Community, leadership, and resilience.

Three words to describe the journey of forward Maddy Christian, who joins me this week on Rinkside Rundown to share her inspiring hockey story.

Maddy talks about the importance of community back home in Elk River, Minnesota and how they helped shape her into the player she is on the ice and the person she is away from it. She also reflects on the growth she went through in becoming part of the leadership group at Penn State University and what it took to pursue her dreams of playing alongside the best in the world.

This conversation was recorded before the 2026 PWHL Draft where Maddy was selected 33rd overall by her hometown Minnesota Frost.

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Antigonish, Nova Scotia native Sara Stewart joins me this week on Rinkside Rundown to talk about her early love of hockey, the impact of community and family on her career, her growth and development at Colgate University, and what it means to be representing the East Coast for her and the next generation of female hockey players.

This conversation took place prior to the 2026 PWHL Draft, where Sara also shares what it would mean to hear her name called at the draft and to embark on a career in the best league in the world.

Since we spoke, Sara has signed her first professional contract, joining MoDo Hockey of the SDHL.

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This week on Rinkside Rundown, I sit down with Belleville, Ontario native Zoe Uens.

Zoe walks me through how her love of hockey started from watching her dad and brother play, why playing multiple sports mattered for her development, and what it was like growing up in Belleville. We talk about her junior career with the Kingston Ice Wolves, her decision to commit to Quinnipiac, and the growth she went through over four years as a Bobcat.

Since we recorded this conversation, Zoe was drafted in the third round, 36th overall, by the Montreal Victoire.

Follow Zoe’s food journey on Instagram: @chueyeats

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