tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19539537416064567582011-11-14T05:46:29.554-05:00An online community for parents of minor hockey players in Canada to read and share informative articles about the lifestyle of minor hockey.Editornoreply@blogger.comBlogger361100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-72768490792793509382011-05-07T22:29:00.011-04:002011-05-07T22:29:00.827-04:00

Making sure your child’s equipment protects them properly by Andrew Snook (Ottawa, ON) “Mom, dad, I want to play hockey.” When a child comes to their parent with these words, the parent is often filled with a combination of anxiety and joy. They are happy their child wants to play Canada’s game, but worry about the potential injuries that can occur on the ice. To try and protect their

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-71801742718980237472010-09-21T06:33:00.001-04:002010-09-21T06:34:47.617-04:00

Join us at www.minorhockeylife.com. You can enjoy the archived articles posted on this blog, but if you've bookmarked us here, you'll miss a slew of new and informative articles.

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-71046827850695253882010-04-01T12:00:00.000-04:002010-04-02T08:56:41.949-04:00

...continued Rick Dorval, head coach of the Junior A Gloucester Rangers, said that when cutting kids, honesty is the best policy. “When you release a younger kid, especially when they make it late into the camp and you’re down to cutting the last 2 or 3, parents like to know why,” said Dorval. “You just have to be honest with the father or mother and explain the situation. Let them know how to

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-75993205532617011022010-03-20T11:53:00.002-04:002010-03-20T11:53:00.511-04:00

contributed by Mike Mellon (Ottawa, ON) PARENTS HAVE TO KNOW THEIR CHILD'S LIMIT when it comes to kids playing hockey and how they perform at school. That’s what elementary Daniel Levasseur, elementary school principal and father of three has learned through his 19 years of education experience. “If parents choose [for children] to miss school for a hockey tournament that’s fine by me,” he said

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-28159730616137955972010-03-13T11:53:00.006-05:002010-03-13T12:14:22.064-05:00

contributed by Sheryl Normandeau (Calgary, AB) MAKING SURE EVERYONE IS HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND FED is as important as making sure all the hockey gear makes it into the vehicle and that everyone shows up at the arena on time. Those early games and long tournament weekends only make it more difficult to wisely choose the best foods and drinks for young players, and there is a tendency to hastily

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-74695492447847313442010-02-28T14:17:00.013-05:002010-02-28T15:05:27.581-05:00

contributed by Phyllis Jardine (Nova Scotia)  IT'S EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. The local arena is coming to life with the clanging of  heating pipes and echoes of pucks smacking against the boards. I move out of the way as sleepy ten-year-olds parade by mumbling greetings of "hello" as they shuffle  by--shirts untucked, jackets open, neckties askew--towards their dressing rooms.  My husband follows

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-63598266817569471822010-02-28T09:32:00.029-05:002010-02-28T15:01:01.391-05:00

...continued AS PLAYERS, THE BOYS AND GIRLS on our grandson's hockey team have blossomed over the years. When they were five years-old we'd take newspapers and books along to the games. As we read about major government changes, and the rise and fall of financial markets, little players wearing Timbit hockey sweaters skated from one end of the rink to the other on wobbly legs. Now that they're

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-54901783537985854062010-02-06T14:09:00.006-05:002010-02-28T15:00:38.311-05:00

Contributed by Jeff Emerson IN THIS DAY AND AGE, you might think of minor hockey as one of the safest sports around. After all, the equipment of today is lighter and more protective than ever. The irony is that while the padding players wear is more advanced than it has ever been, the pressure that players find themselves under has only escalated. The player under the greatest stress on a

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-70199629681980465782010-02-04T10:20:00.004-05:002010-02-15T18:26:58.301-05:00

A Minor.Hockey.Life. blog visitor is interested in hearing from you. Here's the story: Our local hockey organization finds no problem with parents drinking (sometimes excessively) and showing R-rated movies on team buses. This is primarily for Bantam and Midget teams (ages 13-16). Recently, a 13-year-old was caught drinking and the parent received a verbal warning. But with the alcohol

Editornoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-11196859784668599862010-01-14T17:14:00.005-05:002010-02-28T15:01:48.242-05:00

Contributed by Tara St. John (Truro, NS) IT IS SO EASY for anyone to lose their temper, as I am sure everyone has done this at one point in their lives. On the ice, it is much easier to lose your temper in the heat of the moment, when the other team is on a power play, when someone takes the puck from you, or when someone gives you a nice hard hit! In less than a second our instinct is to

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-53943819526350346242010-01-12T17:55:00.003-05:002010-02-28T14:58:50.048-05:00

Contributed by John Forrest (Orillia, ON)HIS NAME WAS FRANK DANBY, but to me he will always be The Coach.The Coach took on the task of forming a new hockey team, out of a group teenagers, most of whom were cast-offs cut from other teams. We had a wide range of talent and personalities, some very good players and a lot of others who wanted to be. Our practice time was brutal; Saturday Mornings,

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-4192536057433503392010-01-03T09:50:00.001-05:002010-02-15T18:23:03.259-05:00

The latest issue of OMHA's Hometown Hockey is billed as a participant guide; it is filled with tips for players and parents and has information about the OMHA including the association's geographical structure and contact information. It's a great guide for parents whose children are new to minor hockey, but the "Fair Play Code for Parents" on page 15 is a useful reminder.

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-51645789034603728792010-01-03T09:48:00.004-05:002010-02-15T18:28:21.057-05:00

Our vehicle and at least one other was broken into while attending a tournament at Chesswood Arena (Toronto) this past weekend. Have you experienced theft at a hockey arena? Where? Which arena do you think has the worst reputation for break-ins?

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-15164613838213101012010-01-02T10:03:00.001-05:002010-02-15T18:24:20.152-05:00

Is it just in the GTHL, or have you notice and increase locally in violence toward officials, hits to the head, or racial slurs? Toronto Star article: http://www.thestar.com/sports/gthl/article/734837--violence-and-racial-slurs-on-the-rise-in-kids-hockey

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-10152515478095117672009-11-19T17:56:00.001-05:002010-02-15T18:23:19.213-05:00

There's been a lot of chatter about the hypothesis of Chapter One of Malcom Gladwell's "Outliers."It's page 20 that has minor hockey parents talking. The author supports his thesis--that your kid is likely to become an NHL player if he is born in the early part of the year, particularly January through March--with real-life examples of professional hockey players.Have you read "Outliers"?

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-35824393909053033822009-11-13T18:00:00.005-05:002010-02-15T18:29:12.080-05:00

Contributed by Valerie Bean (Pickering, ON)Yearbooks are a great way to hold memories of your hockey player from one season to the next.In teams that we've been lucky to be a part of, parents take pictures of the players and parents at games, fundraising events and team get-togethers. Near the end of the season, some of the mom's spent an evening or two sorting through the photos and creating

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-4067659750825805352009-11-03T17:19:00.001-05:002010-02-15T18:27:13.757-05:00

contributed by Peter Andrew Sacco Ph.D. (Niagara Falls) A FEW YEARS AGO I wrote a piece on how the knee in most professional hockey circles was held in as much reverence as the most sacred of sacred artifacts in the world. It used to be cheap shots to the knee which made players instant artifacts. Today, it is elbows, punches and sticks to the head which place a player’s career in greater

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-71979094846182948822009-11-02T18:03:00.001-05:002010-02-15T18:26:17.634-05:00

ontributed by Peter Andrew Sacco, Ph.D. (Niagara Falls, ON)  IN TODAY'S HOCKEY WORLD, two concepts are always being pushed forth as the making of a competitive, potential championship team: Chemistry and Systems. Systems are the styles, techniques, and methods of operation teams use to play their brand of hockey. The system is as only as effective and dominant as the make-up of the team goes. Of

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-29269592189602434882009-11-01T12:01:00.002-05:002010-03-13T13:28:44.567-05:00

