What to bring to the rink to watch hockey

Players are not the only ones who need gear. The stands at a rink are cold, and a day of games is long. Here is what to bring.

Warm layers

• A warm coat, in every season
• A warm hat and gloves
• Warm socks and winter boots
• A layer you can take off in the lobby

Your feet sit on a cold floor for the whole game, so boots matter.

For the seat

• A seat cushion
• A blanket for your lap

Rink bleachers are hard metal or concrete. A cushion makes a long tournament easier on your back.

Food and drink

• A thermos of something hot
• Snacks for little brothers and sisters
• A few dollars in cash for the canteen

Check the rink’s rules before you pack food. Some rinks do not allow outside food or drinks.

For the day

• A charged phone and a small battery pack
• The game times and the rink address
• A book or a quiet toy for younger kids

A tournament can use more than one rink. Check the address for each game.

How to follow the game

You do not need to know the rules to cheer. These few words help.

Offside. An attacking player crossed the other team’s blue line before the puck did. Play stops for a faceoff.

Icing. A player sent the puck from their own side of the center red line past the other team’s goal line, and nobody touched it. Play stops for a faceoff in that team’s own end.

Penalty. A player broke a rule and sits in the penalty box for a set time. Their team plays with one fewer skater while the player sits.

Chirp. Teasing talk between players. Leave the chirps to the players.

Sieve. A goalie who lets in a lot of goals. It is a chirp, and it is the name of this site. Never say it about a real kid in net.

One rule for the stands

Cheer for good plays, from both teams. Leave the calls to the referees. Every player out there is somebody’s kid.