Get Your MoGo On

Mouthguards are the hardest things to get the kids to wear, the complaints range from disliking the taste to not liking the feeling of them in their mouths! Gone are the days that my kids can complain about the taste or the feel as MoGo Sports has created the PERFECT mouthguard ~ Flavored Mouthguards that is.

Mouthguards and sports go together like peanut butter and jelly! My kids hate the guards and fight wearing them all the time! I have talked with so many other parents and I have watched so many other parent deal with the Mouth Guard chatter, but in the end, the kids put the guards in their mouths and play! Can you imagine if there was a way to get the kids to like putting the guards in their mouths and just wear them without having to remind them? What would it take to get your kid or anyone you know who plays sports that requires a mouth guard to just put the mouthpiece in and wear it? MoGo!

The amount of hockey my boys play requires hours of wear and tear on their mouthguards which often creates the need for new mouthguards.  I have found a mouthguard that comes in 5 different flavors? As we set out to shop at a National Sporting Goods store, seeking a new mouthguard for my sons I found these great flavored mouthguards. The end cap in the store beckoned me as the presentation of color was incredible.  I had to make certain that there was no latex in them(because of my one son) and I have to find mouthguards that would fit both a youth mouth as well as an adult!  I stopped to look at this display and I am so glad I did because I have something new to present to you. MoGo Technology that offers the world's first flavored mouth guards. The flavors of the guard match the colors on the mouth piece. The price was nice as well, under $13!

FLAVORS No more plastic tasting mouthguards.. Meet MoGo Mouthguards. There are 5 exciting flavors in the MoGo Mouthguard Product Line: Lemon Mint Bubble Gum Fruit Punch Orange Each flavor is true to the taste and does not stop providing the flavor after being used. The flavors actually REALLY taste like what they are supposed to and my boys are LOVING wearing their mouthpieces now. (bubble gum, fruit punch, orange, mint, lemon)
MAKE UP OF THE MOUTH PIECE
 The mouthpieces are BPA FREE, LATEX FREE, Contain no calories, just pure flavor. The flavor is released from the back of the mouthpiece where the salivary glands are located and the flavor is also released from the EVA PLASTIC and it keeps giving game after game.

THE FIT
You might think that a product such as a flavored mouth guard might be sub-standard in mouth protection but this is NOT the case at all. The Mogo Flavored Mouth Guard makes kids/athletes want to wear the guard because they want to taste the flavor. My kids have been using them for the last MONTH and Wearing the Guards without question.

The kids make sure their mouthguards are in their bags because they LOVE the flavors! I love MoGo for delivering such a quality product! The MoGo Mouth Guard provides spacing between the jaw bone and the skull for additional protection, it protects the teeth and it absorbs impact from blows to the jaw. The fit is for Youth or Adult. The Chamfered inner walls aid in securing the bite. There is also a quick release tether that is included and matches the mouth guard. Youth Fit = Up to age 11 Adult Fit = 12 y & Up

A DISCOUNT FOR YOU 

The MoGo MouthGuards are so great I want you to be able to try them DISCOUNTED!
MoGo has set up a special discount just for all the Athletes out there WHO wear mouth guards! You can use this code which was created just for A Hockey Mom Reviews Readers! The code: HOCKEYMOM Order at the MoGo Sports Website and you get 25% off your order!

 WIN A MoGo Mouthguard for your child here: a Rafflecopter giveaway






 I have been provided with product above for free with the agreement of a true and honest opinion in the form of a blog. I only recommend products, and services that I believe would be good for my readers. The opinions in the post are entirely mine and your opinions may differ upon use!

CLOTHING PINS

Never underestimate the value of something so simple, as a clothespin!  I use these all the time in my kids hockey bags, in order to keep things together.

While we are often in a rush it allows me to verify that things have ALL been put in the bag, accounted for and that I will not hear the battle cry of "mom, I left it in the locker room, I think!" 

Simply add these to the hockey bags, by clipping them to the inside pockets, after the kids undress(and as I have a younger one I am in the locker room) when you grab the hockey socks, pin them together, when you grab the arm pads, gloves, knee pads::::: pin them:::::::, everything is in pairs, tidy and ready to go! I never question myself or the kids anymore because they know to do this in my absence as well.  Planning ahead, and taking care of their equipment is part of the game and they do their part to make sure THEY stay organized!

A simple trick to save some sanity and to keep organized.  Game ON! You can purchase clothespins at an Dollar General or basic mass merchandiser. 

