We arrived about 45 minutes early and spent some time in the public skate area getting the girls on the ice for the first time ever. For Patti and I, it was the first time in at least 12 years.
Naturally, the girls were a little skittish at first. They were slipping and sliding all over the place grabbing hold of us and the wall. I was lucky to stay on my own skates, let alone deal with 45 pounds of flailing kindergartner.
I cannot praise the SJ Jr. Sharks enough for the program they put together. From the top down it was very well organized and efficient. There was enough equipment and sufficient people to get everyone suited up and ready to go quickly. Some of the equipment was a bit over-sized, but things were quickly resolved and Mollie was suited up to take the ice.
The staff quickly separated out the less experienced players from the herd (of probably about 40 kids) and gave them their own space and helpers to get them skating. Mollie spent a few minutes pushing around a stack of buckets and getting used to the skates.There was a young lady called Tally who stuck with Mollie the entire time. She was a great help transitioning Mollie from the buckets to holding Tally's stick and finally to skating on her own and passing the puck around!
We all had a great time and the girls are very eager to try skating again.
