Does anyone know when they can start playing hockey?

I googled it and came up with some sites that offered camps. I am sure you could contact the ice rink you are interested in and ask them the questions you need. I know they start young. Good luck.

KarilouMomof2 is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com living in Tempe. Her daughters are 9 and 6.

Yeah, another hockey mom! It depends on his age. If he is 5 or older you can go anywhere, but if he's 3 or 4 you need to start with ice hockey. The Coyotes sponsor "Kids First" a 3 week program that gets the kids introduced to the sport. They supply all of the gear and it's free! Go to the Coyotes website and look under community, youth hockey.

My boys play inline and ice. Inline is much less expensive and more low key. They get more ice time so there skills are more developed than at the same level as house league ice.

There are several rinks in the valley. Inline rinks - Casey at the Bat (my rink) 40th St & Union Hills, Castle 19th Ave & Peoria, RollerPlex 73rd Ave & Bell. For Ice, you have the Ice Den North Scottsdale, Polar Ice Chandler & Peoria, Ozzie Ice (1/3 sheet) 32nd St & Cactus, Arcadia Ice, that's all I can remember off the top of my head.

People normally shy away from inline, but it's really great. My son started there at 5 (he's 10 today) and when he went to the Ice Den for the first time this year they invited him to be on the travel team. We can't afford that, but it was a great honor!

Also, the Roadrunners have free open skate after all Sunday home games and the players come out there too. It's a great family outing. You can get 4 tickets, 4 drinks and 4 hot dogs for $40.

Check out Alltel Ice Den in Chandler, I believe.

Susie is a discussion leader in the east valley for arizonamoms.com. She has two sons, ages 7 and 3.