Hockey Shots

Growing up in a small town in MN I remember playing floor hockey in middle school and broom ball in high school. It made sense that growing up in MN that many of us skated or had access to one of the many frozen ponds that would be cleared for pick up games. I also remember when MN was home of the North Stars, before being moved to Dallas--which seemed awfully silly at the time since we all know that Texas would know the first thing about snow, ice and freezing temperatures. Looking back I  never got to watch the North Stars play, I think the games were shown on one the "snowy" channels.

In college at the U of M, my sorority (CLOVIA) also participated in intramural broom ball and also had a yearly coed game "Beta Boys vs Phi Guys". After layering all your sweatshirts and sweatpants (the sweatshirts would later be shed as you got too hot running out on the ice, and you always hoped you put enough padding on the bottom if you took a hard fall on the ice), and lacing up some old tennis shoes with no grip, we drove over to Minneapolis to our assigned rink. The Intramural department supplied a waxed coated broom or an actual molded stick intended for the game, and we did our best running around hitting the little ball away from your goal and towards the goal at the other end without falling down too much and bruising our bottoms.

Circa 2001with Beta Boy "Snot"

J also remembers growing up and heading to his best buds house where they would take a hose and "ice" down the top layer of their pond to smooth out the ripples making it easier for them to put skates on and play some pick up games. He also was a Beta Boy and played broom ball with us in college even though he didn't attend the U of M...but no one needs to know that ;) 

He was also super excited to take the boys ice skating this summer and seeing if they would enjoy it as much as we did growing up. Irony is that we were in Texas...in Dallas to be exact...so maybe the Stars were on to something after all.

When I signed the boys up for soccer this past fall all the parents were talking about was how they couldn't wait for floor hockey season to start. Having been involved with 2 other youth centers, we had never heard of it being offered before and the boys were super interested. So this past February we loaded up the boys and headed to Play it Again Sports, picked out sticks and helmets, and took them to hockey practice. This past month the have been having games and having a blast.

M being goalie, he doesn't wear his glasses...so he has some depth perception problems...but overall he has been able to stop most of the pucks coming at him.

M center waiting for the puck.

M with the puck, he seems to be getting the idea.

M playing some offense.

J is also enjoying floor hockey and actually scored a point in a game before M did ;)

J playing some offense.

N can't wait to join them next year! The minimum age to play youth sport through the Youth Center is 5, so next fall! We had to get him a stick so that he can play with them when they play street hockey in front of the house.