of her parent's home on Long Island, NY (ahem her dad is NFL Great, Boomer Esiason!!!) Her & her husband Matt (New York Islanders winger) are expecting their first baby very soon, so Kodette jumps in to pass along some HockeyWife wisdom, in the form of a 'shitkit' ;) From growing up in a sports-loving family, to a career in the field & then making the transition into being 'married the game', Syd and the girls all agree that "You can bring a lot to the table, it doesn't have to be dinner."

A Note from Brijet & Kodette : With the coincidental timing of the release of Erika Carter's premier episode with us on May 31st (yet recorded in April) we knew that we needed to invite her back for a potentially uncomfortable conversation; one that people everywhere are trying to navigate, which is the grotesque reality of Racism. The bonus footage, recorded subsequent to recent dramatic events, shows the raw emotion Erika feels as she shares her own biracial family's apprehension in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder. We are grateful to Erika for letting us walk down this path with her while she guides us through our own insecurities about the significance of current events associated with racism & gently reminds ALL of us that "It's ok to make mistakes ... that's how we learn." 

Rolling with it, is how Erika Carter operates... as an athlete with a gift for communicating and the ability to embrace new beginnings, it seems she was meant to be on this life journey alongside her husband, Anson Carter (NHL alumni & current analyst on NBC sports & MSG). Her education and career path kept her literally & figuratively "on the move" long before she met Anson, and hockey came in to dictate ;)! kodette, Brij and Erika take the conversation from Rhode Island to San Francisco, 3-city-seasons to Gold-Medal-Goals and from "fancy" cars to Erika's (kickass) virtual fitness classes.... all the way from "HOT-LANTA"!!!

Kelsey Rust slides in for some serious Girl Time as she takes a break from her Quarantine Crew, comprised of her husband Bryan Rust (2 time Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguin!!!), his teammate Zach Aston-Reese, and her pro-hockey playing brother Jarrett Burton! Sounds like a recipe for a new reality show right??!! Speaking of recipes ... Brij & Kodette chime in with this goddess-of-the-kitchen on how many toast recipes they could contribute to a cookbook along with the right time to pour a roofie-colada. Kelsey shares her long time love for hockey, community, pilates, mastering board games & how her BFFs (pssst it's a fellow NHL couple;) introduced her to the love of her life! Stay tuned as the 3 girls compare their PROPOSAL stories & exchange some game ideas for your next Zoom Happy Hour ;) You're welcome. 

Well folks, we've done it. We have officially "popped the podcast cherry" for Emily Ferguson ~ one of ABC's "The Bachelor" & "Bachelor in Paradise" favorite twins (her sister Haley is the other fave!). This energetic beauty has some fun chatting about everything from being #VegasBorn to stepping out of the 'reality tv' playing field and into the actual reality of a pro-hockey arena and life with her Vegas Golden Knights boyfriend, William "Wild Bill" Karlsson. Kodette & Brij take turns getting the inside scoop on her TV days & social media influencer expertise, while passing along their own helpful tips on navigating life in the NHL ... do we count tickets, minutes or drinks?!? As we all wait for word of the NHL starting up again, there's one thing for certain ... This Golden Girl misses hockey & is ready to get back to cheering for her Swedish Knight in shining armor.  

Myrika Godard has the voice of a rockstar, the personality of your favorite friend and the compassion of Oprah! She is an event planner/venue manager in beautiful B.C., a proud mom of 2 adventurous boys, the co-founder of the brand new giveLUCK community and the supportive wife of Eric Godard (NHL Alumni, 2009 Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguin). There's always smiles to be had when you get to hang with this beautiful soul & 'life of the party', so the girls get their "gangster-lean" on and discuss fun things like Myrika's teenage diary entries & the rules of working out (or not;)) as a couple. Along with that comes some honest tears & heartfelt truth about navigating life with "Godard's" head trauma & concussion related seizures and their post-playing Team of Supporters. Typically only family & friends hear this side of a concussion story, but this lady is ready to share it with everyone. She. Is. Our. Champion.

