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Having had the pleasure of raising three hockey players I want to state: HOCKEY IS THE GREATEST SPORT.

What great memories I have of traveling with the boys to tournaments, talking in the car, shinny hockey and coaching. The time I was allowed to spend with my boys because of hockey was invaluable. Believe me, it all goes to fast.

I’ve met countless great families across this state. Many have become close friends. I got to meet parents of elite players as well as B players. The one thing in common with everyone was a love of the game of hockey.

We are a passionate group. It’s not surprising to hear at this time of year all that is wrong with our associations. It’s heart breaking to sit with one of your children when they find out they were cut and didn’t make the team they wanted to be on.

I recently attended a seminar where a presentation was made about Minnesota Hockey Families. Some interesting facts:

 $99,200 Median household income
 $128,900 Mean household income
 94.3% Own primary residence
 75.5% Head of household is married (44% more than national average)

Minnesota Hockey Families are special. They are the community leaders…the real shakers and movers. When I attended parent/teacher conferences, it seemed like I ran into every parent in our association. When the schools needed volunteers, the hockey families were always there.

Hockey has been one of the glues that held me and my boys together. No matter what was going in their lives, a Gopher hockey game is just what the doctor ordered. One minute they are so bad at me, and the next, we are shouting our lungs out at a Gopher game.

Thanks Minnesota Hockey!

Great post!

toomanystitches wrote:Having had the pleasure of raising three hockey players I want to state: HOCKEY IS THE GREATEST SPORT.

What great memories I have of traveling with the boys to tournaments, talking in the car, shinny hockey and coaching. The time I was allowed to spend with my boys because of hockey was invaluable. Believe me, it all goes to fast.

I’ve met countless great families across this state. Many have become close friends. I got to meet parents of elite players as well as B players. The one thing in common with everyone was a love of the game of hockey.

We are a passionate group. It’s not surprising to hear at this time of year all that is wrong with our associations. It’s heart breaking to sit with one of your children when they find out they were cut and didn’t make the team they wanted to be on.

I recently attended a seminar where a presentation was made about Minnesota Hockey Families. Some interesting facts:

 $99,200 Median household income
 $128,900 Mean household income
 94.3% Own primary residence
 75.5% Head of household is married (44% more than national average)

Minnesota Hockey Families are special. They are the community leaders…the real shakers and movers. When I attended parent/teacher conferences, it seemed like I ran into every parent in our association. When the schools needed volunteers, the hockey families were always there.

Hockey has been one of the glues that held me and my boys together. No matter what was going in their lives, a Gopher hockey game is just what the doctor ordered. One minute they are so bad at me, and the next, we are shouting our lungs out at a Gopher game.

Thanks Minnesota Hockey!

I feel the same, and have experienced most of the same feelings, and I will miss it all to soon.

toomanystitches wrote:Having had the pleasure of raising three hockey players I want to state: HOCKEY IS THE GREATEST SPORT.

What great memories I have of traveling with the boys to tournaments, talking in the car, shinny hockey and coaching. The time I was allowed to spend with my boys because of hockey was invaluable. Believe me, it all goes to fast.

I’ve met countless great families across this state. Many have become close friends. I got to meet parents of elite players as well as B players. The one thing in common with everyone was a love of the game of hockey.

We are a passionate group. It’s not surprising to hear at this time of year all that is wrong with our associations. It’s heart breaking to sit with one of your children when they find out they were cut and didn’t make the team they wanted to be on.

I recently attended a seminar where a presentation was made about Minnesota Hockey Families. Some interesting facts:

 $99,200 Median household income
 $128,900 Mean household income
 94.3% Own primary residence
 75.5% Head of household is married (44% more than national average)

Minnesota Hockey Families are special. They are the community leaders…the real shakers and movers. When I attended parent/teacher conferences, it seemed like I ran into every parent in our association. When the schools needed volunteers, the hockey families were always there.

Hockey has been one of the glues that held me and my boys together. No matter what was going in their lives, a Gopher hockey game is just what the doctor ordered. One minute they are so bad at me, and the next, we are shouting our lungs out at a Gopher game.

Thanks Minnesota Hockey!

