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rink rat ?
Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 7:35 pm
by vulcan2011
Do you think that spending a lot of time playing on a pond or outdoor rink can really help a young player develop their skills? My kid is constantly bugging me to take him outside. Your thoughts appreciated.
Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 7:51 pm
by HockeyGuy81
Yes.
Moving on...
Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 10:24 pm
by drop the puck
Bet you that over half (maybe all) local varsity team spent more time playing hockey outside than inside when they were mite and squirt age. Little homework helps.
Tougher to do at PW and nearly impossible at Bantam if the kids are playing VFW too.
Skate with him. If you can't stick around take turns with a bunch of other parents carpooling them to the outdoor rink. They have more fun if some of their buddies are there too.
Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 11:26 pm
by spin-o-rama
More important than developing his skills, it will develop a love for skating.
Honestly, what are you fishing for with questions like "should I let my kid have fun playing outside?"
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 7:29 am
by old goalie85
You mean FREE ice.
Re: rink rat ?
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:12 am
by black sheep
vulcan2011 wrote:Do you think that spending time playing can really help a player develop their skills?
I think this simplifies the question...in any case the answer is YES.
If they are skating, or shooting pucks, or playing tag...umm having fun...it is good.
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 9:02 am
by Mnhockeys
But not in this cold weather though ...
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 9:45 am
by spin-o-rama
Mnhockeys wrote:But not in this cold weather though ...
Softie!
About 10 below the ice gets too brittle and hard. You can't hold an edge.
High today will be 3. Happy skating!
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 10:26 am
by jBlaze3000
My kids skate outside every chance they get. Sometimes they'll even hit up the rink for a skate around before games. I figure every hour they spend skating outside is worth about $20 in development.
In other words, if you put in 30 hours on the outdoor rinks you'll gain as much as a $600 clinic or AAA or whatever - and it's free!! Just my non-scientific opinion.
Single digits with little wind = we're skating!!
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 11:12 am
by Mnhockeys
Do you stay and watch he skates? He might be ordering pizza, buying pop/candy from the vending machine, staying and playing with his buddies in the warming house until you pick him up.

Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 11:36 am
by jBlaze3000
Mnhockeys wrote:Do you stay and watch he skates? He might be ordering pizza, buying pop/candy from the vending machine, staying and playing with his buddies in the warming house until you pick him up.

Sometimes I skate but I can see the rink from my house. Plus the improvement speaks for itself.
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 11:57 pm
by 3GoonsWest
If the temp. Is above zero=put on the skates and let 'er rip. Below zero=boot hockey. A rink rat is a rink rat, a little weather won't slow them down.
Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 2:22 pm
by jBlaze3000
Minneapolis is keeping their outdoor rinks open until March 6th!
http://www.startribune.com/local/115197 ... EP7eyckcUs

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Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 2:50 pm
by spin-o-rama
That's super news! Hopefully a few more cities will follow suit.
Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 2:51 pm
by B-Ville Hockey Guy
3GoonsWest wrote:If the temp. Is above zero=put on the skates and let 'er rip. Below zero=boot hockey. A rink rat is a rink rat, a little weather won't slow them down.
Old Iron Range trick... Get some of the dried peppers that you put on Pizza an through a bunch in your skates. The sweat from your feet will react with the spice and keep toes warm in -5 degree weather. they work as good as hand warmers in the skates and are not as bulky.
Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 3:19 pm
by MnMade-4-Life
B-Ville Hockey Guy wrote:3GoonsWest wrote:If the temp. Is above zero=put on the skates and let 'er rip. Below zero=boot hockey. A rink rat is a rink rat, a little weather won't slow them down.
Old Iron Range trick... Get some of the dried peppers that you put on Pizza an through a bunch in your skates. The sweat from your feet will react with the spice and keep toes warm in -5 degree weather. they work as good as hand warmers in the skates and are not as bulky.
... be sure to check for any cuts or scrapes first ...
Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 3:40 pm
by jBlaze3000
B-Ville Hockey Guy wrote:3GoonsWest wrote:If the temp. Is above zero=put on the skates and let 'er rip. Below zero=boot hockey. A rink rat is a rink rat, a little weather won't slow them down.
Old Iron Range trick... Get some of the dried peppers that you put on Pizza an through a bunch in your skates. The sweat from your feet will react with the spice and keep toes warm in -5 degree weather. they work as good as hand warmers in the skates and are not as bulky.
Nothing like the smell of feet and peppers after a long day of skating, either.
Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 3:45 pm
by old goalie85
Thats great I never heard of that.