Minor Hockey Talks - Hockey Forum

Golf. It’s just as expensive but much much better. Trust me.

Remember it’s your kid that’s playing and Not you. Only keep him in competitive hockey if he or she enjoys it. Pay your fees and trust the coaching. Remember that they can’t hear you from the stands when screaming at them to skate or move the puck-common occurrence with parents and coaches. Try not to get sucked into the politics and be careful what you say to other parents. An independently run team with No parents involved would be ideal, but the power of money always takes precedence. Unless your kid is genetically superior or a naturally really good skater, don’t waste your time with this and just play select or house league. Less than .5% remember that number.

Get mental help

Just join a local league. Let the kid enjoy it. Most kids want to quit after a few times on the ice - make the child commit to finish his/her season and then revisit their enjoyment. Until the kids are 6, it is mostly for fun. Unfortunately there are select & rep teams starting as early as 6 and they want to train the kids "so they don't fall behind" - don't fall for the trap. Let the childs determine their level of compete and love for the game. If they have fun, they learn to enjoy the game, compete harder and even improve.
Stay away from the teams and coaches trying to train your child until they U9 - as that year the kids begin to be identified for their talent. After a couple of years, if the player is talented - they progress and get noticed. Once they hit the U12/U13 years - some kids hit puberty early and develop a few years ahead of others - they get noticed for their production - don't be fooled by the 15 year old body on a 12 year old kid - as the size and strength of players evens out by around U15/U16. Enjoy the game - and having fun will be the best indicator of success for your child.
At U16 where it is the draft year (into Junior) the children and parents become quite funny - at times not talking to each other or worse yet, not listening to the coach - and trying to put on a show for the scouts & agents. This is a team game - figure out how to be a good teammate and team player - the rest will figure itself out. Note, you are 1 of 10 players on the ice (not including goalies) and you will only touch the puck for a minute or two per game - figure out how to play off the puck and you will enjoy the game so much more - both as a player and parent.

Don't fall into the trap. 4 Is too young to do any aggressive planning.

Your kid literally JUST turned 4 last month. Let him have fun, sign him up for house league and make sure he actually likes hockey first before looking into super leagues and all the development bs. Is he even potty trained fully yet?

DHD will be scouting

Here’s best advice you will get nothing smart mouthed. First off figure out why you want your son or daughter to play, is it for exercise that’s fine, want to try and play pro, go for it, god bless. When entering, while there are great hockey families, these are not your friends, these are your kids friends parents. Most important find the right level, if your playing AAA not scoring not playing it’s not coaches fault, every coach play his best players, this won’t help your son. Don’t play HL or single A hockey and have you child score 123 goals in a season thinking he’s a star and bragging, there would be a whole level ahead of ya playing way higher tempo hockey. You will find your kid’s favourite hockey is away from parents, refs, glass bangers, whistles, systems, they will like shinny outdoors with their friends and family most trust me on this, even highest end AAA player like to play with friends outside with no pressure. They will keep the score, and break up the fights call their own penalties. Sorry for the rambling spend time with your children in the car tell stories as a family. Go home order a pizza and turn on CBC and watch the leafs. Just pass the game on to other generations, good luck brother

Guest wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 8:45 pm What are your goals should be the question? Do you want your kid to play AAA, you want him to just play and have fun, you want more than that. Some parents are highly motivated to do whatever it takes to try make the kid pro but it doesn’t work that way. Parents cannot control this. If the motivation is yourself I suggest you reevaluate the situation.

Yep. And be careful to not become (and a lot do):
- A crazy hockey parent that over-trains their kid until the kid burns out and quits hockey.
- A crazy hockey parent that complains and bitches about coaches and other players.
– A crazy hockey parent that thinks their kid is better than every other player.
- A crazy hockey parent that lives vicariously through their kid hoping to make the NHL (chances are they won't).
- A crazy hockey parent that looses sight of why their kid plays hockey—to have fun!
– A crazy hockey parent that only chases an extra letter, a, aa, aaa. It doesn't matter.
– A crazy hockey parent that lectures their kid on the drive home from every game and practice.

Buddy with the last response is the reason not to ask here. These forums have become a circus. If your kid is really only 4 go with the advice given. House League and get advice from the coach.