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When Hockey Parents Attack: Confessions from the Front Desk as Tournament Season Begins

Hockey teams booking hotel rooms for November, showcasing excitement and preparation for the season.
As we prepare to welcome our first hockey groups this November, the excitement is palpable! This cinematic image captures the essence of teamwork and anticipation as families gear up to book their stay with us. Let the games begin!

If you’ve ever worked the front desk of a hotel, you know there are certain times of year that send shivers down your spine. No, not the holidays, not spring break—something far more fearsome. That’s right: hockey tournament season. And for one Redditor, u/HomelandersBulge, this annual rite of passage has just kicked off with a cacophony of ringing phones and hockey parents in full force.

Picture this: the hotel’s group booking email goes out, and before the digital ink is even dry, the front desk phones explode with the sound of a hundred hockey moms and dads, all desperate to secure their room before someone else beats them to it. It’s a flurry of area codes, loyalty numbers, and “Can we get a room away from the elevator?” requests. Welcome to November, my friends.

The Calm Before the (Hockey) Storm

For a few blissful months, the staff at this unnamed hotel basked in the relative peace that comes between major youth sports seasons. Sure, there were the usual travelers, maybe the odd wedding party or business group, but nothing that compared to the sheer force of nature that is a traveling hockey team.

Then, like clockwork, the cycle resumed. The hotel blocked off rooms for not one, but two hockey teams for back-to-back November weekends, which meant it was time to send out the sacred “Group Number” to each team’s coordinator. This code is supposed to make individual bookings easier, but as anyone in hospitality knows, it can also unleash a tidal wave of simultaneous calls.

The Ringing Never Ends

Our brave front desk hero describes it best: “the MINUTE this email must have gone out to everyone on their team, we had literally everyone calling at the same goddamn time and the phone would. not. stop. ringing.”

In the world of hotel bookings, this is the equivalent of Black Friday at a toy store. Parents, all eager to ensure their little Gretzkys aren’t left without a place to crash, descend en masse. The front desk staff—mere mortals—scramble to keep up, juggling calls, managing reservations, and trying to remain patient as the same questions are asked again and again:

  • “Can we get adjoining rooms?”
  • “Do you have free breakfast?”
  • “Will the pool be open?”
  • “Is there somewhere the kids can play mini sticks INDOORS?”

And let’s not forget the inevitable requests for exceptions, upgrades, and last-minute changes. If you’ve never been on the receiving end, imagine trying to organize a flash mob, but every participant insists on choosing their own song and dance.

Why Hockey Parents Are a Breed Apart

What is it about hockey parents that inspires such both awe and dread in hotel workers? Maybe it’s the early mornings, the icy drives, or the sheer intensity of weekend-long tournaments. Whatever the reason, they are legendary for their dedication—and their ability to bring the noise, both figuratively and literally.

As one commenter on the Reddit post put it, “Hockey parents are like a force of nature. You can’t stop them, you can only hope to contain them.” For hotel staff, this means bracing for everything from impromptu hallway stick-handling to late-night pizza orders that leave the lobby looking like a war zone.

The Hotel Worker’s Survival Guide

So how do front desk warriors survive hockey season? Here are a few tips, forged in the fires of experience:

  1. Double Up on Staff: When you know the group booking email is going out, have backup ready. You’ll need all hands on deck.
  2. Stock Up on Patience: Remember, every caller is just trying to do right by their kid. Take a deep breath before answering.
  3. Prepare for Chaos: Accept that some things are beyond your control. The pool WILL get loud, and someone WILL try to play mini sticks in the hall.
  4. Find the Humor: Sometimes laughter is the only way to get through. Swap stories with your coworkers, and remember: this, too, shall pass.

Share Your Own Tales!

Have you survived a hockey tournament weekend at your hotel? Or maybe you’re a hockey parent yourself with a few confessions to make? Drop your stories in the comments below! It’s a wild time of year, but sharing the madness just might help us all get through it—even if the phone never. stops. ringing.

Hockey season is here, and the front desk is on the front lines. To all the unsung heroes out there: may your phones be quiet, your bookings go smoothly, and your patience hold strong!

Original Reddit Post: And So It Begins….