Breaking the Ice

Making the move to Sweden with Haley Ferguson

Haley Ferguson, girlfriend of Oula Palve, who plays in the SHL in Linköping, Sweden, joins me on the podcast today! If you follow the bachelor franchise, you may recognize her and her identical twin sister from a few of the shows.

Haley and her boyfriend started dating a few months before COVID hit and they wound up quarantining together in Las Vegas. She talks about what that time was like for her and how it benefited their relationship in the long run. 

After living in Vegas most of her life and being separated for four months due to the US travel ban, Haley finally made the move to Linköping, Sweden! (Their first time living together & her first time living in Europe) Of course, we had to talk about the nerves, excitement, a couple of essentials to bring & what to expects!

She has such a positive attitude and an open mind going into this new adventure and I absolutely loved talking to her! 

The Denim Blonde with Lauren Melkus

Today I am joined on the podcast by Lauren Melkus! Lauren is the owner and designer of the brand "The Denim Blonde." The Denim Blonde began as a brand for bridal wear but within the past year expanded to sports wives and girlfriends. Lauren is so creative and is so passionate about what she does! 

Lauren and her boyfriend, Tim Boyle, did several years of long distance but he is now retired and the wait is over! In this episode, we talk about her time in the hockey world, we chat & laugh about how the guys never know anything that is going on, including team parties, and of course all things THE DENIM BLONDE! 

Make sure to check out Lauren on instagram www.instagram.com/thedenimblonde

 

www.thedenimblonde.com 

Being the new kid with Brittany English

Brittany English joins me today on the podcast! Brittany and her husband (she revealed on the podcast THEY GOT MARRIED, so happy for her!) have been the “new kids” on the teams several times. Even though she is super social and outgoing, she admits it is still nerve racking going somewhere new and she shares some great advice on what works for her.

Her husband, Scott Wedgewood, is also a goalie and she tells us what it is like being married to a goalie and how it is different than the other positions. (She may low key wish he was a different position but is so proud of him and his hard work ethic). 

 

Lastly, we chat ALL about WINNING THE STANLEY CUP! She shares all the deets about what actually went on with families being allowed in the bubble and why the girls all stuck by each other and chose to watch the finals back in Tampa. We talk about all of the post season festivities and what it was like being apart of this once in a lifetime experience

 

 

Connection through Community with Amy Johner

Amy Johner, creator of our private Facebook group joins me on the podcast today! Amy created this group years and years ago because she felt that it was so needed for our community. She talks about the importance of connecting with other girls in our lifestyle because they really do become your family for the season. What would we do without our hockey girls?!

Amy and her husband started dating before there were cell phones! We talk about the 90's and early 2000's and how far technology has come since then (thank god for us living away from friends & family!) They did long distance for so many years before making the move to Europe. We chat about culture shock, some of the traditions North Americans bring over, her experiences overseas and her family navigating their new journey of retirement.

Amy recently started her own photography business and I can't wait to see it grow! 

 

Side bar: Our private Facebook group is not searchable. It is for significant others of professional hockey players and you have to be added into it by another member in the group. Please reach out to another girlfriend or wife on the team if you would like to be added! 

The truth about your period: Cycle Syncing, Hormones & Birth Control with Alaina Cross

Alaina Cross, wife of Tommy Cross, who plays for the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL, joins me on the podcast today!

Alaina and her sisters own Balanced Beyars Health and their mission as health coaches is to help women live life in alignment to their cycles. In this episode, we talk about how most of us grow up misinformed about our bodies due to the lack of education and all studies being done on men. She talks about cycle syncing, the four phases of our cycle and how we should eat & exercise during each phase. We talk about hormone imbalances, birth control and SO much more.

Alaina breaks down so much information used analogies that actually made sense for me to remember this info! This is such an interesting episode and I truly learned more about how our cycles work in the hour that we talked than I have throughout my life!

