Rinkside

In this episode, Ryan Steeves and Emma Miskew discuss the pressures faced by athletes in high-stakes situations, particularly in professional sports. They explore the psychological aspects of performance under pressure, the impact of fan expectations, and the importance of support systems. The conversation delves into mental strategies for handling pressure, the role of coaches, and the significance of resilience and self-forgivene...

In this episode, Ryan and Emma discuss the evolving landscape of youth sports, particularly focusing on baseball. They are joined by Brian Storseth, who shares insights from his extensive experience in youth baseball coaching and administration. The conversation covers various themes including the importance of affordability and accessibility in youth sports, the benefits of multi-sport participation, the challenges posed by specia...

Why are so many young girls dropping out of sport—and what can we do to stop it?In this candid episode, Emma opens up about what it’s really like to grow up as a girl in the world of competitive sport. From being told to “smile more” on the ice to having her achievements reduced to comments on her appearance, Emma shares her personal experiences of gender bias, burnout, and the invisible pressures that female athletes face every da...

How young is too young to start lifting?This week on Rinkside, Emma and Ryan sit down with Andre Signoretti—former pro hockey player and co-owner of Ottawa’s Fitness Lab—to unpack the myths, realities, and best practices around strength and conditioning for youth athletes.Andre shares the difference between training right and training early, explains why mobility and movement quality come before heavy lifting, and discusses how to ...

What if the key to building NHL-ready talent isn’t more games—but more fun?This week on Rinkside, Emma and Ryan sit down with Corey Murphy—former NHLer and current Player Development Consultant for the Seattle Kraken—for a wide-ranging, eye-opening conversation on how elite hockey players are developed, and what North America could learn from European systems.Corey shares insights from his global playing career (NHL, Finland, Swede...

What does it take to reach the Olympic level—and help others get there?This week on Rinkside, Emma and Ryan sit down with Ian Mortimer, former world-class paddler and current Chief Technical Officer of Canoe Kayak Canada. Ian shares deep insight into the making of elite athletes, from his own journey wearing the Maple Leaf to helping Canada’s next generation navigate high-performance sport.They talk about the power of focusing on p...

What happens when you're expected to win—every single time?This week on Ringside, Emma and Ryan sit down with Sarah Wilkes, lead for Team Homan, psychotherapist, and multi-sport national champion, for a deep, honest conversation about competing on the world stage and everything that comes with it.Sarah shares what it’s like to go from winning the Scotties to jumping on a plane to Korea for Worlds—jet-lagged, emotionally drained...