Hockey Lessons

Sometime soon after we moved here I got an email about a hockey opportunity for kids ages 4 to 8. It's called the First Shift program where kids with no experience can join and learn how to skate and become familiar with hockey. The cost is only $50 and that include every single hockey equipment, four learning lessons led by FYHA coaches, high school, Freeze, and Fargo Force athletes, plus four tickets to a Fargo Force hockey game which we went to over the weekend. Since we had two kids signed up we got a total of eight tickets. The cost for this program was too good to pass up. The program director even told me that Addie could join as well if she wanted to but she didn't want to. I couldn't believe all the equipment needed to dress each hockey player and I'm so glad that it was all included in the price. The duffle bag alone that we got cost more than the total price for the whole program. It was such a sweet deal. We fully planned on having the boys continue with their hockey journey once these four lessons were up until we found out the price for them to continue on. It was close to $1,000 for both boys to play. Granted it does last for five months so maybe I should factor that into the cost but wow that seems like a lot. All the games are also played on Sundays and we're not sure how to quite navigate that right now. The lessons are now done and the boys were able to keep everything but instead of signing them up for more hockey at this time we've decided to let them join Addie in her beginner ice skating lessons that start this weekend. Luckily there were still openings in her time slot and now all three will be able to learn the basics of skating and if the boys still want to play hockey in the future they'll have the skills to get them going. All in all I'm so glad they were able to do this. They had so much fun and watching them out there improve with each lesson was my favorite part of it all. Also they look so cute in all their gear.

Day 1: Of course I took as many pictures as I could on their first day. These are only a few of them. They started off with some ice aides to help them get going. By the middle of their first lesson Grant decided he wanted to do it without any help. I was so proud of him. Really of both of them. Watching Grant skate on his own was adorable. There was a bit of falling but he got up every single time and skated again.

Sweaty but happy boys.

Day 2: After seeing that Grant stopping using any help last lesson Hudson decided that he also can do the same. Once he decided to put a stick in his hand he took off. He made such a huge improvement from just one practice. It was so awesome to witness that. He had so much fun chasing a ball around with his stick trying to score. He used his stick as way to help him balance as well. Meanwhile Grant found fun in being spun around by his trainer for the evening. He would hold her hands while she glided with him. Eventually he also tried skating with his stick but found that to be a little difficult so he let that go and practiced more on just skating with no help.

Saying hi to Rylee.

Quinn had a stubborn moment where she threw a fit over us telling her she should wear something warmer. In the end she managed to get her way. Thankfully she understood that that would be the last time she would get to wear her 'princess' clothes to the hockey lessons. It's not very warm in the arena but she didn't care about that all.

Day 3: Both boys used their stick this time and they even skated together at the end of this lesson as they played near a goal net. Usually they end up in different ends of the rink and I find myself walking back and forth from one end to the other trying to watch as much as I can of both of them. Once again they improved even more since day one.

Day 4: Hudson was so excited that the whole Fargo Force team was here this day. He stayed as close to them the whole time. It's a little sad that it's all done but we're excited to continue to improve on the ice and even take their hockey sticks and maybe even play a family game later this winter when the outside rinks freeze over.