Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Nice.

Friggin getting burnt already. This team is busy. Because the club and the rink are intertwined these kids are getting three practices a week. Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. Add in games usually on Saturday. He's practicing roller on Thursday. This Saturday theyre doing and all day cross ice tournament. Sunday he has a game against his team from last year.

Next weekend we are going down to LA to play the Jr Kings, Jr coyotes, and some team from San Diego I think. Wasn't going to go, but after talking to the coach we are going

Lastly the boy and his sister are now taking judo on Mondays.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...y/IMAG0153.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

^^^^ Can't get burnt in August....:r I am REALLY looking forward to your report from Sunday.....;) Tell Micah good luck this weekend and next weekend in LA!

I bet the balance and weight shifting/momentum stuff from judo would be very good cross training for almost every contact/semi-contact sport.... (total assumption, I have never even seen judo in person).




We had a whole week off! In fact, the Little One will have a little more time as she is between seasons and her private power skating lessons are on hiatus for a couple weeks due to them remaking the ice at our home ice center.

Jackson is going to be a shooter at the Jr. Grizzlies Goalie camp tonight and then he starts camp tomorrow. Timing is pretty good, being that the Summer HS season is over....

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Haven't even started the season and my kid broke his RS Stealth :(

Luckily they are still available online but I was hoping for a bigger price cut since it's over 2 years old now, still $190.00 yuk.

A guy at the pro shop at my kids rink today said that these high end sticks only have a projected life of around 20 shots at the NHL level. He also said that Ovechkin uses an intermediate stick cause he likes the lower flex. I've never heard the life span story before, or that some pros like the intermediate sticks. Anyone else heard that?

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

I am always surprised how fragile all the new sticks appear to be…..prices keep going up, sticks “appear” to break easier….:confused: We went through a rough patch in the Spring/Early Summer, but have been good for a little bit. Hasn’t broke a stick since a Warrior Widow in mid July…. Now that I think about it, that’s just a month ago….:td Well, I have not purchased a stick for a bit of time….that Widow was a present from his grandparents. Last one I purchased was a Sherwood N12 and he received a replacement on a Sherwood N12 on warranty & has had those two sticks for a bit.

Scott, if you are an IWin member at Icewarehouse, you can get the RS for $180 shipped... Free 2 day shipping, though think they only have the Hall curve in R.... I'm telling you, if you purchase online....you really need to get yourself an IWin membership... IW kicks soooooo much tail......IMO, there isn't an online store that comes close to them, not even close.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

For us in California its not as good deal. Totalhockey works out better.

As for Flex. It's documented Brett Hull used a 62-65 flex. Ovi and kesel also use very whippy sticks. Depends on style of play

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Mike, how'd Micah's game go last night? Played his old team, right?

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Yea, tax kills you CA guys at IW.... Even then, 10% makes that about even...

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...IMAG0168-1.jpg
7am game. After 1 period Cougars losing to Jr kings 4-2.
All I care about Micah had a goal in the first.

4-3 start of third. Shorthanded goal.

5-4

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

5-5 Micah with 2 goals.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Awesome!!!! Go Micah!!!

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

They lost 12-6

My kid played well ;)

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Holy smokes, did they pull the goalie in the 3rd...:r

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

The D was uhhhhh $hitty . Mite travel u need strong D. We have 2 good D, the rest seem to do more harm then good.

Second game they got the anahiem wildcats and smacked then around, but that team blows. He only got 1 goal in game 2, but barely got any ice. That goal was a top corner rip and a beauty. He's 3rd on team in goals with 3 but has.considerably less ice time then #1&2. Tomorrow they play Jr. Coyotes at 8am and will get spanked. They should play in consolation game at 4pm tomorrow and be done. If he can scratch out one more goal I will be on cloud 9. As it is I am very very happy and proud of him. He has really shown that he has great hands this weekend.

He shot a lot of pucks in the garage this week. He is learning to lean into his wrist shot and it shows. Before game he said " dad I'm going to sniper top corner this game. " he did.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

We have a Total Hockey membership, mainly because we've had to make purchases at their St. Louis and Chicago stores while there on hockey trips. After checking their website, I found we had 2 $10 coupons but of course only one can be used per purchase, so I was able to get the RS there for $179, free shipping.

I'll definitely check out Icewarehouse...can never have too many options!

