A seasons end

The season may be over but the love of hockey continues.  He is anxiously awaiting next season!

Face Off!

We had our Parent vs. Mite game this weekend.  It was more fun than I’ve had in years!  Here are my three guys.  This was pre game when we were all warming up.  The kids were swarming around us like a bunch of angry wasps.  Parents were the away team in white jerseys and the Mites were the home team in the black jerseys.

Here comes my oldest up the boards, he has the orange stick right behind the ref.  Look back to the right, there is Lineman in the white jersey,  he’s not about to let  his oldest boys make it up to the net.

Whoa!  Looks like Lineman really stepped it up there, trying to catch up to his son.  (sorry the pics aren’t the best, I took these from the bench with my helmet and cage on, I couldn’t see the view finder, it’s amazing I even have these pics).

   A Ha!!!  Lineman caught up to his son!  I’m laughing at the father in the red jersey, he’s got a big ol’ grin on his face watching these two. 

Did #50 break loose?  Is he going to get a shot on goal?  He got a shot on goal that was deflected by our goalie.

After three periods of play we ended up at a 8-8 tie.  The refs decided that we would have a shoot out to determine the winner.   The dads on the parents team decided we should use all moms for the shootout.  I went first and my shot was blocked by the goalie.  Up next was my oldest son, Bridger.  He came down and was looking good and his shot was blocked by our goalie was well.  When the shoot out was finished the game ended with the Mites winning 10-9.  What a game!

We  followed it up with a potluck, visiting, and talk about the USA Canada game that was going on at the same time.  I guess thinking back to it I feel a little bit like USA.  Uhhh, Ok, maybe not.

I was going to save pictures of me until Thursday, but here is one of me and Lineman after the game.

And get this!  We have enough women interested that next season we will have a team for the women!  I seriously could not be more excited! 

Goalie Time

At the tournament my oldest son had been asking his coaches over and over and over again if he could play goalie.  He was ecstatic when he got to play goalie for the last game. Here they are coming onto the ice.  He was so excited!  Ready for action!  SAVE!!!

The group photo of our Ice Dawgs mite team.  This tourney was just for mites ages 7-8, so our middle son didn’t play since he is a termite u-6.  It’s a great group of kids.  They all got medals and the team got a trophy to take back to our rink. They had a poster with each of the kids names written on hockey pucks. 

One last shot before we left.  They’re record at the tourney was 3 losses and 1 win.  All in all they had a great time.  As for the game he played goalie I know he had fun but I’m not sure I want him to pursue it since it’s a very expensive position.  But I’m glad he had the opportunity!

What a weekend

  Our mites had three games on Saturday and one game on Sunday.  They all worked so hard.  Here is some action from Saturday. You may recall my son refuses to wear matching socks, so at least he is easy to pick out in the bunch!

Making his way up the ice.

We were in Sidney, MT.  It’s a bigger town than we live in but still fairly small at about 4,500 population.  I was so impressed with their facilities.  This shot is looking up to the upstairs where there are stands, concessions and seating.  Oh, and it’s warmer up there too.  They also had a TV corner that had these neat low couches that lay flat or fold up.  We had the privilege to go my SIL’s house and chill but many enjoyed being able to relax there in between games. 

Here is the shot from upstairs looking out.  It’s a great view of the rink but I was only upstairs briefly.  It’s not my cup of tea.  I’d rather be in the stands near the ice.  There you can hear all the sounds that go with hockey.  The grunting, the sticks hitting the puck, fans cheering,  AC/DC playing during line changes, the puck hitting the boards or the glass, and of course the sound of blades on the ice.    Not to mention this rink had heaters that REALLY worked, so it was pleasant when you were seated under a heater. 

So there is a portion of our weekend.  Lots of fun for sure!

Tournament Time

This is our first major tournament for our hockey players.  Our mites had 3 games today.  We’re hanging out with my sister in law and family since they live here.  Lots of fun and the boys are having fun playing with their cousins and bugging their aunt and uncle.  Good times for sure!  One last game tomorrow and we are heading home.

Fire & Ice

Things seem to be heating up on the ice lately with my kids! 

Ice Ice Baby

When our Little Man turned two we got him a sweet new pair of hockey skates.   I wish you could see just how stinkin’ cute and small these things are.First it was practicing at home, just walking around on the carpet.  He loved this part.  He probably walked around for half an hour. 

When we got to the rink he was so excited, okay, so was I!  After we got everyone all laced up it was time to hit the ice. 

  Is that just so cute or what!

It was not easy at first.  We tried to help him hold on to the skate helpers.  Then Lineman took him around without the helper.  Nothing like torturing your back.

Another attempt with the skate helper and it wasn’t going all that easy.  So we decided to take a little break.

After a short break I took Little Man back out there and just let him stand.  Then we got the skate helper and……

He figured out what it was about!  I’m not saying he was going great guns, but he figured it out.  He could push himself around and I was truly shocked!

Look Ma, no Dad hands!

Only one year after learning how to walk he is figuring out how to make his way on the ice.  And in the mean time I can’t get over how stinkin’ cute those teeny tiny skates are. 

When I grow up…

I want to be just like my brothers!

Sibling Rivalry

Grab your coat, hat and gloves. The ice is frozen and it’s about to get chilly in here.  Hockey is in full swing and we are all loving it.  Both older boys are on the same U-8 team and they had their first game Saturday.  They play inter-squad games until we travel to other towns to compete.  For the first game brothers were on opposite teams!

That is the oldest there in the front with the black jersey and white helmet.  His little brother is bound to get to him, he’s in the red jersey with red helmet. 

Uh oh, looks like the confrontation is on…..

  Yup!   I’m not sure it was the actual plan to take out his brother though.

Going solo, he did score twice too!

But, this wasn’t one of those times!  Don’t worry, these guys have so much padding on that injuries are not too common.  Yet.

Deja Vu or what?   After talking to each of the boys after the game it was clear they were out to get the puck from each other.

This one absolutely cracks me up.  

It’s an incredible fun sport, more fun than I had even anticipated.