Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Couple of the Little One this weekend... Man it was a physical game, the coach even said something apologetic to me after....(the team they played did need to be reigned in a bit). I think sometimes he feels like he needs to protect her... But truth be told, I think she is the most physical kid on their team.

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...bbyHockey1.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...bbyHockey2.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...bbyHockey3.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

:r

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

WOW.....:jd Yea, who wants to have a kid wear something that is proven to protect.....:td

That said, at this point....and I have said it before in this thread....nothing from parents and coaches in youth sports surprises me anymore.... Disappoints, yes....surprises....nope....

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

How did the boy & the Steam do this weekend, Scott?

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Pretty much what we expected. We hosted the #10 team, Indy Ice and a team closer to our ranking, #65 Pittsburgh Selects (coached by Mario Lemieux's brother). Our boys are ranked #58 in the USA.

We beat Pittsburgh the 2 times we played them and lost to Indy both times we played them. Pittsburgh did beat Indy once, so they got a great moral boost.

We lost 4 very good players to Indy 2 years ago, 3 defensemen and a goalie, so they are our most hated rivals. Sadly, we haven't beat them in 3 years, so we cheered Pittsburgh in their victory today.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Happy Holidays....:D


http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...stmasCard1.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Awesome Christmas Pic.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

That Christmas pic is great!

I forgot to mention earlier, when we were leaving the rink after the games this weekend, one of our dads came up to me and asked if I'd be interested in buying a stick he just got for his kid. He ordered it online and forgot to check if it came with stickum. His kid hated it and only used it this weekend.

So I was able to pick up an Easton Stealth RS intermediate for $75.00, its less than a week old and was only used in 4 games. The dad was so pissed, he thought his kid was being spoiled about not wanting to play with it without the stickum, but he didn't want to just give the stick away.

My kid won't stop growing, and luckily there are a handful of boys on the team bigger than him, so I'm working the 'Hand-me-down' angle as often as I can. Got him X60 skates last month, then this stick, and we also got him an Easton Synergy girdle from one of the families for him to try.

There are a few boys on the team who swear by girdles as opposed to regular hockey pants. The ones we just got are only 1 size larger than my kid is wearing now (which is too small) so I don't think he will be in them too long, they look snug but I'm told they are meant to be. I like the idea of all that extra protection being form-fitted, so we'll see how he likes it. Anyone have experience with the girdle and shells?

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

SCORE!!!!!!!!:banger

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Nice that's the price on the youth version.
I checked out the youth version and Easton returned to making the youth sticks with the kevlar wrapped blade on the Stealth RS youth same as the big version. At 70-75 its the best made/longest lasting stick for 8U. The EQ50 was a pile of $hit in the youth version, blade chipped and broke easily. Micah has been using the S19 I grabbed for $40 for about 4 months and its holding up well. Thats skating 4-5 days a week. Hoping between this one and the other we will make it till late summer and the clearance sales.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

That reminds me, we bought Cam an intermediate APX in November. My wife made some comment in passing about 'don't break it too fast, it cost $240'. The kid said 'I'll be careful with it.' Then I said Hell no, don't change *anything* you do, cause you'll change EVERYTHING trying to be careful with the stick!

I know sticks break and wear down pretty fast, compared to other equipment, and with prices like that (the RS and APX are virtually the same price) you sure don't want your kid breaking it on day 31, but you also don't want him thinking about breaking the stick every single shift.

As far as my kid, I told him to stop thinking about it right now, go play your game like always and if the stick does break on day 31, we'll deal with it then.

I know the APX and the Stealth RS are supposed to be strong top of the line sticks, but I watched one of the smallest kids on our team (barely 100 pounds soaking wet) break 2 APX's in the last 2 months (they may have been Juniors, I will have to ask). I feel pretty bad for his parents, they were only like 2 weeks outside the 30 day no-questions window on the first one.

The one thing we found out early on was that you truly get what you pay for. We don't go buying the newest-latest just for the sake of having it (although we do have parents on the team that do that). We just try to be smart about spending our money, especially now that it seems he is growing faster and faster.

Hand-me-downs are saving us hundreds right now, and I hope to continue that trend as long as possible!

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

A kid on my sons team broke his APX(adult) about 40 days in....:td I hope my son's does not see the same fate. Interesting, as he replaced it with a RS. He has had an X60, TotalOne, APX and now a RS in the past 18ish months... I am interested to see what he thinks...


