It's a great day for hockey! 2015-2016 Preseason schedule.

Our little Gretzky is getting ready to start his second season of hockey this week!  They've been practicing since late summer, and tryouts were a couple of weeks ago.  This year he's moving up from the "Mite" division to the "Squirt" division.  Quote of the day: "For such an aggressive sport, I have no idea why they use names like 'mite' and 'squirt' to describe the age groups"  - Mike Bickis.

Mites skate on half-ice and play 2-minute shifts of four skaters and one goalie.  The game stops every 2 minutes and the entire line (except the goalie) leaves the ice, replaced by a whole new set of players.  It keeps things moving - nobody gets bored and starts taking off gear on the bench, and they don't get too tired.  For squirts, they move to full ice, which has been a huge transition.  I don't know how many kids are on the ice at one time, or how long their shifts last.  We're still so new to all of this!

At any rate, this week they scheduled a series of preseason games.  These don't count in the season statistics; they're designed to let the coaches and admins figure out which division to place the boys in.  The first game is this coming weekend!   

9/27/15 at 11:45 a.m.  - vs. North Olmsted - Away

10/2/15 at 8:40 p.m. - vs. Rocky River - Home

10/4/15 at 10:00 a.m. - vs. Geauga - Home

10/17/15 at 11:45 a.m. - vs. North Olmsted - Away (we're not playing this game)

10/18/15 at 10:10 a.m. - vs. Winterhurst - Home (don't think we're playing this one, either)

10/24/15 at 4:00 p.m. - vs. Fremont - Away (this is way out yonder toward Toledo/Sandusky. Ugh)

Come if you can.