Breaking the Ice

Lo Carr, wife of Kevin Carr, who finished last season in Nottingham, England in the EIHL. 

In this episode we chat about: 

In this episode, we talk about:

• How Lo and Kevin met in college, lost touch and unexpectedly found their way back to each other years later
• Their experience living and playing hockey in England, Germany, Norway and Scotland
• Learning to adapt to new countries, teams and communities season after season
• Lo’s “say yes” mentality and how it shaped her experience living abroad
• Building and maintaining her own career while moving internationally for hockey
• Finding remote jobs and her advice for hockey partners trying to do the same
• The emotions that come with knowing your final hockey season is actually your final season
• Going out on your own terms versus having the game make the decision for you
• Lo’s biggest advice after years in the hockey world: say yes, embrace where you are, and make the most of every season

Follow BTI on Instagram 

Follow Lo on Instagram and TikTok

Stock up on healthy groceries and household essentials delivered right to your door. Get 40% off your first order

This week, I'm joined by Lauren Pronger, wife of Chris Pronger, who is a NHL Hall of Famer. Lauren is a entrepreneur, certified Integrative Nutrition Coach, bestselling author, founder of Super Well and Well-Inspired Travels!

Lauren shares the honest, often unseen side of life behind professional hockey. From meeting Chris at the start of his NHL career to navigating multiple moves, raising three children, and eventually facing his career-ending concussion, she opens up about the identity shifts, burnout, and rebuilding that followed.

One of my favorite parts of this conversation is Lauren's reminder that supporting your spouse and building something of your own are not mutually exclusive. Whether you're in the middle of the hockey grind, preparing for retirement, or simply wondering what's next for you, this episode is full of wisdom, encouragement, and practical advice.

In This Episode We Cover:

• Why every hockey wife should nurture an identity outside of the game
• How Lauren and Chris first met and built a life together through hockey
• Navigating the mental load of motherhood during the hockey season
• The devastating impact of Chris's career-ending concussion on their family
• Lauren's experience with severe burnout and what finally helped her recover
• How she turned a passion for travel into a successful luxury wellness business
• Preparing for life after professional sports before retirement arrives
• Raising children in the spotlight of professional athletics
• Why investing in yourself ultimately benefits your marriage and family
•  

If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love if you'd subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another hockey wife or sports family who could use this conversation.

Follow Breaking the Ice on Instagram @breakingtheicepod for more stories from behind the scenes of professional hockey, and be sure to connect with Lauren to learn more about her wellness journey and businesses.

Follow Lauren Pronger on Instagram + her website! 

Check out Well Inspired Travels 

Grab your copy of Laurens Book!

 

Episode Sponsors

✨ Rents4Baby – Make traveling with little ones easier. Use code ICE10 for 10% off your rental.

🥕 Thrive Market – Stock up on healthy groceries and household essentials delivered right to your door. Get 40% off your first box! 

Rachael Czarnik, wife of Austin Czarnik, who plays in Lausanne, Switzerland, joins me today on Breaking the Ice!

In this episode, we cover:

• Making long-distance work during the early years of professional hockey
• Why they chose Switzerland over the uncertainty of the AHL/NHL lifestyle
• Raising young children abroad and creating stability through constant change
• What to know and what to pack before making the move overseas
• The biggest culture shocks after arriving in Europe
• Building community in a new country
• Processing the loss of her mother
• Giving birth in Switzerland and why the experience exceeded every expectation
• Rachel's advice for families considering taking the leap overseas

and so much more! This is such a great conversation.

 

Follow me on Instagram 

Follow Rachael on Instagram!

Get $30 OFF your first Nuuly Order! 

My LinkTree

 

Brittany Wedgewood, wife of Scott Wedgewood, who is the goalie for the Colorado Avalanche joins me back on Breaking the Ice! Brit is no stranger to the podcast and I am so excited for you to listen in for this conversation.

In this episode we chat about:

• Life updates, more stability in Colorado, and playoff run emotions
• Behind the scenes as a goalie family during high pressure moments
• Dealing with social media negativity and the impact of sports betting culture
• The realities and misconceptions of life as a hockey wife
• Building a support system through the hockey community
• Navigating motherhood with two young children and finding balance
• Hockey life with pets, constant moves, and the everyday chaos of hockey life
• Favorite hockey cities and what makes different organizations stand out
• The importance of veteran leadership, community, and team culture

and as always, so much more!

Follow Breaking the Ice on Instagram

Follow Brittany on Instagram

Get 40% off  VIOLENT GENTLEMAN women and children's collection with the code BREAKING40

Today on Breaking the Ice, I am joined by Jordan Laine, wife of Patrik Laine, who plays for the Montreal Canadiens, and we have a conversation about grief, mental health, and the constant in between. Jordan opens up about losing her mom at 14, navigating this life alongside her husband, and how those experiences led her to co-found with her husband From Us to You. 

