The RinkFor the not so ready for prime-time players, coaches, referees, and the people that have to live with them. Discuss experiences in local leagues, coaching tips, equipment, and training.
You should really let those injuries heal first. A lot of my friends (regardless of what sport they play) who play through injuries only make it worse.
Ive been watching this thread for a long time but never posted in it before.
I'd never played hockey before I went to university, couldn't even really skate well but I ended up at a kind of pick up session for complete beginners by chance, enjoyed it and started going twice a week (at this point I was still skating in rubbishy plastic hire skates)
Last January I joined a local rec team and bought all the kit and played about five games with them In the first few games I couldn't even stop but I've put a lot of time into working on skating, over the summer I was at the rink at least three times a week.
I've now switched to playing with the university B team here in the second division of university hockey which is full contact - something I've never done before - We play the season opener at home tonight. The jump from unorganised rec hockey to a university league is huge but I'm skating 4 times a week + games now and improving so much faster than I ever was before, even though I would admit that I will be the worst player out there tonight.
Welcome to the world of hockey. I got a friend who plays in Nottingham I believe. Not sure where his rink is to be exact, but the UK has a pretty beginner-friendly league from what I hear.
Welcome to the world of hockey. I got a friend who plays in Nottingham I believe. Not sure where his rink is to be exact, but the UK has a pretty beginner-friendly league from what I hear.
Like most cities in this country nottingham only has one ice rink, which happens to be the biggest in the country - a 10,000 seat arena. Does your friend play in the university league or with a rec team? The university league is quite competitive but with a very mixed standard. There are players like me going all the way up to pros from Europe who didnt get drafted / decided to do a degree - a former Czech player was scoring at 5+ gpg last season.
The game last night went OK, I am a little disappointed with a 4-4 draw especially when they scored 2 minutes from the end but my line was +1 and didn't concede any so I guess that's good.
Like most cities in this country nottingham only has one ice rink, which happens to be the biggest in the country - a 10,000 seat arena. Does your friend play in the university league or with a rec team? The university league is quite competitive but with a very mixed standard. There are players like me going all the way up to pros from Europe who didnt get drafted / decided to do a degree - a former Czech player was scoring at 5+ gpg last season.
The game last night went OK, I am a little disappointed with a 4-4 draw especially when they scored 2 minutes from the end but my line was +1 and didn't concede any so I guess that's good.
He plays for a team called the Mavericks, not sure where that league is to be exact. We're both in Shanghai right now, playing in a local league here. The beginners/veterans are all mixed together, so it's a little more hectic here.
That is the university team so if he is in the same division as me, which I think he must be (they don't seem to have registered a first division team this year), then we are playing in February
Well, still no goal and suffered my first injury trying to beat an icing. It was a no-touch icing so the other team's defenseman just sat and waited for the puck to get to the blueline while I charged past him for the puck. The puck was maybe two-three feet from my stick and still not hit the icing line when I feel forward. I hit the ice at the goal line, then crushed into the board. I was able to turn my head and hit the board with my shoulder first, on my stomach, it still rang my bell slightly, but I shook it off eventually. My shoulder, however wasn't so lucky... After recovering from the fall, I couldn't raise my arm without great pain. It was pretty sad that the game by that point was 3-3 and we already lost two players out of ten, leaving just seven players after I got injured and the other team scored shortly after.
I wished I'd have gone faster and actually beat the icing, though. =\ It felt like just thiiiiis close to beating the icing and with both of their Ds standing around their blueline, I definitely felt like I could have turn it into a chance. I'm going to keep on trying to beat icings when I go back in a few weeks.
But really, I need to get better at controlling myself at top speed. I just have little control and balance when I get my legs going- my skills just ain't matching up to my effort it seems and my arm being in a sling for a week's saying that (fortunately other than some very badly bruised tendons, no dislocated shoulder or broken collarbone). Can't wait to get faster and better and actually turn the icing into a goal.
Well, still no goal and suffered my first injury trying to beat an icing. It was a no-touch icing so the other team's defenseman just sat and waited for the puck to get to the blueline while I charged past him for the puck. The puck was maybe two-three feet from my stick and still not hit the icing line when I feel forward. I hit the ice at the goal line, then crushed into the board. I was able to turn my head and hit the board with my shoulder first, on my stomach, it still rang my bell slightly, but I shook it off eventually. My shoulder, however wasn't so lucky... After recovering from the fall, I couldn't raise my arm without great pain. It was pretty sad that the game by that point was 3-3 and we already lost two players out of ten, leaving just seven players after I got injured and the other team scored shortly after.
