Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Yup were insane.
Glad they moved him up also. He told me he didnt want to play mites. After watching the skating evals I knew why. Cluster fock. Kids hitting each other with sticks in head focking off like crazy. He looked irritated and bored. Even wife saud she was going to pull him if they made him play mites which was a shock as she never cares, but they seem to have a huge in flux of low skill and behavior problem first years.

I screwed M for tomorrow. He has a travel game from 8 to 9:30. The inhouse program is having a bunch of USA Hockey people come put on a dryland and on ice coaching clinic for inhouse coaches from 10:30 to 1:00. They sent out a email looking for kids. I responded not really thinking and they wanted him. Then he has an inhouse squirt game at 3:45. I am going to assume that still being 7 he will be useless for the game. Have not told wife yet about clinic. Im going to get an ear full for this one.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

:r:r:r....Now that is funny....



Just checked the NJPHL website, looks like the 16's are getting their asses handed to them. The 18's won their first game(site is only updated to that game), but it appears the team they played is pretty bad.... Will see how today shakes out.

Go Grizz!

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Just got an update, looks like the 18's lost in a 2OT shootout to Richmond last night and then beat Broward Prep today, 5-1.... Looks like they are holding their own.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Though it didn't end like we would have hoped, first travel game of the season is in the books. Saving grace, the Little One was given the game puck as the player of the game.... Not bad for an 8 year old girl playing in a U10 "boys" league....:tu

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6783308b.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...psda872b0b.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5cc2f5b6.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...psf71f3432.jpg


Don't mind her lucky purple socks poking out from the bottom....

She'll take the ice with the U12 Lady Lightning on Saturday and try to get the stink of losing off....

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

I'll give you one guess as to who scored the first ever goal for the newly formed U12 Lady Lightning team....

Let me know if you need a hint....;)

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...psfd4f0764.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...pscaa8e61c.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

We didn't play the Grizzlies in Detroit, but we did play them this past weekend in Minnesota. Not sure how it works, but the showcase weekends are league games and it just turned out that we didn't meet up with them until this time.

The word was they were a new team? One of our kids played with one of the Grizzlies kids way way back at Mite and our parent was explaining how the team worked. She said they all eat together, bring their own food and drinks, and have a guy just for that!?!??!

She also said it costs 10k just to play, not including travel, and they fly everywhere (They certainly have to fly to all our showcases) and she also said that there are parents who help pay airfare for those who can't.

They didn't have a good weekend, but I certainly can see the potential they have. We gave them their worst loss of the weekend, 11-1. Looking at the results so far, after just 2 showcases, they haven't won a league game yet. We're about in the middle, which is what we expected. We've had a couple games that just didn't go our way. We should have gone 4-0 this past weekend but our kids **** the bed in game 2 :)

Our boys are currently 4th out of 10 so we'll see how the rest of the season goes. I think the next showcase is in Rochester NY next month.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Yea, have been watching their scores at the 2 showcases. They have been struggling to say the least.

Some of that info seems off, the team is not new....meaning, it's just Oly's(Darryl Olsen) team from last year, some kids aged out, new kids in ect. But he's been coaching the 16's for years, the organization just joined the NJPHL & started an U18, which they have never had before(so the 18's are new).

Not sure about the other logistics, assuming all eating together and whatnot, the travel is significant and I know a lot of the parents are not traveling with the kids, so maybe it is to assure they are eating & eating right.

I find it hard to believe that they are paying 10K and not having some type of travel included? Though admittedly, I don't know. I do know that the WMAHA(organization) is non-profit, so they have to be spending all 10K each kid is giving, towards the hockey related activities(impossible to spend that on ice time?). They actually gave us back money last year(from fees) that was not used.

4th out of 10 isn't bad at all! Good luck in NY!

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

The mom who gave us all that info is a 'talker' if you know what I mean. She knows something about EVERYTHING!

We could techincally be called new. Even though about 1/3 of the team has been together for years, our organization hasn't had a U16 team for a few years.

We've heard horror stories for years about other teams and their costs. Even with paying for all of our coaches traveling expense and rooms, brand new uniforms, bags, warmups, gloves and shells our cost to play this year was about $3700. We did have a couple people fly to Mn, but not many. I think that trip is the farthest we travel this year so all in all I think we're lucky in regards to travel!

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Mike, SJ was awarded the 2015 14/16/18 Tier I National Championships. Some cool stuff coming to your backyard in 17 months.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Started out league play right, 10-1 win... Need to play like this every game....

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...psc2beb7fd.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Nice will make a sure I take the boy.
We are dealing with a huge pile of $ hit here. The coach who my kid loves and joined the team for appears to be leaving to go play for a team in Dayton Ohio in the Federal Hockey League. So pissed. Already looking to next year when we go Jr.Sharks hopefully. M was in tears when I told him what was happening. Upside they moved him to D and he was a rock back there last weekend. Team lost 5-3 and he was +2 with 5 blocked shots and got away with 5 hits. 2 open ice where he touched puck before hitting kid 3 he tied up kid and rode him into the boards.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Who is the guy? He coming to play for the Dayton Demoz?

