Featured Blog: Busting Youth Hockey Myth #9-Not as Much Travel as You Fear!

School buses are practicing their routes, the leaves are beginning to turn and the State Fair is here. All signs that summer are coming to a conclusion and that winter will soon be here. The Roseville Area Hockey Association will be holding its annual registration on Sunday Sept. 9 from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. and Monday September 10 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.  The event will happen in the Olympic room of the Roseville Ice Arena. More detailed information can be found at ww.rosevillehockey.org.

There is little in life quite as rewarding as introducing a kid to something they
will love for the rest of their lives. Hockey is one of those joys. 

But as a board member, and as a parent that has always been approachable, I hear a lot of questions about hockey – “Why should their kid sign up, what is the cost” etc.  I have learned that there is one consistent – there is a lot of misinformation about youth hockey. In the days leading to registration, I will list and debunk the top 10 myths of youth hockey.

Hockey is a great sport. Don’t let bad information keep you from enjoying it!

Today’s myth “#9: I will have to drive all over the state. And where the heck is Roseau anyway?

Horse feathers! Mite players get most of their ice time in Roseville, either inside in the arena, or outside on the John Rose Oval. Our secondary rink is Oscar Johnson Arena, which is on Energy Park Drive just east of Snelling Ave. So for the first several years of hockey, you will not have to go much further than the Minnesota State Fair.

As the kids get older, they will play in District 2 of Minnesota hockey.  Members of D2 include North St. Paul, Highland, White Bear Lake, Forest Lake, Stillwater and Mahtomedi and North St. Paul.  At a few levels some of the western Wisconsin teams will play in the D2 schedule. Most of your travel at this level will keep you in or near Ramsey County.

By the way Roseau (which sounds a lot like Roseville) is in the northwest corner
of the state, not far from the Canadian border. There are about seven hundred families there, they work at the Polaris factory and when they are not working they play hockey.

Driving to and from the rink is a great time to talk to your kids (even if it is a short trip). Make the most of it. It will not be too long, and you will be wishing
for some quality time to chat with your little one!