Hockey Season’s Here

August 28th, 2007 by Kelly

No, no…not the Blackhawks. And let’s face it. Even when we’re in the midst of winter, it’s not really Blackhawks season then, either. I’m talking North Shore kids’ hockey. Conditioning clinics began last night for Josh, and, like any sport, that first time back is spent re-connecting with other parents and kids you haven’t seen all summer.

Yep, I’m a hockey mom - not an all-out, wearing-an-adult-replica-of-my-kid’s-jersey-kind of hockey mom, but over the years, I’ve grown to really enjoy the sport. Here’s why:

1. It forces organization. As any parent with a kid in travel hockey will tell you, household organization is crucial to making a hockey schedule work. Between trips to Northbrook, Buffalo Grove and Vernon Hills - just for practice - you’d be crazy if you didn’t have your act together.

2. You learn to let go. Such a time consuming sport means that you can give up being alpha mom, and embrace being “Thank God there was a McDonald’s on the way to the rink” mom.

3. You come to appreciate that cruddy pair of extra mittens in the trunk of the car. Note - Lake Forest College has the coldest ice rink in four states.

4. It also forces downtime in your day. Thanks to hockey, I learned to knit and have time to actually read a book as opposed to flipping on the TV.

5. Buzzers are a good thing. After spending the summer sitting through 1.5- and 2+ hour baseball games, the buzzer at the end of your one-hour ice time allotment is awesome. Unless you’re losing. Then it stinks.

6. Ice rinks are a better thing. Yeah, they’re cold. (Actually, Northbrook’s rink is fantastic. And I’m not saying that just because Josh plays there. It’s just way warmer than about anywhere else!) But ice rinks are immune to heat, humidity, rain, snow, wind, dust, mosquitoes, and bees. Bring a blanket and a Thermos of hot chocolate and you’re good to go.

7. You meet really, really nice people. OK - kid’s hockey has its handful of really annoying souls. But again, over the years, I have found parents of hockey kids to be a genuine bunch - the kind who are obviously willing to make significant financial and time commitments to indulge a child in a favorite sport, recognize it really is just a game and just enjoy watching their kid play, with few or no “living vicariously” fantasies about the NHL, have great senses of humor and come from all walks of life.

If you’re interested in joining the world of pucks and sticks, check with your local park district to see with which organization they are affiliated. There are a number of organizations, such as Northbrook, Glenview, Highland Park, Wilmette, Winnetka, Lake Forest and Evanston with great travel and house programs.

See you at the rink!

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