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Forgot to recap.
They went 2-2 in LA. He had a ton of shots on goal in game 4, but no puck luck. That said he's a puck hog and a dangler. The coach didn't have much positive to say about him from the weekend even though he produced a lot. The coach has said until he starts passing he won't be going to SoCal for tourneys. He's a real young first year October birth. Team is almost all second years. While he admits he's got skill he lacks team play.

Going to be a long year so hopefully he gets it by February

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

That is disappointing to hear..... Hopefully it turns around....


Look at this pylon out there tonight at the Ratings and Conditioning session....

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i397/EJB21/RC1.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Ouch. So my kids team lost 6 players from last year, including the head coach. He took a job in Michigan, and took his son with him :)

We upgraded 1 goalie that we lost (actually 1 goalie was cut, he struggled a lot last year) and we added a decent Defenseman (another kid who was on the team a couple years ago, he came back) but we added 1 more D and 3 more Forwards who have never played AAA hockey.

The coach, who was the long time assistant coach since the teams inception, warned us all that the new kids would be 'works in progress', so we all knew it could be a rough year. Our first games this past weekend were a slaughter-fest. It was ugly. The worst losses we've ever taken as a team.

My kid, along with the core group of kids who've been on the team for years all looked OK, but I'm worried that their confidence is going to get shot to hell if things continue like this.

We're heading up to Detroit for a couple games on Saturday, against 2 very good Tier 2 teams so we'll see how those go. I know these 2 teams aren't quite as strong as the team that shellacked us last weekend (Pittsburgh 98 Selects, coached by Alain Lemieux) but I'm still pretty worried!

My kid has gotten physically stronger and bigger since last season and we've been doing strength training since the spring. There is a personal trainer at our gym who has worked with him once or twice while he was between clients and Cam likes the guy, and so do I, he really knows what he's doing, especially with teenagers. I'm thinking of paying him to work with Cam regularly, but the wife always seems to complain when I talk about paying trainers :)

I'll post again after this weekend, keep your fingers crossed for my kid and his team!

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Sorry to hear, Scott. Hoping for better results this weekend, consider my fingers crossed!

My son, Jackson, never did get called up to the AA/AAA team like he had hope. For me it was bittersweet, as he'd go from a big fish to a small fish, so to speak, not to mention the far higher costs. The coach did ask him to come to every practice that doesn't conflict with the A/AA or HS team, so I look at that as free ice and hopefully he'll be able to travel to Chicago or the other Eastern tourney they plan on playing....later in the year. The extra practice with this coach is worth its weight in gold. His team with this program is going to Vegas as an A....it will be his first time playing out of State or any stay & play travel for that matter. We're both pretty excited to see how it goes.

So last night, I ask the little one about how her private power skating lessons went and what they worked on. She tells me they were working on backwards crossover strides & I respond... "You're going to be a better skater than your dad before you know it." Her mom rolled her eyes and said "She already is." I don't mind saying my pride was a little shaken, even though I know I'm no skater.....:r

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

1 win and 1 loss this weekend. The team looked better but I think it's going to be a long year :)

My kid has become fascinated with Paul Bisonnette, he loves his Youtube channel and of course at Perani's in Detroit they had some of his apparel. One t-shirt had a bunch of campbells soup cans 'ala Andy Warhol that said "Biznasty...Panty Soup" on them. The wife wouldn't let him had that one, but there was another that said something like "One knee slapshot -- Biznasty" so we got him that one instead :)

Here is the shirt, I was close:

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Sauce-Hockey-...z-Q~~60_35.JPG

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Little man just got called by the coach of the Atom Inline Jr. Sharks team.
He was offered and accepted a spot on the team for this year.

He's been getting screwed around by his ice coach a lot. To the point he wants to go to a different team.


Like that shirt. Kid wants a shirt that says he dangled.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

http://www.hockeymonkey.com/bauer-ho...ite-le-jr.html
Kill it with fire. I like white and black skates like the Reebok White K, but that is over the top. Roller buddies like it. :r

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Have two kids get them, one the solid black, one the solid white and then go kill it Zebra......;)

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

One too many times in Players Bench the last few weeks and the Little One broke my spirit and took home her "Landeskog."

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ps88a0738b.jpg

Not a bad quiver of sticks.....:r

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6cdd8192.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

We have 6 kids. At one point we had 4 of them in travel hockey. It was challenging but a ton of fun.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Can't imagine. I'm dreading when I have 2. The 14 month old has already developed a fascination with a little hockey stick and hitting a puck.

