The new Downtown Square has become our second home on the weekends. They have open shinny where anyone who wants to can play hockey. They even have jerseys that they bring out so they can split up into 2 teams and play against each other. There are men in their 40's-50's all the way down to a 4 year old who is a mini mite for the Thunder. It's really neat to see them all play together, and Tyson is by no means intimidated by the "big guys"...nope..he gets right in there and doesn't shy down from going after the puck!
Dad and Tyson warming up before they start the game.
The first time we went to shinny Tyson wasn't wearing any pads. He unfortunately played as if he was, though, so we quickly learned that shin/elbow pads, breezers and his helmet are a must. His legs were one big bruise from his knees to his toes after that first shinny...like I said...get that boy on ice and he is a "monster"
Tyson has become good buddies with Landon (one of his team mates from the Thunder), and he just happens to have a little brother just a few months older than Aiden. His name is Parker, and these two have a ton of fun together. Every practice and game when their brothers are out on the ice playing hockey, these 2 are usually going up and down the bleachers playing tag, running up and down the hall, and sharing their many "treats" with each other. The same is true when we go to shinny. The last couple of weekends they have been able to go too, and these boys make up all sorts of games to play...off of the ice.
Scott and Landon and Parker's Dad in the white sweatshirt (Mike).
Time to get out the jerseys and divide into teams...
Scott, Mike, Tyson, and Landon made sure and all put on orange jerseys so they could play on the same team.
The little guy in the middle is the 4 y/o that was there that day. He kept right up with the "big kids". It is so great for the young boys to work on not only their skating but teamwork and communicating with each other on the ice..all the while having a ton of fun!
Check on Tyson on defense!
It was around 50 degrees this particular day, so there were a lot of people out on the ice, but surprisingly, it worked out really well. Tyson and Dad both found the back of the net a few times I believe! YAY!!
These two keep busy doing their own thing and entertaining each other.
After the game, the 2 little guys got to go help pick up pucks off the ice so they could Zam it before Open Skate.
I'm not sure who was more exhausted...well...I maybe could take a guess! :) Tyson still had some energy and insisted on skating some more during the open skate...about an hour...this after he had been playing hockey straight for 2 hours! He's a machine when it comes to playing hockey!
The clean up crew still working to clean up all the ice/muddy water. It was a tough job but someone had to do it! :)
