Say Yes to Europe with Rachael Czarnik

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

Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Marianna Theodore, wife of Shea Theodore from the Vegas Golden Knights! We dive into: How they navigated the early days of a long-distance relationship. The fun and unique traditions the wives have every year in Vegas. Experiencing the highs (and emotions) of winning the Stanley Cup. A behind the scenes look at life in a pro hockey family. How they find connection and balance as parents amidst a fast-paced lifestyle. and so much more!   Follow the Podcast on Instagram Follow Mariana on Instagram Use Rents4Baby next time you travel (Code ICE10 for 10% off your order) Get Game Day Ready with JEOVERSEAS  

Today on the Breaking the Ice, I am joined by Caitlin and Chelsea, the women behind the Instagram page @themamapsychologists  ! We chat about the unique challenges of motherhood in hockey life. From postpartum anxiety and depression to solo parenting during road trips, this episode will help you navigate life away from your support systems. We dive into:  The Importance of Community in Postpartum How isolation, especially living overseas, impacts new mothers NICU Experience and Trauma Differentiating Baby Blues from Postpartum Mental Health Issues Partner Preparation and Support Social Media Boundaries and Mental Health Managing info overload and algorithm driven anxiety content Solo Parenting and Self Care Practical strategies for managing alone time during hockey season This is a MUST listen for moms everywhere!   Follow my page on Instagram Get 20% off your first Little Bipsy Order with the code BREAKINGTHEICE20