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.

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

In this episode of Pucked Up Parents, Michael and Angela take a brutally honest (and predictably sarcastic) look at the true cost of youth hockey—and spoiler alert: it’s not pretty.

At a high level, they walk through the endless list of expenses that hit parents before the season even really starts. It begins with tryout fees—because apparently you have to pay just for the chance to pay more—followed quickly by those “non-refundable” commitment fees that lock you in before you’ve even found your kid’s other glove.

From there, the costs pile up fast: league fees, ice time, tournament registrations, and of course, travel. Michael and Angela highlight how the “extras” are where things really spiral—team fees, coaching add-ons, skills sessions, fundraising expectations, and all the little surprise charges that somehow never make it into the original number.

Then comes gear—constantly replaced, constantly upgraded, and somehow always urgent. Sticks break, skates don’t fit, and helmets expire like milk. And just when you think you’re set, there’s team apparel, spirit wear, and the mandatory “optional” purchases that every parent knows aren’t actually optional.

Throughout the episode, they keep it light with humor and real-life anecdotes, but the message is clear: youth hockey isn’t just a sport, it’s a financial lifestyle. The bottom line? If you’re getting into hockey, you better love it—because your wallet definitely won’t.

In this episode of Pucked Up Parents, Michael and Angela take a fun detour off the ice and into pop culture, breaking down how hockey shows up on the big and small screen. They kick things off with a look at iconic hockey documentaries, including the legendary Miracle on Ice, sharing why stories like that still resonate with players and parents alike.

From there, the conversation shifts to TV, where Michael dives into his love for the unapologetically crude and hilarious Shoresy. Angela balances things out with a lighter take on hockey-themed shows and the surprisingly small pool of hockey cartoons.

They also touch on hockey in movies overall—what gets the culture right, what gets exaggerated, and why hockey storytelling always seems to lean into grit, humor, and chaos.

As always, the episode has a recap of their hockey week. Highlights include a trip to see Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins take on the Tampa Bay Lightning, plus a big milestone as their oldest son laces up for his first-ever beer league team—a team named after Cheese.

It’s a mix of laughs, nostalgia, and real hockey life—on screen and off.

In this episode of Pucked Up Parents, Michael and Angela trade in the frozen tundra for hot pavement as they dive into the world of off-ice hockey. From roller hockey leagues to driveway danglers, they break down summer training—where the only thing smoother than your kid’s hands is the melted asphalt under their wheels.

They cover everything from rollerblade skate styles to the realities of outdoor rinks and indoor roller rinks. Plus, a look at off-ice training tools like VR systems, SuperDeker setups, and other gadgets.

Speaking of financial pain, Angela shares the emotional journey of being $500 poorer after buying new skates for their teenager—because apparently destroying skates is a personality trait now. Meanwhile, Michael takes a trip down memory lane to his glory days at Whispering Wheels, rocking a mullet, prescription glasses, and a pair of He-Man roller skates that (in his mind) made him irresistible to the ladies.

It’s everything you didn’t know you needed to survive the hockey offseason without completely losing your mind—or your bank account.

In this episode of Pucked Up Parents, Michael & Angela dig into the never-ending challenge of feeding a youth hockey player—aka trying to outpace a kids metabolism that somehow survives on one decent meal and a mountain of rink snacks.

They break down how to piece together actual dinners during the week while juggling practice schedules, late ice times, and the classic “we’ll just grab something quick” lie that turns into a drive-thru tour. The conversation shifts to locker room culture—team coolers, snack duty, and the drink choice (little barrels of juice!). They also tackle what kids should be drinking… and what they absolutely shouldn’t—especially when it turns into a full-blown bottle-flipping competition instead of hydration.

Tournament weekends get their own spotlight, with tips on timing meals between games so your kid isn’t skating on either a full stomach or pure fumes. Michael & Angela share their finest “hotel gourmet” strategies—crock pots, microwaves, and griddles turning basic hotel rooms into questionable kitchens—plus a few restaurant hacks to keep costs (somewhat) under control.

And because nothing ever goes smoothly, they recap a huge weekend at USA High School Hockey Nationals, where their son’s varsity team exceeded expectations. leading to travel chaos.

It’s a mix of food prep, fuel debates, and full-on hockey parent madness—served with a side of humor.

On this episode of Pucked Up Parents, Michael and Angela are joined by Patrick Michael of Hockey Gear For All, a foundation that donates gear to kids in need. He is truly a guest who brings both expertise and heart to the conversation.

The episode covers all things hockey gear, from the importance of proper sizing (because nothing ruins a stride faster than ill-fitting equipment) to the less glamorous side of the sport—cleaning and maintaining gear that seems permanently infused with “rink smell.” Patrick shares practical advice on, brands, sizing, hockey player preferences. Michael and Angela, of course, keep things real with a story about their son’s hockey pants that looked like they had a full-on blowout mid-season.

Beyond the laughs, Patrick dives into his personal hockey journey—how his passion for the game led him to start Top Hockey Gear, and ultimately inspired the creation of Hockey Gear For All. He explains how the organization collects donated equipment, refurbishes it when needed, and redistributes it to kids across the U.S. and even internationally. His mission is simple but powerful: remove the financial barrier so more kids can experience the game.

This episode of Pucked Up Parents, Michael and Angela dive headfirst into one of youth hockey’s most expensive and confusing pieces of equipment: the hockey stick. From flex to lie, blade curves to kick points, they break down the specs parents are told they need to understand… and the ones that probably don’t matter nearly as much as the pro shop guy says they do. Along the way, Michael tests Angela’s patience—and possibly the show’s subscriber count—by seeing just how many questionable innuendos he can squeeze out of words like shaft, curve, and stick handling.

The hosts also recap a packed weekend of end of season youth hockey tournaments with their kids and the success they had. And the excitement continues as the 1/2 of the family gears up for a big trip to USA Hockey High School Nationals in Minnesota, where their State Champion Senior Varsity son will take the ice against top teams from around the country.

Between gear talk, tournament tales, and more stick jokes than anyone asked for, it’s another episode proving that in youth hockey parenting, sometimes you just have to laugh… especially after buying another $300 stick. 🏒