Agreed that this is a great sport and I feel the same way you do about hockey. Look at all the pro sports. Hockey players stay out of trouble, they play 10 preseason games, 82 regualar season games and playoffs is what, another 2 or 3 months. They hit as hard as football player and play a longer season, they play not as much as baseball but play way harder, and don't even get me started on the NBA. Hockey is just great and deserves more respect than what it gets.

theref wrote:

toomanystitches wrote:Having had the pleasure of raising three hockey players I want to state: HOCKEY IS THE GREATEST SPORT.

What great memories I have of traveling with the boys to tournaments, talking in the car, shinny hockey and coaching. The time I was allowed to spend with my boys because of hockey was invaluable. Believe me, it all goes to fast.

I’ve met countless great families across this state. Many have become close friends. I got to meet parents of elite players as well as B players. The one thing in common with everyone was a love of the game of hockey.

We are a passionate group. It’s not surprising to hear at this time of year all that is wrong with our associations. It’s heart breaking to sit with one of your children when they find out they were cut and didn’t make the team they wanted to be on.

I recently attended a seminar where a presentation was made about Minnesota Hockey Families. Some interesting facts:

 $99,200 Median household income
 $128,900 Mean household income
 94.3% Own primary residence
 75.5% Head of household is married (44% more than national average)

Minnesota Hockey Families are special. They are the community leaders…the real shakers and movers. When I attended parent/teacher conferences, it seemed like I ran into every parent in our association. When the schools needed volunteers, the hockey families were always there.

Hockey has been one of the glues that held me and my boys together. No matter what was going in their lives, a Gopher hockey game is just what the doctor ordered. One minute they are so bad at me, and the next, we are shouting our lungs out at a Gopher game.

Thanks Minnesota Hockey!

Agreed that this is a great sport and I feel the same way you do about hockey. Look at all the pro sports. Hockey players stay out of trouble, they play 10 preseason games, 82 regualar season games and playoffs is what, another 2 or 3 months. They hit as hard as football player and play a longer season, they play not as much as baseball but play way harder, and don't even get me started on the NBA. Hockey is just great and deserves more respect than what it gets.

theref, AGREED.

What great memories I have of traveling with the boys to tournaments, talking in the car, shinny hockey and coaching. The time I was allowed to spend with my boys because of hockey was invaluable. Believe me, it all goes to fast.

TooManyStitches ... THAT IS THE BEST POST I HAVE SEEN ON THIS FORUM IN THE 2 OR 3 YEARS I HAVE BEEN READING THIS FORUM!

$1.50 - For the gatorade after practice
$25.00 - For the Pizza when ya get home
$150.00 - For the stick with all the goals in it...hehehe

All the hockey memories with our sons - PRICELESS!

Thanks toomanystitches for the post. I hope it makes everyone think...it did me!

Can't Never Tried wrote:

toomanystitches wrote:Having had the pleasure of raising three hockey players I want to state: HOCKEY IS THE GREATEST SPORT.

What great memories I have of traveling with the boys to tournaments, talking in the car, shinny hockey and coaching. The time I was allowed to spend with my boys because of hockey was invaluable. Believe me, it all goes to fast.

I’ve met countless great families across this state. Many have become close friends. I got to meet parents of elite players as well as B players. The one thing in common with everyone was a love of the game of hockey.

We are a passionate group. It’s not surprising to hear at this time of year all that is wrong with our associations. It’s heart breaking to sit with one of your children when they find out they were cut and didn’t make the team they wanted to be on.

I recently attended a seminar where a presentation was made about Minnesota Hockey Families. Some interesting facts:

 $99,200 Median household income
 $128,900 Mean household income
 94.3% Own primary residence
 75.5% Head of household is married (44% more than national average)

Minnesota Hockey Families are special. They are the community leaders…the real shakers and movers. When I attended parent/teacher conferences, it seemed like I ran into every parent in our association. When the schools needed volunteers, the hockey families were always there.

Hockey has been one of the glues that held me and my boys together. No matter what was going in their lives, a Gopher hockey game is just what the doctor ordered. One minute they are so bad at me, and the next, we are shouting our lungs out at a Gopher game.

Thanks Minnesota Hockey!

I feel the same, and have experienced most of the same feelings, and I will miss it all to soon.

You going somewhere?

toomanystitches wrote:Having had the pleasure of raising three hockey players I want to state: HOCKEY IS THE GREATEST SPORT.

What great memories I have of traveling with the boys to tournaments, talking in the car, shinny hockey and coaching. The time I was allowed to spend with my boys because of hockey was invaluable. Believe me, it all goes to fast.

I’ve met countless great families across this state. Many have become close friends. I got to meet parents of elite players as well as B players. The one thing in common with everyone was a love of the game of hockey.

We are a passionate group. It’s not surprising to hear at this time of year all that is wrong with our associations. It’s heart breaking to sit with one of your children when they find out they were cut and didn’t make the team they wanted to be on.

I recently attended a seminar where a presentation was made about Minnesota Hockey Families. Some interesting facts:

 $99,200 Median household income
 $128,900 Mean household income
 94.3% Own primary residence
 75.5% Head of household is married (44% more than national average)

Minnesota Hockey Families are special. They are the community leaders…the real shakers and movers. When I attended parent/teacher conferences, it seemed like I ran into every parent in our association. When the schools needed volunteers, the hockey families were always there.

Hockey has been one of the glues that held me and my boys together. No matter what was going in their lives, a Gopher hockey game is just what the doctor ordered. One minute they are so bad at me, and the next, we are shouting our lungs out at a Gopher game.

Thanks Minnesota Hockey!

You playing in the World Series?.................another HOMERUN!

Nicely done

My youngest kid is 27, but I will be at the bantam and peewee try-outs on
Friday (and I don't coach or evaluate - I just watch).

I drive over 4500 miles a year for youth hockey, time, money, and energy well spent.

elliott70 wrote:My youngest kid is 27, but I will be at the bantam and peewee try-outs on
Friday (and I don't coach or evaluate - I just watch).

I drive over 4500 miles a year for youth hockey, time, money, and energy well spent.

Awesome

Elliott, you are truely dedicted to the sport of hockey....

watchdog wrote:Elliott, you are truely dedicted to the sport of hockey....

He should be!! he was one of the inventors of the game

Stiches,

Thanks. This was a cool thread to start.

At our team meeting this season the head coach was talking about hockey memories and rarely did a game score get mentioned. The talk was about food fights, getting lost on the way to a rink, foaming hottubs, pranks...

Can't Never Tried wrote:

watchdog wrote:Elliott, you are truely dedicted to the sport of hockey....

He should be!! he was one of the inventors of the game

I was NOT an inventor, but I was in the same cave as those guys.
And I told them, don't let the parents anywhere near the pond.

Rocket78 wrote:Stiches,

Thanks. This was a cool thread to start.

At our team meeting this season the head coach was talking about hockey memories and rarely did a game score get mentioned. The talk was about food fights, getting lost on the way to a rink, foaming hottubs, pranks...

A favorite hockey moment for my 15 year old daughter isn't her first varsity goal... it's a U14 7:00 AM practice with donuts and milk at center ice.

Go figure..


.

So my son goes to Quebec, playing for the NY JR Rangers, Mark Messier is his coach for 10 games. After we get back, we ask him what was the best moment he will cherish from his experience...we're thinking the game against the Swiss or perhaps playing his buddies from Syracuse..nope..

Rangers vs hometown Quebec JR Remparts..14K + in attendance

he says "at the end of warmpus, a 6 year old skated under the bridge the players made with their sticks from the Quebec team, the kid then goes in and scores a goal and the 14,000+ in attendance go nuts...the loudest thing I've heard, it was the craziest moment I'll ever remember in hockey"...

No mention of anything Rangers or Messier...what a great moment!

Rocket78 wrote:Stiches,

Thanks. This was a cool thread to start.

At our team meeting this season the head coach was talking about hockey memories and rarely did a game score get mentioned. The talk was about food fights, getting lost on the way to a rink, foaming hottubs, pranks...