Contributed by Mike Simon (Saint John, NB) BEFORE ANYONE GETS TOO EXCITED, let’s be clear: We’re not talking a monetary contract here although many young players have that as an ultimate goal. Rather this contract is usually a written document prepared by the coach for his players to sign at the beginning of the season. Most coaches I know have a meeting with the parents soon after their team

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-12842911966532829722009-02-15T18:55:00.000-05:002010-02-15T18:56:30.920-05:00

The following books have been read and re-read by the kid in my house: Juvenile fiction The series of Brady Brady books are available through BradyBrady.com, if you can't find them in your local library, or favourite independent bookstore. Rink of Dreams by Nancy L Russell, published by Key Porter Books. Gretzky's Game by Mike Leonetti, Greg Banning (Illustrator) All-star Pride by Sigmund Brouwer

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-10912649466741863192008-12-19T18:10:00.011-05:002010-03-13T13:42:23.049-05:00

Contributed by Ruth Walker (Whitby, ON) When did you start playing hockey? I started playing hockey when I was six-years old. I attended various hockey camps and played my first year of organized hockey when I was seven playing house league in Scarborough. What path did you follow to get where you are today? After playing house league for two years, I started playing rep for the Whitby Minor

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-50811562864671778722008-12-12T18:12:00.006-05:002010-03-13T13:27:45.145-05:00

contributed by Valerie Bean (Pickering, ON) MANY MINOR HOCKEY TEAMS RELY ON E-MAIL for parent communication; broadcast messages keep everyone in the loop. Calendars posted online help parents organize carpools and get their kids to practice, to games, to training camps. And while electronic communication seems like the most efficient way to communicate to a large group of individuals, it's not

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-54797928050680821622008-12-06T18:22:00.011-05:002010-03-14T10:14:52.304-04:00

AFTER READING AN ARTICLE ABOUT two hockey-playing moms who went into business together, in the Toronto Star Business Section, we wanted to know more about the women and their on- and off-the ice lives. So, we asked. We are very pleased that Cindy and Lori Nickerson of She Plays Hockey were willing to contribute to our Minor.Hockey.Life. Although it was mainly Cindy Nickerson who responded to

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-60785871740840657742008-12-05T18:13:00.013-05:002010-03-14T10:14:34.111-04:00

Phil Power of Hockey Nova Scotia, tells Minor.Hockey.Life what it's like to officiate minor hockey. "Our job as referee, or linesman is to ensure the game is played safely and fairly," says Phil Power. "Sounds simple, but really, it's complex." About the most satisfying, and least satisfying part of being an official, Phil says, "The most satisfying part of being an official is seeing your own

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-35174143567053955252008-12-01T10:39:00.001-05:002010-02-15T18:32:39.885-05:00

Our pre-game CD included the following: All Star Pedal to the Medal We Will Rock You Nothing to Lose Behind CLosed Doors We Are the Champions Thunderstruck Room to Breathe T.N.T. Riase the Roof We're Gonna Win American Psycho Paradise City What song gets your team pumped for a game?

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-35173943427282412852008-11-28T18:15:00.006-05:002010-03-13T12:43:16.484-05:00

Contributed by Ruth Walker (Whitby, ON) When did you start playing hockey? I started playing organized hockey at the age of six. What path did you follow to get where you are today? I had played rep hockey through the Whitby Minor Hockey Association from when I was six years old to age fifteen. From there, I was drafted to the Erie Otters in the 3rd round 51st overall and began my junior career

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-15736841547318731652008-11-18T11:34:00.009-05:002010-03-13T14:18:47.377-05:00

Contributed by Valerie Bean (Pickering, ON) IN THE DECADE THAT I WORKED on contract as a technical writer in the banking, investment, and pharmaceutical industries, every project I worked on started the same and most ended the same. Each one started on a high note and ended with grumpy, tired, frustrated contractors high-tailing it for the door. Essentially, this is how it went: Writers were

