Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1546063
22 // SUMMER 2026 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM ILLUSTRATION BY Michael Iver Jacobsen "I remember that in the summer we really slowed down," Duquette said. "It gave me the opportunity to be a kid, to play and have fun. More importantly, it forced me to be bored and figure out how to enter- tain myself." In a world where every moment c a n b e p l a n n e d , b o r e d o m h a s become something we try to avoid. But boredom often sparks creativity. "There were hockey games in the driveway, building forts, swimming in the pool all day, and riding bikes until dark," she continued. "It was the way we created our own adventures." Those memories are a reminder that some of the best parts of child- hood happen between organized activities. Duquette credits hockey for help- ing shape who she became — not because of goals scored or games won, but because of the life lessons the sport taught her. " I a m w h o I a m b e c a u s e o f my experience playing hockey," Duquette said. "Not because of my hockey skill, but because of who it helped me become: hardworking, driven, and a team player. "Kids need time to recover physi- cally and mentally. They need oppor- tunities to play different sports, ride bikes, swim, explore, and simply be kids. Those experiences build ath- leticism, creativity, confidence and resilience in ways that organized practices sometimes can't." Perhaps the greatest benefit of slowing down is what happens when hockey season returns. "Players come back more excited when they've had a chance to miss it," Duquette said. "When hockey is year-round without a break, it can start to feel like an obligation. "A summer filled with other expe- riences gives kids the opportunity to come back refreshed, motivated and genuinely excited to lace up their skates again." So this summer, let childhood take the lead for a while. The ice will be waiting. A n d w h e n f a l l a r r i v e s , o u r kids won't just return to hockey refreshed, they 'll return carrying the memories of a summer well lived, the kind that stays with them long after the final whistle. P H O C K E Y P A R E N T S K N O W how quickly the season takes over. Between practices, games, tourna- ments, early alarms, packed cool- ers, and endless miles on the road, family life can revolve around the rink. Hockey gives our kids com- mitment, resilience, teamwork, and responsibility. But when summer arrives, it offers something many hockey families need just as much: permission to slow down. Former collegiate hockey player, youth hockey coach, and hockey mom Tiffany Duquette understands that balance well. " M y k i d s a r e n ' t t r a v e l i n g f o r hockey yet, but even now, there's always somewhere to go and some- thing to do next," Duquette said. "We live by our schedule. I believe we thrive because of our schedule, but we need the summer to reset and recharge." Summer is a reminder that we're not just hockey families, but we're families who happen to play hockey. For the Duquette family, that bal- ance is intentional. "My husband and I have a goal of half and half. Half of the summer is camps and traveling, and the other half is quiet summer days filled with outdoor play and family-centered time," Duquette said. It's easy to believe more camps, more clinics and more ice time is bet- ter. But sometimes the most valuable thing we can give our children is time. Growing up in the Plattsburgh area, hockey was a hug e part of Duquette's life. She played col- l e g i a t e l y a t S U N Y O s w e g o a n d today serves as the head coach and program coordinator for a youth hockey initiation program for the Midstate Youth Hockey Association in Cicero, New York. A Break From The Rink Might Be Summer's Biggest Win Summer is a reminder that we're not just hockey families, but we're families who happen to play hockey." R I N K RAT BEH I N D T HE G L A SS THE HOCKEY MOM | By Christie Casciano Burns