Exactly! I really enjoy HS hockey, but I loved youth hockey.
There are so many memories of things, and not just the things the kids did, in fact I believe the parents and coaches had more darn fun then the kids most of the time.
Nothing like it for us cidiots to go up north play an early game, then hit a lake and ice fish, grill, and maybe a beverage or two, then hit the late game, and afterwards go spend a $1000 or more as a team at a local place, buying up pull tabs, eating, drinking, telling lies, complaining about homer refs, and stupid coaches that make dumb decisions(we're all experts at this point) until we had to leave.
Then head back to the hotel all in one room, stay up until they kick us out of that room, move to another (Repeat), and then finally get to sleep around 4am just get up and do it all over again.
Some of my best friends I have today are from the earliest years of my childrens youth hockey experience. I would not trade it for anything...in fact I wish I could do it all again.
I don't remember hardly any of the scores, or places we finished at any particular tournament, but I remember almost all the funny stories, pranks, and of course those exceptionally good looking moms (past tense).

What happens in the end is not nearly as important as the fun you have on the way!

Can't Never Tried wrote:

Rocket78 wrote:Stiches,

Thanks. This was a cool thread to start.

At our team meeting this season the head coach was talking about hockey memories and rarely did a game score get mentioned. The talk was about food fights, getting lost on the way to a rink, foaming hottubs, pranks...

Exactly! I really enjoy HS hockey, but I loved youth hockey.
There are so many memories of things, and not just the things the kids did, in fact I believe the parents and coaches had more darn fun then the kids most of the time.
Nothing like it for us cidiots to go up north play an early game, then hit a lake and ice fish, grill, and maybe a beverage or two, then hit the late game, and afterwards go spend a $1000 or more as a team at a local place, buying up pull tabs, eating, drinking, telling lies, complaining about homer refs, and stupid coaches that make dumb decisions(we're all experts at this point) until we had to leave.
Then head back to the hotel all in one room, stay up until they kick us out of that room, move to another (Repeat), and then finally get to sleep around 4am just get up and do it all over again.
Some of my best friends I have today are from the earliest years of my childrens youth hockey experience. I would not trade it for anything...in fact I wish I could do it all again.
I don't remember hardly any of the scores, or places we finished at any particular tournament, but I remember almost all the funny stories, pranks, and of course those exceptionally good looking moms (past tense).

What happens in the end is not nearly as important as the fun you have on the way!

Best experience I had with youth hockey. I was an assistant coach for one of my kids 1st year Squirt teams and we were just getting throttled in our home tourney. With the score 15-1, the opponents score with 2 minutes to go and my son comes to the bench and slams his stick. The head coach goes up to him and asks whats wrong. My sons answer. Well coach, were out of it now. Busted us all up. That story has been told in our association for the last 10 years.

the zam!!!!

Can't Never Tried wrote:

watchdog wrote:Elliott, you are truely dedicted to the sport of hockey....

He should be!! he was one of the inventors of the game

And the wheel.

Lee

east hockey wrote:

Can't Never Tried wrote:

watchdog wrote:Elliott, you are truely dedicted to the sport of hockey....

He should be!! he was one of the inventors of the game

And the wheel.

Lee

but fire had been around a few years before he got involved

Great thread and I'm loving the stories. That's truly what it's all about. The hockey is just a bonus.

When the kids and families look back throughout the years, I would guess it'll be the friends they've made and the places they've seen. For me, hockey has brought me to places I never thought I'd be able to see. Places like Lake Placid & Philadelphia. My family has made lifetime friends with people we probably never would have met. People from different backgrounds and social structures. Even if they are cake eaters they're still good friends. The hockey has been great, but looking back, for me, it'll be those places and people. I'm sure my sons & daughter would say the same.

Stop it. I'm getting all choaked up.

Looking back on those early days I have realized how much this sport has taught me. As typical I started out like everyone else, thought I knew everything, my complaints about refs, board members........ Then I got involved, board member, district member, and now that my boys are grown up ( 1 still playing college hockey ) I realize how much the kids taught me about how to act like a grown up. The way the sport is organized VS all others is what makes this the best youth program out there. Countless people devoting their time to keep it on top "Elliot included". All the comments on this post really tells us we're lucky to live in America, where else could we do what we do. My hat's off to everyone who ever volunteered, right or wrong they tried to help. This post gets my vote for the top one of the season!