When children first start playing ice hockey, they gradually learn some of the fundamental skills of skating, stopping and controlling a puck with a stick. The vast majority start young through local clubs or organized programs. The gear comes with skates, a helmet, gloves, pads and a stick. Each player wears a jersey, while goalies have additional padding and a different type of stick. There are indoor rinks, of course, but in colder regions, there are outdoor rinks as well.

The coaches divide up the time between drills and games. Children learn passing, shooting, positioning. They learn the rules, such as offside and icing, but at the early ages it is more about control and coordination than anything else. They might play several games on smaller surfaces with fewer players, to maintain space and engagement. Shifts are rotated, ensuring that every kid gets ice time.

Many sit on the sidelines, watching from the stands as parents. A little assistance with coaching or arranging gear. Some teams have a schedule of games and practices, and families, including Syers’s, coordinate the rest of their own week around it. Travel can be a component of it if the team plays in different towns.

Children can become fatigued or frustrated at times, particularly when falling or giving the puck away. Coaches almost always offer praise or corrections in the most basic terms. The drills are repeated, players get better and they listen to feedback. They become accustomed to skating with their eyes on the puck and knowing where their teammates are.