Watching your children grow with their passions, perfect their skills and transform before your eyes is a sight to behold.
Hockey is in the genes. Handy Man played competitive hockey growing up. His father played hockey growing up. His grandfather played professional hockey back in the day, in Canada. There was no surprise when Mr. Blue Eyes, at 4 years old, decided hockey would be his sport of choice. I can still vividly remember Mr. Blue Eye's first Learn-to-Skate class. Dressed in snow pants, hockey helmet and a $3.50 pair of beat-up rental skates, we pushed him out on the ice and spent the next 45 minutes laughing because I don't think he spent more than ten cumulative minutes on his feet.
Week after week, Mr. Blue Eyes progressed and spent more time on his skates than on his bum. When he moved up to advanced learn-to-skate, he was rewarded with his very own pair of skates! No more dull, beat-up rentals!
He was so excited he refused to put them back in the box until we got home and showed Daddy. He told us both, "I am going to be a hockey player when I grow up." And nearly every "First Day of School" chalk board has reflected the fact.
When Mr. Blue Eyed turned six, we signed him up for his first rec hockey team. He made the 8U Beginner Team for the Arapahoe Warriors. Cross-ice, mob-hockey, it was the cutest darn thing I had ever seen! They didn't keep score (though the kids sure did) and games were only 30 minutes long. His jersey hung down to his knees, his gloves were almost too big for him I'm not sure how he gripped the stick, but he smiled the whole time, around that big blue mouth guard.
Mr. Blue Eye's second year in hockey he made the 8U Intermediate/Advanced team. They had goalies this year and all the kids took turns trying their hand guarding the net. Handy Man was not happy about putting his kid in the net (always the forward)... but I think even he will admit it was pretty darn cute experience to see.
Our last year in 8U, Mr. Blue Eyes made the Advanced Team and it was one of our most memorable years. The game was getting faster and we graduated to half ice. They were such a great group of kids and the competitive spirit really started blooming that year. The parents were fantastic and all of the families got along well. We made so many great memories over tournament weekends.
One of our favorite weekends was in Keystone, CO at the 9280 Pond Hockey Tournament.
We were invited to practice at the Pepsi Center before an Avalanche Game, New Years Day. The kids were also given the opportunity to scrimmage in front of a full house during the 1st period break of the Av's game!
It's quite the thrill skating on the same ice that your idols do.
All of the hockey families stayed to watch the game. Mr. Blue Eye's and his buddy made the jumbotron!
The scrimmage game was so neat to watch! All of those fans, watching our kids out on the ice. They all looked so little out there compared to the big Av's players!
At the time we were invited to this event, I was working with a client who just happened to work for the Avalanche. I mentioned to her that my son would be playing in the scrimmage and she asked me what his name was. As the kids were filing off the ice, Mr. Blue Eyes was pulled to the side for his first ever "interview" by none other than Allen Roach.
He nailed it and was given a game puck!
Mr. Blue Eyes had a few more turns at the net his last year of 8U. As much as Handy Man disliked seeing his son in goalie pads (we play forward in this family!), he will always be competitive. If you are going to something in life, be the best.
Introducing Handy Man's Private Goalie Coaching!
I wish I had been video taping... after a bit of instruction, Handy Man launched a puck right at our kid and this mom started hollering for her poor baby! I asked the coach to see some credentials working with children.
This gear just killed me! I couldn't help but laugh every time I strapped him in!
Well the Handy Man School of Goalies paid off! Mr. Blue Eyes was on fire and helped his team to win the game that weekend! His coaches patted him on the back and said he would make an awesome goalie someday. He was a natural. Handy Man cringed...
Handy Man breathed a sigh of relief when Mr. Blue Eyes admitted on the ride home he liked scoring goals better than saving them.
This amazing team had such a great year. Unfortunately due to Covid, their 8U Graduation Tournament was cancelled.
The impact of Covid on youth sports in 2020 really took its toll. Mr. Blue Eyes was developing so much as a little player and would be moving up to Squirts/10U in the fall. We were hoping to have him try out for the competitive travel team and considered having him play a short spring hockey season to accelerate his skills. It's a big transition from 8U to 10U. Unfortunately, the spring and summer seasons were cancelled. With limited to no access to ice time in order to continue improving his skating and skills, we weren't really sure he would have a shot making the travel team.
Handy Man was on a hunting trip during tryouts and my nerves were on the fritz. The anxiety of being a parent during "tryouts" was something I had never experienced. But I put on my Hockey Mom hat and off we went.
After three days of tryouts, Mr. Blue Eyes made the Travel Squirt B Navy Team!
Squirt was a whole new hockey game. Full ice, blue lines, off sides, icing - all terms this horse girl had to learn, and learn quickly!
While we were so thankful that Fall hockey was happening, the Covid restrictions were challenging (and disappointing) as a parent. Spectators were not allowed to watch practices. Was Mr. Blue Eyes skating hard? Was he learning the drills? Improving his skills? We had no idea. I spent the entire fall sitting in my car reading book after book while I waited for Mr. Blue Eyes to finish practice.
