DCHP-3

hockey mom

DCHP-2 (Aug 2016)

Spelling variants:
hockey mother

n. — Hockey

a mother dedicated to her child's or children's hockey playing.

Type: 4. Culturally Significant — The term is a creation of the post-WW II period. It describes a phenomenon that is today very common with hockey, which is a time and money-intensive sport that often requires the involvement of the entire family. The term may be referring to families in which children play hockey as a hobby, yet it is often used in the context of training the next generation of NHL players (see, e.g., the 2000 quotation). In this sense, the term is potentially derogatory, but, in general, it is not.
COD-2, s.v. "hockey mom", which is labelled "N Amer."

Quotations

1946
Dear Mom: I set the alarm for 5 a.m. We have hockey practice at 6 o'clock. See you at breakfast." (Johnny).
Within the next few weeks, some 5,000 Toronto "hockey" mothers will be receiving notes of this kind from their "Johnnies," as kid "bobby 'sockers' of the ice lanes" travel miles on cold street cars to empty-tiered rinks.
1956
PROUD HOCKEY MOM . . . Mrs. Alice Richard beams as she holds a picture of her two sons, hockey stars Maurice and Henri. Mrs. Richard, whose younger son Claude is starring in junior ranks, has been named hockey's mother of the year. She rarely misses a game.
1964
Definition of a Hockey Mother MOTHERS are among the most versatile of all creatures. Especially "hockey mothers." A MOTHER scrubs, runs, climbs, nurses, cooks, advises, scolds, entertains and teaches. And drives junior to the rink. [...] A MOTHER is a paradox. When junior is sitting on the bench she's hollering for more ice time. But when he's "bushed" she's ready to criticize the coach for over-playing him. Yes, she'll criticize her boy's coach in front of all and sundry - but let anyone else do so and he immediately becomes the best coach in the league.
1972
(I work also. My boys go swimming, take music lessons, belong to Cubs and the main game - hockey. And I enjoy it all). Hockey Mom
1974
I'm a Hockey Mom, proclaims the badge worn by a group of women perched on the edge of their seats at a Metro arena. The badges are sewn - not pinned on - winter jackets. The women, one must presume, appear in the role of Hockey Moms at the supermarket, in the beauty parlor, and wherever else suburban life takes them.
1986
Real Women Don't Whine: a new comedy with Deborah Jarvis and Deborah Kimmett playing characters including hockey moms, waitresses, golfers and vacationers.
1991
* Remembering that God is a woman, don't get women annoyed, especially hockey mothers. Keep in mind that your own mother is a cougar with a thorn in her paw when defending her spouse, her child or her Indian rug.
2000
I think there are two central reasons for the lunacy of hockey parents: an overly competitive society and hockey culture that promotes winning over anything else at every level and parents who are determined to live vicariously through the hockey careers of their kids. The red-faced, vein bulging, hot-chocolate-drinking, screaming-at-the-top-their-lungs-at-every-blip-in-the game hockey mom/dad stereotype is alive and well and attending games at the Nelson Civic Centre.
2005
More and more, moms are lacing up the skates to play in rec leagues across the region The term hockey mom has taken on a whole new meaning. These days, hockey moms no longer whisk a minivan loaded with neighbourhood children to the arena. They whisk themselves.
2016
At this point in my life I spend a lot of time at the rink as a hockey mom. I love watching my son get out on the ice with his friends and have fun.

References

  • COD-2