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-72506479402126696972008-11-01T09:07:00.004-04:002010-04-02T09:09:34.848-04:00

by Jacob Birch (Niagra Falls, ON) It wasn't the travel. It wasn't the cost. It wasn't the time or the fights or the early mornings. None of these reasons were why I quit playing rep hockey. It was minor hockey politics that drove me from the game I still love, while still in my teens. I was playing on a Major Midget "AA" rep team in a city that had a standing tradition of playing a friendship

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-12747555539706618202008-10-26T11:04:00.009-04:002010-02-28T14:59:08.444-05:00

by Valerie Bean (Pickering, ON) One of the things I liked about working at an office in First Canadian Place in downtown Toronto was the seasonal guests FCP would present free, lunch-hour concerts near the waterfall. I missed Michael Buble, but was treated to performances by Molly Johnson, who did not remember me, but whose praise for my bookkeeping skills had me feeling guilty for years after

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-17813234828868999552008-10-25T18:25:00.005-04:002010-03-13T12:37:03.043-05:00

Contributed by Mike Simon (Saint John, NB) LET'S FACE IT, HOCKEY IS NOT ONE OF THOSE SPORTS where you can simply step on the playing surface and walk away with the top prize. It's a complicated game that requires intense hours of practice intermixed with talent and knowledgeable coaching. A few years back Sports Illustrated rated hockey as the second most difficult sport to play (behind boxing

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-53823184095805936112008-10-13T18:08:00.004-04:002010-03-13T12:35:29.209-05:00

Contributed by Valerie Bean (Pickering, ON) IN A RECENT POLL, FUNDRAISING TOPPED THE LIST of things that parents dislike most about back to school. I would have staked my baking reputation and handed in my first prize ribbon for the best homemade chocolate chip cookies (as voted by my son's grade six class), if wrong, but I'd have guessed projects or making lunches would be #1. Hockey season

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-8168327340444802292008-10-10T11:20:00.000-04:002010-01-17T11:50:42.592-05:00

As the kids head full speed into hockey season, injuries sustained in the game keep kids off the ice for several games, sometimes months. While the kids would rather be on the bench than in the stands cheering their team to victory, not all injuries are hockey-related. Broken bones are common from participating in other sports, such as baseball, LAX, or other summer activities. Stress on their

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-28462901978980960792008-10-07T08:54:00.002-04:002010-04-02T08:55:28.333-04:00

My oldest sister stood by a maximum for her two boys when either of them want to book off school. Her saying was something like this: If you're not bleeding from the ears, you're well enough to go to school. It's one of those parental sayings that seems macabre if you don't personally know the caring, loving parent with familiar, dry sense of humour.Maybe, sometimes, we could apply this rule to

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-16009835488375267352008-10-01T18:29:00.001-04:002010-02-15T18:31:24.681-05:00

IF YOU'RE HAVING TROUBLE deciphering the conversations of the hockey-playing, hockey-loving loved ones in your house, we recommend The Complete Hockey Dictionarypublished by Fenn Publishing and edited by author Andrew Podnieks. If you've ever hankered for a plain language definition of "give-and-go," or wondered what the heck an "offside" entails, or if you've only really half understood the term

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-27707547212828513482008-09-08T11:13:00.000-04:002010-02-15T19:16:58.248-05:00

WHEN AUTHOR ESTELLE SALATA, wrote Mice at Centre Ice back in 1984 for Nelson Canada (an educational publisher) her book sold hundreds of thousands of copies, so when it went out of print almost 20 years later, she was besieged with requests from teachers who wanted to purchase the book for their students. Former students as well, says Estelle, contacted her to purchase copies. Now adults, and

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953953741606456758.post-19703950996408498162008-02-15T18:58:00.003-05:002010-02-15T19:18:00.146-05:00

The following books have been read and re-read by the kid in my house and will likely be enjoyed by the hockey kids in your house. - FICTION -All-star Pride by Sigmund Brouwer The series of Brady Brady books are available through BradyBrady.com, if you can't find them in your local library, or favourite independent bookstore. Mice at Centre Ice by Estelle Salata. Available from the author. Rink

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