ROOTbeer Hockey

[Chris18]

Took silver at a tournament in Lake Placid. Great place for a tournament. Colder than a polar bear's ass though. It was -20F in the morning without factoring the wind chill. I kind of hope they don't get the olympics there again. It will totally ruin the small town vibe the place has. They're getting the World University Games next year, which will do enough damage. They're making all kinds of improvements to the town, slopes, rinks, etc already. Hotels are adding on. All kinds of shit going on.

[Chris18]

NEW YORK STATE CHAMPIONS!
Heading to Nationals in a few weeks.

[Bosc]

NEW YORK STATE CHAMPIONS!
Heading to Nationals in a few weeks.

That's fucking incredible, man! Congrats!!!

Where are the Nationals?

[Chris18]

NEW YORK STATE CHAMPIONS!
Heading to Nationals in a few weeks.

That's fucking incredible, man! Congrats!!!

Where are the Nationals?

West Chester, PA. March 31-April 4.

[Hounsy]

NEW YORK STATE CHAMPIONS!
Heading to Nationals in a few weeks.

Well that is awesome.

[Chris18]

USA Hockey makes neck guards mandatory for all players under 18, effective Aug 1, 2024.
It's about time.
Game today- 1 player out of like 30 wearing a neck guard. One of our players took a STICK blade across her neck and has an impact cut from it. Left side of her neck so not as bad, but she should be wearing her neck guard now... Looked like it hurt a lot. And no penalty called on it.

[Chris18]

Going to the NYS tournament for the 7th straight year.

[Chris18]

My friend's son had his neck cut yesterday. Right across the front. Son knocked an opponent off balance and his other leg shot up to keep his balance (or purposely kick him as the dad thinks, but I understand him being upset/biased). Skate went right to the front of his son's neck. he skated off under his own power (after being checked AFTER getting cut because the puck went between his skates). He knew he was cut but didn't know how badly. Skated off while play continued and everyone on the bench freaked out. Quite a few stitches. Doctors were amazed it wasn't a lot worse.

August 1st USA Hockey requires neck guards for all youth hockey.

[Bosc]

My friend's son had his neck cut yesterday. Right across the front. Son knocked an opponent off balance and his other leg shot up to keep his balance (or purposely kick him as the dad thinks, but I understand him being upset/biased). Skate went right to the front of his son's neck. he skated off under his own power (after being checked AFTER getting cut because the puck went between his skates). He knew he was cut but didn't know how badly. Skated off while play continued and everyone on the bench freaked out. Quite a few stitches. Doctors were amazed it wasn't a lot worse.

August 1st USA Hockey requires neck guards for all youth hockey.

Man, thankfully it wasn't worse. Was he wearing a neckguard?

[Chris18]

My friend's son had his neck cut yesterday. Right across the front. Son knocked an opponent off balance and his other leg shot up to keep his balance (or purposely kick him as the dad thinks, but I understand him being upset/biased). Skate went right to the front of his son's neck. he skated off under his own power (after being checked AFTER getting cut because the puck went between his skates). He knew he was cut but didn't know how badly. Skated off while play continued and everyone on the bench freaked out. Quite a few stitches. Doctors were amazed it wasn't a lot worse.

August 1st USA Hockey requires neck guards for all youth hockey.

Man, thankfully it wasn't worse. Was he wearing a neckguard?

No. Almost nobody wears one now, especially not in summer hockey. It's so hot and the level of play looked to be pretty low for what this kid is used to.
I have to admit, I bought one a while back, I think when Zhidnik got cut. It was in the packaging in my bag for a loooong time. When the dude got killed last year, I wore it, for maybe 1 period. It was so hot I took it off. They'll be mandatory for kids Aug 1 in the US, but not adults. I'm saying I'll wear it. Trying to convince myself to do it in summer hockey... To date I've been better at convincing myself that I'm quick enough to get out of the way of an errant skate. Me now- -Hopefully not me later

[Bosc]

Leila and Hannah got out on the ice for their first session. No pucks yet, just skating. They loved the first session, so I think having skated before helped their enjoyment for sure.

