Members t3ch Posted November 3, 2008 Members Share Posted November 3, 2008 Anyone have any advice for a new player? I am a little embarrassed to admit I don't even really know the rules, but I will play heavy amounts of NHL 09 for the next week and become a pro. I ordered all my gear tonight, I can't wait to get it! I was a thrifty shopper and bought a lot of last year's models for a nice discount; that's what the red text is on some of the items. Unfortunately, between fixing my car and sending my mom all of my savings a few weeks ago, I had to throw this purchase on the CC. It'll be paid off before the end of the month though; I will just be banished to my room with an xbox and dvd's for the next 4 weekends I would've waited, but the class started last week and I didn't want to wait another 4 months to get involved in the next season. If you see anything I forgot, mention what... I have no clue about hockey gear. Lemme know whatcha think: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MrJoshua Posted November 3, 2008 Members Share Posted November 3, 2008 Looks like a decent list of gear. I haven't ever used CCM skates, but lots of guys do. OK, a few quick rules to remember. 1 - Offsides. This one is important because few things are as annoying as working the puck into the zone only to have some knucklehead offsides. Basically, it means you can't enter the offensive zone before the puck. What's the offensive zone? Good question. The ice is basically divided into three zones - the offensive, neutral, and defensive zones. Each zone takes up roughly a third of the ice. The dividing lines are the bluelines. The neutral zone is the section of the ice between the two bluelines, at the center of the rink. Your defensive zone is inside the blueline, and contains your goalie and his net. The offensive zone is at the other end of the ice, and contains the other team's goalie and his net, wherein you want to put the puck. If you have control of the puck, you can carry it across the blueline into the offensive zone. Or, you can "dump" it, which involves flinging the puck deep into the offensive zone so your players can skate in and try to get control. But if you're in the offensive zone and the puck is in one of the other two zones, then you're offsides. If the puck comes into the offensive zone while a player is offsides and the attacking team plays the puck, the play is whistled dead and the faceoff comes outside the zone. 2 - High-sticking. Your stick cannot make contact with another player above his shoulders. Period. The stick is not a light-saber, nor a ninja weapon of any sort. The blade of it should be on or near the ice, pretty much all the time. The butt of it should be in your hand, and the stick should be under control. It's not uncommon to see a guy at a pickup game who doesn't have real good control and is prone to wildly swinging his stick around as he tries to keep his balance. Don't be that guy. It's dangerous, it's annoying, and you wind up with nicknames like "Helicopter Boy" and "Lawnmower Guy." And if you knock out some guy's tooth like that he'll probably kick your ass. If you need the stick for balance (and you might at the beginning, although since you've played roller hockey you'll be ahead of most beginners), use it like a tripod with your stick on the ice helping you balance. The bottom line is, if your stick isn't on the ice, you can't catch a pass, so there's no need to be waving it around near someone's head anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MrJoshua Posted November 3, 2008 Members Share Posted November 3, 2008 3 - Hand pass. You can't use your hand to send the puck to a teammate. You can kick it, pass it with your stick, nudge it with your knee, pop it with your elbow ... pretty much all of that is ok. But no hands. The exception to this is if you're in your own defensive zone. In the defensive zone you can make a legal handpass without any problem. But considering that there are probably going to be guys trying to hit that little rubber thing with sticks, be careful sticking your hand anywhere near it. 4 - Kicking the puck into the net. Don't do it. You're not allowed to score by kicking the puck into the net. Attempting this will earn you the scorn and ridicule of the opposing goalie, and you'll probably feel pretty silly when everyone tells you the goal doesn't count. You can kick the puck to a teammate, or you can kick the puck forward onto your stick, or pretty much anywhere you want to kick it except into the net. You CAN kick the puck into your own net to score for the other team, but if you do, your goalie will probably kick your ass. 5 - Probably the most important thing you can do is to talk to the guys on the bench, explain that you're new and want to learn, and figure out who the older and more experienced guys are that are willing to help you out by explaining the positioning and responsibilities you need to be successful on the ice. Look for an older guy wearing a really flimsy plastic helmet that looks like it offers no protection at all and has been around for fifty years. That guy has been playing for decades and can tell you what you need to know about playing anywhere on the ice, most likely. Talk to that guy. Don't be pushy, but ask questions. Chances are he remembers being new to the game and will be pretty open to helping you out. 6 - Focus on your skating. Having a monster slap shot won't help you at all if you can't skate enough to get open. Yeah, shooting is important, but not as important as skating. A good skater makes things