EJ buy her a Miken accuflex already. She will love it. Gotten some local parents to buy it now. Nice curve, good flex. Micah likes that RBZ. He wants me to paint his Miken white. Lol

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Agree,...I can't imagine paying for 2 kids in travel.... Hell, the costs to just have 2 kids playing hockey(HS & travel and House) is taxing.

I forgot about your recommendation for the Miken....that's next!



First High School game for the year is in the books.... The Little Man got what his mother referes to as a "Barlocker Hat Trick" ..... One goal, one assist and one trip to the box..... Nice win for the boys....

I am still not super confident as to where we are going to end up, as I question our goaltending. He is going to get a lot of ice time though.....he's our only one. Playing 3 games a week right now.... I assume they are going to have to just put some skaters in net for JV games, give him some rest.

I was out of town on business and was not able to be there to take pics, but grandma sent me this....

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

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Though the Little One has been ill, I still had practice today..... I think I am really going to like this assistant coaching gig....:tu

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Is she transitioning to full ice this year?

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Nope, 2 more years of cross ice. All House Mites go cross ice year round here and there is no travel mite teams.

Talking with her head coach, he also coached her last year. We found out our goalie was out for our first game, a week from today. He said "We now need to find a kid who wants to play goalie." I told him that Abby would do it, if needed, that she has done it before.... He said, "No.....she's not playing goalie." and started laughing.

His son then said something about him and Abby playing travel together & the coach then ask if we were considering the pseudo travel next year(Lightning Program), he'd be coaching. I said that Abby would have to play up to do it(the guy that does our local rink doesn't like kids playing up)...Coach apparently didn't remember that Abby is still 7 and an '05..... He said not to worry, she is too good to be playing Mites next year and that he'd fight that battle for me.....:tu

This is going to be a fun year.... Though being on the ice, I may not be able to tell the story with pictures.... Mom isn't great with the camera....

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...y/IMAG0212.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...y/IMAG0211.jpg

Jerseys for new Jr inline Sharks team. Had meeting today. Only 10 skaters and two goalies. They expect his team to win narch winter nationals and aau Jr Olympics in summer.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Here is a pic from when me and my two sons coached my daughter Mackenzie's team. We had a blast.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Here's when my boys were playing. We wound up playing some really good team from Russia in a tournament. They beat us 5 to 4 but we were the only team in the tournament that did halfway decent against them. :)

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Here is my other son Dominic. My two boys almost always made the same team because they are only a year and a half apart.

They are both older now and only play adult hockey. It was a lot of fun while it lasted but I admit I'm kinda glad it's over. It was a lot of work.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Good stuff, Eric! Especially love that you and your sons, coached your daughters team... What a great experience that must have been....added bonus, State Champions!!!!


Mike, do they actually go gloves with the unis as well? Thought maybe because it was all Mission, maybe they got and deal and that made it a sweet deal?

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

The High School went 2-0 tonight....though looked sloppy. The LM found the back of the net again....

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i397/EJB21/M5.jpg

Bring the boom!

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i397/EJB21/M10.jpg

Slapshot from the point. Probably his worst of the game, but the goalie was blocked and it lights the lamp. I think he was so surprised, he really didn't move or celebrate much.....

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i397/EJB21/M30.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i397/EJB21/M32.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i397/EJB21/M40.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Yeah it was a hoot! We were lucky enough to win state 2 out of the 3 years we coached the team.

Tons of fun, and tons of bonding time with the kids.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

gloves are optional. May go white. Its roller after all and we all know roller players don't use mirrors. They got a great deal on uni and pants. Also we have a deal on optional equipment. Bauer reakt hemet 140ish with cage. Lot of deals like that.

great pics guys. Someone gave me a couple photos from LA tourney one is a goal he got. He's not on that team anymore. He disliked(PC) the coach and asked to quit. They released him. Signed with a worse team, but coach is super nice kids are all nice and he will likely be 1st line. At his age he just couldn't stand the screaming.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

First scrimmage with the Jr. Grizzlies today....good thing, as they are off to Vegas next week. Not sure why the LM is not wearing the socks??? Half the kids weren't, maybe they don't have them yet....which is possible, they got their jerseys today.

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i397/EJB21/8.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i397/EJB21/12.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i397/EJB21/21.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i397/EJB21/24.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i397/EJB21/35.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Trainwreck of a weekend in Vegas.... The boys played well(okay?) in a loss game 1 (their first real game this season) and then were CRUSHING 4-1 in game 2....and the wheels fell off. Lost game 2 in the last 10 seconds, 7-6.... Lost game 3 in the final minute, 2-1 and then looked worthless in their final game....losing by a score I cannot remember.

