Shocking Images from the Brick Invitational

I don't usually do current event "hot takes" on here...but this greeted me on my Facebook feed bright and early this morning and floored me.

The Brick Invitational is currently going on up in Edmonton -- for those that aren't familiar with it, I've talked about it a bunch of times on here.

Short version -- it's billed itself as the best squirt tournament in the world. Stacked rosters, top echelon players all around.

That's the agreed upon narrative. It's a pretty big deal in the realm of youth hockey.

So here's what was on my phone this morning:

See anything...unusual?

I sure do.

Top echelon 10-year olds should NOT have dad tying their skates for them.

No way. Never.

I'm afraid to scroll through the rest of the photos and potentially see wheelie bags too.

Good grief...

Save the hate mail -- I don't need it. Been there, done that with the Brick experience.

I know how it works, three times over...

You can claim I'm just a bitter parent of a player that got "cut"...but that isn't the case at all.

Not that I could convince anyone still "in the moment" of that, though! Ha! 😉

Anyway, for any of those 10 year olds getting their skates tied by a parent...best of luck in the years to come.

Or, more accurately, next season.

Your locker room experience is going to be awkward when teammates, that you've been conditioned to look down upon, are far more self sufficient off the ice...and will soon be too, on the ice.

Off ice stuff matters too. I can hear parents saying, "Oh, who cares if Doug can tie his own skates...he still scores the most goals."

You might think it's all about on-ice talent or skill...but it's not.

Parents -- I'm not trying to be judgey or preach but by second year squirt, your role should simply be a driver, cheerleader, and financer. That's it.

Don't tie their skates.

Don't help them get dressed.

Don't carry their bag.

Don't tape their sticks.

And, most definitely, not at the highest levels of youth hockey.

Okay, maybe I am being judgey...

But you should get your players used to it -- in another year or two, if they're still at that "Brick" level from the skill perspective, they'll be judged on EVERYTHING when they're at the rink.

Yep, even their behaviour in the lobby...

It's called evaluation.

It's constant, it's tiring, and it's stressful.

But that's where the more mature, independent, players leap frog the Brick kids.

It's a slap in the face. The players have to want it...

Reality stings, sometimes.

Agree? Disagree? Let me know -- I love the feedback from all angles!

Chris Rutsch

Hockey Dad

Year round, I spend a significant amount of time and money transporting my three boys to and from freezing cold ice rinks. Not because I expect them to make it to the NHL but because I know the rigorous youth hockey experience will serve them well in the future.