happen. A good skater with good passing skills is worth his weight in gold. A good skater with good passing skills and a good shot gets asked to play on everybody's team all the time. Conversely, a poor skater with good passing skills and a good shot is only picked up when at least half of the roster is already filled out. Most importantly, make sure you have fun. Hockey is a great sport, and a real blast to play. In the last few years I've gone from never having skated before to being a semi-decent player, and the better I get the more fun I have. Keep your head up (even in non-checking leagues, if your head is down it's REALLY easy to run into someone, HARD). Stay in control of your body and play the game you're capable of playing, use your head, and listen to the more experienced players, and in no time you'll be a contributing member of whatever team you happen to be on at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members t3ch Posted November 3, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 3, 2008 4 - Kicking the puck into the net. Don't do it. You're not allowed to score by kicking the puck into the net. Attempting this will earn you the scorn and ridicule of the opposing goalie, and you'll probably feel pretty silly when everyone tells you the goal doesn't count. You can kick the puck to a teammate, or you can kick the puck forward onto your stick, or pretty much anywhere you want to kick it except into the net. You CAN kick the puck into your own net to score for the other team, but if you do, your goalie will probably kick your ass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members y-o-y Posted November 3, 2008 Members Share Posted November 3, 2008 Expensive sport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members King Kashue Posted November 3, 2008 Members Share Posted November 3, 2008 Joshua knows a bunch about Hockey... Not quite enough to root for a good team, but more than enough to steer you right... Honestly, you joked about Video games, but playing with all the rules turned on should get you a good visual representation of off sides. The really basic thing to remember is that on offense, don't cross the blue line until the puck does. I honestly can't think of anything he left out as far as getting started. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members whatsabass? Posted November 3, 2008 Members Share Posted November 3, 2008 MrJosh did a good job covering things. I would recommend getting a wood stick as well. Try and find something with an 85 to 90 flex. Wood sticks have a little more give and feel when making and receiving passes, shooting etc. How flex is rated is how many pounds it takes to make the stick flex 1 inch. Wrist shots are the most common shots and a softer flex will make it easier for the stick to torque. Buy a roll of white tape use that for the handle of your stick. The palms of your gloves will thank becuase black tape (I'm not sure of the other colours) seems to eat through the palms. Keep your head up, you can't make plays looking at the puck and you don't want to collide with teammates. If you are in a shooting lane and a shot is coming at you, MOVE! Don't screen your goalie, we hate that. If you can't get out of the way resist the temptation to turn sideways or backwards. The equipment protects the front of your body and you might get a lucky bounce and get a scoring opportunity off the transition. Good luck, and remember you're not going to be Gretzky right off the bat. I know I thought I would be when I six years and stepping on the ice for the first time. Instead I fell flat on my face which left me a little discouraged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fingeringam Posted November 3, 2008 Members Share Posted November 3, 2008 no cup? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jrkman Posted November 3, 2008 Members Share Posted November 3, 2008 Do you know how to skate well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bleepo Posted November 3, 2008 Members Share Posted November 3, 2008 Watch the US feed (southern us if possible) of some NHL games. I find the US brodcasts explain more than the Canadian ones. We're expected to know the rules of hockey before we can read. Everything MrJoshua said is golden. Stick on the ice, head up. If you can, invest in some power or figure skating lessons. A little theory goes a long way. Don't shoot the puck in ANY direction after the whistle. You will piss someone off, and you will get your ass kicked eventually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members t3ch Posted November 3, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 3, 2008 The palms of your gloves will thank becuase black tape (I'm not sure of the other colours) seems to eat through the palms. Keep your head up, you can't make plays looking at the puck and you don't want to collide with teammates. If you are in a shooting lane and a shot is coming at you, MOVE! Don't screen your goalie, we hate that. If you can't get out of the way resist the temptation to turn sideways or backwards. The equipment protects the front of your body and you might get a lucky bounce and get a scoring opportunity off the transition. Nice. Really though, about the black tape? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members t3ch Posted November 3, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 3, 2008 Watch the US feed (southern us if possible) of some NHL games. I find the US brodcasts explain more than the Canadian ones. We're expected to know the rules of hockey before we can read. Everything MrJoshua said is golden. Stick on the ice, head up. If you can, invest in some power or figure skating lessons. A little theory goes a long way. Don't shoot the puck in ANY direction after the whistle. You will piss someone off, and you will get your ass kicked eventually. I'm taking an intro-to-hockey class. Unfortunately I'm going to miss the first two classes, and those cover basics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bluestarbass Posted November 3, 2008 Members Share Posted November 3, 2008 I havent played hockey in a while, but I used to play prep school hockey so it was pretty intense. First, dont get that cheesy stick tape. Get all black. The colored tapes make it real easy to see the puck. Youd think, who could lose the puck, but it does happen. It also makes it easier for the goalie to tell what kind of shot your taking and where its going. When you get your skates, get a pair of socks, get them wet and put them in the microwave. Get them warm enough that you can put them on comfortably. Now put the socks and your skates on and wear them in the house for an hour or so. It takes a while to break in a pair of skates, a month or so, and youll be alot happier with broken in skates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members james on bass Posted November 3, 2008 Members Share Posted November 3, 2008 Joshua seems pretty smart for a 'merican. Lots of good advice here. As for tape, black tape does make a mess of the palms of the gloves... I've always used white tape on the top of the stick, black for the blade. Not sure what stick wax is? You'll figure most of the basic rules pretty quick. Probably don't need to worry about 2 line passing, but you'll figure out icing when you dump the puck or miss a pass. No icing if you are killing a penalty. Great advice about not being the newb with the stick all over the air cutting people's hair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members james on bass Posted November 3, 2008 Members Share Posted November 3, 2008 A basic on some of the penalties in hockey... [YOUTUBE]n_w4MV_LwMw[/YOUTUBE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MrJoshua Posted November 3, 2008 Members Share Posted November 3, 2008 Let's see, what else... Get yourself a good water bottle. Something you can use to squirt water into your mouth through the opening in your cage, because having to open the cage every time you need to take a drink is a PITA. Be sure to drink plenty of water at least an hour or two before you skate so you're well-hydrated when you get on the ice. Then you can just take small drinks of water after your shifts to stay hydrated through the game. It can also be useful to have a hand towel on the bench - something you can use to wipe sweat out of your eyes and such. I always carry a towel and a large water bottle, because if you have water, there's going to be someone else that doesn't and they'll want to bum yours. Get a thin pair of socks to wear inside your skates. The thinner the better, in general. CCM and some other people make socks specifically for hockey, but any thin pair of socks will do, really. Some guys skate without socks, and I've done that before but while it feels great, my feet are frozen by the end of the game plus I always worry about getting some kind of fungus - skates get nasty. But do whatever feels best to you. Comfort is important. If you have something uncomfortable nagging at you, you can't skate at your best. Be sure you have a comfortable underlayer beneath your pads - the cup needs to fit right, the shorts need to be comfortable, the shirt under your pads should ideally be some sort of wicking material to help move the sweat away from your skin and keep you cool. Just a basic t-shirt works fine, though, in a pinch. I like to wear UnderArmor shirts under my pads these days, because I feel like they keep me a little cooler even though it's probably in my head, but I used to wear a regular t-shirt and it was plenty comfortable. If your pants tend to slip down on you, you can get a pair of suspenders to hold them up better. Pants these days usually have a belt on them to help avoid that, but honestly I prefer the suspenders as I think they're more comfortable. That's probably due to me having a larger middle than I really ought to, but I'd rather blame the pants. You're going to fall down. Yes, you are. It happens to everyone. Especially when you're first starting out, but if you're out there really trying hard every game you'll fall down eventually - ruts in the ice, bumps, other people skating around, a puck to keep track of, and other factors combine to make it almost inevitable that sooner or later, you'll fall down. Learn to get up quickly. Especially, learn to use your momentum to hop right back onto your feet when you fall down while skating. They should cover this in skating class, but if they don't, ask one of the guys on the bench if he could show you during warmups before a game. It's a useful skill, and one that I quite frankly am not as good at as I ought to be. Skating backwards. Sooner or later, you'll need to do this. They should cover this in the class, too. If they don't, and if you have the time and money, think about signing up for a skating class. It doesn't matter if it's hockey or figure skating, as the basics are the same. As much as we like to make fun of figure skaters, I've played hockey against a couple of those guys before and they could flat-out SKATE. Just remember that hockey skates don't have a toe pick. But if you can master the crossover, the backwards crossover, that neat trick where they move from forwards to backwards without losing any momentum ... you'll be WAY ahead of LOTS of hockey players. And any time you're on the ice, you'll be getting more comfortable with skating in general, which is always a good thing. Remember that this is pickup and/or beer-league hockey. That usually means no hitting and no fighting. Yes, you can play physical, but you have to be in control about it. There's a big difference between using your body to force someone off the puck, and in laying a big open-ice hit that could cause serious damage. We all have jobs to go to in the morning, so play hard, play physical, but play clean and under control. Pass the puck. Few things are as annoying as breaking clean out of the zone, being wide open for a pass, and watching the other guy skate out with his head zone fifteen feet behind you and lose the puck to a backchecking forward instead of making the pass to you. Backcheck! If you're playing a forward position, you still have defensive responsibilities. Backchecking means if the other team has the puck in your zone, you need to be back in there trying to get it back! If you're a winger, your job is to cover the defensemen who will be out near the blueline hoping to get the puck for a long slapshot. If you're the center, you should be somewhere around the high slot usually (the area between the two faceoff circles, right in front of the goal, about ten feet out), making sure the other team can't outnumber your defensemen down low and covering the other team's center. If you're a defenseman, you should be covering one of the other team's forwards, down low in the zone, and helping out the goalie by keeping his sight lanes clear and forcing the play to the outside. A lot of the time you'll see one team's forward hang out near center ice instead of coming in to help out defensively. He's cherry picking, or snow birding, whatever you want to call it - waiting for a long pass so he can take off on a breakaway and try to score. The problem is, he's letting the rest of his teammates battle 4-on-5 defensively in the zone instead of helping out. Don't be that guy. It only takes a couple of times doing this to get a reputation as a cherry picker, and no matter how defensively-responsible you get after that, it takes a long time to lose that tag. Get down low and help out. Besides, it's fun to get in there defensively and play against guys. Offense is only half the game! I'll think of more random stuff later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hammer744 Posted November 3, 2008 Members Share Posted November 3, 2008 A couple of things to add to MrJoshua's comprehensive list. 1) the skates are going to be very stiff for a while - if you have access to a hockey store, take them in and ask if they'll put them in the 'oven' for you (most new skates can have this done now - best to ask first, though). What happens is they heat the skates up, then you put them on for 10-15 minutes in the store until they cool down. This softens the boot a little, and allows it to mold to your foot easier - basically accellerates the break-in period. If you only play once a week, it can take a long time to break in skates and you can end up with aching feet after an hour on the ice. 2) taping the stick - always tape the blade from heel to toe - this will have the 'overlap' in such a way as to not collect as much snow on the blade. 3) when you are done, air dry ALL your equipment especially the gloves and the skates - this will help to keep the smell down, as well as increase the life of the equipment. Keeping wet equipment in the bag is just nasty. James, in answer to the stick wax question, this is a more advanced thing. Some players put wax on the tape on the blade of the stick - this prevents snow/ice from building up on the blade - I've never used it - never felt the need for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hearafter Posted November 3, 2008 Members Share Posted November 3, 2008 Does your jock have velcro patches at the bottom to hold up your socks? If not, you'll have to get a garter to hold 'em up. Also, you can tape your socks top and bottom. The top will hold your shin pads in place, and keep your socks up, and the bottom tape (around your skate boot) can create a more rigid ankle support, giving you better balance. One tip for pick-up games: Watch for line changes! While you're sitting on the bench, people come off at random intervals... watch your players more than the play (People will come off the ice when the puck could be at the other end of the ice) be ready. Along with that, DON'T OVERSKATE YOURSELF. Take short shifts, don't go 110% the whole time, and don't use all of your energy in the first 20 minutes of the game... Good luck, and have fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hearafter Posted November 3, 2008 Members Share Posted November 3, 2008 ...James, in answer to the stick wax question, this is a more advanced thing. Some players put wax on the tape on the blade of the stick - this prevents snow/ice from building up on the blade - I've never used it - never felt the need for it. I don't use wax either, and I know some ice rinks don't even allow it... so check to make sure yours does, before you goop up yor stick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members james on bass Posted November 3, 2008 Members Share Posted November 3, 2008 I don't use wax either, and I know some ice rinks don't even allow it... so check to make sure yours does, before you goop up