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Don't Get Sucked Into The Drama , Whether it's a hockey rink or the work place, there are those who thrive on drama. Then there are those people who can suck the fun out of a child's birthday party. Or a hockey season. Don't let them. "I try very hard to stay out of the drama. I don't want people to think I'm snotty but I just want to watch the game," says Christien Connell Skowron, a hockey mom and administrator from Pittsburgh. One way to have a positive and enjoyable season is to associate with positive and enjoyable people who share common interests with you. "Trust me on this one," McLaughlin says. "It can become an even longer hockey season if you aren't paired up with the right people." , KEEP IT IN PERSPECTIVE We've heard it time and again that nobody remembers how many games he won when he was a Peewee or how many goals she scored as a Squirt. What they do remember are the good times they had and the friends they made. There's an old adage that says, "Don't judge success by the scoreboard." Parents who treat a house league game in November like the seventh game of the Stanley Cup finals are in for a bumpy ride. "I would remind parents to stay focused on the big picture," says New York hockey dad and coach Frank Colabufo. "Don't live and die with every shift. Try your best to not let your happiness be determined by how well a bunch of 10-year-olds pass the puck on a Saturday morning." HAPPINESS IS A GOOD TEAM MOM You can usually spot them the minute your child is a mini-Mite. And they tend to be the same per- son year after year. A good team mom is as valuable as a 50-goal scorer. They have a knack for jug- gling all of life's challenges, from a full-time job to family responsi- bilities to planning fundraisers and potluck dinners. "My role as a hockey mom, team manager and scheduler has always centered around having a good experience for the players, and it has always worked out great," Colclough says. "Happy players, happy coaches, happy parents help keep the sanity intact over the long haul." Whether you step in to help ease her burden or not, remember to appreciate and thank your team mom. One day it may be you who wears that hat. Take It One Day At A Time LIKE MANY HOCKEY MOMS, Skowron's day planner is just about as easy to read as a full- scale mass transit map for a major metropolitan city. She's got each of her children's activities color coded, but that doesn't make it any easier to cram everything into a 24-hour day. In addition to serving as the registrar for 375 youth teams in Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia, she spends most days playing the role of taxi driver to her twin 14-year-old sons, Nick and Noah. REMEMBER, YOU CAN TAKE IT WITH YOU Forget your child's left skate one time on a long road trip and you'll never do it again. Bill Huba, a hockey dad from Skaneateles, N. Y., learned long ago to go over the entire contents of his child's hockey bag, making sure he has all the right equipment. At the beginning of the season, he also makes sure that everything still fits and is in good condition. In addition, it's not a "I never look at my schedule more than a day in advance, or else I'd drive myself crazy," she says. "If you start looking too far ahead, you'll be overwhelmed by everything you have on your plate." bad idea to travel with a few extra items, such as spare laces and mouth guard, a helmet repair kit, rolls of tapes, towel, stick and jersey. He also brings an entire set of extra clothes, including socks, sneakers and a sweatshirt. ILLUSTRATIONS BY Mike Curti OCTOBER.2012 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM 15