She's a "gold-miner's" daughter, an educator, a badass outdoor beauty, a member of "THE WINO'S" Championship Women's rec. hockey team in Metro Winnipeg ... and her name is Emily Byfuglien. The girls have some fun getting to know all about Emily and fun-flirty-teenage beginnings of her relationship with her husband, Dustin Byfuglien; NHL 2010 Stanley cup Champion Chicago Blackhawk & recent defenseman for the Winnipeg Jets. The honest chat of being a 'bender', homeschooling & love for wine shift easily into the tough conversation on the difficult past season that the couple endured. Because this episode was recorded just 48hrs before Dustin came to a mutual agreement with the Jets to terminate his contract, we invited Emily back for an after-the-announcement session to get her thoughts. If there's one thing we know for sure when you're Married to the Game ... it's that not much of it is ever for certain. 

Paige Dowd graces the podcast today from early-quarantine-life in Arlington, Virginia. With an undergrad in speech pathology, she has a sweet spot for the autism community and we celebrate Autism Awareness Month getting to know more about her life-long passion of working with kids and her & her husband, Washington Capitals forward Nic's foundation, DOWD'S CROWD. This humble dynamo hunkers down with Nic & their new babe, Louie and walks us through the whole beginning of the NHL "pause". One of the girls fesses up on how she killed a fake plant and they all wonder how many dogs Kodette could fit into an M3 without getting murdered by The Warden. 

The girls have the extreme pleasure of chatting with KALEB DAHLGREN, (recorded pre-Pandemic-StayAtHome) for this episode! He might literally be THE MOST POSITIVE PERSON on the planet ; having not only survived the HUMBOLDT BRONCOS bus accident on April 6, 2018, exactly 2 years ago today, but being dubbed a MIRACLE by multiple medical professionals as he recovered from a brain injury that should have left him in a vegetative state. He is currently excelling in business at York University & playing hockey, while spreading JOY to everyone he encounters. Kaleb walks us through his early hospital days while being clear that does not let the tragedy define him. He swears to "Live his life to the fullest for those who aren't here" and honors his Broncos family in all that he does. We LOVE his incredible spirit, infectious twinkle and get to share some laughs with him comparing how to stay warm, celebrate graduations and how all three of us can appreciate the simple Canadian pleasure of HAPPY HOUR at Earl's!!! 

On the heels of what might be the longest-trip-home-ever, Brooke Carson joins the girls as our FIRST current EXPAT! As the Corona Virus was making headlines, most of the Pro-Hockey community in North America was shocked with the direction to ‘self quarantine’, while Expat families like the Carson’s, were trying to frantically figure out how to get home safely & swiftly. Brooke speaks with the girls just over a week into her family’s quarantine in Calgary & shares details of the NHL & pro hockey life with her husband, Brett Carson. This journey has led them to 7 different countries with 2 toddlers, a dog, 287 pieces of luggage ;) and probably closer together! Brij (sort of) remembers a past Rookie party that the wives + girlfriends attended, Brooke gives us some present tips on living/playing overseas & Kodette looks into her own post-pandemic-quarantine future with glimpses of herself being super organized yet fat AF. 

Megan Carter chats with the girls (in this Pre-Pandemic recorded) episode and introduces all of us to her life-before-meeting her LA KINGS Centerman husband, Jeff Carter, along with balancing a career, babies & volunteering! The former cheerleader/sharpshooter has some giggles sharing her "How i met my husband" story & gets completely honest while sharing her former insecurities & personal evolution as the significant other of an NHL player. Kodette, Brij & Meg compare notes on which of kind of Pole Vaulting is for them, with "Hold on for dear life & ride it" being the the most common tip across the board. 