I wished I'd have gone faster and actually beat the icing, though. =\ It felt like just thiiiiis close to beating the icing and with both of their Ds standing around their blueline, I definitely felt like I could have turn it into a chance. I'm going to keep on trying to beat icings when I go back in a few weeks.
But really, I need to get better at controlling myself at top speed. I just have little control and balance when I get my legs going- my skills just ain't matching up to my effort it seems and my arm being in a sling for a week's saying that (fortunately other than some very badly bruised tendons, no dislocated shoulder or broken collarbone). Can't wait to get faster and better and actually turn the icing into a goal.
When you go to RIC next time, try pushing yourself really hard and go at top speed for a lap or two. I've been doing that and I'm a little more comfortable with going at fast speeds (mostly because my top speed is crap anyway).
Had another game Friday. After being shutout every game since the first, we finally scored again (yay!). This time we shut down defensively against a team of similar skill, limiting them also to 1 goal. In this league, tie games go to a shootout. I got picked to go, which is pretty weird since I've never been the "go to guy" on a team. Our first shooter scored on a slick deke. I went second, and in my moment of glory, I missed the puck on the pick up and got disqualified. Despite intense shame, we won the shootout 1-0 and took home our first win.
After the game, we learned the league will rebalance the teams to make it easier for us all to compete. Should be interesting in the coming weeks.
Had our first away game of the season on Wednesday which was an amazing experience. We actually had a crowd cheering for the home team there, it was pretty big as well about 200-300 people not the usual 20-30 family and friends. Even more surprisingly they all paid to watch the game. The rink we were playing in was tiny which meant the fans were pressed against the glass all the way round and gave an amazing atmosphere.
Unfortunately it was a 6-2 loss, whilst they were definitely the better team in the first (4-1) the reffing was atrocious, it was a 5-3 within 30 seconds of the game starting and the other team even came into our changing room to apologise for how bad it was. The one thing that bugs me is I missed the easiest goal opportunity ever - there was an open net from about 3 feet out with the puck between me and the centre and we both left it for each other.
Just wanted to pop this one in for you all without starting a whole new thread, imo a really cool video from Grand Rapids Griffins using the GoPro camera.
Just wanted to pop this one in for you all without starting a whole new thread, imo a really cool video from Grand Rapids Griffins using the GoPro camera.
Great thread. I'm in your area and play in the Greater Seattle Hockey League.
I'm a Canadian by birth (Montreal), raised in the U.S.; been skating off and on (mostly off) since I was three; I've been playing pond hockey since 13; the first time I skated in a rink was recreation hockey in college. Now 45, GSHL was the first time I've played in an organized league three years ago. Until then, everything I've learned about skating and the game was self-taught.
My team started as a bunch of beginners in the lowest level (Div 8). I started as D since I was one of the few who could skate backwards with any kind of speed. Together we've progressed up to Div 6C, and won four straight division championships (8, 7, 6D, 6C).
I've been amazed at the progression of our players. Two of our forwards could barely skate. Now they're a couple of our best scorers. One improved so quickly within a season that an opposing team thought he was a new player!
Here's part 1 of our Summer 2011 championship game, we're dark (I'm wasn't playing due to a commitment):
Are you on the Icemen? My friend Torsten plays with you. I didn't realize you guys had such humble beginnings. Nice work!
I took a shot in the jaw last night in a scrimmage with boys. Ow! Lesson learned: if a puck is coming right at your face, it's probably not the best idea to turn away and expose the part that's not covered by your cage. Luckily the shot was a bit fluttery or else I'd still be hurting from it! It's just a little stiff now.
Are you on the Icemen? My friend Torsten plays with you. I didn't realize you guys had such humble beginnings. Nice work!
I took a shot in the jaw last night in a scrimmage with boys. Ow! Lesson learned: if a puck is coming right at your face, it's probably not the best idea to turn away and expose the part that's not covered by your cage. Luckily the shot was a bit fluttery or else I'd still be hurting from it! It's just a little stiff now.
You know Tor? Cool!
He scored a hat trick our last game. Due to the Gretzky rule, we had to remind the rest of the team NOT to set him up for a shot! (Rule is once someone has three goals, he's not allowed to score again, else he'll get a penalty.)