He did earn the very first "Hard Working Player of the Week" award. So I assumed he was doing ok.
For most of the season, spectators were not allowed to watch games either. A few of the rinks subscribed to LiveBarn streaming services and a few of those first games of the season were watched in the parking lot like this!
One parent would bring a tv, another paid for the live stream service, and another provided a laptop or cell phone for streaming the game.
The only way to watch a game in person was to volunteer as a score keeper/ run the clock & music/ or man the penalty box. You have never seen so many parents volunteer for grunt positions during a season - until they were no longer able to watch freely. I was scared to death to run the clock or keep stats/scores. I could handle opening and closing a little door for the penalty box.
While I might have frozen my toes off, I loved the opportunity to finally be able to watch my kid in person!
I got the behind the scenes view of the bench too!
Unfortunately, the streaming service was horrible and not always available at every rink. Another hockey mom and I asked about a Video Volunteer. Turns out, we WERE allowed a volunteer parent at each game to video, per Covid rules. We were the only two parents interested in in the task - so we became glorified hockey sports announcers overnight! It was a two-woman side show!
Now I really had to learn the game of hockey! Blue lines, off sides, icing, penalties. I had to learn the players and our lines (what kids play with what kids. forwards or defense). Talk about intimidating! But I loved it!
When it wasn't my turn to video, Handy Man and I would be found in our car, watching on our phones, like so many other parents. This was youth sports during Covid.
Things were on the move, our kids in a groove. They played a tournament in Steamboat over Halloween weekend.
It was the first time we got to truly interact with the other families. New friendships were made, Trick or Treating in the hotel, and so many great memories!
Following Steamboat, the team played in our home, Arapahoe Tournament.
They went undefeated and won a brand new banner for the new ice rink that was set to opening after the new year.
And then... Covid struck again.
An increased in cases put a stop to all games and scrimmages in the state. Two months later when games were allowed to resume, our poor kids were rusty. The first few weeks we were getting creamed with losses as they tried to get their rhythm back. With some determination and endless support those kids rallied and soon we were on a winning streak again!
This kid even scored a "Hat Trick" (three goals scored by the same player in a single game) against a very competitive Arvada Team! Thank goodness a few restaurants had opened back after the shut down. This kid deserved to be treated to dinner out and a big old milk shake!
The Team was sitting first in the State as we approached Regionals. Two weeks before, one of our teammates tested positive for Covid... The whole team was put on quarantine. They had to cancel their last two regular season games.
Two days before Regionals and only one practice to regroup, our team went to Regionals and lost their game. Just like that they were out due to the single-elimination rules.
Everyone anxiously awaited to see what this would do to our shot at making the State Championship Finals.
Extra puck handling off-ice was a necessity.
We qualified for the State Championships Tournament and our team had something to prove! They went undefeated through every round of the tournament. The team's energy was amazing.
A limited number of spectators were allowed but the video moms kept recording each game. By this time in the season, our popularity and fan base had grown. We were on high demand! We had grandparents and family watching in Arizona, Kansas, California, Iowa, and all over Canada, just to name a few. I had 17 viewers one game!
In the final game, we played Northern Colorado. It was a nail biting game. A roller coaster season on the line! Up by one, tied, down by one, tied. Tied 2-2 at the end of the regular slated game, we went into overtime. Handy Man couldn't even sit still. He was up and pacing like a caged tiger. Other parents standing in anticipation. I was nearly in the fetal position on my bleacher, my anxiety laser focused on the sheet of ice in front of me. Thank goodness I wasn't behind the video camera... way too stressful.
First one to score would win.
With 17 seconds left on the clock in overtime, one of our teammates picked up the rebound shot and scored!!! 3-2 and the Arapahoe 10U B Navy Team were State Champions!
Parents were screaming and cheering, jumping up and down. The bench flooded the ice. Gloves, sticks and helmets were thrown into the air as they made their way to Jack, our goalie, and dog-piled in celebration.
They deserved this win. (we all deserved this win)
Championship hats were handed out. A big, beautiful Championship banner was awarded.
My eyes get a little drippy remembering that game. What a season. What an amazing team.
Right after our win, we celebrated the end of the season with a team party and parent/kid skate night. I left the skating to Handy Man and video taped the parent vs kid scrimmage instead.
What a season!
So proud of our #4, Mr. Blue Eyes.
Go Warriors!!
Is Hockey Hard?
"I don't know, you tell me.
We need to have the strength and power of a football player,
the stamina of a marathon runner,
and the concentration of a brain surgeon.
But we need to put all this together
while moving at high speeds
on a cold and slippery surface
while 5 guys use clubs to try and kill us,
oh yeah, did I mention that this whole time
we're standing in blades 1/8 of an inch thick?
Is Ice Hockey Hard?
I don't know, you tell me... Next Question."
~Brendan Shanahan
