Hockey: Who's Dream Is It Anyways?
Written by Brian van Vliet - Apr 16, 2009 (As Seen In Hockey Now)

“He’s just living the dream vicariously through his kids”.  This phrase comes in many variations and is used by a lot of people throughout the hockey community.  It has become a catch phrase of sorts.  I’m willing to bet that most people who use it don’t really know what it means.  They heard it somewhere and thought it sounded cool.  “That guy doesn’t like the coach; he must be living his dream through his kid.” “Don’t like your association’s evaluation system and you complain about it? You must be living your dream through your kid.”  Argue with a ref at a rink?  You get the picture…

So according to the powers that be, any parent or even some coaches who are perceived to be “over the top” about their kid’s hockey, must and I mean MUST, be living their life through their kid.  What a ridiculous notion!

A majority of us hockey parents are the most dedicated, caring people on the planet.  We spend hundreds of hours. . . Full Story

Spring Hockey Has Plenty of Merit
Written by Brian van Vliet - Mar 28, 2009 (As Seen In Hockey Now)

So often we hear ex players; many who played extremely high levels of hockey say, “When I was young I did other sports in the summer.  Once hockey season ended I never touched the ice again until late August.”  Well as Bob Dylan once said “The times they are a changin’.” Although some time away from the sport in the summer months is essential, the explosion of Spring hockey over the last decade has been a factor in how the game is played at all levels today.  Many years ago, spring hockey started out as something a few elite kids did over the summer months.  Teams consisting of top players were formed and they went seeking out opposition of equal talent. Tournaments were played and the best players just kept getting better. 

Spring hockey has evolved ten fold since then.  Nowadays, you have elite teams, semi elite teams, development teams, 3 on 3 leagues and the list goes on.  For many, hockey is now a 10 to 11 month sport.  At the elite level, teams are built for. . . Full Story