Our Kids Play Hockey

We're closing the book on 2025 with our annual Year in Review—and the numbers are WILD. From 156 episodes (yep—3 per week) to 4,454 minutes of content (74+ hours) and listeners in 100 countries, this show continues to grow because of one thing: the hockey community sharing it.We also count down the Top 5 episodes of 2025 (plus an honorable mention), talk through the topics parents are clearly searching for most (tryouts, development, myths, and expectations), and pull back the curtain on what happens after we hit “end recording”—including how titles, transcripts, and social clips help families actually find the episodes they need.And if you've ever wondered whether the show is still growing… November + December 2025 were the two biggest months we've ever had. Hockey-stick chart. Straight up.Key TakeawaysConsistency wins: 156 episodes in 2025 and no missed weeks in 6 yearsGlobal reach: listeners in 100 countries and 3,853 cities in 2025Top cities: Toronto #1, followed by Minneapolis and ChicagoTop 10% on Buzzsprout: driven by listens per episode + community sharingThe search effect is real: the episodes that rank highest are the ones parents need answers to (tryouts, benchmarks, myths)The Top 5 Episodes of 2025 (Countdown)#5: Do Early Hockey Stars Stay Ahead? (Ep. 399)#4: What Skills Should My Kid Have at Their Age? (Ep. 390)#3: 3 Pieces of Advice Hockey Parents Ask For… and Ignore (Ep. 376)#2: Debunking Youth Hockey Myths w/ Bruins Performance Coach Kevin Neal (Ep. 358)#1: The Truth About Tryouts and Evaluations (Ep. 355)Honorable Mention: The Underappreciated Defenseman (Ep. 343)Practical Tips for Parents (takeaways from this discussion)Don't panic over a 2–3 day tryout window—evaluation happens all seasonUse benchmarks as guardrails, not pressure—kids develop at different speedsWhen you're stuck at the rink… search the website + share the episodeSend questions in—some of the best episodes start with a listener email--Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena!

Happy New Year, hockey friends and families!

⏰ This is it. The final reminder.In this short but important episode, we're officially in the last 24 hours of our massive year-end Wraparound Roundtable Grand Prize Giveaway—and we don't want a single hockey family to miss their chance.

⏰ One week left… and this might be the biggest youth hockey giveaway we've ever done.Every year, we look for a way to say thank you to the hockey families who make this community so special — and this year's Holiday End-of-Year Giveaway is next level.In this short but important episode, we break down everything one lucky family can win, and trust us — this is the kind of prize pack that makes you the hero of the locker room.

For the final episode of this season's Wraparound Roundtable, we're joined by Chris Kibui — the creator behind Hockey Tutorial, one of hockey's most respected and widely‑watched channels. From humble beginnings making “how to hockey stop” videos to producing gear reviews, expert tutorials, and international documentaries, Chris has spent over a decade bridging the gap between gear tech, on‑ice performance, and global hockey culture.Lee and Chris dive deep into:

This week on The Wraparound Roundtable, we're joined by Tim McCarthy, founder of Goalie Gear Nerd — one of the most respected voices in the world of goalie equipment. With nearly a decade of gear expertise (and a lifelong obsession with pads, gloves, and everything in between), Tim breaks down how a passion project turned into a global hub for goaltender knowledge.He and Lee dive into what sparked his gear obsession, how sharing his nerdy curiosity grew into an online community, and why the relationships he's built with brands and fellow goalies mean far more than follower counts. This episode is a deep look at gear, authenticity, and why doing what you love always shows.