We Salute Hockey Moms

Hockey is about passing the puck and getting goals but it’s the moms who score big by passing time at the rink watching their kids play this icy sport.

We've teamed up with Canadian Tire to salute Hockey Moms across Canada.We asked YMC members to share their most memorable hockey mom moments and their best advice to make your family’s hockey experience the best it can be.

If your kids are hooked on hockey, make it a goal to read these tips and stories by 10 amazing Hockey Moms that will help you survive the season and remind you that hockey is a game with heart.

Christine has one word for Hockey Moms: volunteer!

Christine's Hockey Mom Tip
You’re going to be at the arena so volunteer your time and help out. I have been bench mom/trainer or manager for both my daughters over the past nine seasons. It makes my girls happy and I get to know both the players and parents.

Christine's Memorable Hockey Moment
Two years ago I made a scrapbook for each player on my daughter’s team using pictures I had collected over the season. It was a fair bit of work but the look on their faces the night I gave them out at our end-of-year party was priceless. In turn, the girls on the team had gotten together along with a couple parents and presented the coaches and myself with autographed photos and words of thanks in a beautiful card. It makes all the running around and rushing to arenas worthwhile because we know the difference we make with these girls and how much they love the game.

Kim has a practical tip.

Kim's Hockey Mom Tip
First and foremost, if you have a player in squirts hockey make him or her pee before he or she hits the ice! Even if the children are adamant that they don't have to go, make time for that bathroom break. Otherwise halfway through the first period, you will be running your little hockey star to the bathroom—in full hockey gear. And don’t forget to bring your camera to the rink all the time! You never know when that first goal is going to happen!

Kim's Memorable Hockey Moment
It was the end of a busy hockey weekend. We had played in a tournament on Saturday, and bright and early Sunday morning we were back on the road to play again. The boys were exhausted, and it showed. The whistle blew for a shift change and my son skated out onto the ice, lined up, and started to play—without his stick. He was so tired he had forgotten it. We yelled out from the crowd, "Dylan, where's your stick?" He looked so confused! The coach tossed his stick to him and he was able to play but it was definitely one of the funniest moments of the game!

Erin knows you need to live in the moment.

Erin's Hockey Mom Tip
Although it is a lot of work to balance hockey, work, and home life, enjoy the time. When your kids are older you will all look back and agree that these were some of the best times of your lives.

Erin's Memorable Hockey Moment
My son Colton is five years old and he dedicates each of his goals that he scores in games to family and friends. In one particular game he got a lot of goals. He dedicated each one until he got to the last goal. That’s when he asked me if it was ok to keep a goal for himself. I gave him a big hug and kiss and told him that was the best goal of all.

Mandeep understands how tough it can be for siblings to hang out at the arena for long periods of time.

Mandeep's Hockey Mom Tip
Pack a bag filled with essentials to help siblings pass the time. Fill it with snacks, drinks, crayons, and colouring books, and an extra blanket to keep everyone warm.

Mandeep's Memorable Hockey Moment
I never learned how to skate when I was a kid and as an adult I always had an excuse not to go onto the ice during public skates because I needed to take care of my younger child who wasn’t old enough to skate yet. Finally came the day when my youngest started to skate and I had no more excuses left. I finally laced up and learned. I still can't play tag and my four-year-old can skate circles around me, but the best part of my kids playing hockey is that it taught me a Canadian life skill—skating.

Jenn focuses on the good.

Jenn's Hockey Mom Tip
In our family we focus on positive reinforcement and feedback. No matter how my stepson plays, we always highlight the good things he did during his game. He may have a game where he spends time in the penalty box but in the same game, he may have gotten a goal for his team. I think it's important to tell him we are proud of his goal and teamwork, but also to let him know that he's not a goon off the ice and shouldn't be one on the ice.

Jenn's Memorable Hockey Moment
Every game, I sit in the stands with my stepson's mom. It makes all of the games memorable because we are there as a family cheering him on.

Leslie knows hockey can get expensive.

Leslie's Hockey Mom Tip
We came up with creative fundraising to make my daughter’s participation in hockey more affordable. One year we even sold meat pies and raised enough money to cover her fees for the year.

