Hockey Evaluations

Yesterday, Ashton had hockey evaluations. Basically all the kids get out on the ice at the same time and they start by just skating around the rink. After about fifteen minutes, they dropped some pucks out on the ice. Ashton didn't waste any time grabbing one and doing a little skating around with it RIGHT in front of some of the coaches, which I told Alex was cute especially because he was in no way doing that on purpose. They just so happen to be standing right next to one of the goals. Ashton just likes to shoot and he jumped right on it when he saw a puck.Once the kids got some skating in, they counted the kids off and did a some basic things with them like seeing how fast they could skate from point A to point B, told them they had to keep their stick on the ice and not up in the air, checked to see who could skate by pushing themselves with one leg and not both, and a few other things.I thought this shot Alex got of him sitting there listening was cute. He kept his eyes glued on the coaches so he wouldn't miss a thing.

Here he took the puck from that little boy in the yellow and he fell down and Ashton just kept going. I know I shouldn't be glad he knocked a kid down, but come on.... ITS HOCKEY! He took the puck and ran with it. That is the point!

After about twenty minutes the kids were broken up and they had some stations set up where they instructed the kids to do a particular thing and they observed and helped them. I was impressed with how well Ashton was able to do some of what they asked. A lot of the kids could skate faster that he could, but they were also falling a lot and I don't think Ashton fell at all. HOWEVER, we did have one nail biting moment. During one of the drills, the coach was having them drop to their knees and then get back up as quickly as they could. Ashton was doing good until he dropped his stick. He couldn't get it picked back up and so he took off his glove to get it. OH NO!!!! These kids are literally all shoulder to shoulder and now Ashton has his hand on the ice, surrounded by ice skates, and no glove on. Alex is getting nervous and all I can see is first time out there with all the other kids and mine would be the one with his fingers chopped off. :(
Alex got this one while he was waiting in line to do one of his skill drills. He looks so big out there!
He is standing up there in the front in the black jersey about to take his turn and shooting. I love how he squats down and gets ready!

I'm excited about the season and can't wait to see how he does. Thankfully, he gets his athletic abilities from his father and NOT his mother!!!!