The Parking Lot Volume 19
March is when the hockey season starts to feel different. The long winter is beginning to loosen its grip, but the intensity on the ice is still high. Teams are settling into their rhythms, rivalries have formed, and every game seems to carry just a little more meaning as the season moves forward.
But beyond the wins and losses, the AHA has always been about the stories that bring players to the rink in the first place. Some players are stepping onto the ice for the first time in years, while others have been chasing the game since childhood. No matter the path, the common thread is simple: the friendships, the memories, and the love of hockey that keep us coming back.
This month’s Player Spotlight features Bob Braaten, whose journey with the game began back in 1988 and eventually brought him to the AHA decades later. From childhood dreams of playing goalie to rediscovering the game later in life, Bob’s story is a reminder that while the years may pass, the passion for hockey never really fades.
Name: Bob Braaten
Hometown: Savage, MN
# / Position: #93 Forward
Team / Tier: C1 Spitfires
My first official AHA game was in the summer of ’24, the same summer The Parking Lot was formed. But my hockey journey didn’t begin there. It started back in 1988, when I was five years old.
I was a very shy kid, and my kindergarten teacher suggested to my parents that I try a sport to help socialize with my peers. Hockey was the choice.
In Mini Mites, I had to be a skater, but I always wanted to play goalie. For four years, I begged my parents to let me try the position. Just look at the gear goalies wear pretty cool. I remember being asked, “Don’t you want to be the one scoring the goals, like Neal Broten?”
My answer was simple:
“No. I want to be like the goalie, Jon Casey of the Minnesota North Stars.”
Jump ahead to the ’92–’93 Squirt season I finally got my chance to be a full-time goaltender. That’s when the hockey obsession truly began.
I loved everything about it, especially the gear. You couldn’t get it off me. I couldn’t watch or play the sport enough. The Burnsville Ice Center became like my second home. When I wasn’t at the rink, I was playing mini hockey around the house, throwing tennis balls against the wall to practice blocking shots, or pretending my driveway was the State Tournament.
If you need a comedic visual of how intense I was, there’s a clip from The Dana Carvey Show where Steve Carell plays goalie solo. That about sums it up.
As I progressed through the years, the pressure to succeed increased. Winning became more of a sigh of relief than pure joy. But my fondest memories didn’t come from championships, accolades, or being in the spotlight.
They came from tournaments that required hotel stays.
Swimming in the pool.
Riding the elevators.
Ping pong matches.
Team dinners.
Practicing at the Met Center.
Even scrimmaging during intermissions at North Stars games.
I’ll never forget stepping into those locker rooms and getting a glimpse of the professional world. In high school, it was the Friday night get-togethers with the team that meant the most. Those are the times I miss the most.
I was incredibly fortunate to have loving, caring, and dedicated parents and grandparents who made it all possible. They invested time, energy, and a lot of money so I could play year-round. Just imagine — my mom had to buy nearly 50 goalie sticks to get me through high school.
Thank you, Mom.
After being away from the game for more than 12 years and nearing 40, I felt the pull to roll back the clock and get back into hockey. But this time, I was ready to be Neal Broten.
I chose AHA because I liked that players wear full gear, everyone is uniform, and it feels like real hockey. Plus, friends and family are often in the stands wearing team logos and cheering. I like that. It’s an all-around fun, competitive atmosphere.
After many years behind the mask and a couple up front as a forward, I was recently asked:
What do you enjoy more, making the big save at the end of a game, or scoring a goal?
Hands down, scoring the goal.
It’s more rewarding.
But no matter the position, no matter the ups and downs, aches and pains, I always come back for one reason:
For love of the game.
The Letter on the Jersey
The room was filled with the sound of conversation, glasses clinking, and the occasional burst of laughter. Instead of locker rooms and skate laces, the setting was a local brewery, where captains from across the Adult Hockey Association gathered for a social night away from the rink.
For once, no one was worrying about line changes, missing jerseys, or whether they had enough players to make the game. (Except the ones with a game that night)
They were just hockey players sharing a drink and swapping stories.
Stories about close games, late-night group chats trying to find a sub, and the occasional scramble to find a goalie before puck drop.
One by one, captains appeared and handed a simple gift of appreciation, an AHA shirt.
It wasn’t about the shirt.
It was about what it represented.
Because in AHA, wearing the “C” means a lot more than leading the handshake line after a game.
Captains are the ones submitting rosters before deadlines.
They’re the ones calling on players when numbers get thin.
They’re the ones answering texts late at night about game times and jerseys.
They’re the ones who keep the bench steady after a tough shift and make sure everyone remembers why they signed up in the first place.
Most of the work happens quietly. There’s no stat sheet for it. No highlight reel.
Just steady leadership and a love for the game.
In a league full of busy professionals, parents, and competitors who still carve out time each week to lace up the skates, captains are often the glue that keeps teams together. They organize, encourage, and make sure every player has a spot in the lineup and a reason to keep coming back.
The brewery gathering wasn’t about recognition in the spotlight. It was simply a moment to say thank you.
Thank you for the time.
Thank you for the effort.
Thank you for stepping up to lead.
Because the Adult Hockey Association doesn’t run without its captains.
And thanks to them, the game stays organized, competitive, and most importantly fun.
If you know a player whose story deserves to be shared, or if you’re interested in being featured in a future Player Spotlight, we’d love to hear from you. Please feel free to reach out or submit recommendations to communications@ahahockey.com.
| Program | Start Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 Winter Beginner School | Nov 17th | FULL, IN PROGRESS |
| 2025-26 Winter League | Nov 1st | FULL, IN PROGRESS |
| 2026 Spring Beginner School | April 20th | REGISTRATION OPEN |
