Wheels, Wheels, Wheels!
I can still picture it like it was yesterday—my earliest days as a Mite Hockey Parent. There we were, huddled up in our rink gear, clutching coffee cups with enough enthusiasm to match the dads, one of whom seemed to be permanently stuck on loudspeaker mode. Every time his son hit the ice, you would hear “Wheels, wheels, wheels!!!” And over and over again!
So, What Does “Wheels” Mean in Hockey?
In the language of hockey (yes, it’s a whole language), “wheels” is shorthand for speed. Not just your average, “Okay, Timmy can sort of get from one end to the other,” speed. Oh no, we’re talking pure, blistering, “watch-out-or-he’ll-blow-past-you” speed.
It’s a term reserved for the players who can fly down the ice like a human jetpack, effortlessly leaving the opposition in their frosty dust. When you hear someone say a player has “wheels,” they’re giving props to their skating ability—speed, agility, and the grace of a gazelle on skates (if gazelles could, you know, skate).
It is what parents scream at their kids when they think they are slacking off, all the while attempting to navigate the rink’s bleaches with about as much grace as Snuffleupagus. There was no room to talk/scream anything to these young athletes – not this young.
The Roll-Your-Arms Moment
Now back to those dads rolling their arms like they were signaling the start of a NASCAR race. My head kind of cocked to the side like a confused puppy.
Their message to their kids was crystal clear: “Keep moving those feet, get up the ice, use your wheels!” And you know what? Sometimes it worked, and sometimes it didn’t.
I guess depending on the relationship and personality of both parent and hockey player, some would pick up speed after that little reminder was like watching a light switch flip.
Then, others just kept on skating at their own speed. This was their game, their time, their ice…slow skate back to the bench.
Why are Wheels Such a Big Deal in Hockey?
Skating is everything in hockey.
Unlike sports where you can walk, jog, or run, in hockey, if you can’t skate, you’re toast.
Wheels will make any grown man blush. When another comrade rather pats him on the shoulder and says, “Your kid has Wheels!”.
Honestly, I was just hoping these kids could make it down the ice without ankle-bending or taking a face-first tumble.
Having “wheels” means a player doesn’t just skate—they command the ice. And it’s not just about being fast in a straight line. In hockey, “wheels” means being able to turn on a dime, skate circles around defenders, and burst out of a tight situation like you’ve been turbo-charged.
It’s about control, finesse, and power all wrapped up in one smooth, fast-as-lightning package.
How Players Use Their “Wheels”
You’ll hear it on the bench, shouted during breakaways, or muttered in awe as a player skates by. Coaches will yell it, teammates will praise it, and fans in the stands will holler it. It’s basically hockey’s version of “Wow, that kid can move!”
So, the next time you’re at the rink and you hear a dad yelling, “Wheels, wheels, wheels,” don’t be confused. It’s about one of the greatest assets a hockey player can have—the ability to fly across that ice as they own it.
Conclusion
“Wheels” isn’t just something you overhear at the rink—it’s a rite of passage. You’ll hear it from coaches on the bench, from teammates shouting encouragement, and, of course, from the parents who’ve mastered the art of arm-rolling from the sidelines. It’s their way of saying, “You’ve got this, now turn on the jets!” And when those words are directed at your kid, you might as well be holding up a Stanley Cup, because it’s a high compliment in hockey culture.
