Thread: So my son says he wants to play hockey...

Toyota Sports Center has a program where for a $100 deposit they give you 4 weeks of lessons and loan you the equipment for hockey. Great way for him to try it and if he does not like it, there is no cost to you (you get the deposit back when you return the equipment)

Everybody plays in our Kids First introductory program! | Toyota Sports Center

Originally Posted by spjon25

Toyota Sports Center has a program where for a $100 deposit they give you 4 weeks of lessons and loan you the equipment for hockey. Great way for him to try it and if he does not like it, there is no cost to you (you get the deposit back when you return the equipment)

Everybody plays in our Kids First introductory program! | Toyota Sports Center

I was getting skates sharpened at TSC and saw this clinic about a month ago, it looked pretty awesome and though there were a good amount of instructors on the ice, it looked really awesome.

Try to buy used skates for a beginner(youngster) as his feet will out grow the skates often.

The one week camp at TSC is a great idea.

Also, testing your son's committment in roller hockey is not a bad idea. I can't really say the cost is that much less than ice hockey though. Kids go through roller pants pretty quickly. You can only duct tape them so many times. Skates are comparable in price, sticks get worn out way faster than on ice. But the league fees are going to run about $200 - 300 less per season...that is if you can find a roller league.

Start up costs aren't as bad as you'd expect. Go to Hockey Giant and let one of the guys there know you want to suit your kid up for a good price. They are really good about not trying to sell you higher end gear that a kid starting out doesn't really need. You don't need high end anything to start out. At your sons age, he doesn't need a real stiff boot on his skate because you'll be lacing them up for him and dads get them nice and tight. All the gear meets USA Hockey safety requirements, so don't be convinced to spend $80 on pants when you can get them for $30.

For an 8 year old, skating lessons are a good idea, but if hockey tryouts are before there's a skating class available, I wouldn't turn your son away. Unless you put him on the ice and he just can't move, he'll probably pick it up on his own. If you get him in your local in house league, he won't be the only Squirt who hasn't mastered skating. IMO, if you take him to free skate, or gear him up and take him to stick time to skate around, he'll be ready for Squirt.

In house leagues run anywhere from $500 to $800 depending on the rink. Someone mentioned using a wood stick instead of composite. I haven't found there'd be much cost benefit to getting a wood stick. You can get composite sticks that are not that much more than a wood stick. They're much lighter for the little guys. There's no reason to spend hundreds of dollars on a stick for in house hockey. Save that for club/travel hockey later. Then be prepared to give up your weekends, wake up before the sun comes up, freeze your butt of in ice rinks at all hours of the morning and kiss your money goodbye. But its all totally worth it and an amazing experience to share with your kid.

A smaller and I believe cheaper rink is CIe Chalet in Palos Verdes. I play in a league there and it is a family oriented type of place. They have a Father/Son pick up once a year

Palos Verdes Ice Chalet

Originally Posted by Hipcheck

My advice....

Next-I would start with roller hockey. The Investment is going to be peanuts compared to Ice not to mention he can practice in the driveway. If he tries and gets bored your not out the dough you would be with Ice hockey.

this is what i would do too if my son wanted to try out hockey. initial investment is key. kids change their minds so quick, so if he doesn't want to play anymore or it's not the cool thing to do anymore, you didn't waste too much money. if he ends up loving it, then i would move him on to ice. most of the gear will work on ice anyways so it's not like you'll be buying another set of gear for him.

this is the same way i started. actually it was because i was too poor to afford ice. i played roller until i finished college and got a full time job. then i went to ice and will never go back haha.

Originally Posted by Annapurna

You can save money buying used equipment. Try Play It Again Sports. These kids grow out of their gear so fast that you can get some hardly used stuff.

Bay Harbor offers classes and has a great youth hockey program.

if youre in the area, bay harbor problem has one of the best youth hockey programs in southern california. i came up through it as well as everyone ive played with my whole life. nhl'ers include richard park & john grahame as well as vic venasky being a coach there.

THE BAY HARBOR REDWINGS - THE SKATING EDGE ICE ARENA

i HIGHLY recommend bay harbor if youre close enough.

Originally Posted by ianmonsta

if youre in the area, bay harbor problem has one of the best youth hockey programs in southern california. i came up through it as well as everyone ive played with my whole life. nhl'ers include richard park & john grahame as well as vic venasky being a coach there.

THE BAY HARBOR REDWINGS - THE SKATING EDGE ICE ARENA

i HIGHLY recommend bay harbor if youre close enough.

ianmonsta,

Your assessment of Bay Harbor would have been very true 10 years ago, but unfortunately they are struggling pretty bad to maintain a club these days and only have about 3 teams I believe. Plus the rink is in rough shape...They seem as though they are going to suffer the same fate as Marina Cities...