MIKE'S ICE ADVICE

Spring Hockey is a subject that has had people scratching their heads for years. When my kids were growing up in the GTHL system 20 + years ago did SPRING HOCKEY exist? Of course it did , but not with the same magnitude that is happening today. Because of the Hockey Canada rule changes with the 1/2 ice to full ice depending on age there is a lot more of an appetite for parents to enroll their kids on teams .

Personally, once tryouts for the next season were completed and the teams have been selected we chose not to get involved with SPRING HOCKEY. My rational was that kids need to do something other than ice to allow them to become better athletes. Parents of today’s kids are even more wound up than the parents who made decisions back then. We were part of the very 1st team that went to an Organization, paid them $$ for registration and full control of that team for 1 year.

This allowed our money person to be the coach who dictated the rules, and at the same time scheduling of skill practices where he hired DUSAN KRALIK who in my mind was the best skill instructor in Toronto and area. He worked exclusively for our team, and with the exception of spring break camps which I controlled who came could not work with any team or individual who wanted extra skill development.

Now comes 2026 where everyone seems to think that they have the ability to become not only a skills coach, but also want parents to enroll their kids on these SPRING HOCKEY teams. As in previous posts $$ are the driver of all these people. There is no one person involved in my mind that is actually doing this to help kids better themselves. Sports are supposed to be FUN for the kids not the “WATER COOLER” parents!! Enrolling them onto one of these SPRING HOCKEY programs is not only costly, but to what benefit is it actually creating, other than dragging the kids into a situation where they might want a break from.

Parents need to be OBJECTIVE when it comes to their kids ability. I know this may seem tough as we all LOVE our kids, but I am telling you that a break from the rigor of ice will do the kids the most benefit. Baseball, soccer, tennis, basketball all allow kids to keep their fitness at a certain level for when the summer closes and hockey is around the corner. When their playing careers in Minor Hockey is over, are any of them going to remember what happened in the Spring of 2026.

Not a chance!! One thing for sure will happen is that when it doesn’t go well for the child, parents will lose their minds and say we just wasted a whole bunch of time and $$ in SPRING HOCKEY!! Parents need to stop listening to all the bullshit that is coming from most of these SPRING HOCKEY coaches and consider what their child wants to do, not what we as parents are telling them to do!!

Now , when the summer is starting to close and the new season is about to start then I don’t have a problem putting your child on a sort of preselected team to play in the last couple of summer tournaments as it leads them into the new season. When they get old enough and at the same time have the ability to go play in the CHOWDER CUP in Boston, take it. That is an experience they will remember forever as there is COLLEGE coaches and in some cases scouts looking at the players for further enhancement. I will comment on the BRICK team process in another upcoming post!!

Players in the younger age groups who are playing on a SPRING HOCKEY team in most cases have little to no chance to play at a high level as they get older. These are harsh words, but it’s better to hear them now from someone with experience and absolutely no “SKIN IN THE GAME”

The plain and simple truth hurts, but if parents can think of the kids and not live their lives through their kids eyes, MINOR HOCKEY would become a way better place!!

Hope this helps with a decision that you have to make re your child!!

As always I am giving out truthful information that has come from my past experiences that allowed me to navigate the CRAZY WORLD of Minor Hockey!!

I am also starting as of today going to be answering questions that kids and parents may have and either don’t know who to ask or are afraid to ask as they may be tagged with “DUMB PARENT SYNDROME” . I will be asking people who are interested to e-transfer $25 Can for detailed answers to 3 questions they may have. Of course I am going to be very blunt black and white in my answers so if you get offended easily then please do not ask me for any answers to your questions. I am here to HELP you navigate through tough decisions that as families you may have to make and at the same time not acting as your personal paid advisor who generally won’t say any negative as you are a client to them!!

Once the deposit is made and I have received it, then I will email you saying I received and will await your questions. I will answer the questions within a 12-18 hour window in most cases as I do have to sleep to get my mind ready for what is about to come my way.

To get answers to your questions, please e-transfer $25 Can to

mtanev24@mtanev24

Good Luck!!