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Jeff Sanders and yes. He has not left yet. Not sure whats going on now.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Sucks, Mike.... Hopefully it fell through and he'll(Jeff) stick around through the season.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

I guess the team has won its last 2 games so the guys who were going to get cut are temporarily saved. He pretty much said if he gets the call he gone. Seems just a matter of time. There is an upside. On monday the coach who would replace him ran the practice. He is a very respected skating and shooting coach. He ran a great practice. Today the mites scrimmaged the squirts. Mites lost 3-1 but M was +1. Cant complain.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

LM broke his collarbone tonight... Just out of X-ray, ortho-doc hasn't looked at the pictures yet, but I'm crossing my fingers that his entire Sr. year of hockey isn't shot. Assume 8 weeks would get him back for playoffs...12, he's done. Tough news...

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Horrible news. I'll pray for a speedy recovery!

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Prayers sent. Thats horrible. I live in fear of an injury especially with how much we all pay forthis

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Double post sorry.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Thanks Scott & Mike. Seeing the orthopedist as I type....

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

EXCELLENT news at the orthopedist today. No surgery and feels like he'll be good to go in 6 weeks. Assuming he heals like expected, 4% chance of re-fracture at 6 weeks. If I was hearing correctly, that 4% does not change from 6 weeks to 4 months. Goes back in 5 weeks to get cleared for the 6 week contact.

Can get back on the ice(no contact) next week, maybe 2, depending on how he is feeling.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Found this article on Facebook about a Dad watching his son's last hockey game.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Great read....and has me wanting to start driving to games with the LM for his last bit.... UGH....

Sooooo...love this sport/community/life....can't believe that 50% will be done in a few months....

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Both the U10 boys and U12 girls had wins this weekend.....

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ps30874e53.jpg

GOAL!!!!

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5cc075c4.jpg


Still waiting for the LM to heal up.... Crossing my fingers that he's cleared/healthy at the end of the month.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

This year has been a mix of awesome and crap. On the ice an average of 5 days a week.

His in house squirt coach is a tool bag who is constantly giving his kid more ice. His kids got to be -16 on the year. Second year squirt and the kids horrible. I think someone complained to the league as he sent out an email saying he would do a better job making sure everyone would get equal ice. M is leading his squirt inhouse team in scoring. Not bad for a second year mite playing against almost all second year squirts.

His travel mite coach continues to miss occasional games leaving one of the dad's to coach. M plays primarily D on his mite team. As a whole i am happy with his development of grasping gap control and stick and body position.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Coaching is so critical, Mike.... Can make a night and day difference in development and how much fun the kids have. Not to mention the frustration level of the parents.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

LM Back on the ice...FINALLY!!!! 8 weeks....a long 8 weeks.

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...psbce9715e.jpg

The Little One continues to crush with her U14 girls team, but just blends with the U10 Boys. Couple pics w/ the girls team this past weekend, where she had a hattie.

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...psb0cdad21.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8d675079.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...psa1597f56.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...terribly-wrong

This is local.... Two HS teams in our league. Missed....ouch. Happened back in Oct...

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

My kids team played a couple outdoor games this weekend in Toledo. Thankfully the team decided to purchase the pics that were taken, cause these next few really encompasse the way my kid plays, I couldn't be happier with the pics, or the way he played :)

https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/...45088840_n.jpg

https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/...82715396_n.jpg

https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/...99753188_n.jpg

https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/...58013876_n.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Awesome sequence, Scott....

Outdoor games.....COLD.... Is that a warming tent I see?

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Those tents were the locker rooms, they were heated. There is a building there as well with snack bar, seating etc etc but bleachers outside the building made it impossible to watch the games from inside.

Here are some more from that day. The first one is after another big hit, the photographer missed the actual hit though :)

https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/...63507494_n.jpg


This one cracks me up. The ref's reaction is funny, and the puck is way up in the air, not sure what was going on here:

https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/...00049059_n.jpg

And a couple from the game earlier in the day:

https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/...73633175_n.jpg

https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/...06965656_n.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Really great stuff there!

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Awesome photos Scott. Kid wants to play out doors. All the outdoor stuff has been having him say he wishes he could play it outside.

We got sucked back in to play roller this weekend. His old inline team is trying to win the NARCH West Coast Winter National event. He plays ice with like half the kids on the inline team. They can't beat the team coming from SoCal without him so he is going to play for free in the hopes of winning the tournament. The kid who doesn't like playing roller is being brought in to try to win a tournament.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

^^^ Nice, Mike....:r

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...120_112619.jpghttp://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...120_112031.jpg
URL=http://s23.photobucket.com/user/ahbroody/media/20140120_111825.jpg.html]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...120_111825.jpg[/url]

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

AWESOME, Mike! Congrats to M!