Just dropped the kids off for a little pond hockey, I may run back and take a few photos....

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

So am I! My kid practiced with his RS last night and liked it, we'll see which one he favors this weekend in St. Louis...

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Well the TRON stick lost it's blade in warmups last night.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Wow that was quick.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Yeah, not happy.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

How long did the other guy have it?

As to the stick thing all I can say is Faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!
Chipped the toe and have a crack in the bottom of his blade this week. Glad the stick was $40 on closeout. There are things I won't skimp on like skates, helmet and protective gear, but I can't see buying the premium sticks at full price. Pros will go through a few a game often. I guess it depends on style of play and position. When I see guys like Joe Thorton using a two piece stick, Patrick Marleau still goes back and forth from one and two piece, and others it shows the stick is not as critical depending on the player and style of play. If your a Dman or a sniper like Ovie I see the value of a highend one piece.

He has a jamboree on Saturday, then we are putting him in turcotte stick handling class next week. Will tape it up and it will make it another week. Looks like Santa will be bringing that second stick I bought on closeout for Christmas. Hoping spring brings some deals

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Driving 6 hrs combined today for son to play 3-4 hrs of hockey. I don't know why I agreed to do this. I swear this kid better never give me grief about not supporting him.

Christmas break is:
Today san Jose to vacaville for a mite jamboree
12/21-12/23 turcotte stick handling class in san Jose
Pending 12/23 mite jamboree in san jose. Been asked to be on a few teams, but have not decided
12/31 mite jamboree in Oakland. Possibly playing for a second team. :r

No practices over the next two weeks

January is going to be nuts also, he's playing for a roller club in the NARCH Winter Nationals, doing one or two jamborees, and doing a power skating class at the end of the month.
Got my wife a nice zoom lens for the NIKON for Christmas. Going to try it out tonight. Finally should have some pics worth posting.

Edit:
Spent over 220 at hockeymonkey yesterday. May do something crazy that will have Al shaking his head. Got to wait to see if it works. :)

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Jackson had the game winner with 1M left tonight.... So proud of him.... Slid in from the point, pass and slap shot.....BOOM.... He is sooooo pumped.... Love this stuff....

Abby found the back of the net 8 times today in their game....

Good day for us.....:tu

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

finally took some photos of the boy. The rink blew there were no stands and everything was shot to close to the glass and at ice level making it tough to get decent photos.

Waiting to get out
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...y/DSC_0051.jpg

Sequence of photos. He scores here, but with the zoom lens the last 2 photos didnt show much but body parts
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...y/DSC_0071.jpg
deke 1
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...y/DSC_0072.jpg
deke 2
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...y/DSC_0073.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

random stuff
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...y/DSC_0074.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...y/DSC_0064.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...y/DSC_0056.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...DSC_0104-1.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...y/DSC_0110.jpg

He did really well. Hoping a teamates dad can recover the video files I deleted. He had his dangles working hard. He did very well it was a lot of house kids, but as the pictures show he is a young 6 and pretty much everyone there was 7 or 8 so it was nice. He skated through big kids almost at will.

forgot to mention he had this sequence behind the net were he changed directions 5 times and finally got the wraparound. It was classic.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

^^^GREAT STUFF, Mike.... Don't know how I missed this until now!

That first sequence is really nice... Look at him separate and leave #35....:r

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

HTis coach said he was ready for the turcotte class.
As a whole he's having a lot of fun because he's a super social kid and loves chopping it up out there, but watching him try to toe drag to pass off inside skate and kick back to stick was fail. He just decided to do toe drags.

Edit.
He's having a lot of fun though and seems to picking up a few things.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Just finished a good skate at the day before Christmas Drop In.... We will hit the day before New Year's one as well.... I have a sneaking suspicion that the next one will have far more kids than this one.

I didn't skate and ran stairs while the Little One was out on the ice. There was a mom in the stands, guy on the ice blowout that would have made a sailor blush. I am not exactly sure what the guy(another dad) did on the ice, but whatever it was, set off a expletive laced tirade that lasted a good 20-30 seconds that ended with "Stay the #&^$ away from my kid!"