[Scott 679]

Leila and Hannah got out on the ice for their first session. No pucks yet, just skating. They loved the first session, so I think having skated before helped their enjoyment for sure.

That's awesome Jeff! and happy to hear that they loved it. Took both my kids out skating in Milton when they were young and they too both loved it.

Look forward in the future when there will be some hockey stories with your kids!

[Chris18]

Leila and Hannah got out on the ice for their first session. No pucks yet, just skating. They loved the first session, so I think having skated before helped their enjoyment for sure.

Awesome!

[Bosc]

Leila and Hannah got out on the ice for their first session. No pucks yet, just skating. They loved the first session, so I think having skated before helped their enjoyment for sure.

That's awesome Jeff! and happy to hear that they loved it. Took both my kids out skating in Milton when they were young and they too both loved it.

Look forward in the future when there will be some hockey stories with your kids!

I hope so!

[Pokecheque]

Gotta see if I can try my eldest on skates this year. She's four now, should be relatively safe. Definitely gonna bring her bike helmet though. The thing that sucks about Lincoln is that they stupidly built two rinks practically right next to one another on the same side of town. And they were REALLY stupid in building the second rink without the capability of holding junior/pro games there. Like, why? Why even bother?

Oh and if I didn't say it before, Chris, congrats! That's always such a huge thing and the kids will take those memories with them forever. I'm still in touch with a few of my teammates from the two times we won state. Still really good friends with one of them.

[Chris18]

Gotta see if I can try my eldest on skates this year. She's four now, should be relatively safe. Definitely gonna bring her bike helmet though. The thing that sucks about Lincoln is that they stupidly built two rinks practically right next to one another on the same side of town. And they were REALLY stupid in building the second rink without the capability of holding junior/pro games there. Like, why? Why even bother?

Oh and if I didn't say it before, Chris, congrats! That's always such a huge thing and the kids will take those memories with them forever. I'm still in touch with a few of my teammates from the two times we won state. Still really good friends with one of them.

Four is a great age to get them skating. And yes, helmets are a must. I've seen so many kids hit their heads, with and without helmets. I've hit bolts in the ice and hit so hard I cracked a helmet, while just skating backwards. A rink is like 18k square feet and I hit a frigging 1/4" long bolt perfectly centered on my blade.

Thanks. The team we went to states with folded, so we're on a different team, and playing in a lower level, in Ct. Still fun for the girls!
We bumped into one of Miss18.2's state winning teammates the other day unexpectedly. Fun reunion for them.
I still talk to some of my childhood teammates. Very good friends with a few, as we were then, and I play against a few in beer league.

[Bosc]

Leila was on skates at 4 or 5, I think. Hannah was delayed by COVID, unfortunately.

Helmet and cage, Poke. Don't take a chance with a bike helmet on the ice.

[Pokecheque]

Leila was on skates at 4 or 5, I think. Hannah was delayed by COVID, unfortunately.

Helmet and cage, Poke. Don't take a chance with a bike helmet on the ice.

Yeah, that's sound advice. I'll be sure to do that.

[Bosc]

Oh, I didn't update this thread! Leila and Hannah both did the First Shift program, 6 sessions on the ice and full set of gear. Both really enjoyed it. They didn't have the Second Shift program but offered heavily discounted house league for the rest of the season. Leila wanted to continue but Hannah didn't. So she started house league playing a year below her age group right before Christmas. She's really enjoyed it, her coach is awesome and super encouraging. She can struggle with positioning at times which affects how much effort she gives while skating, but she can keep up with most of the kids when giving full effort. Has made some good plays on D as she learns the ropes. Forward she's a little more lost and when that happens, the skating slows down. Stickwork we've been working on at home in the garage too. All in all, good progress considering she hadn't played any organized hockey until the fall.

She wasn't happy when we told her she would have to wait 6 months to play next year! So she's going to be in power skating in the spring and then a total hockey program in the summer. So she's going to be on the ice weekly which should help a ton for next season, especially considering that she's going to be moving up to her own age group as well.

[Chris18]

That’s awesome!