Can we get a heck-yeahhhh????! EVA SHOCKEY is the ultimate powerhouse brand-building woman. She grew up in Western Canada & spent her childhood loving the outdoors with her world famous professional big game outfitter/tv producer dad, Jim Shockey & graceful keep-it-all-together ballerina mom, Louise. By the time she met her husband, former NHL'er Tim Brent, she was already breaking down the barriers of a very male dominated outdoor arena & enjoying her own stardom. The girls chat with this mom of 2/author/TV host/female force-to-be-reckoned-with about turning negatives into positives, "Taking Aim", plus how HER brand & lifestyle blog has successfully & authentically evolved right along with her. Amen, Huntress. Amen. 

The girls have no problem at all chatting with a professional in the broadcasting world … Carly Zucker. She is the host of the first ever female led talk show on KFAN Radio called OVERTIME & “first wife” of Pittsburgh Penguins’ Left Wing, Jason Zucker. Carly is passionate about everything from sports to GIVE16 charity, her 3 kids & 80’s rock. Find out what NOT to do on trade deadline day, Carly's go-to party trick and how she (thankfully!!!) can’t or won’t “bottle the funny”. 

Michelle Stone was quietly (& secretly!?!) flirted off of her 14 year old feet by her Aunt & Uncle’s hockey billet ~ then Calgary Hitmen & now Calgary Flames defenseman, Mike Stone. This mom of twins + 1, and co-owner of Sugar Bakers Cookie Co takes a few moments out of her busy life to shed some light on surviving "H.E.L.L.P", a rare pregnancy condition that could have easily taken her life. Not only is she keeping it real & enjoying the the sweetness of her family and life in her home town & hockey city Calgary, she’s rockin' the custom cookie scene & already booking 3 Months out! Poor Michelle humors our 2 hosts as they wonder what kind of cookie cutters could be made & Brij sees the potential in beating Kodette in a bake-off. Game On. 

The kids are all tucked in, so Alanna Reaves joins us for a glass of wine and simply lets us inside her private yet fun life. She comes from a family of First Responders & was following that path when she got side-tracked by the sense of humor (& muscles?!!!) of current Vegas Golden Knights right winger, Ryan Reaves. This former national RINGETTE champion has worn many hats and continues to live life to the fullest with her feisty little crew in Las Vegas, Nevada. The dynamics of her & Ryan's relationship is fun to learn about ... starting with their love of Burt Reynolds and mutually respected laws of "pranking". Did someone Soldier-Boy their way across the dance floor at their wedding or Bump'n'Grind to Miguel? The answer to this burning question and why Jenny Jackman is the biggest prankster of the episode; Right here , Right now. 

You're in for a treat with our guest Kristyn Yandle! She's a new business owner, mom of 2 great little girls and the better half of Florida Panthers' defenseman & 3 time NHL All-Star, Keith Yandle. He happens to be the current NHL Ironman with the most consecutive games played & stands at #4 on that list in NHL History!!! (but guess what, we didn't ask about it, because we are too superstitious that way!!!) Once you hear Kristyn's pregnancy & cancer fighting stories, you'll realize that she deserves an IRONWOMAN title herself!!! Maybe you'll even hear about how she hooked up with her sister's mother-in-law's son's brother, the power of octogenarian tennis players , how Kodette's butt wasn't good enough for the LA Lakers' Wives couch & how Brij was hypnotized by Keith's dance moves. Kristyn Yandle is the girl you hope to end up on a team with and the type of friend that leaves a mark on you forever...

Brigitte Smith is a calm mom of 4, a cool 2 time Olympic Alpine Skiier + 2006 Canadian National Slalom Champion & the 1 and only collected wife of Edmonton Oilers' goalie, Mike Smith ;) She gives us a glimpse into her childhood on the mountain, rich with the bloodline of a family filled with Canadian National Ski Team members (there were 6 including her!!!). Her 4 kids, who have clearly hit the 'gene pool jackpot' are the light of her life and are already busy competing & collecting sporting adventures of their own ... epic injuries included! With walls adorned with Olympic memorabilia that their mom, dad AND grandma have collected, the Smith Littles are a crew of passionate teammates of the best kind; Family. You'll realize as quickly as their mom flies down mountains, just why it's so easy to love her !!! The 3 friends chat about protecting their families (or not?!) from Arizona desert critters, how Kodette's Xtreme Sport of choice kept her off the ski slopes, Brij asks if she's the only one with spousal PDA rules in the gym and of course the ring-side excitement of The Battle of Alberta ... 

