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The Ride to the Rink: Mike Knuble on Why Kids Need to Get Outside and Just Play Hockey
Description
🏒 Want to get better at hockey? Sometimes the best thing you can do is step away from the rink and go outside.
On this episode of The Ride to the Rink, Lee Elias and Mike Bonelli are joined by longtime NHL forward Mike Knuble for a message every young skater and goalie needs to hear: go play.
Not every rep has to come from a coach. Not every skill has to be built in a formal practice. And not every moment of development has to happen on the ice.
Mike Knuble shares why getting outside, playing other sports, creating your own games, and being active with friends can help young athletes become better hockey players — and better all-around athletes.
In this episode, kids will hear why:
🏒 Street hockey, driveway games, and outdoor play help build creativity
🥍 Sports like lacrosse, basketball, baseball, and golf can transfer skills back to hockey
🧠 Free play teaches decision-making, patience, explosiveness, teamwork, and problem-solving
🎣 Taking breaks from hockey can keep your mind fresh and help you come back excited
👨👩👧 Parents and siblings can be part of the fun, too
🥅 You do not need perfect equipment — you just need imagination, effort, and a way to play
This episode is also a great reminder for parents: when your child asks to go outside, shoot pucks, play catch, hit balls, ride bikes, or build a net — that is an opportunity. Development is not just something kids do alone. It is something families can help create.
The message is simple: it is not about having every resource. It is about being resourceful.
📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Mike Knuble on Why Kids Need to Get Outside and Just Play
🎧 Listen now, then grab a stick, a ball, a glove, a bike, a fishing pole, or a friend — and go be a kid.
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Click To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!
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