Leslie's Memorable Hockey Moment
My daughter was only 6 years old when we moved to a French-speaking community in rural Nova Scotia. Jessie faced a lot—learning a new language so she could communicate with classmates and neighbours, a new house, a new community.

She saw a poster advertising the town's first-ever girls hockey league decided to sign up. She was, by far, the smallest girl on the team, and didn't always understand the coaches’ instructions when he forgot her French was limited. In the beginning she felt like an outsider, but that diminished with each practice, as her teammates saw how hard she tried.

The first game of the season, the score was tied 1-1 with 5 minutes left to play. Jessie was in perfect position to receive a pass. She received it at mid-chest, the puck slid down into the material of her over-sized jersey. She hurled herself towards the net as she tried with her glove to dislodge the puck from the folds and rolls of the jersey. With a metre to go, the puck dropped out in front of her, Jessie whacked at it with her stick, and somehow the puck slid into the net.

Jessie learned a new French word that day, one that she clearly understood. Bravo!

Although Jessie was never one of the team's outstanding stars, she belonged. Working with teammates towards a common goal helped her make friends, gain confidence, and integrate her into a community she came to love.

Maria wants you to remember your kids are playing for fun.

Maria's Hockey Mom Tip
Don't pressure the kids to do better, let them enjoy the game. If it is their goal to make the NHL then they will strive to do their best.

Maria's Memorable Hockey Moment
I have three special needs boys who started hockey late. They had never even been on the ice until their first year in hockey and fell often much to the chagrin of their team. After about 20 games played, the twins charged out of their dressing room beaming and excited. I was sure they would feel dejected after a particularly sound beating from the opposing team. I asked what they were so happy about, and they both answered at the same time, "We didn't fall once!!" It was then I realized that their personal triumphs outweighed their team’s expectations and that I had been so focused on winning the game I did not even notice they had not fallen. It was a valuable lesson—I will take whatever comes as long as my boys are having fun.

Marlene is practical and organized.

Marlene's Hockey Mom Tip
Buy an equipment tree and remind your children to hang up their equipment after every practice or game. It only takes a few minutes, but is important for the equipment (and the noses of those of us who have the equipment in our vehicle!)

Marlene's Memorable Hockey Moment
My son's pee wee team had an opportunity to play in a tournament in Europe. It was a huge fundraising task, but well worth it. We had planned the trip for my son and me—we couldn’t afford to go as a family. But after we got on the plane, my sister offered to take care of the other kids so my husband could come too. Our team won the tournament against some very good European teams and we were so excited we could both be there to experience this with our son. When we flew back to Calgary, the team was met by hockey legend Lanny McDonald. It was an experience that we will never forget!

Krista has a great way to document your child’s game.

Krista's Hockey Mom Tip
I get my 8-year-old son to print out one word that describes how he felt about each game or tournament he plays in. I have been scrapbooking these little slips along with his action photos. He loves it and it's almost like he is writing his own hockey story.

Krista's Memorable Hockey Moment
Just last weekend my 8-year-old had his first turn as goalie in his home Novice tournament. His team lost 17-2! As I was watching from the stands, my heart was breaking for him and his whole little team. But it was all brought back into perspective as they stepped off the ice and all they could talk about what how they had all done the "Gangnam Style" dance in between plays and that Nolan looked "awesome" in the team photo from the end of the game because he was laying in front of all of them "just like the NHL guys when they win the Stanley Cup!” You couldn't wipe the smiles off their faces and you would never guess that they were the losing team. My heartbreak quickly turned to pride for my son and his beautiful good sport team!!

Sabrina knows how to fuel her hockey player.

Sabrina's Hockey Mom Tip
My son doesn't like to eat as soon as he gets up so before an early morning practice we hit the Tim Hortons Drive Thru for bagels and water. By grabbing a bagel to go he gets a bit of fuel before practice and can have a good breakfast once he’s off the ice.

Sabrina's Memorable Hockey Moment
This was my first year as manager for my 7-year-old son's hockey team. One day after practice, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed trying to organize a fundraiser, figure out our goalie schedule, and register for our tournaments. One of the boys on the team noticed me sitting on the bench with my trusty binder open on my lap starring off into space. He came over, gave me a big hug and told me that I was doing a great job and was a good team player. Those kind words turned my day around and made me realize why I volunteer. Sometimes kids teach us adults a thing or two.