Pee Wees: Confessions of a Hockey Parent

Journalist Cohen writes about his own firsthand experiences in the competitive world of youth sports as the father of a young hockey player in Connecticut. Cohen, a former hockey player himself, chronicles the fortunes of his son Micah as he accompanies him “on the road” from April tryouts to the State competition the following March. The youth hockey season consists of 50 games that ends in a state tournament. Getting on a team is extremely competitive; approximately 200 young adults go to tryouts, and only 70 will be offered a spot on the team. Cohen discusses how the status of a parent in the group depends of the performance of their children (“when your kid excels, you are treated better”). He also recounts his attendance at a mandatory counseling session for hockey parents, where they are strongly advised not to curse in the stands, heckle or challenge referees, or accept cash gifts, among others. The losses and wins are vividly recounted along with the camaraderie of teammates and their parents—as well as disputes, rivalries, and jealousies.