From what I pieced together, I think her kid was the best skater on the ice and his kid may have been one of the goalies. From what I gather, he was sick of the kid blasting away at his kid, wanting him to pass to some of the younger kids???(Mite/Squirt Drop in)

I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary, but I was running on and off the entire time, so who knows.... The kid in question fed Abby a ton, she was quite fond of him...

Anyway....odd....

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Yikes. Hockey parents bunch of crazy fuc$ers I tell you.

Decided at the last.minute to take the boy and his sisters to a last minute mite cross ice jamboree his club put together. Lot of kids

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...IMAG0163-1.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Skated stick & puck 2 hours this morning, now killing time before a game @ 7:00 tonight... Mom working, so the Little One caught a ride to Jr. Jazz bb practice with some friends... Thought we were on break.....:r

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

You sir, thought wrong!

My kid had practice last night, has practice tonight and we leave for Nashville in the morning for a weekend tournament.

(Although I will admit, like other tournaments we go to, this one is just another excuse for the adults to party...New Years in Nashville? Hells yea!)

:noon

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Only roller practice this week. We have a one day event in Oakland on Saturday. Not Nashville or a nice place by any stretch.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...227_233143.jpg
little mans new rollerblades. Nobody does roller, but thats an ice boot on a roller chasis. Had fit.issues with current skate so just went for something we knew was safe. Reebok stopped making the tri d chassis. It skates more like an ice skate. Tri d is short for tri directional. chassis skates more like an ice skate as it rocks.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

They look great, Mike.... Can't wait to hear what he thinks about them after putting some time in 'um....

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Just got back from Nashville, the third year our boys have played in the Music City Invitational. This year they came out of Pool Play as the first seed, but fell in the Semi's to the eventual tournament winners, Russell Stover 98's from Kansas City.

I love Nashville! This year they hosted a Bowl Game, so most of downtown was closed off to traffic and people were everywhere. The weather was great and we even found a great pancake place this morning by accident on the way out of town. The Pancake Pantry has the best pancakes I have ever had. We got lucky and got seated in only about 20 minutes, but by the time we left the line to get in was around the corner and down the street.

Our boys played some great teams this year, several of which we'd never seen before. The Connecticut Jr. Bobcats were a tough, big team and Russell Stover was great.

Other than a few trips to Detroit, Cleveland, Columbus and a couple local tournaments, our major travel is over for the season and I'm sad. We dig the travel as much as the boys like playing. They are our own little vacations.

Happy New Years to all my fellow Hockey Parents!

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Sounds like a great time, Scott. I have never been to Nashville, but would like to get there someday.

Happy New Year to you!

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Well, in a little bit we will head to the 3rd rink in the past 24 hours. 2 High School JV games and one house league game with the Little One. Forgot the camera for the High School game last night, but here are a few shots from this afternoon....

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ildcats1-3.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ildcats2-3.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ildcats3-2.jpg

Only one goal today, but a solid all around game....

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ildcats4-3.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Though the JVers pulled another tie tonight, felt like a loss. Gave up the tying goal with under a minute to go and an empty net in front of them. Just a bad ending. 1-1.

On the flip side, their only goal of the night, came off the boys stick. He took this rough, super cheap shot as he was coming down the ice....puck was never anywhere near him. Convinced it was retaliation for his nasty play in front of the net. Anyway, he was not hurt and seemed amused by the whole thing as the penalty was being sorted out.(5 minute major)
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/.../JVvDavis5.jpg


Didn't take long for the Little Man to take advantage of the penalty.... This was such a GREAT slap shot that went top corner. Goalie didn't have a chance.... I was yelling at him that he had time(actually was surprised he didn't slide in from the point more before firing it), so didn't get a pic of the actual shot... I seriously could have hit him with a piece of popcorn he was so close as he took it. Celebration is just fine.

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...JVvsDavis6.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...JB21/JB1-2.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/.../JVvDavis7.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...JVvDavis15.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Oh and maybe one of the coolest things of the night.... I was at the tunnel as the kids came out, telling them good job ect.... Then the refs come off the ice and one is saying to the other, "That #14 on white was a monster." Made my night....:r

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Varsity no longer undefeated.... Gave up 3 goals(1 EN) in the last 4:07 to lose by 2 to the 2 time defending state champs. Not their best effort. Both teams were undefeated and one had to lose.....still tough to take.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Played 3 half ice games this morning. Followed by a full ice game for the championship.
Kid played well. Very well. In the championship game against trivalley he had 3 points. 2 goals and 1 assist in a 5 to 5 tie. They won in a shoutout. Trivalley was bigger but kids played a team game and or goalie played well.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...115_101349.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...115_103934.jpg
Outside the rink in San Francisco
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...115_112044.jpg

Will post a video of his penalty shot goal from championship game. Had a breakaway and kid dove and used stick to take out his legs.