We went down thinking they'd compete for a title and walked away humble and wondering who they are..... I have no doubt they will right the ship....

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ps225e94a7.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...psd24516be.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ps94ae4b42.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3b4c0081.jpg


The LM's only point of the tourney, an assist on their last goal of their tourney...

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9ea01b78.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

I took down some cigars to smoke while I was there....(bought the J21 at Pheasant) Was going to smoke the Boris after they won the whole thing.....:o Well...then after their first win in Vegas..... It's back in a humi, safe and sound....

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...psda72eb9b.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Nice sticks.
Kind of tough to go down to a CanAm event with a team that has not played together.

Little man's new team suuuucks. But he's first line and while playing center and taking faceoffs is pretty much playing D because as he puts it " someone has to play D". Been nice seeing him backcheck like a maniac and hustle his as$ off. He wants to play inhouse and we are going to let him so he can have some screw around time.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

I'm feeling your pain. My kid's team is pretty bad this year as well. They were short benched from the beginning and the team's captain got injured in St Louis a couple weeks ago so the coach made the decision to pull out of the Warrior tournament in Detroit this weekend.

It's bad enough that the team isn't very good but now they're being denied games. The organizers of a tournament in Pittsburgh for next month has pulled them off the schedule. There was no reason given but it seemed obvious that they wanted better teams.

Sucks.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

That does suck. Obviously since mines a first year mite its not a big deal to me. I actually told his coach they shouldn't go down to socal this year. They normally go down 2x a season. Having been down there with the other team which was considerably better it would be suicide. The coach is a great kid and knows what's up. They would get their heads kicked in. So glad I left other team. Getting reports of tons of drama. Nice and.happy where we are now. Atleast one other kid wants to defect.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

We are hoping the coach can turn things around for next year, we love the core group of boys and their families, but there is no way I can allow my kid to go U16 with the team as it is. Most of the other boys are already freshmen and can play high school if they want, but we don't have that option where we live.

There is zero high school hockey here. There are a couple other U16 teams (next year my kid could play U15 as well) but they are no closer than we drive now. Columbus is our best option, and then there is Team Ohio, based out of Cleveland, or Indy...both of those last two are over 2 hours drive each way, that aint good.

I found out after the season started that Columbus had approached our coach with the option to merge, since they were short handed as well, but he felt that we had a good lookout for the season, and then that backfired on him. Just hoping they get some concrete answers before tryout time next year. I absolutely hate the idea that we're in a throw-away season, it's such a waste.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Tough stuff, Scott... Hopefully they can get their wheels rolling a bit and it isn't a throwaway season.


If I was a betting man, would guess our HS team will take their first loss of the season tomorrow. Play the defending State Champions, who I think we match up with very favorably....besides between the pipes, which I think will be the decider....as it is not even close.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

I may have been a little too positive with my thinking we match up with them, besides in net. We were missing 2 of our better players, but they beat us 4-1 and took our best 2 offensive players totally out of the game, which is not an easy task. They are very good and deep.

With a full team, we'll have to play a total game to beat them....

Nothing great out of the camera tonight...

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8d60d67a.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ps41fe053e.jpg

These three players(49, 57 & 22) are on his Jr. Grizzlies team....

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...psd7d3de4d.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

A little Dad/Daughter time...... She helped me with the "Try Hockey for Free" clinic early, then we had her game right after they laid some frest ice. Good day....

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

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

$750 in broken sticks this year and the kid is still 13 (he does turn 14 this month). It's time to move up to Senior sticks me thinks...

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...32959396_n.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Ouuuuch!
Been so lucky with his Miken. Not looking forward to that phase you and EJ are in.
Kid had roller at 7am in San Jose, then drove to Oakland for games with travel 10am-330pm. Then his buddy took him back to San Jose for an inhouse game 515-615. I snuck over while at work and watched the game. He played D for first time ever. Ended up +3 as a D man and played really well. He seemed bored as hell at times as a D. His coach kept having to remind him not to pinch. Had two awesome bobby orr rushes up ice skating through everyone only to have the forwards go off sides and fuc& it up. Back at the rink tomorrow at 7am for pracy. Im working so buddys dad is taking him.

Shot of the day was in Oakland. Comes in on a breakaway shoots the puck drills goalie in mask goalie falls back into net and puck goes in.

EJ rocking tilted visor. Lulz

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Scott, that pic hurts to look at.....;s

Your day is coming, Mike....:r