My son turned two in February and I would obviously like for him to start skating and playing hockey. He actually handles the toy stick that I got him pretty good.

At what age is the right age to start skating?What age do leagues start at?

I know its still early and he is still young but he has to get ready for his draft year 2023.

I know you hear the stories about Wayne Gretzky, when he was skating in the backyard at 2 years old. I obviously wont push him to play hockey, however I like to get him started , and if he enjoys it great, if not we can teach him how to throw a curve ball....lol

This is a semi serious post so please spare the "he is already better than half the Leafs jokes"


thanks

A lot of (most, probably) kids get started in formal leagues at 3-4 years old. Obviously, at that age it's mainly just learning to skate by pushing chairs around the ice and learning the bare basics of the game, but if you try to have your son *start* getting into hockey at 6 or 7 years old (especially in Ontario), I think you'll find that he'll be significantly behind the 8 ball.

Kids need to be pushed into activities, there's nothing wrong with that. If you give them the choice they'll choose TV and Playstation every time.

I was almost a hockey stepparent once upon a time, and my almost stepson started playing when he was 4. By age 8 he had a solid understanding of the game and was playing regularly in tournaments at the Midget Travel level. I don't know how he's doing now (he'd be about 10-11 at this point) but he was good. Get your son started young

GL

Some good advice..When my son is draft eligible in 2023 , Sidney crosby will be 37 years old and at the tail end of his career...Maybe they will play together..

how funny would that be..

"He is already better than 3/4 of the Leafs!" Better? I'm sure you know the year you can draft him in the AHL too, huh?

Ok, now the serious part...
I would say the age is child to child. There is no for sure statement that can be made saying "start them skating at 2". How physically developed they are at a certain age is the #1 factor. He might be ready now...or might be another year.

Youngest age division in minor hockey is Mite which is ages 4-6 although every league is a bit different.

don't ya just love Timbit hockey!

It's awesome! I love how most of them have no interest whatsoever in the puck. It reminds me of a lot of the Mapl....nevermind.


Anyway, my son will be 3 in August and I have yet to put him on skates. I plan on teaching him to skate after he turns 3. That's the same age I introduced my daughter to skating. IMO, the age is not as important (I started skating at 4) as how you go about it. Don't shove it down their throat and make it fun and realize that the chances of them making a living playing hockey are very slim.


Crosby to Bogosyan to McCarthy....he scores! The Habs win!

Yeah I agree with you...I will let him play everything hockey,baseball, soccer , karate..whatever he wants...he will do what he enjoys and has fun with..

How funny would that be if that was an actual goal...It would be so hard for me if Adrian played for the Habs...But I guess a lot of parents of NHLers are faced with that sort of thing...

If Iam not mistaken you start off in squirts ask how old you have to be. After squirts you start house league, most house leagues have a "squirts" league.

Serge, you already said the most important thing: you're not going to push him into it. EXPOSE him to it.... take him to the local rink, let him watch kids skate, and let him ask you if he can go skating.... That's what I did with my two year old, and he was on skates by his second birthday. He went a few times, just public skating, and I've never taken him unless he asks to go. I have no delusions about him playing hockey at any level... I just want him to have fun.

On that note: here's my number 1 piece of advice. The world of minor hockey is one of the most diminishing, disgusting, negative atmosphere's you will ever expose your child to. It's a horrible situation, and it's all due to one thing: Parents. Throw the puck on the ice, and the kids are happy. It's the parents that make it miserable. So do ONE thing: go buy a book called 'Who's Puck is is Anyway'. It's written aby a guy named Ed Arnold. Read it, and listen to the message. PARENTS ruin kids at hockey. All kidding aside, I know you want nothing but the best for Adrian... Reading that book will definately help you be the perfect hockey parent....

And, btw... to hell with Crosby, lets wait for yours, Dales, and MY son to play on a line together.... He'll be a grinding checking centre, just like dad....


Good luck...

Thanks gruven...good advice and i will definetely pick up that book...I never understood the mentality of some of these parents that go nuts at hockey games...there have been even cases of assault and murder between parents and coaches...

And Adrian is not a grinding checker..He will break Rick Vaive's record of most goals by a leaf..lol...

Soccer parents aren't much better. In fact, soccer moms can be downright vicious. They scare me

FWIW, my Dad got me skating at 4-5 years old and playing on a team the next year. I don't think it matters when you get your kid into the game, just make sure he really wants to play (which I did when I started). I remember an old teammate of mine in peewee got into the game in his early teens and turned out better than most players on our team because he developed so quickly and had heart. Just my 2 cents.