I think you learned one unwritten rule of hockey--never turn away from a shot. Most of your protection covers the front of your body!
Haven't posted in a while, but we (my team) is getting our ***** handed to us. We have some really good players (a couple guys who are ex-Junior levels), but it's a shame not everyone's showing up. I think if we had our full roster for all our games, we may very well be undefeated.
As for me, I'm just glad I can finally sort of keep up with these guy's speed. They do every so damn fast, and I must've been deked around like a million times... But I can feel I'm getting better. Skating technique not so much, I only really nailed my tight turn (on one side) just recently. Really need to work on that soon.
I feel like I turn much tighter when I put a lot of weight on my heels during a tight turn... But when I really dig in I absolutely destroy the ice. Is that a bad thing? Or am I doing it right?
Turning on your heels during tight turns sounds about right, I think.
Does it matter if you destroy the ice? Are you the zamboni guy or something?
Nah, but when I do during public skates it seems to give figure skater fits. One lady even came up and asked me if I could just do turns on one side of the rink. I'm glad it's pissing them off though, because there are plenty of irresponsible figure skaters out there, skating against the crowd backwards with their blade pointed at people's faces while plugged into their iPod.
ThisAintBaseball, i've seen your team play several times. that's not your regular goalie, is it?
One of our regulars. We rotate between two goalies, one plays in the winter season, the other the summer season. Also depends on whether they want to be a skater, and how many teams they're playing on (one plays on three teams, the other two, this season).
Nah, but when I do during public skates it seems to give figure skater fits. One lady even came up and asked me if I could just do turns on one side of the rink. I'm glad it's pissing them off though, because there are plenty of irresponsible figure skaters out there, skating against the crowd backwards with their blade pointed at people's faces while plugged into their iPod.
You paid for the ice, so you can use it. And the point about figure skaters is 100% spot on.
It's been a while since I've checked in, my team is doing well, we have a lot of fun and it's a great group of women. Last game I brought my ipod and boombox to have in the locker room and we had a dance party after the game. I think we were in that room for like an extra hour.
I just got a job, and will be starting on monday. So no more stick and puck for hours and hours. And I need to work out a new meeting time with my coach for lessons, but we're not sure how we can work around the ice times yet. I LOVE my lessons. I've gotten so many compliments on my skating since I started taking them, and can give our fastest players a run for their money now. But today was my last lesson for a while. So I made my coach teach me how to do a spin-o-rama like Jeff Skinner's in the video below. Someday I'm going to pull one of these off in a game and it is going to be glorious.
It's been a while since I've checked in, my team is doing well, we have a lot of fun and it's a great group of women. Last game I brought my ipod and boombox to have in the locker room and we had a dance party after the game. I think we were in that room for like an extra hour.
I just got a job, and will be starting on monday. So no more stick and puck for hours and hours. And I need to work out a new meeting time with my coach for lessons, but we're not sure how we can work around the ice times yet. I LOVE my lessons. I've gotten so many compliments on my skating since I started taking them, and can give our fastest players a run for their money now. But today was my last lesson for a while. So I made my coach teach me how to do a spin-o-rama like Jeff Skinner's in the video below. Someday I'm going to pull one of these off in a game and it is going to be glorious.
Great to hear from you again beth. It's good to know your team is so close to each other It's just not the same here. Everyone's busy with family/work/life, usually just move on after the game.
It's been a while since I have checked in too!
I've changed teams now, gone from playing with a basic beginners team to playing with the local RAF team. Its quite a big jump in ability so sadly I am getting no game Ice time but it should progress me loads. I have started up skating lessons to try and improve my edge control and speed but I really need to sort out my balance when shooting. Sadly I don't get enough Ice Time in full kit with stick and puck to really spend any major time practicing
I am improving but really needing the ice time at the moment, hopefully should be going on a 3 day course held by one of the top british forwards this coming Summer, its a long way off but hopefully it should really help!
Luckily the shot was a bit fluttery or else I'd still be hurting from it! It's just a little stiff now.
And I need to work out a new meeting time with my coach for lessons, but we're not sure how we can work around the ice times yet. I LOVE my lessons. I've gotten so many compliments on my skating since I started taking them, and can give our fastest players a run for their money now. But today was my last lesson for a while. 
