Monthly Archives: September 2010

The Devil’s busy too #imahockeydad

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As suspected, we’ve received the Devil’s schedule and it’s no less hectic than the Boy’s.  In fact, early on it looks to be even a little more demanding.

With girls’ rep hockey in our jurisdiction, leagues are structured according to a system whereby teams are ranked and put into divisions based on results in exhibition game. All teams are tasked with scheduling a number of “pre-season” games against teams believed to be of similar caliber in order to gauge their ability, or inability as the case may be, to compete with these teams. In order to get a the most accurate rating it makes sense to book a fair number of these games.  Mind you this is generally left to the discretion of the coach and his/her staff.  In previous years the Devil has been on teams where the coaching staff either did not have the desire or interest in finding out where the team should be properly ranked and thus played a seemingly bare minimum. This can, of course, come back to haunt a team which may be placed in a higher division than it should be. Some would argue this simply means a higher level of competition, but it can also mean a season of lopsided losses and dejected players.

Such is not the case this year, as the Devil already has eight exhibition games scheduled this month including two games in two different towns on one Saturday and an early morning practice followed by a late afternoon game the following Saturday. This schedule is sure to test both the ability and the conditioning of the team, while at the same time getting them all quite familiar with one another.  All good stuff in the eyes of this hockey dad.

So I’ve now combined the September schedules and it seems that in the 23 days starting the day after tomorrow there will only be 4 where either of our two young athletes will not be engaged in some form of hockey-related activity (i.e. practice, game, dryland training). We’ve yet to decide exactly who will be taking who to which practice and/or game, but we’ll likely just play it by ear depending on other scheduling challenges. Mix in some more fundraising activities (i.e. bottle drive, raffle ticket sales, something else will likely pop up) and there’s nothing like easing into the pre-season. Bring it on I say! It’s what I’ve been waiting all Summer for. Alright, besides the introduction of HST, the start of NFL season and the latest installment of Glee! (jk)

#imahockeydad

The Devil’s busy too #imahockeydad

Posted on by
Reply

As suspected, we’ve received the Devil’s schedule and it’s no less hectic than the Boy’s.  In fact, early on it looks to be even a little more demanding.

With girls’ rep hockey in our jurisdiction, leagues are structured according to a system whereby teams are ranked and put into divisions based on results in exhibition game. All teams are tasked with scheduling a number of “pre-season” games against teams believed to be of similar caliber in order to gauge their ability, or inability as the case may be, to compete with these teams. In order to get a the most accurate rating it makes sense to book a fair number of these games.  Mind you this is generally left to the discretion of the coach and his/her staff.  In previous years the Devil has been on teams where the coaching staff either did not have the desire or interest in finding out where the team should be properly ranked and thus played a seemingly bare minimum. This can, of course, come back to haunt a team which may be placed in a higher division than it should be. Some would argue this simply means a higher level of competition, but it can also mean a season of lopsided losses and dejected players.

Such is not the case this year, as the Devil already has eight exhibition games scheduled this month including two games in two different towns on one Saturday and an early morning practice followed by a late afternoon game the following Saturday. This schedule is sure to test both the ability and the conditioning of the team, while at the same time getting them all quite familiar with one another.  All good stuff in the eyes of this hockey dad.

So I’ve now combined the September schedules and it seems that in the 23 days starting the day after tomorrow there will only be 4 where either of our two young athletes will not be engaged in some form of hockey-related activity (i.e. practice, game, dryland training). We’ve yet to decide exactly who will be taking who to which practice and/or game, but we’ll likely just play it by ear depending on other scheduling challenges. Mix in some more fundraising activities (i.e. bottle drive, raffle ticket sales, something else will likely pop up) and there’s nothing like easing into the pre-season. Bring it on I say! It’s what I’ve been waiting all Summer for. Alright, besides the introduction of HST, the start of NFL season and the latest installment of Glee! (jk)

#imahockeydad

Da boy’s schedule is in #imahockeydad

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We received an email pointing to the Boy’s online schedule for the upcoming season, bringing with it those oh so memorable feelings of awe and slight bewilderment.  Here’s the breakdown of days in the coming months when he, no we, will be in a rink somewhere for practices, exhibition, regular season or tournament games — a few of which will be in far off places like Fort Erie, Ontario and Oswego, New York:

September – 13 days
October – 17 days
November – 17 days
December – 16 days

There are a few more days already on the sked for January, then playoffs will take us well into March and maybe even April. Tryouts for the 2011-2012 will follow in May.  In the next couple of weeks we’ll get the Devil’s schedule to fill in the blanks and double up on many of the days.  Add to this school classes, homework, school trips, work, social events, occasional sleeping, eating and other necessities and there isn’t a whole lot left.  Hockey tournaments even usurp a few school and work days as they often start on Fridays and occasionally Thursdays depending on the location. The kids certainly don’t mind, but it can get a little dicey when juggling work commitments.  I am always surprised to see the inordinate number of mothers and fathers who are able to attend all of the practices and games. Aren’t we all supposed to be at work…paying for all this hockey?  

It really is a whole lotta time, particularly when you see it all plotted on a calendar.  Hockey mom lovingly does the plotting with diligence and affixes the finished product to our fridge. I throw it all into a Blackberry, try to avoid the conflicts and keep up if I can. So if you don’t find me at home, try my cell, check a local rink or consult the fridge calendar; it’s all on there.

#imahockeydad