Scarry moment. Got tangled with kid went into boards head hit the boards and his arm was up as he fell. He then laid there. Thought he might have gotten knocked out. Nope, Hurt his knee. Everyone was like WTF knee? Had a limp off ice, but when out there skated like usual. Lot of hustle today. Was super proud of his compete today.

Came home. In garage screwing around with pucks.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

^^^ Congrats, Mike... GREAT JOB, Micah!

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

That low bridge hit picture looks scary. $hit like that is unacceptable.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Today we taught Micah how to ride a bike. He's 6 and has had a bike since 4.5. Its funny as we have spent so much time with hockey and baseball, bikes just never got handled. Not bad though went from not being able to balance or ride to riding a pretty good distance around the school in about 50 minutes. Reminded me need to male sure we have him play more sports

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

We are 2-0 for the weekend with 2 more games to go....:tu


NICE!

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

With 1 game cancelled due to weather, we still ended up 3-0 for the weekend.... Few photos from tonight...

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/.../Select1-2.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/.../Select2-2.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/.../Select3-2.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/.../Select6-2.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...21/Select8.jpg

A friend/one of his HS teammates filled in tonight, it would be nice if he finished the season with them.

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...1/Select12.jpg

Wouldn't be a game if he didn't get here once....:rolleyes:

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...1/Select16.jpg

Little Sister goes down and congratulates her favorite players....

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...1/Select15.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

There is a kid on my son's team, the Captain in fact, he is the biggest kid on the team, and one of the older 98's...he never learned to ride a bike.

The boy can play virtually any sport but they said he just never wanted to ride a bike.

On a side note, our boys had 4 games in Detroit this weekend, 2-2 again, it seems to be a recurring theme this year :)

My kid is settling in nicely to his role as pest, he took a penalty in each game, roughing, boarding, slashing and roughing.
We were in a hurry to get up there Friday to beat the weather (didn't work out too well) and I told my kid I'd pack everything for him so we could leave when he got off the bus. We get up Saturday morning and head to Plymouth and my kid calls me from the locker room, he had NO jerseys or socks. I packed his practice gear. Doh.

So each game this weekend, he wore the jersey of whichever goalie wasn't starting. It was hilarious after a while, the coaches were yelling "Go Hickey! and Go Ison!" (The goalie names, their parents were yucking it up as well when my kid took penalties or scored, it ended up being pretty fun)

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Nice! Glad it worked out. The coach on his club team had to give everyone a nickname. That would have been even stranger for you I would think. We were even provided with a laminated card with all nicknames and info. At first it was fun now its lame and most of us just use their names. Micah is Thor because of hair and style of play. He wanted Pikachu, but coach wouldnt allow it.

Micah was boarded for the first time on Saturday in inhouse by a rather dusty kid. He was repeatedly victimizing the kid taking the puck, deeking him and making him fall and occasionaly yard sale his stick. He went to the board to get the puck amd this just decides to skate up and hit him from behind. He was close to the boards so he wasnt hurt. He was clearly pissed. He turns around and punches the kid in the facemask and pushes him. I guess being 8 and having a 6 year old keep beating you gets a kid mad.

None of this was that bad. I am largely a believer that kids need to police themselves on most types of hits. what concearned me was what the kids father did after the hit. He was at the wall where it happened and I dont know if he told his son to do it. What I noticed was when it happened his dad cheered loudly. When the shift ended his dad went near where his kid was got his attention and gave him a fist pump and cheered him. That was my WTF moment and I decided I would make him miserable and troll him hard. I grabbed another parent and moved over near where he was. We make little comments everytime he tries to trip or kid or gets his pocket picked. Towards the end of the game the kid gets pissed after the boy steals the puck from him again and the kid decides to get his stick blade in Micahs facemask and push at him. I go for the knockout shot at this point. I look at buddy and say wow has this kid ever played hockey before? He boards, he trips, he highsticks. Id be so proud. I made eye contact with the kids dad and smiled. Guy had nothing to say now. I probably shouldnt have, but I got so pissed that a parent would cheer and encourage his kid to run someone. It happens, but you dont encourage it.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Good day yesterday on the ice.... Both kids teams won, both found the back of the net. Odd the Little Man is lighting the lamp so much lately. I posted a bit back that he isn't known for his scoring, but now has goals in 3 of their last 4(JVers) and they are 2-2-0 after starting the season with loss after loss. Some type of ying/yang thing going on, the Varsity who was(is?) one of the favorites for the State Title, has lost 2 straight(one game to go before the playoffs) after starting the season winning 11 straight.