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...620032510.jpeg

We almost bailed after game one drama. Its irritating when people and kids expect your kid to be a savior. He had a mental breakdown in the first game resulting in the game losing goal. He was pissed as a couple of useless kids and a parent said something. Nevermind the kids were crap who had no impact on game or that in a 4-3 loss M had a goal and the only assist on the second goal. He came home basically in tears. That combined with other drama had me remember why we don't pay roller much anymore.

They went in as the second seed. M played D in championship game and they won 3-1. He completely shut down the other teams top line and tormented their sniper.

NARCH Facebook photo

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

So cool.... Great pic!

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Youth equipment for sale

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/spo/4307355005.html

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

This CCM Promo is pretty cool.... It's about HS Hockey in Minnesota. https://www.facebook.com/CCMHockey/app_432387213452269

A few pics from the last week of so....


http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...psb236cbf7.jpg

This is after the first playoff game of the season. The Boys crushed(as expected) and wanted a photo with the fans. The picture doesn't do the crowd justice, as it is well after handshakes, thank you to the crowd ect. These are just some of the kids that stuck around. Place was standing room only during the game. It is REALLY neat the amount of support they get from the community. It is unlike any other program in the State. I overheard on of the travel kids that plays with my son, who was there watching, saying how unreal the crowd/noise was during the game.

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ps065a3f60.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...psf3e0eeb8.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...psde6a7ad6.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...psb0382fd7.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

She loves her cellys.

M got asked to play on a spring tournament team which is going to Vancouver. I can't believe I did it, but I said yes. The main reason is we are hopefully going to start playing for junior sharks next year and this will be most of the kids who are likely to make the team as well as the likely coach. Fully expect to get pounded but the boy is excited to go.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

^^^ Mike, I cannot wait to hear the stories and see pics! Going to be a great experience!

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

GREAT last week.... Relative, won some, lost some....but both kids have played REALLY WELL. Not even scoring(which they have done), but just playing hockey!

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ps20fee40c.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5c45acc5.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8b900ce1.jpg

Little One, middle top....pretty happy about her brother putting the good guys in the lead....

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ps870c36f5.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Little One scores with the boys for the 1st time this season. Scores a TON with the girls, but playing D with the boys, just hasn't lit the lamp....

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ps37f17d46.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...psbe724773.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ps89e2d131.jpg

Think she's happy....:tu

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ps918939b0.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Good stuff as always.

M is playing baseball this year first time since tball 2 years ago. Goes to first practice and decides he wants to be the catcher FML. Thankfully they have another kid who also wants to catch so it looks like he will split time. His coach seems to really like him and is having him play 1st base also. Was hoping he woukd be a second baseman like dad.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Baseball, nice! I'm not a player, but have always loved going to games. I am sure he is going to crush! Don't let the catcher thing get in his head and want to get between the pipes....:r



We're done.... Been a hell of a ride the past 4 years with the M on his chest..

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ps254913b1.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Heading to Telluride for a girls hockey tournament. Will be the first time ever that the Terrorist will skate in a game with only girls on the ice. I am really looking forward to seeing how it shakes out. 3rd year Mite(U8) playing in a Pee Wee(U12) tourney, I think she'll crush!

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

CHAMPIONS!

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2d2cfaf7.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5a5383a0.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...pscdf05dec.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...psf6b6d6cb.jpg

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Bought the Little One some Reebok Ribcor 28K's.

Though marketed as a lower volume boot as opposed to the regular Reebok's in the past, to me, it doesn't appear to be so. The Little One has a wide foot(like her brother and dad). I was not aware, until after, that they were supposedly lower volume, so went with D width, as opposed to EE(what she has wore with her Bauer Vapors & brother wears with his Bauer Supremes). I wear D width in my Reeboks.

Anyway, fit is great. Early returns in skating was better than I expected on her 1st skate with them. Little foot pain early, by the end of the practice(1.25 hours), she said they felt great. Didn't seem to notice the extra height(4mm) with the SpeedBlade 4.0 holders or new steel.

The boot is not as stiff as her previous Bauer Vapor X5.0's, which surprised me, assumed they would be about equal.

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...psb2a3d47f.jpg

Also picked her up the Reebok 20K bag, which she thinks is pretty neat. She had bag envy of all the kids with the Grit bags in the lockerroom.

Re: Being a Hockey Parent
 

Nice grab. My understanding is that only the actual ribcor model not the 28k or 30k had the different fit. This created some confusion. That said I wonder if it holds true on jrs. As far as stiffness thats what I was wondering about as I debated these. These are 16k replacements. Im guessing the 30k will be stiffer more like Micahs current 18ks. I bought him the new Graf 5035s but they were huge for. He tried on his buddys CCM CLs in the same size and they were considerably smaller. Now im left with a skate dilema.

next week heading to Vancouver for a tournament. Should be fun. Then LA for memorial day with a different team.