The Gift that Keeps Giving

We are in the midst of last-minute gifting season and at light speed. All our young athletes have likely circled the toy of choice in a magazine, or have asked for the highly sought after, impossible to find gaming system that one of their friends somehow got their hands on months ago. Hockey equipment is also likely on the list of “needs” your son or daughter may have. Of course, it must be the biggest, baddest, most expensive piece of equipment on the market as well. The technology in hockey equipment has come a long way just in the past few years, but with that come the exorbitant price tags to fund the research going into making everything better.

Just because it is expensive, or someone else on the team may have it, doesn’t make it right for your young athlete. At the youngest ages, there really is no piece of equipment that will make an impact on players performance. If the equipment has been well maintained and is in a condition similar to when it was new, it will work just fine. There is a big difference between what an NHL player needs to gain an advantage, then what a 10-year-old may think he or she “needs.” We also must be cognizant that these players are in the middle of a season, and big changes, like new stick curves or flexes, new skates, even new protective gear take some time to get used to and may be uncomfortable in a time where a lot of hockey is being played.

Over the last 2 years, one of the biggest gifts anyone can give is time spent together. Elite Amateur Sports can help you spend more time together in one of the coolest environments on earth. Youth Hockey Tournaments are a great way to both see a new location, and spend quality time with family provides memories that will outlast any hockey stick or skates on the market. Check out our Facebook page to see which tournaments you can join to create memories that last forever.