The Hockey Dad Chronicles: An Indentured Parent's Season on the Rink

by Ed Wenck

The sport of ice hockey is going through a transitional period, losing popularity in the United States even as it gains momentum in other countries. The Hockey Dad Chronicles is the touching and funny story of one season in the youth hockey career of Ed Wenck's son, Oliver, when he played for the Indianapolis Junior Ice. Hockey parents spend an inordinate amount of time and money on their child's sport of choice -- considerably more than soccer, football, or basketball parents dish out. They get their children to the ice rink for 7 a.m. ice time, they travel with them to other states for games every other weekend -- and if they're anything like Ed Wenck, they spend a lot of time sitting in bleachers wondering at the absurdity of it all. As youth hockey grows ever more popular, increasing numbers of parents are seeing their lives taken over by their children's hockey careers. The Hockey Dad Chronicles will be a familiar, amusing, and moving reminder to them -- and to all parents who devote themselves to their children's extracurricular activities, whether they're sports, drama, or dance -- of what it's all about.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Humor, Hockey, Memoir

224 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2005

Reviews

[Lydia E Winters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting much out off this book to be honest. But I've been trying to learn more about hockey and it looked amusing, so I brought it home.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The author had me laughing out loud and wondering where the nearest local kids league was and if they'd let me watch. I was never athletic, so it was a whole subculture I had no clue about.

And I did learn some now about hockey, so yay.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious look into what it takes to be a hockey parent. Had me laughing out loud and turning pages at a fast pace.

[Mark Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!

[KJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The other one of my top 2 favorite books of all time. I've spent the last 11 years in the stands at hockey rinks and this book tells it like it is - laugh-out-loud funny and oh so true.

[Jennye · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some funny moments in this book, but there was a lot of filler too.

[bookreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bemusing litany of travel hockey indignities & frustrations that any youth hockey parent will immediately recognize.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look at the season on the sidelines as a parent of a child involved in league hockey.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious. A must read for any parent of young, budding hockey star