STICK IT

Sticks, sticks, flying everywhere, when they are young who really cares what brand you buy or is that true?  At the beginning of hockey with our sons, I was simply happy to grab the 'el cheapo' sticks from the National Sporting Good Chains.   The fact of the matter was that none of their employees were versed in hockey so they had no idea to tell us which size to buy.  We bought an Adult size stick not knowing any better and being told by the associates to JUST cut the stick.  There are differences between sticks sizes and ages, here is a little bit of what we have learned ~ through trial, error and education. 

BASICS ABOUT THE STICKS
While I will not ever pretend to be an expert, I can tell you a little bit about the stick.  Sticks can be made of composites or of wood.  (wood is becoming more OLD SCHOOL) .  A stick is made up of essentially 3 pieces:  A shaft, a blade and a toe. 

Toe:  The very end of the stick(it rests at the very opposite side the players is holding, on the ice)

Shafts:  Shafts make the difference for the position you play because there is MORE or LESS flexibility availability built into sticks.  Your position determines what type of Flex you want (more on this later)

Blades:  Blades can be straight and/or curved.  (this area is feature rich) Blades also determine which handed player chooses that particular stick; lefty or righty. 

AGES FOR STICKS

Toddler Sticks
Has your child started young?  Is your child between the ages of 2 & 4?  If your child is you need a toddler stick and they do sell them at most hockey shops! In addition, these can be ordered on line.  You can also cut down a YOUTH stick the appropriate size. 

Youth Sticks
If your child is between the ages of  3-8 years old your child will require a stick that is called a YOUTH stick.  The Youth sticks are available everywhere from the National Sporting Good chains to the specialized Hockey shops.  You can still cut these sticks and you may have to, but you do not need to pay any more than $40 to get a great stick and in most cases you can pay about $25!  We always bought 2 because the kids mess around so much you are guaranteed a breaking stick.  The sticks are all pretty basic and at this age I pretty much believe that a stick is a stick, at least that has been the rule throughout the leagues we have played on. 

Junior Sticks  (Ages 7-13)
This is the harder age to purchase sticks for, at least I believe so.  We had been with sticks that on average were $25 and were good enough for the child at that age but that all changes at the Junior stick level.  Decisions need to be made, such as weight of the stick and the curve on the hockey blade, the diameter of the shaft.  Previously when shopping, I had picked out the stick, however at this age level my sons began picking out their sticks as they have some diversity in product and decisions such as shaft, lengths and flexibility of the sticks.  My kids actually knew that they wanted certain things different on their sticks from the blade to the flexibility.  This may not be true for every child but our kids are committed hockey enthusiasts so they have decided what is acceptable to them and what is not. They have learned a lot about their sticks from their coaches as well as their peers.

There are no right or wrong choices in the stick area at this age.  There are many sticks, priced at many levels.  What is important is that you understand the STICK your child has chosen and that you have someone who can explain sticks to you.  Kids at these ages are really learning the game, and just getting control over their bodies, skates and the sticks, so you have the ability to change the sticks around. 

 







Information on this blog is information we have learned through trial and error only with children playing in hockey leagues.  

DRINK UP

Staying hydrated while playing sports is a given, what they drink is a personal decision.  My sons consume lots of water, and we have found a few other great options for after the game as well as during.

Water keeps us going, there is no question about that, but what happens when your child says they don't like water can they have something else?  Bottled water has such great things that can be added to it since the creation of these on-the-go flavor packs.  This is also great when YOU are thirsty but don't want the sodas or coffees offered at all the rinks.

Have you heard of MIO?  MIO offers a liquid flavored enhancer with no sugars, no calories just GREAT tasting water, anywhere, anytime that you have a bottle of water beckoning to be drank.  With the introduction of MIO came along all the KNOCK-OFF brands, store brands and so on, but with the Off-Brand comes something else:  A Sports Energy Drink .. just like Gatorade.  I carry this in my purse everywhere so that when the boys come off the ice, deck, rink, I can supplement their drinks when they ask.   I have found the Sports Energy at Walmart(their brand) as well as Target(their brand) and at ALDI(their brand). 

