^ They were doing this while their kids were having a practice?
I've never seen that personally. 99% of parents on my kid's teams sit around and watch from the stands. Maybe the parking lot parties happen but I don't get invited
I'd associate that more with beer league hockey than with kids sports.
I will say that no other activity my kids engage in sees parents bond as much as with hockey. Baseball, ringette, dance, etc. I can barely recognize the other parents. Somehow hockey is different, you really get to know the other parents in that milieu.