 

P.S. The best time to go to a hockey game is during the first half of your cycle in The Follicular and Ovulatory Phases. Your energy is going to be high here and you'll feel more outgoing & upbeat, which is perfect for enjoying the game with other girls.

 

 

Check out Alaina's business here https://www.balancedbeyars.com/ and use the code: breakingtheice for 10% off their POP (Power of Periodization) program. 

 

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You can also find them on Instagram www.instagram.com/balancedbeyars

 

 

 

Different cultures, hilarious adventures & goldendoodles with Shelby Versteeg

Shelby Versteeg, wife of Mitch Versteeg, joins me on the podcast today! Mitch finished last season in HK Nitra in Slovakia and when COVID hit, their plans for this season changed. They have had a bit of a longer summer and have felt the stress of waiting for a contract but making the best of the extra time as a family!

Shelby told me some stories that literally had me in tears. She shares about her experience having her son, Sem, in Slovakia and getting their goldendoodle, Henry, in Japan. We also talk a lot about the different cultures in the cities they have played in. If you want to feel like we are all sitting in a coffee shop together swapping expat stories, you'll want to tune in for this one! :) 

From player‘s wife to coach‘s wife with Meg Graham & Kayla Sheen

Today Meg Graham, wife of Neil Graham, who coach's the Texas Stars in the AHL and Kayla Sheen, wife of Everett Sheen, who coach's the Idaho Steelheads in the ECHL join me on the podcast today!

Throughout me and my husband's time in Idaho (off & on for 5 years) and all three of us living there for the off season, I am grateful to have been able to form relationships with these amazing ladies. It was so fun to catch up and has been a blast for us to see each other go through new life changes over the years; marriage, babies, more babies and seeing where this crazy hockey life takes us.

In this episode, we talk about the differences between being a player's wife vs. a coach's wife, how their husbands got in to coaching, what their day to day looks like, as well as this past season with covid and more! 

Growing through this hockey life with Ashley Buck

Ashley Buck, wife of Brandon Buck, who finished last season in Nürnberg, Germany, joins me on the podcast today! Ashley has been in this hockey world for 11 years now and throughout it all has experienced several moves, languages, marriage, babies, injuries, no payments (to name a few!) They have also met some of their best friends in this lifestyle.

 

Ashley is the owner of Ashley Buck Photography and the hockey apparel line, Beau and Bex. She was an open book and I love her perspective of this hockey life! 

 

https://www.beauandbex.com/

So long, long distance with Karlee Bowles

Some of the two most hated words from hockey spouses: Long Distance.

 

Karlee, married to Parker Bowles, who finished last season in Znojmo, Czech Republic in the EBEL, joins me on the podcast today for our conversation about long distance! Karlee and Parker did long distance off and on for TEN years but are finally together again!

 

They met at a really young age and throughout their time together had clear communication and really understood each other’s needs and wants. They made it work and came out the other side! That’s not to say they didn’t have their bad days (and they definitely wouldn’t do long distance again!) but overall, feel like it made their relationship stronger.

 

In this episode, we chat about love languages, time differences and all things long distance. I love how Karlee talks about not putting so much pressure on your relationship when you are apart, and I’m not gonna lie guys...I DEFINITELY did this! I felt this pressure to have these deep meaningful conversations for an hour every night and let’s face it….YOU DON’T ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT and if your conversations get stale and boring THAT’S NORMAL!!!!

 

Hope you enjoy this epi!

Pregnant in a Pandemic with Katie Joslin

Katie Joslin, wife of Derek Joslin, who plays for Redbull Salzburg in Austria, joins me on the pod today to talk about being pregnant in the pandemic! After being diagnosed with a herniated disk in her back, she needed to lean on family and get some extra help with their little girl Elizabeth. Katie and her husband made the tough decision to separate for the birth of their second child and she headed back home to Canada, while he stays in Austria. 

Her due date is about a month before mine and we spend this episode swapping stories and discussing what it has been like being pregnant during COVID. We share some of our struggles, yet have a lot of laughs and funny moments throughout this crazy new adventure!