We recorded EPISODE #24 last week in a world that still had Kobe Bryant in it. It’s beyond fitting that our guest, Melanie Collins, NFL sideline reporter, sports broadcaster & lover of sports; embodies everything about what the Mamba Mentality is. “... a mindset that extends way beyond basketball or sports,” as told by Kobe to Amazon Book Review. “Everything worth achieving needs total focus and dedication. It’s the ultimate mantra for the competitive spirit.“ Mel has been living by this, even if she hadn't put a label on it.  We dive into Mel’s badass journey and are in awe of her hustle and fierce spirit. She has learned valuable lessons from mentors, friends & the athletes themselves and has promised to pay it forward with kindness and grit. Of course we have some fun chatting & keeping it light with one of our forever HockeyGirls, because what would life be without some love & laughter  …We'd like to honor the memory of Gianna & Kobe Bryant, Alyssa, Keri & John Altobelli, Payton & Sarah Chester, Christina Mauser and Ara Zobayan by dedicating this episode, along with our heartfelt condolences to their families, friends & teammates. Their loss is unimaginable and we pray that they feel the love from all the fans and strangers carrying them in their hearts ... 

Sometimes you saddle up in your car with your kids and tune into your Fave podcast with no concern for their innocent ears ... BE WARNED: Today's episode is NOT one of those times!!! Give those angels a headset and an iPad right now while you tally the F*bombs and join Kodette & Brij and their convo with Paul Bissonnette! He didn't get the name BizNasty by sharing his Grandma's chicken marsala recipe (the one with the mushrooms) on twitter that's for sure, but it's clearly not why we asked him here. He has turned his post playing career into an even more successful one in the entertainment business. In true Biz fashion, the Arizona Coyotes' radio color analyst/ social media bad-boy/ Spittin' Chiclets podcaster/ Entrepreneur shares his opinions, gets real about depression, the true value of friends who pull you off the couch and takes us all the way down the path of no return with some rather "shitty", horrifying one-night stand stories. Your hosts have decided against taking dating advice from him, but surely appreciated the interview guidance ;) If you like to moonwalk across the bar, have sex for sport or wonder if horny-hernias are a thing, press PLAY now. 

THE DENIM BLONDE herself, Lauren Melkus, is our guest today (her sweetheart is Tim Boyle)!!! This "bridal stylist" turned Custom Jacket designer takes us on her journey from Connecticut to fashion studies in Florence and all the HockeyTowns in between! We are all addicted to the Playoff Jackets that have been spotted on the ladies in the NHL & AHL in recent years and this is only the beginning!!! Decisions are hard to nail for Kodette, but not when it comes to letting Jason book her travel (ahem, Never. Again.) The girls weigh in on Hockey Family, Team Boyle, Celebrity clients, their favorite gifts and finding love while fishing for crackers ;) 

Ang Price is baaaack for more & she brought her Bestie/ Business partner JULIE PETRY so we could get to know her better!!! "Great things come from CRAZY IDEAS" & these two have a few ~ starting with arranged marriages, their CHic line of Montreal Canadiens clothing and their ... wait for it ... Habs Wives HOCKEY TEAM !!! The "HAB NOTS" have a whole new appreciation for what their guys do & the ladies weigh in on how to make this a LEAGUE wide phenomenon! Julie gets real with how Jeff woo'd her while he was on probation & Ang fills us in on how she Uber'd home in the middle of a marathon ... C'mon, there's definitely some fun to be had with ALL OF THIS !!! (+gratuitous verbal skate tying lesson by brij & lead-by-example moments from Kodette;))