Why use this liquid beverage enhancers?
  If you are given a glass of water, have a glass of water, have a bottle of water and want to 'spark' it up, this is a great way to do it!  The Beverage enhancers are great for the tired adults as well because they come caffeinated if you like! The Sports Energy is great because if you have forgot the Gatorade or the Powerade you now have this which makes a sports drink anytime you need it and it serves well for replacing those much needed electrolytes.  Being on the run with kids all the time often translates to less time for the grocery store or forgetting things you need while you are there, this little bottle in your purse can be a LIFE SAVER if you are in need of a Sports Drink, an Energy Drink or just a flavored water, with no calories, no sugar, so sodium!











I am not a Dr., nor would I suggest substituting anything.  I have simply found something that works for OUR family and MAY work for your family.   These statements are what I know from using this product and I am not being sponsored for this post. This is based on my trials and errors as a mom looking for beverage alternatives and these are what I have found. Not every store carries the same stock, this is meant to be a springboard of places to look for these items.

WHAT'S THAT SMELL? FIGHT BACK

With every game, comes a new odor and hockey has a FUNK beyond any I have ever experienced.  I believe it is a bad combination of spit on the watered down ice, and sweat which together S-T-I-N-K.

It is unbelievable that this smell accumulates from even the youngest players' gear  and it emanates from EVERYTHING.  If you don't believe me, leave a youth hockey bag in your car overnight, it will be enough to GAG you the minute you get it. 

Febreze is great initially, as I spray it in my kids bags, but you know that light flowery scent really does not MIX with the Tough Hockey Players we are molding(lol).  I have a few other solutions that will help, but will not eliminate the odors. 

My best attempts to date have been with actually eliminating accumulated moisture.

1) I use dryer sheets cut in half, and place on in each glove, that allows for a good smell, in addition, crumpled up newspaper in the gloves and skates serve as a great way to take some of that accumulated moisture OUT of those items. Scented Hockey Balls in each skate have served as a great cover-up as well, however it does not ELIMINATE odor. 

1a)  I also have a home made drying rack and EVERYTHING must get hung on it. 

When this does not work, there are a bunch of other solutions that I will be offering but you can also try:

2) I buy SCENTSY crystals and place them in nude ladies knee-highs, these penetrate the smell really well and there are several scents.  Unlike other items that mask odors these crystals live ON and ON.  The smells range from French Lavender to Coconut Lemongrass and a little goes a long way.  The Crystals will not ELIMINATE the odor but it will make it so much more tolerable.

3) Odor Eliminators, there are a bunch of them on the market from balls to chunks, I will be offering a few suggestions on these ELIMINATORS in a separate article.

4) Drying Racks.  These are great if you have the room and a person committed to HANGING the stuff but a rack is only as good as the person who is unloading and kids... don't like to clean up after themselves. 

I have much more to offer, this is only a snippet of the up and coming and I welcome your great suggestions to my e mail    blogsabouthockey(at)gmail.com

STOP CLINGING TO ME - Hockey Helpers 101

After our first few months in learn-to-play  hockey, the shirt my youngest was using was getting a bit 'static-laden' and annoying as it was clinging to itself!  My son asked me to do something but whether I hung it dry or dried it, fabric softened it, N-O-T-H-I-N-G helped until I tried what I used for static cling on my clothing.....a Dryer Sheet.

I took one dryer sheet(brand does not matter) and I rubbed it all over the shirt and magically the static went away, the sleeves rolled where they needed to be and the shirt did not stick to itself.

In the beginning leagues you will often receive mesh-like practice shirts, as such they are full of static electricity, you may want to carry a small package of these in your hockey bags to alleviate this situation. 

Welcome to A Hockey Mom Reviews!  I have learned so much about hockey over the last few years I thought I might share what I know and what I am learning through product reviews and product testing.  It seems like the simple things are what you never learn about and you need to know!(from hockey tape to hockey socks)

I am already a professional review blogger, known as Pittsburgh Frugal Mom.  I review products of every kind on that site to help educate customers on what they are about to purchase.  I have decided to dedicate one specific blog to HOCKEY because I am super-consumed by hockey in my home and there is so much to learn and pass on.  

I have spent the last few years in youth hockey and I have listened to all the newbie hockey parents and even the 'seasoned' hockey parents, talking about how there needs to be a beginners binder to Hockey for youths, such as a Hockey 101.  What to buy? Where to buy it? Why to buy it and so on.  As a general concensus, there seems to be nothing more intimidating about the sport than not knowing what to buy, what pieces you need and what they are for!  There does not seem to be one location to find out how things function, and what items do!  My goal:  Learn as much as I can about all the products out there and present them to you.  

I look forward to this next venture and I thank you for your readership. 

Hockey Mom ~ Dana Vee