---

In this episode we talk about:

• Life before hockey and holding onto your identity
• Grief and how it shapes you long-term
• The mental load that comes with this lifestyle
• The reality of trades, uncertainty, and constant change
• Supporting a partner while managing your own mental health
• Turning personal experiences into something that helps others

Get 20% off your Violent Gentlemen order with the code BREAKING20

Follow the podcast on Instagram

Follow Jordan on Instagram and Youtube

Support Jordan and Patrik's Non Profit: From Us to You

Mental Health Resources

 

Carley Carrick, wife of Sam Carrick, who plays for the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL joins me today on Breaking the Ice! It was so fun connecting with her IRL after chatting back and forth for years!

In this episode we chat about: 

• How the hockey life pushes you out of your comfort zone and shapes your personal growth
• Navigating major life transitions, pregnancies during call ups and send downs and with young kids
• What a NHL housing letter is and what it symbolizes when you get one
• What the NY Rangers set up looks like for the players and families
• Managing solo roadtrips and the logistics and mental load of trades with kids 
• The hockey community and the community you build in the city you play in
• Starting over in the middle of the season and how she encourages herself to keep on keepin on!

and so much more!

Get 20% OFF Your VIOLENT GENTLEMEN ORDER with the code BREAKING20 at check out! 

Follow Breaking the Ice on Instagram

 

Elle Mingoia, wife of Trevor Mingoia, who finished his last professional hockey season playing in Valerenga, Norway, joins me on the podcast today. This episode is real, raw and vulnerable and an episode where I know a lot of women will feel heard.

We chat about: 

• Having kids adds a whole new layer to hockey decisions
• The mental load of hockey life (on and off the ice)
• How the business side of hockey is changing for families: Logistics, Needs and being told one thing and showing up to another
• The uncertainty of what comes next after hockey
• Why no one really prepares you for retirement
• The identity shift that comes with this lifestyle
• Thinking about life beyond hockey… before you have to

and so much more! I can't wait for you guys to listen to this episode. If you are struggling in this lifestyle, please reach out or confide in someone you trust. You are not alone! 

 

Follow the podcast on Instagram 

Follow Elle on Instagram

Support Elle's business/follow on Instagram: Peach Lab Charleston

 

LINKS:

Get 35% off your first BEAM order with the code ICE

Get 15% off your first NUULY order!

 

Yakira Gill, wife of Sahir Gill, who plays in Hannover Germany in the Del3, joins me on the podcast! Over the past 8 years in Europe, Yakira has such a positive perspective about their hockey journey and this is a must listen if you need a little inspo to make the best of it!

In this episode we chat about: 

• What her and her family ask for from teams when making a decision of where to sign 
• Finding joy in the small moments
• The European Hockey experience and what that has been like for her and her three kids 
• First year culture shock and the adjustment period
• Her birth experiences in Europe vs. North America 
• Birth Advice for those giving birth abroad

and so much more! 

 

Follow me on Instagram

Follow Yakira on Instagram 

Get 35% off your first BEAM order with the code ice 

Get 15% off your first NUULY order

Buckle up. Today is the day my solo episode is out and I am catching you up you up to speed on my life. This episode is HONEST. This isn't a universal episode, or an episode where I am speaking for everyone. It's simply me sharing my truth. Whenever I record these solo episodes, I always listen back and think there are more things I wish I said or described! But I sat down one night during an away game, and shared my truth! 

In this episode I am chatting about: 

• Why we originally went overseas and what drew us to hockey there
• Walking through our Euro journey 
• What I enjoy about the lifestyle over there
• Why we made the decision to be done with Europe
• Loneliness abroad and how that deeply affected my mental health
• Sharing our conversations about what life may look like after hockey
• Online noise about the hockey life
• the ECHL strike over Christmas
• How I am staying grounded and what I am focusing on with a crazy North American hockey schedule

Follow Breaking the Ice on Instagram 

Today on Breaking the Ice, I am joined by Caitlyn Mantha, wife of Anthony Mantha, who plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL! In this episode we chat about: 

• Navigating Unpredictability in this lifestyle: trades, moves and what they do every season with their living arrangements
• Flexibility and her roll with it attitude for surviving constant change
• How they prioritize and focus on their relationship throughout the hockey season
• Solo parenting and long roadtrips
• How she has evolved throughout her years in the hockey lifestyle

and so much more!

 

Follow Breaking the Ice on Instagram

Follow Caitlyn on Instagram

Get 10% off your TELETIES order