Guest wrote: ↑Mon Jun 23, 2025 9:50 pm
Guest wrote: ↑Mon Jun 23, 2025 9:41 pm
Guest wrote: ↑Mon Jun 23, 2025 7:41 pm
Guest wrote: ↑Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:51 pm
Guest wrote: ↑Mon Jun 23, 2025 1:17 pm
Unfortunately, spring hockey has become big business and preys on FOMO. While I agree that you have to train in the off season, playing all year round is totally unnecessary and will not result in you being so far behind those that do.
Off season should = power skating, skills development and in there somewhere at least 1 month OFF ICE. Two even better.
All these geniuses think they know better like nobody's ever been through it before. They'll figure it out but it will be too late for their little ankle biter.
It is different today. 4 hours daily in off season is a standard. If you go those rinks same group kids are on ice morning and afternoon
Nothing is different in how it is going to turn out.
Those kids are all gone by U15, bet.
Burned out, reached their peak at 10, want to go chase girls at the mall and drink on Fridays like their buddies at school. Plus some non burned out kids moving up from AA who are twice their size but couldn’t skate at 9 and in the first game beat their ass like a rented mule.
Story as old as time, you’ll see it in a few short years.
Fear the kids who aren’t on the ice in the summer. Then ones skating with you are the least of your problems.
100% absolute facts. My buddy whose son played 18 seasons in the nhl said the exact same thing. Every kid that made it to the nhl from his age group played baseball, soccer, tennis etc all summer and put the hockey bag away for 2+ months. You’d be shocked at how “bad” kids who only play hockey are at hockey because they develop any of the skills - physical and mental that come from playing other sports. That’s why some of the best nhl players are wicked tennis, golf etc players.
Those kids at canlan all August can’t play any other sport
Another point that isn't "if you aren't on the ice every week you fall behind" because that isn't me. I agree kids do need a break.
however, I do think its disingenuous to lump everyone in the same bucket. There are plenty of positives of Spring / Summer hockey in moderation.
1. Kids who want to play with friends they don't normally get to in the fall. Remember, a lot of these kids best friends at this age are hockey players. Its a lot of fun for them to hang out on a weekend and play hockey with them when they never have before.
2. Kids who are on a losing team all fall can have fun and experience winning. Don't sleep on the fact that as much as its nice to tell kids to have fun no matter the outcome, they will eventually stop loving the sport if they never win.
3. Kids who do keep their skills sharp at this age have the advantage of being on AAA teams and getting the best development (on average) while a lot of kids are missing out at the AA and A level because of lack of coaching + less time on the ice in general.
4. Kids who are not that "Top tier" of player, will often develop a lot by playing with kids better than them on a spring team. I've seen it a lot this year.
So, that all being said, Spring / Summer hockey isn't the devil inherently. It can be great, light-hearted fun that actually helps kids enjoy the game more.
The difference is the kids playing EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND or 9 out of 10 weekends on 2 or 3 different teams, etc.
Kids need to play other sports, even house league sports. Soccer, baseball, lacrosse, football, basketball, etc. It makes them more athletic in general and they gain new transferable skills.
Summer hockey and Spring hockey aren't "new" but they have become far more popular in the younger ages. Don't forget that the KSL started as a bunch of Spring Tournament teams coming together to form a league. So, as kids "Age out" of that demographic they start to drop spring hockey. There are far fewer 2015's playing Spring then 2016s. there are less 2016s this year than last year. The REAL bad guy in this scenario are coaches that use Spring hockey as a "forced" part of their fall teams. "If you want to make the fall team next year, you need to play on the Spring team this year" I am not saying its that blatant, but in some cases I think there are some situations out there that aren't great.
TL;DR Spring and summer hockey aren't inherently bad, its a tool like anything else. Use it for what it should be - in moderation and the expected outcome will be far more healthy.