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ILLUSTRATION BY Michael Iver Jacobsen THE JOURNEY OF A HOCKEY PARENT can feel like an emotional marathon and it's easy to lose sight of one key truth: this is supposed to be fun! Like the mysteriously missing shin guard, sometimes joy can be tangled up and hidden away at the bottom of the hockey bag. Hockey parents are notorious for wearing the seasonal chaos like badges of honor, but the part we don't talk about enough is the weight of it all. The early ice times, road trip logistics and endless piles of laundry carry a huge burden of responsibility. H o c k e y p a r e n t s L e e E l i a s a n d M i k e Bonelli recognize the toll this sport can take on families. We know hockey fills up the fridge calendar, what's less obvious is how quickly it fills up the emotional calendar. "It's what every hockey parent feels, but rarely says aloud," said Elias. "There's a men- tal load that comes with this sport. It's not just schedules and carpools — it's managing your child's confidence, nerves and burnout while keeping your own stress in check." Bonelli added, "The financial investment can add pressure too. When you're spending (money) each season, you want to see "returns"—and that mind- set can create unneces- sary anxiety." The real return on investment (ROI) isn't on the stat sheet, the ROI should be measured in life lessons and joy. We often talk about measuring these things for the kids, but why not apply them to the parents too? Keep Expectations Realistic: Teach your kids to use a planner or a digital calendar. Break down big assignments into smaller, manage- able chunks. This makes a huge difference and helps prevent that last-minute scramble. Family First: This is probably the most cru- cial thing. A well-rested child is a more focused child, both in the class- room and on the ice. Community, Compassion and Connection: We only see the versions of the other hockey families at the rink, so it can be easy to forget about the fact that everyone has lives outside of it too. Helping each other through illness- es, sharing rides or simply checking in can make a big difference. If you want a positive environment, create one. All of the lessons we preach to our kids also apply to us as parents. We don't expect them to be perfect in every game, so give yourself some grace too. Focus on effort and attitude, but know that mistakes happen. Life gets in the way. One day the house will be quiet, the weekends will be free, and you'll be caught up on the laundry and if you did it right, you'll be wishing you could go back. P Christie Casciano Burns is the author of the new book, Trophy Thief Mystery, the third in the Puck Hog Series. The Weight Of Being A Hockey Parent R I N K RAT BEH I N D T HE G L A SS THE HOCKEY MOM | By Christie Casciano Burns It's an emotional marathon, not just a season." 12 // MARCH 2026 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM