I'm interested in playing Ice Hockey... Looking for advice

[IrishSS]

This is a pretty broad question, and any advice, stories, deals, etc. are greatly appreciated. I'm basically looking at getting into playing hockey. I'm 21 and cant skate. Rollerbladed for about one summer, I'm not great, but I can do it. I've already looked into some skating classes. Gonna do that first. But I'd like to play in soem sort of Adult beginner league if that makes sense.

Anywho, like I said before, all thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Ian

[Kenas]

Originally posted by IrishSS
This is a pretty broad question, and any advice, stories, deals, etc. are greatly appreciated. I'm basically looking at getting into playing hockey. I'm 21 and cant skate. Rollerbladed for about one summer, I'm not great, but I can do it. I've already looked into some skating classes. Gonna do that first. But I'd like to play in soem sort of Adult beginner league if that makes sense.

Anywho, like I said before, all thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Ian

I think it is a great decision, not sure what kind of advise to give you but make sure to get a cup!!!!

[oblongmelon]

GOOD CHOICE-HOCKEY RULES..
my advice..
wear a cup,
purchase a nice mouthgard.
stay off the boards.
learn to skate.
Say EH alot..
thats really all you need.
not neccesarily in that order

[brainsmile]

Well I played for 5 years in Toronto as a goalie and all I can say is that you gotta be moving at all times. If you are standing there you're gonna get hit. Keep your head up and eyes moving all the time.

[dbax791]

Originally posted by IrishSS
This is a pretty broad question, and any advice, stories, deals, etc. are greatly appreciated. I'm basically looking at getting into playing hockey. I'm 21 and cant skate. Rollerbladed for about one summer, I'm not great, but I can do it. I've already looked into some skating classes. Gonna do that first. But I'd like to play in soem sort of Adult beginner league if that makes sense.

Anywho, like I said before, all thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Ian

I was kinda in the same situation. I learned how to rollerblade when I was about 22 and kept at it and started playing rollerhockey until I was good enough to play at a scrub "C"-league level. Once I got pretty good at skating, I went ice skating for the first time with some friends figuring "Hey, piece of cake!" Wrong

Rollerblading is much easier because no matter if you are straight or in a turn, part of the wheel is always in contact with the concrete. With ice skating, if you stand level, the flat part of the blade won't grip the ice and you'll slip - you always have to have somewhat of an edge contact the ice. VERY different than roller blading and hard to get used to for me. Ice Hockey players generally have no problem switching to rollerhockey, but rollerhockey players have a much harder time going to the ice.

With that said, I agree with your idea - take skating lessons first before you jump into ice hockey. You need to concentrate on the game and maintaining your balance should be natural, not something you are thinking about. At a minimum, you should have crossover turns, stops, and skating backwards mastered before you join a league. Plus, if you need to play indoors, ice hockey leagues are VERY expensive. I'd hate to see you drop 600-700 bux and not have fun.

Good luck!

[chrissy]

Really? I found Ice skating easier than rollerblading.... huh...



As for Hockey, I like Obby's suggestions.

Also add Don't fall down unless you can blame the other team
If you get mad, remember to pull the guy's jersey up and over his head and leave his arms trapped

and Pads

And I also wouldn't listen to my suggestions concidering I suck at managing my FH team

Gotta love last place! Woot!

[ironchef]

... and let us know how it goes!

i've been a long-time street hockey player. i play on blades on occasion and i'm looking for a local roller league to play with. i'm not ready to make the plunge to ice yet simply because of the costs involved.

as far as learning, i'd imagine a similar method to what i did with rollerhockey is effective. learn a bit on your own, at least enough to move around without much trouble. even if you're a bit wobbly when you take to the ice with other players, you'll find that the more you play and concentrate on playing, the skating will come much quicker. pads will definitely help too, easing some of the hesitation you'll have about falling. dbax's suggestion of learning how to cross-over and skate backwards are also very sound, especially the cross-overs. my feet are nearly always going back and forth and a straight line is rarely seen when playing.

then, once you get the skating down, you'll get to concentrate on learning how to shoot while on skates. that's harder than it looks

[IrishSS]

Originally posted by ironchef
[B}then, once you get the skating down, you'll get to concentrate on learning how to shoot while on skates. that's harder than it looks [/B]

Hehe... ya, i figured as much. I'm in no rush, just finally got teh itchin to go through with it. Ive always wanted too, and now I can at least see if it is even possible.

I cant wait to get off this pain medication and go for a spin(probably literally)!!!

[Luxykin007]

Call Ryan Booth

Cell # 503-580-4735

Hey has played for years and could probably hook you up wuth a league to play in.

[Jihforce]

Learn to skate, learn to stop. Rollerblading is not Ice skating. Trust me. I know. Cuz I knew how to rollerblade before ice skating and I had to take ice skating classes. It took me 6 months to learn how to ice skate and to learn how to stop. Stopping is NOT as easy as it it seems. And its NOTHING like rollerblading. Practice a lot. I practiced from Mon-Fri 8am-12pm for 6 months. Learn to skate backwards or you won't be of much use defensively. If you can't skate well, play goalie.

[Grimm]

Don't eat the yellow snow.

w00t!