The Anti-Hockey Dad Hockey Dad; The Mind of Michael

Angela is out of town this week, so Michael takes over the microphone for a solo episode that dives into his unique journey as a youth hockey parent. Unlike many sports dads, Michael didn't grow up playing hockey, following hockey, or really excelling at sports at all. In fact, he admits that becoming a hockey dad was never part of the plan.Michael reflects on what it's like entering the youth hockey world as a complete outsider and how he's learned the unwritten rules of "Hockey Dad Culture" simply by watching the dads around the rink. The episode also explores the spectrum of sports dads—from the overbearing, live-through-their-kid parent to the dad who's barely seen at the rink all season. Michael takes a look at where he falls on that scale and discusses the challenge of being involved and supportive without becoming "that guy."Along the way, he talks about finding his place in youth hockey, embracing the rink life he never expected to love, and how a self-proclaimed anti-hockey hockey dad somehow ended up spending his weekends in freezing cold arenas..