We are nearing the end of our tournaments for this Ice season. It is bitter sweet.
This was our first year experiencing Ice hockey with our son. He started roller hockey in 2021 and took to it very quickly. We have traveled quite a bit for roller- Michigan, Tennessee, Florida and have loved every part of it…. For the most part. – As I’m sure most of you know traveling with an infant or a toddler is never that enjoyable. Our youngest is a year and a half, and let’s just say terrible two’s have hit early. Going any where recently has been a challenge on it’s own.
Fast forward to our most recent tournament- in Ohio…. Outside of expecting the tantrums, restless car rides, and lack of EVER being still…. Let’s go to one of the most boring tournaments possible! Now, to be fair, the previous tournament we went to was in Wisconsin at the Dell- Kalahari and it was amazing there! I cannot say enough about the Kalahari Resort and all it has to offer, but that will be a post of its own. Buuuut…. That is what our most recent experience was. So, for the next trip to be in the outskirts of Miami, Ohio, there was not much to expect. This trip was strictly Rink and hotel with no fun in between. This makes it even harder for the siblings that are there to support, but not play. They are lucky to get one night of swimming at what seems like the worlds smallest swimming pool. So, when we do get a couple of hours to grab dinner with the team, it is something to be excited about….. except no, the baby says NOPE to that. You try with every strand of your being to be able to sit at the table and ignore the tantrums and try to muddle your way through dinner, but all you can think of is if you’re ruining dinner for everyone else around you. So, you shove what food you can down your throat, pack up the screaming toddler, and head to the car to sit for the next 30mins while everyone else enjoys their food. Now, this would have all been worth it if the tournament was even half way organized, but why should you expect that?! I mean you typically spend money on tournaments to show up to a rink that is literally FALLING over, right? I wish I was joking, but this place had the rink walls literally leaning away from the rink into the walking area, a door that did not stay shut to the rink, and glass that was nearly impossible to see through. To date, this was, I believe the only tournament that I could not leave from fast enough. Hopeful for better tournaments in the future!