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.
1) Where are you playing? What city are you located in? I'm sure someone would be more than willing to come out to one of your practices and run this guy through the boards.
2) This guy is a total headcase and obviously has some issues. AVOID HIM.
3) If the "coach" allows this to happen in PRACTICE, GET OFF THE TEAM.
4) Next time he goes to hit you, get your stick right up into his mouth and knock his teeth out. Just as dirty as checking in a no-check league, IMO.
I've seriously never heard of a situation like this... Sounds...dangerous, and retarded.
I realize you want to be a good team player and try to have fun, but he is taking runs at people during practice, you have to make a choice. Is this team the only choice you have?
I realize that "An eye for an eye" is probably not the most mature response, but if the other guy is being a dbag like that, sometimes that is the only thing they listen to. Next time he takes a run at you, give him a hard chop on the ankle. If your coach says something about that and not about the dbag running around in practice hurting people, then the coach (and team) isn't worth your time anyway.
Nothing is worse then trying to hurt inexperienced players. Most low level leagues need bodies, and it sucks if people are scaring them off
Wow... I am really grateful for all your support guys. I will try to answer all questions answering to this post.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TreeSapLlama
I realize you want to be a good team player and try to have fun, but he is taking runs at people during practice, you have to make a choice. Is this team the only choice you have?
In short, given my current skills, yes, I can only play in this team. I'm in Switzerland, BTW. In addition, don't want to give up and I hate that one retard can spoil something I like.
I'm coming back from a match supposedly against a difficult team, and I swear that I've yet to see an opposing team where even supposedly rough players lay dirty hits. They skate hard, sometimes defense men lead you into the boards (kind of leaving you no other space, I find that to be perfectly fine) but they are essentially correct and when there is some kind of hard contact, it is 90% unintentional. Nobody disregards the puck and goes for the player, which puts in bad light the team I'm playing with...
Somehow some people think hockey is dirty hits and fights, while I think it is actually none of them.
The only time I felt I was going to be run in the boards, I tried to get the feeling of the shoulder counter-hit thing, without putting all my strength. The other guy was actually stopping and he looked surprised. Nothing much happened.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TreeSapLlama
I realize that "An eye for an eye" is probably not the most mature response, but if the other guy is being a dbag like that, sometimes that is the only thing they listen to. Next time he takes a run at you, give him a hard chop on the ankle. If your coach says something about that and not about the dbag running around in practice hurting people, then the coach (and team) isn't worth your time anyway.
It looks like the common reaction here is that I should stand up for myself. I will do that. I am not sure I want to play dirty, I'll talk to him first in front of my team mates, I know they feel the same. If that fails I'll hit back.
The next time it happens I would simply tell him it is no checking. After that it would be a two hander slash to the back of the leg, again with the reminder that it is "no checking". If he protests I would just ask him if he wants to follow the rules or not, his choice.
If he wants to check he should join a checking league, not drag you into trying to match his checking skills.
This guy needs to not be on your team. End of story.
This.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sticks of Fury
Take Power Skating or Figure skating lessons and become the better skater and avoid those hits. Once you have confidence skating like a pro he won't mess with you. He is just picking on the lightweights.
This.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pez68
1) Where are you playing? What city are you located in? I'm sure someone would be more than willing to come out to one of your practices and run this guy through the boards.
2) This guy is a total headcase and obviously has some issues. AVOID HIM.
3) If the "coach" allows this to happen in PRACTICE, GET OFF THE TEAM.
4) Next time he goes to hit you, get your stick right up into his mouth and knock his teeth out. Just as dirty as checking in a no-check league, IMO.
I've seriously never heard of a situation like this... Sounds...dangerous, and retarded.
These.
The best clip that "ponder" posted is that last one, IMO. That's assuming you can get to the boards before this r-tard can hit you from behind. The main thing about it is to "hug" the boards so that when he hits you, the boards receives the impact- not you. You need to try to get low, and take the hit with your shoulder as best you can- while having your other shoulder pinned to the boards/glass.
And on top of what Stoner did- get your elbow/forearm up and skate away like nothing happened when you pop him in the face. If he tries it again, do it again. Eventually he should stop.
If he's coming at you from the front, get your stick up.
One thing, don't go *TOO* overboard with the retribution, you want to teach this guy a lesson, not put him in the hospital. Hitting back, even with a high hit, is a good idea, a slash to the back of the legs right after he hits you is fine too, spearing him like mad or cross checking him in the face (especially if he doesn't have a helmet) is too far IMO. I'm not sure how quick you are with your words, but just publicly embarrassing him verbally is one of the best options. This is a beginners, non contact league, the fact that he thinks he should be all tough and hardcore is ridiculous, let him know this and get everyone to laugh in his face about how pathetic he is. Remind this fat old man that he is not in the NHL.
There's at least one guy like this in every low-level league (the one in mine called a girl the c word in a recent game, sparking a bench-clearing incident. Fun!). It's no fun being teammates with them either.
First of all, talk to him. Honestly, it sounds to me like he's not that skilled and is taking full advantage of the fact that collisions are allowed in low-level leagues because a lot of players aren't fantastic skaters. He could either be doing that purposefully because he likes contact or he could have just realized he's not good enough with his stick or feet to win puck battles on the boards, so he goes in for the contact.
Or he could just be a tool. There's always that possibility.
If he continues to do it, talk to your coach or captain. If he's going to do this every time, then they need to have a more serious talk with him. It's one thing to accidentally steamroll a newbie (I've had it done to me and I've done it as well), but it's another to continue to do it once the skill level gap is established. Guys like that can be dangerous because when you crash uncontrolled into the ice or boards, there's always a risk of injury like a concussion or busted ankle.
As far as immediate retaliation, the easiest is probably a light slash to the back of the ankle or leg. Those areas are unpadded, and while a light slash won't actually hurt anything, it can sting enough to show your displeasure.
some options. many of which could be used in combination to great effect.
1)become more solid/comfortable/strong on your feet.
2)take a different approach angle.
3)slow up slightly, let him be the first man in, lay a hit of your own.
4)as you're going in, pull up hard and shift your momentum backwards quickly. hopefully the guy goes full bore into the wall missing you, and looking like a goof.
5)start leaning into him well before you get to the wall and he has a chance to paste you to the glass.
but more than anything else... #1 will work wonders. and as an additional note...i'd really think hard about being in a league where it is at all ok for a ****** like that you run around picking on inexperienced beginner players...especially in practice, on your own team?
Try varying your speed coming to the puck. If you are at full speed it it easy to time a hit on you. Come into the puck at 1/2 to 3/4 speed and accelerate at the puck and go hard after you have the puck.