yor stick. Figures someone would market that. I just grab a candle off the living room table and wear it down a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hearafter Posted November 3, 2008 Members Share Posted November 3, 2008 Figures someone would market that. I just grab a candle off the living room table and wear it down a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MrJoshua Posted November 3, 2008 Members Share Posted November 3, 2008 I actually like these things a lot - http://www.epuck.com/bldshrktp2pk.html Instead of taping the stick blade, put one of these on each side of the blade. It has a very rough sandpaper texture that really grabs the puck well, and it's tougher than tape so it tends to last longer. Tape is still the more economical choice, I think, but man does this stuff feel great on the blade. It's thin and it seems like I can feel the puck better when it's on my blade as opposed to tape. I still use tape most of the time, but every once in a while I'll grab a pair of bladesharks and put those on. Just depends on how much disposable income I have that week, lol. For tape, though, I prefer the Renfrew friction tape - http://www.hockeymonkey.com/renfrewtape.html - which is a lot stickier than standard cloth tape, but the sticky really wears off after a couple of games. Then again, I tend to wear out tape pretty quickly anyway - after one or two skates it's always been stepped on, beat up, and is otherwise just in poor condition. I really ought to retape every week, but, I don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members t3ch Posted November 3, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 3, 2008 I had a reply to a bunch of stuff written out at work, but I forgot and came home... I feel like {censored}, so it's time to veg and play some NHL 08 Will respond when I feel well enough to sit at the computer, ugh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members liko Posted November 3, 2008 Members Share Posted November 3, 2008 Here are 11 commandments that our instructional-league coaches beat into us. Every last one of them will make you a better player even if they have nothing to do with skill. Rule number 1 of beer league hockey; everyone's gotta get up in the morning and go to their real job. Our amateur leagues are played "no-check" until A-league (there are AA and AAA, then it's minor professional leagues; you'll probably start in I-League and go from there to D-League). That means that, while body contact is allowed, physically pushing a guy off the puck is not. No-check generally encourages people to learn how to skate rather than just running into each other. "Drop-in" or pickup games are also generally no-check since people of all skill levels are on the ice together (watch out for assholes though). Learn how to use your stick and skates before you start intentionally putting your body into it. Rule number 2: If you cannot skate, you cannot play. Learn the basics of ice skating; forwards, backwards, glide turns and crossovers both forward and back, both left and right, and stops (start with snowplow, then move to one-skate snowplow, then hockey stops, moving forward and backward, with either foot leaning in). You may be able to play with some subset of this, but if you cannot at least start, turn, and stop quickly you will be ineffective in a game. Rule number 3: If you cannot stand, you cannot skate. Being able to skate by yourself, in the same direction as everyone else, without falling down is a good start, but when half the people on the ice are trying to make you fall, while you are pushing yourself to speeds approaching and exceeding the limits of your control, you will fall. It is therefore imperative that you learn how to get back up quickly, and (this seems humorous but I'm dead serious) still facing the same direction. With full gear on, practice supermans (in an empty section of the rink, please), popups (similar to football popups, but you're generally not running in place), butterflies, etc. until you can quickly regain your feet on the ice. Rule number 3: This makes figuring out what is and is not a penalty very easy; your stick is a tool for moving the puck, and your skates are for locomotion. To misuse either, especially as a weapon, is a penalty, ranging in severity from interference to kicking. Rule number 4: FULL EQUIPMENT, AT ALL TIMES. Once you get on the ice, anything can happen. You may not think you need some of it; I mean, why bother with a cup or a full face cage when the players don't know how to lift the puck off the ice? I'll tell you why, because the first time you do need it you'll wish you had it. It's not all about the puck; yes it is very rare to see a puck at head height of a standing player. It is however very common to see a stick blade that high at amateur levels. And what about when the player's kneeling or laid out? For the same reason, cups (or pelvic protectors) should be worn religiously; a puck in the groin, though unlikely, is no laughing matter, and neither are the far more likely cases of a stick or leg ending up in your groin. Get a mouthgard; Shock Doctor makes some excellent "boil and bite" models that form to your teeth, making it easy to talk while providing excellent protection against concussions from banging one's chin on the ice, boards, other players, etc. Rule number 5: Keep your stick on the ice, and both hands on the stick. You see a lot of pro players skate with their sticks up, or at least at waist height. Don't be like them. If your stick is not on the ice, it cannot catch