Welcome to hockey! Where do I start?
Feb 25, 2024
You have probably all heard the saying, “drinking water out of a fire hose.”
This is the image that pops into my head every time I walk into the rink and see a fresh crop of newbie parents putting their youngsters' hockey equipment on for the first time. Sorting out which shin pad goes on which leg. Just how tight are these skates supposed to be? I had my first fire hose moment trying to get my 4 year old into gear that he did not want to get into. During COVID. Wearing a facial covering. That sucked.
Another time, I put his skates on the wrong feet. I didn't even catch it until after the skate ended. I was even on the ice coaching him as he was telling me how much his feet hurt! He was flying around, toe picking all through sharks and minnows. I admit this to you, for the whole internet to read, as a former pro player who spent 16 years playing hockey in 8 different countries. Nobody escapes these moments. NOBODY.
We all have that first moment in the game as a parent. Whether you grew up playing back east in Buffalo New York. Admired the game from a far through the 90’s as the game grew with Wayne Gretzky coming to Hollywood. Maybe you moved from Texas and had your child ask to play that “game on the ice.” Experienced or not, this game comes at you quick. Having some help and a little knowledge on how the game is navigated today can give you the “inside edge” to enjoying a great experience at the rink.
I have been blessed to be in this game my whole life. My father (Don) was a hockey coach and he even spent time in the NHL as a head coach. I understand not everyone gets to break bread with an NHL bench boss throughout their formative years. However, our journey in the game and the joy we experience in it, should not come down to our families' history in hockey.
Growing up in the small town of Kamloops B.C., I was indoctrinated into the hockey culture at an early age. My immediate family was heavily involved in the local hockey scene. We had a major junior team (Kamloops Blazers) that was the focus of all the towns' attention and gossip. Mark Recchi was our local boy who starred for our home team. As early as I can remember, I was shooting tennis balls my father would bring home from work into our net on Moody Ave. He rescued these balls from high school roofs he inspected as a City of Kamloops firefighter. It was life in rural Canada. It was pure bliss. It was a life I loved and one I am grateful to have had as a kid. One I hope my two sons get a variation of.
Fast forward to present day in Boise, Idaho. Maybe you're a local. A 'native' as they say. Maybe you’re a transplant like myself. Came here for work. Came here for quiet. Came here for the view or came here because of why everyone comes here. It’s perfect. Heaven on earth......And now your kid wants to play hockey?!
You are what USA Hockey kindly refers to as a “first generation” hockey family. In a non traditional hockey state. You are embarking down this road with minimal knowledge of what to expect. Hands up if you are a first generation hockey parent? It’s alright, put your hands up, don’t be embarrassed. My wife is in the same boat as you and often asks me questions that quite frankly, I had never even thought of. That lead me down this path to what you are reading now. An experiment in writing and my take on “The Hitchhiker's Guide to Ice Hockey”
USA Hockey has done a beautiful job in laying out information at every level. As hard as it is for a Canadian to admit, the folks at USA Hockey headquarters have done a marvelous job compiling information and creating a path to get the “first generation” hockey parent to a place of comfort as quickly as possible. https://www.usahockey.com and https://www.admkids.com are wonderful introductions to the vision our governing body has for us. If this is your first time in a rink or your first time putting hockey equipment on your child, you are in the right place. Welcome.
On a state level https://www.idahoamateurhockey.com is a part of the Rocky Mountain District https://www.rockymountainhockey.com/page/show/803195-district-personnel That includes 7 states (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah) This isn’t required reading but knowing the path and some of the steps is good to have a handle on. Who knows, maybe you will find yourself repping Idaho with your child one day. Fingers crossed.
That takes us to our local level. We have two organizations here in the Treasure Valley. The City of Boise Recreational program which is lead by Hockey Director, Kory Scoran. The other is the Idaho Junior Steelheads. Their Hockey Director is John Howell. Both these men would be able to answer any questions you may have in your journey in local hockey. The City of Boise is usually your introduction to hockey. Beginning with Learn to Play and graduating into the "House Leagues". The Junior Steelheads are the premier travel program in town. They play teams in towns all around Idaho and its outskirts. I have the privilege to coach the U10 Jr Steelheads. (If you ever get a chance to play outside in Salmon Idaho, consider yourself blessed. It was a "Field of Dreams" moment for myself)
Another tool I find incredibly informative as my son starts playing hockey is the Long Term Athlete Development Plan (LTADP) This document has been so educational to me as a coach and now as a parent. To be able to begin to learn the stages of the journey for a young player is like having a GPS with turn by turn directions. Ok, maybe it’s not as detailed as Google Maps, but when you look at it as a road map in your players’ journey, it’s an indispensable tool to have. Especially if this is your first foray into hockey.
I truly believe that hockey is the greatest game for kids because it has the best development plan. USA hockey has spent many years and copious amounts of money researching and developing plans on how our athletes learn the game. How their bodies grow, how their minds think and how they acquire skills. They have made this required learning for all coaches that wish to be on the ice with the future of this game. We are still susceptible to operator error. However, in a landscape as vast as this, we all share the same plan in developing our players. It’s the players choice whether they want to become Auston Matthews or just play the game for fun.
if you have questions about the process please reach out. I would love to be a sounding board & through my experiences help you along the way. Being part of the hockey community is bigger than just playing a game. By entering into this world you are consciously deciding to be part of all the ups and downs this game has. Hopefully more of the former than the latter. Nonetheless, you have an opportunity not only to play a positive role in your own child’s life, but possibly a role in another young players' life.
Who knows if your kids’ buddy in the backseat of your vehicle becomes the next Calder Trophy winner like Matty Berniers. Or the next national hero who dons the "Stars and Stripes" in the Winter Olympics and turns into TJ Oshie.
That's the great thing about this game. Everybody starts the same. Face to face with the fire hose, figuring out how to take a drink.
Thank you for being part of the greatest game on earth and good luck. Everyone gets one mulligan getting their kids skates on the wrong feet. Use yours wisely.
Your friend in hockey,
Darrell Hay
DHHD
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected],)