So as stated, not known for scoring, but is known for his defensive play....and apparently going into the box. Last night, visited there not once, not twice....but three times. His mother said "It's a box trick." All the parents around us were yucking it up when he went in the first time, "He just doesn't feel like it's a game if he doesn't get in there, huh." That just continued when the others happened.

The other team never capitalized on the penalties, but I stress that they will.... That said, they never seem to be terrible penalties or overtly dirty play....but Christ, 3 trips and leading the team in PM for the year....:td

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...JB21/JB1-3.jpg


Puck is 4 hole popping the net....:tu

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...JB21/JB2-3.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i397/EJB21/SBH9.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Uhhh wtf is up with George there. Nice sag on the pants. I dont think I have seen anyone but a U8 do that and it wasnt on purpose.

Nice pics. Looking at goal celly I realized the boy doesnt do it. Its kind of weird. The most he does is a stick lift and thats not all the time.

Tonight -Wed 1.5 hrs a day we are doing Robby Glantz power skating clinic. He got a discount through his club team. 4.5 hours under $150. Interested to see the results. Hes fast for his age. Wondering if they can get more out of him.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Interested to hear what you think about the clinic. I think I will get the Little One in some PS as soon as her schedule dies down a bit.

She gets the celebrating from her brother and a few of the other boys on the teams he is on... It is not often that I see a Mite celebrate in her games, at least more than a stick raise....but her...:rolleyes:

Heading to the last Varsity regular season game here in a half hour.... This is going to be BIG.... We went from undefeated and the #1 seed in their division, to the number #4 in the past 2 weeks. Losses to #2 & #3.... Team we are playing tonight is now #1. We cannot drop out of the #4 related to points we have already accrued, but a win tonight would be big for the boys confidence. Losing the last 2 has been tough....

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

First day I thought was good. unlike the stickhandling class which I thought was a little over his head, the Glantz power skating class was very good. Good number of instructors. Robby Glantz is very good with the kids.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Busy day today..... Utah High School Skills Competition and then 2 games. Went Fun, 1 & 1.

These first 2 pics are one of the skills comps, the "fastest skater"... Just one lap around the ice. Some kids could fly...it was fun to watch...

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...JB21/JB1-4.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...JB21/JB2-4.jpg

Getting some rest on the bench....

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...JB21/JB3-1.jpg

Warming up for the "most accurate shot" comp.

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...JB21/JB4-2.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

We had about an hour and 15 minutes from when we left the Skills Comp to drive 30 minutes and get to the arena where they were playing their games tonight... We stopped at a local burger joint(his choice) on the way, picked up two big burgers & a large fry and he pounded them on the way. 2.5 hours on the ice, short break where you pound that type of food and then 2.5 hours on the ice and you don't puke???? To be young again...:r

Have decided that if he is going to go into the box every game, I'm going to shoot him there.... Along with the 2 burgers and a fry, he had 3 Gatorades...

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...JB21/JB5-1.jpg

This was such a BOMB from the point.... BOOM!

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...JB21/JB6-1.jpg

Notice, different jersey, game 2...back in the box. Honestly, this was not his deal. He had a break and was hit from the side and ran the goalie. One of their guys didn't take kindly to that and one then lead to another....and both sit for 5.

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...JB21/JB7-1.jpg

Threw this in, as it was a crazy play. The LM clipped the kid behind him(he was breaking into the zone) and the ref didn't get out of the way. He ten-toed that ref and I really didn't know if he(the ref) was getting up. He laid on the ice for a while(game still going). When he did get up, his arm was hanging. Think he probably landed on his back and elbow.....bet that hurt. Look at the face of our coach and the players on the bench....they're like, oh...this isn't going to end good.

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i397/EJB21/JB8.jpg