Rinkside Rundown cover art

Rinkside Rundown

Rinkside Rundown

By: Chris Sinclair
Listen for free

About this listen

Rinkside Rundown with Chris Sinclair is your go-to podcast for women’s hockey stories, insights, and interviews.

From rising stars and NCAA standouts to pro players and coaches, get behind-the-scenes access to the journeys, training, challenges, and milestones shaping the future of women’s hockey. Whether you follow the PWHL, college hockey, or international play, Rinkside Rundown brings you expert conversations and authentic stories from across the women’s game.

Subscribe and hit the bell to stay updated on weekly episodes. Join a growing community passionate about women’s hockey and the sport’s biggest moments.

2025 Chris Sinclair
Hockey Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Issy Wunder: Princeton Leadership, Neuroscience, and the PWHL Draft
    Apr 23 2026

    Issy Wunder is the top-ranked Canadian prospect heading into the 2026 PWHL Draft, but her journey to the professional ranks began long before the league’s inception.

    From the backyard rink her mother built in Toronto to her tenure as captain of the Princeton Tigers, Issy has defined her career through a balance of elite athletic performance and strong academics.

    In this episode, we move beyond the scoresheet to explore the person behind the "C." A neuroscience and psychology student at Princeton, Issy explains how understanding the brain allows her to "reframe" the immense pressure of the collegiate and professional game as a privilege.

    We discuss her junior roots with the Toronto Aeros and Durham West, the influence of Olympic legend Sami Jo Small, and why she views being a role model as a non-negotiable responsibility.

    As she prepares to transition from the Ivy League to the PWHL, Issy reflects on the growth, leadership, and community that made this path possible.

    Discover more at www.rinksiderundown.ca
    Follow the podcast on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/rinksiderundownpod

    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
  • Proving Yourself Right: Alaina Giampietro on the Robert Morris University Legacy
    Apr 16 2026

    "I didn't prove anyone wrong. I proved myself wrong."

    Alaina Giampietro joined Robert Morris University in 2023 as part of a newly reinstated program, but her journey in the game started much earlier at her grandfather's local rink in Ohio. Now, as the captain of the Colonials, she is balancing the weight of Division I hockey with the responsibility of building a team culture from the ground up.

    On Episode 119 of Rinkside Rundown, Alaina shares:

    • The Ohio Origins: How early mornings skating with her grandfather laid the foundation for her career.
    • The Rebuild Reality: What it actually takes to establish a culture and a legacy in a program’s first years back on the ice.
    • The "Prove Myself Right" Mindset: How shifting from external validation to internal growth changed her development as a player and leader.
    • The Impact Beyond the Scoreboard: Why leaving the program better than she found it is her ultimate goal at RMU.

    Join the community: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and follow along on Instagram for more behind-the-scenes coverage of women’s hockey: https://www.instagram.com/rinksiderundownpod

    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
  • PWHL Draft Prospect Stephanie Bourque on Leadership, Consistency and Growth
    Apr 9 2026

    Episode 118 of Rinkside Rundown continues the “Road to the PWHL Draft” series with Union College defender and captain Stephanie Bourque.

    A native of Moncton, New Brunswick, Bourque has built a standout NCAA career defined by consistency, durability, and production. She became Union’s all-time leader in points and assists among defenders and set an ironwoman streak, appearing in over 140 consecutive games. This season, she was also among the most utilized players in NCAA women’s hockey, averaging more than 28 minutes per game.

    In this episode, Bourque reflects on her journey through junior hockey and the NCAA, her development as a leader, and how she’s preparing for the next step as she looks toward the 2026 PWHL Draft.

    “Trust the process and be patient.”

    Discover more at www.rinksiderundown.ca
    Follow the podcast on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/rinksiderundownpod

    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.