The Boys of Summer
By Greg Anzelc • Photo courtesy of rbff.org

Summer hockey.

I thought that those involved had gotten nearly as goofy as those guys who set up camp on sidewalks outside of movie theaters for more than a month to make sure they were among the first to see Star Wars. I actually thought that it was goofier, until I saw those same goof balls on TV dressed up as the Star Wars characters and having sword fights out front of the theater.

In the end however, the sword fight between a group of grown men dressed up as R2-D2 and Darth Vader took the cake.

• Also read The Boys of Winter BOOK REVIEW

But still, summer hockey: plain and simple, it’s out of control.

I remember the summers when you played baseball, kick the can, chased the neighborhood girls and bought snow cones for $.50 from the entrepreneurial-minded high school kid who circled the neighborhood on one of those three-wheeled bicycles with the snow cone concession built into the back.

And one week a summer you looked forward to going to summer hockey camp.
Then it was back to playing baseball, kick the can, chasing the neighborhood girls and buying snow cones for $.50 from the entrepreneurial-minded high school kid who circled the neighborhood on one of those three-wheeled bicycles with the snow cone concession built into the back.

No, this isn’t another column about "they way it was" or "the good old days", but rather a simple commentary on how ludicrous it is they way many youth hockey players are spending their summers.

Just the other day I had someone tell me that their player - who just two months ago finished their winter season - was about to finish their spring season. This of course was nothing more than a tune up for the "real season", which according to this parent happens during summer hockey.

’Tis the season when entrepreneurs (perhaps they are the same guys that I bought those snow cones from back in the summer of ’82) put out selective notice to parents of players who have been scouted, touted and identified as a "AAA" caliber players.

For twice the cost of loading up the family truckster to spend ten days with the entire family at Jellystone Park, your player is "invited" to join a team of other players (all of whom have of course been scouted, touted and identified as a "AAA" caliber players) and wear the finest jerseys that can be purchased, and travel to the ends of the North American or abroad in search of the best competition.

In between selecting jerseys, travel plans, game schemes and warm ups, there are of course practices and scrimmages.

In between all of this summer slips away.

And then it’s back to fall hockey. Then winter hockey. Then spring hockey.
This summer outside of the rink in the 78 degree weather, kids will still be playing baseball, riding their bike to the neighborhood pool, golfing or maybe even figuring out a way to get a kiss out of a neighborhood girl. But they aren’t playing hockey. At least not all summer. And I think that’s a good, and healthy, choice.

June 4 – 12 is National Fishing and Boating week; if you are such a puck head that you are challenged to find something to do with your hockey player that doesn’t involve a composite stick, grab a dozen minnows and head to a lake.

Heck, dress up as Star Wars characters and have a sword fight. Just stay away from a rink for a while.

Greg Anzelc is the editor of Minnesota Hockey Journal and can be reached at greg@tpgsports.com.