the puck. You also see a lot of players, pro and amateur, pushing the puck up or down the wing with one hand on the end of the stick. Don't be like them. While there is some call for it, namely to move the puck up toward the goal as fast as possible on a breakaway, for the most part your forward hand is what gives you your power and control. If you find yourself having to get rid of the puck in a hurry, and you only have one hand on the stick, the puck is going nowhere fast. Rule number 6: Play your position, but play ALL of your position. If you're a defenseman (the best position for newbs IMO), you should generally not move further than your opponents' blue line, and until you get your skating skills up to scratch you should probably stay a little further back from that. However, the only person reasonably expected to stay in one patch of ice is the goalie. Basically think of the rink as divided into four overlapping sections of ice. As a defenseman, your area is from the boards behind your goal to the top of the face-off circle on the other end, on either the left or right side, and you always stay behind your wing. As a wing, it's similar but opposite; your own zone's face-off circle to the boards behind the opponent's goal, on one side of the goals. Centers can technically be needed anywhere, but traditionally and while learning they stay to the inside of the four face-off dots. If you find yourself out of position, you are either carrying the puck in which case other players are moving to cover your position, or you are doing something wrong. Rule number 7: You are not a triathlete. Even if you are, don't act like one. Each shift, or the span of time spent actually skating around on the ice, should be between 45 seconds to a minute and a half of the hardest skating you have ever done. If you have been on the ice for more than two minutes something is terribly wrong. Pace yourself. Rule number 8: Cover the pass, not the puck carrier. This is textbook 2-on-1 play; when two opposing players are moving the puck toward your goal, and you stand between them and the goalie, let the goalie face the shot; it's what he does. Your job is to prevent the player with the puck from getting it onto the other player's stick. If you go for the puck carrier, he has an open guy that the goalie has to reporition for (and most often cannot). Cover that guy and the puck carrier has to make a decision; go for a shot against a goalie who has the angle, or try to get it past you to his teammate. Passing in amateur league is always iffy, so if you are even vaguely between the two you are drastically reducing his ability to dump it off. Rule number 9: Don't get fancy right away. Skate where you need to be and do what you need to do. Dekes, fakes, jailbreaks and other tricks of the trade will come with time. If you need to cover a player, give yourself as much room as you need to make sure he can't get past you. If it's a choice between a no-look quick pass and a shot on a covered goal, 9 times out of 10 in amateur-league play you should take the shot because the other guy will be looking for a rebound, not a dump-off. As a wing, the simplest move to get the puck around a defender, yet very effective one-on-one, is to close ground, shoot the puck towards the boards and behind the player covering you, then break to the other side. The defenseman, moving slower, has a choice; go for the puck or tie up the player. Both are moving around him, very quickly, in opposite directions. In some cases such a play is undefendable, and you just pick up the puck behind the defenseman as it comes back out from the boards. Rule number 10: Be a good sport. Hockey tends to bring out the worst in people; it's a fast, elegant, fluid game, with the counterintuitive addition of full-body pads and hooked sticks. If someone hits you, shake it off. You hit them back and you're likely to have two minutes of cool-off time in the box for illegal contact or worse. Rule number 11: Have fun! Ice hockey is probably one of the most enjoyable sports to play, if also one of the most expensive. It's exhausting, it can be frustrating especially when your feet don't do what you expect them to, but it's great exercise, it builds teamwork and camraderie, it's an outlet for aggression (though it must be controlled), and at least in lower levels it can make for some of the most hilarious and entertaining gameplay in sports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JeffBass Posted November 4, 2008 Members Share Posted November 4, 2008 Do you know how to skate well? Get some skates that fit right first. Then go skating a few times before trying to play hockey. The amount of coordination involved in playing ice hockey is like playing the bass, singing, and playing bass pedals at the same time. The Canuck Geddy Lee comes to mind!! You can get away with cheaper shoulder pads and other gear if you're just going to play pickup games or house league. Basically the faster the game, the better the players and the better gear you'll need because collisions with other players (and the puck) become more violent as skills increase. Once you break in those skates and feel pretty secure on them, try some rat ice at the local rink. Rat ice is just a bunch of guys who pay 10 bucks and pick teams to play. No refs, just fun hockey. Do that about 20 times and you might be ready for the house league, which is the lowest level for guys who never really played competetively. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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