Here’s some not-so-breaking news: winters here in Canada can be bitterly cold. This week, my weather app has sent me several extreme cold alerts and presented to me temperatures I haven’t seen since I had to walk to school uphill both ways. It was warmer in Siberia. The day started out normally until the garage door froze shut, the car wouldn’t start, the dog wouldn’t go out, and the ice on my windshield was thicker than the one at our local arena. It was so cold my teenager buttoned up her coat and wore a hat. (Ok, I'm lying about the hat.) 

If you’re a hockey mom, chances are roadside assistance is probably rinkside assistance because if you’re going to have car trouble it will likely be before, during or after your kids’ ice time. Of course rinkside assistance does not always come in a blue and white truck with yellow flashing lights.
It also comes in the form of... 

- Those brand new jumper cables that Santa put under the tree and a hockey mom or dad who actually knows how to use them. (So now I at least know how to use them too.);

- The parking lot hockey angel who let you take the parking spot closest to the arena even though you both got to it at the same time;

- A midget hockey player who knows how to break into your car (hey, I’m not judging) as you’re looking through the car window... at your keys... in your purse... locked in your car... in a cold, dark parking lot;

- That hockey parent who lives near the arena and runs home to grab a canister of gas because your car just ran out;

- The hockey angel who brushed off the snow accumulated on your hockey van while you were inside watching the game; -

 A kindhearted canteen operator who lets you use his cell phone to call your husband (to come jumpstart your car, bring the extra car keys, bring a canister of gas, etc. etc. etc.);

- The F-150 owner who you’ll never make fun of again because he let you sit in his car while yours was being jumpstarted; and

- Your own child who helped you clean off your car after ice time, turned on your seat warmer while you clean off the car, and saved you a sip of their hot chocolate.

I know if you’re a hockey mom, you’ve had your share of rinkside assistance episodes. Please share your experiences the comments section!

I am, of course, also very grateful for the rinkside assistance that does comes in a blue and white truck with yellow flashing lights too. As each of my children successfully acquired their driver’s license, I also made sure they were inducted into our family Hall of CAA membership, and impress upon them the importance of making sure their cell phone doesn’t die halfway to or from their destination.  

Happy New Year, and happy rinkside assistance.  

Three cheers for rinkside assistance – hope it’s there when you need it!