First Shift families.
We're so excited that your children are about to take their First Shift!
Lots of details below, please take time to review.
On-ice sessions begin next weekend:
Saturday, November 30, 11:30 am
Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre - Rink 3
254 North Park Street, Brantford
Full calendar -
https://brantfordminorhockey.com/Teams/5492/Calendar/Prior to our first skate, we will be at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre on Wednesday, November 27, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. We will be in the Tournament room, in the lobby outside of Rink 2 (across from Rink 3). Look for 99ers banners and First Shift logos. We can conduct tours of the rink so your experience on Day 1 is more comfortable. We can assist with cutting and taping sticks, and families can pick up equipment that we had to order. This isn't mandatory, but we had a good turnout last year and I'd like to offer the experience again.
Key points regarding your equipment.
Names on equipment - If you haven't done this already, please write your child's name on each piece of their equipment (and stick). We just fit 45 kids in the exact same brand and models of equipment, so we want to make sure you know what equipment is yours. Names on sticks too please.
Skates - Get your skates sharpened! They are not hockey ready out of the box. We recommend getting skates sharpened at sports or hockey specialists like your local Source for Sports (College Source for Sports in Brantford), Sports Excellence (Brant Sports Excellence in Brantford), or Sport Chek. Let them know they are brand new.
Try the equipment on before next Saturday - Saturday will be a busy and hectic launch to your child's hockey experience. We highly recommend trying on the equipment this week, prior to coming to the rink. The more comfortable your family is with the gear, the better things will go this weekend. Please double check that you have everything in your bag, before heading to the rink.
Stick - Most sticks will need to be cut to a comfortable length for the player. Melissa and Nathan marked your sticks to show you where they can be cut. If you need help with this, we can cut sticks for you. Hockey tape is available at local sports stores, Canadian Tire, or College Sports at the Gretzky Centre. This is the tape that is available in different colours (not clear tape).
Following are a couple of videos to help you get ready for our first on-ice session.
1. How to dress your child for hockey -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQYJJyQ3w3s&feature=youtu.be
2. How to tape your stick -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFTNVTW7O0w&feature=youtu.be
COACH ROB'S TIP - If you cut your stick (or if you don't) please keep the plastic "plug" in the end of the stick. Before taping the stick, tear off a small piece of tape and tape over the plug, so it doesn't fall out. We find that these often fall out if they aren't fastened to the stick.
If you have any questions, please reach out to me via email at
[email protected] or by cell/text at 905-979-4705.
Coach Rob