Okay, here’s my story about the “Little Bruins Hockey” experience:
So, I heard that the Little Bruins Learn to Play program was opening up registrations again. I have a little guy who’s been itching to get on the ice, and I figured this would be a perfect opportunity. I jumped online and saw that early registration was limited to 30 spots, man, I didn’t want to miss out!
Getting Registered
I found the registration page and started filling out all the info. It looked like most of the sessions were on Saturday mornings at the Graf Rink in Newburyport, MA, which worked out pretty well for us. The dates were from October 5th to October 26th, just a few sessions to get the kids going. I got my son, who is 6, all signed up. The program says it’s for kids aged 5-9, so he fit right in.
The Gear
- Helmet
- Shoulder pads
- Elbow pads
- Gloves
- Hockey pants
- Shin guards
- Skates
- Stick
- Jersey
Now, here’s the kicker that really sold me on this: they provide a full set of equipment for the kids to keep! I mean, that’s a huge deal. I priced it out, and it’s like $550 worth of gear. Helmet, shoulder pads, skates, the whole nine yards. That alone made it worth it, especially since I wasn’t sure if he would stick with hockey long term.
Hitting the Ice
The first session rolled around, and my little guy was so excited. We got to the rink, and there were kids everywhere, all getting suited up in their new Bruins gear. It was organized chaos, but the coaches did a great job getting everyone sorted. My son stepped onto the ice, a little wobbly at first, but he was grinning from ear to ear.
They started with some basic skating drills, teaching the kids how to balance and move around. Then they moved on to stickhandling and passing. My son was having a blast, and I could see his confidence growing with each session. He even made a few friends, which was great.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Little Bruins program was a fantastic experience. It was well-organized, the coaches were great with the kids, and the free gear was a huge bonus. My son loved it, and now he’s hooked on hockey. I’d definitely recommend it to any parent looking to get their kid started in the sport. It’s a great way to learn the fundamentals, make some friends, and have a ton of fun.
