Skip to main content

Frequently Asked Questions

What equipment does my child need to play hockey?

Full hockey equipment is required for all age groups, including practice socks and a practice jersey. 

This web-site provides valuable information on what equipment your child will need to play hockey.

http://newtohockey.com/hockey-equipment-buying-guide-for-kids/

Game jerseys are supplied, but parents are required to buy game socks and name bars (to be placed on game jerseys).

Are mouthguards mandatory?

Yes.  Hockey Manitoba mandates that all players wear mouth guards at all practices, games and tournaments, including all out of province activities.  There is no exception to the rule, and officials are instructed to remove a player from the game if they are not wearing a mouthguard.

Mouthguards, for the purpose of hockey, can be purchased at a local sports store.  Instructions on how to mould to your child’s mouth will be included.  For the younger players, we recommend buying one that can attach to the helmet, so it will not be lost on the ice when it falls out of their mouth.  Older players prefer mouth guards that do not attach to the helmet.

Does my child need to be able to skate to start hockey?

No.  At the 7U age, coaches will spend the first few weeks working on skating and helping those who aren’t quite skating on their own.  You’d be surprised at how quickly your child will learn to skate on their own – most only take a few weeks!  If, for some reason, your child is not skating on their own a few weeks into the season, or if your child starts late, we ask that someone come out onto the ice until they are skating on their own as the coaches will need to focus on drills with the other players.

Is Roblin Minor Hockey in a league?

Yes, our 9, 11 and 13U are a part of the Parkland Hockey League.  More information on the Parkland Hockey league can be found here: https://www.parklandminorhockey.com/

Our 15U team typically participates in the Parkissimo Hockey league.  More info can be found here: http://parkissimo.ca/

 

Can girls play with Roblin Minor Hockey?

Yes they can and we encourage them to play with us!  We do have a small amount of girls that play in our program, however, most of our players are male.  Many girls choose to play on an all -girls team that is typically based out of Grandview.  Contact us if you need more information.

Is hockey expensive?

If you calculate the actual cost per time that your child is on the ice, it works out to only a few dollars per session.  Our registration fees are low compared to other communities, and considering that they could be on the ice two to five times a week, depending on the age of your child, it is a low-cost sport.  Other costs to consider are equipment costs, but you can typically find used equipment, as well as travel costs to out of town games.  Some teams choose to play at tournaments that require an over-night stay on weekends as well, but that is entirely up to each individual team to decide.

Is hockey a big time commitment?

At the 7U age, you can expect to be at the rink twice a week for practices and away at games and tournaments a few weekends of the season.  The other age groups also practice twice a week, and require a little more commitment on weekends, as most league games are played on the weekend.  Practice is very important and we encourage all teams to schedule all games on weekends.  Depending on what your schedule looks like, you can expect to have free weekends, as well as weekends that are filled with hockey. 

Parkland Minor Hockey is committed to not overloading families with hockey, as we understand that players and families have other interests and too much hockey can lead to burn-out.  Over the last few years, the league has reduced the number of games that a team would have normally played in the past.

Even though it can seem to be a big commitment when your child is in hockey, the benefits usually outweigh the negatives.  A hockey team becomes more than a team, but more of a “family” who spend time together, participating and cheering on young players in one of Canada’s favorite pastimes.  If your family has a passion for the game, you will find that some of your player’s (and yours too!) best memories are made both on and off the ice.

Does my child have to be really competitive to play hockey?

No they don’t, but those who participate in any kind of sport usually have some sort of competitive nature.  Roblin Minor Hockey strives to have a balance between learning the fundamentals of the game and having fun.  At the younger age levels, our organization believes in “fair play” for all so they learn, grow and develop.  At the older age levels, it’s a balance between “fair play” and playing to win so young adults learn to appreciate the value of hard work.