Carlyle Minor Hockey Awards Banquet

Tonight we attended the Carlyle Minor Hockey awards banquet. The initiation team is just too cute as they go up on stage to accept their trophies. In this age group, rather than giving out Most Dedicated, Most Improved, etc and chance someone getting hurt, every child is named to an award specifically tailored to them.

*****

Ryan making a little speech about how much the kids improved this year.

*****

Graidan was super pumped to get his hardware

*****

Hudson as well

*****

Hudson's award was called Mr Inquisitive and Graidan's was Mr Enforcer.

On the way home from the awards the boys were asking more questions about what their trophies meant. I told them Hudson must ask too many questions and Graidan is pushy.....to be blunt :) Hahaha.

*****

So proud of all of these little guys!!!!

Cannot wait to see you all next season!

Mom's on Skates

As an end of the year kick off, the coaches decided that they boys should play the moms in a game. I was a tad reluctant, as I hadn't been on skates in about 10 years and that was on figure skates opposed to hockey skates, but when the one coach assured me that he still remembers when he played his mom in hockey almost 30 years agoI then realized that this was for the boys and whether I made a fool out of myself or not was not the concern. In the end it was alot of fun and now I am out there skating with the boys rather than sitting in the stands cheering them on!

*****

Group photo of all of the mom's together :)

*****

Both teams all together.....minus Graidan who was being difficult :(

Jr Cougar Home Tournament

This weekend we hosted the initiation team's first ever home tournament. Everyone on the organizing committee deserves a big pat on the back as it turned out awesome! The trophies that each player received were especially adorable!

*****

The team all together at the end of the day.

*****

And a pile up :)

First `DOUBLE-YOU` of the season

The 6 & Unders played in Oxbow tournament this weekend and earned their very first win of the season. It is so great to see how far they have come from their first skate in November when most of them could barely stand up. Ryan came hom from practice last week and said `You know. I love coaching. I am going to coach forever.`I think he can see how far the kids have come and as a coach and mentor that is so rewarding :)

Pre game huddle

*****

The final score

*****

The team all lined up waiting for trophies

*****

Hudson and  Graidan both checking out their hardware

*****

Somebody was tired after all that skating today!!!

:)

Redvers Rockets Hockey Tournament

This is the first tournament of the year for the boys (and I am sure it is the first of many to come). We have never played more than one game in a day with these little guys and by the end of the second game they were dragging ever so slightly.

Graidan playing net

*****

Graidan giving a wave to the crowd :)

*****

First Hockey Game

What an early morning! Today was our first hockey game for the boys. Of course it was at a rink an hour away at 10am! Could be worse. Some of our games are at 9am which means out of the house by 7:30 which means up at 6ish..... Sounds like a lazy weekend morning to me ;)

The boys did not pull out a win but sere super cute to watch. The funniest is the fact that they have never practiced face-offs or game play at any of the practices so for the most part they were not knowing where to go. I was yelling at Hudson from the stands at one point, "Go Hudson! Skate hard buddy!". He stopped dead in his tracks and yelled back "What did you say mom?" I guess that means this new hockey mom is going to have to zip her lips.....who said my boys never listened to me though? Sure proved me wrong ;)

Another time, after Hudson finally figured out where to stand for face-offs, the play was still going and he skated over to the bench to ask "Where do I go now?" He thought he was supposed to be standing somewhere rather than chasing the puck.

Graidan, on the oterh hand, was not feeling very well and in hind sight I likely should have forced him to stay off the ice. He had a lot of trouble standing up today and basically skated around with one hand on his stick the whole time....not in a big hurry at all!

Pre-game cheering on by the coaches and parents in the dressing room as the boys line up to hit the ice

*****

Hudson (#22) takes his first face-off. After the game when we were back at home he told me "That game kinda stressed me out. I never knew where to go. But later, I figured out where the face-offs circle was so that was good." Haha. Sure enough, the little bum went skating hard to take the face-offs after that revelation!

*****

Graidan (#8) playing net....with one hand  on his stick ;)

*****

....and taking the face-offs.....with one hand on his stick ;)

Hudson (#22) on his left.

*****

Hudson back in the net

*****

And SURPRISE! He is taking the face-off again ;)

Graidan is on Hudson's right (you might be able to pick him out by now with the one hand on his stick! lol)

*****

I am so looking forward to the rest of the season with these little guys!

Very First Hockey Practice

Today was the very first hockey practice for the boys. I have to admit, I was a little concerned about putting Graidan in hockey so early at first but knew that he had the drive and ability to excel. I think for being the onlly 3 year old on the ice, he did pretty darn well!

Graidan is in the black Bruins jersey and Hudson is in the navy Oiler's jersey.

Enjoy the sneak peak!

Coach Ryan and Coach Jeff out on the ice with all the munchkins

*****

Somebody needs a shower!

*****

Back on the ice!

This is the first time the boy shave been out on the ice in equipment....ever! I was a little nervous about how they would make out but kids are so resilient, they both powered through like troopers! Can't wait for the season to start boys!

Hockey - here we come!

We thought it was time to try on all the hockey gear and make sure both boys were set for the upcoming season. Graidan wants to put his equipment on every day.