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So A few weeks ago I joined a learn to play hockey class and pickup, and I'm having an absolute blast. It's very casual, I'm learning a lot, and everyone is really supportive.

Man the gear is expensive though. I've spent around $600 just on equipment and I'm still missing shoulder pads and a few other odds and ends (A bigger bag, and suspenders). Still I can definitely see my self getting my moneys worth, and I plan to join a beginners league this summer.

Yeah the equipment is really pricey. I think that's one of the largest obstacles it has gaining popularity internationally. You can get some good deals if you don't mind buying second hand equipment though.

I'd love to play again. Its been about 12 years since the last time I even put on skates though.

find a used sporting goods shop in your area, or ebay.

600 bucks is nothing. I shell out at least a grand on goalie shit every year.

The equipment is the second biggest drawback to the game.

Ice is the first.

Yea, unfortunately being in North Carolina what Hockey gear the used sport stores have tend to be youth sizes.

Still having a blast, and my skating is improving which is helping a lot.

Covar said:

Yea, unfortunately being in North Carolina what Hockey gear the used sport stores have tend to be youth sizes.

Still having a blast, and my skating is improving which is helping a lot.

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Ebay

Adult beginner class/pickup (granted I'm in North Carolina and not Canada, so we're much more tolerant of people who have never played). My skating skills were weak, and everything else was non existent. Now I can skate a whole lot better and am able to focus more on passing and shooting.

Right on man. The gear can be pricey but it's definitely worth it. Have fun and keep your stick on the ice.

Anyone who gives beginners shit is an asshole. Everyone's got to start somewhere. Good for you.

Covar said:

Adult beginner class/pickup (granted I'm in North Carolina and not Canada, so we're much more tolerant of people who have never played). .

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That's a rather large assumption.

Well, you know, there's that whole mythology about Canadians being born with skates on their feet.

checkeredhat said:

That's a rather assumption.

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Largely based on the popularity of the sport to the geographic regions and my own anecdotal evidence with the sports that are popular down here. Tolerant might not be a good word, expectations maybe?

Still improving. I got a few months until the summer leagues start. I've been playing quite a bit of defense in the pickups just because I'm a big guy (6'2" ~230lbs) and there's a definite lack of people who want to play it. Of course that means I definitely need to improve at transitioning backwards and forwards.

Covar said:

Still improving. I got a few months until the summer leagues start. I've been playing quite a bit of defense in the pickups just because I'm a big guy (6'2" ~230lbs) and there's a definite lack of people who want to play it. Of course that means I definitely need to improve at transitioning backwards and forwards.

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Skating backwards and my lack of ability to do so is really the only reason I was forced to play left wing when I played. I'm a short guy, but I've always been stocky and I could knock people down pretty damn good and forced turn overs like you read about. But my shot is weak so I sucked as a forward (My own fault. I'm right handed but play lefty because I have better stick handling that way, but sacrifice all power out of my shot by doing so). Basically, when I play road hockey I'm a decent defenseman, but when I play on ice I'm a terrible... anything, really.

Covar said:

Still improving. I got a few months until the summer leagues start. I've been playing quite a bit of defense in the pickups just because I'm a big guy (6'2" ~230lbs) and there's a definite lack of people who want to play it. Of course that means I definitely need to improve at transitioning backwards and forwards.

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A good way to train for that situation is to do sprints up and down the ice. Start behind the goal line and skate forwards as hard as you can until you get to the blue line. Then you should turn backwards and skate backwards through center ice. Once you hit the other blue line turn forwards again and stop at the goal line.

I'm a God awful skater but was a big fat guy who was surprisingly nimble so shockingly enough, I ended up the goalie all the time. I haven't played actual hockey since high school though. Maybe I should find an old timer's league (I have a couple of friends who play in them). I'm not RCMP team calibre so there's no point in looking there. Those guys are actually good.

Picked up One of these bad boys today. Much nicer and larger than the spare duffle bag I was using.

And now I have a full set of gear. Next week I start playing in a Lower C league, so I finally grabbed a set of shoulder pads. I went with the Easton Synergy EQPro, found them on Amazon for about $10 less than anywhere else.

And I shall be the first to make the most obvious statement on a forum such as this:

PICS OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN!

I play my first game tonight. First line defense.

That is one sexy hockey bag.

I'm number #25 in the red hat and pants, with the white socks. The one looking all slow, lumbering, and like he still can't stand on the ice. (man I look a lot worse than I thought)

Interesting choice of music. The game piss you off that much?

Ice isn't running in my neck of the woods. I'm a bit jealous.

Soliloquy said:

Interesting choice of music. The game piss you off that much?

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I can't take credit for the video. I didn't really get pissed until the end when I was too slow, and wasn't able to chase a loose puck fast enough to stop the empty netter. I made some good plays at the blue line though, so that's something.

Scored my first goal last night, in the last game of the summer season. Grabbed a rebound 3 feet from the crease and tried knocking it through the five-hole. Goalie managed to get a piece of it, but it slipped out from behind his pads allowing me to just tap it in from behind him.

This thread is now about my hockey team (Top Shelf) and our fall league. First game is tonight against Freaks 'n Deeks, I'll be playing right wing on the third line. Over the summer I finished with 8 GP, 1 G, 1 A, and 2 PIM. The league unfortunately doesn't track point differential, but I'll try and keep track myself now.

Post game report to come later.

Aim High! Go Top Shelf!

Right on dude. I'll be playing in a rec league this fall as well. doesn't start till october though. I have yet to be assigned a team but once I am and if it's ok with you I'll talk about it here too.

Hell yes! We'll change the thread title once you get a team.

Not gonna lie pretty stoked to be in a league again after all that time in china.

Top Shelf defeated the Freaks 'n Deeks last night 4-1. I had 0 points, finishing at a -1 differential.

Too Many freaks not enough dekes.

Hoping start the season with 2 in a row, Top Shelf faces Dynamo this Sunday at 2:00.

Aim High! Go Top Shelf!

Collapsing defense caused Dynamo to hold the offense for a good chunk of the game, limiting the scoring chances of Top Shelf. This caught up to us in the third.

Personally I did ok, scoring the only goal (with a great assist by the D, knocked in the rebound from a slapshot.) for Top Shelf with an even differential.

Ouch.

It's only september. I think Top Shelf just needs a little more time to gel.

Top Shelf (1-1-0-0) faces off against the Cat 5 Caniacs (1-1-0-0) tonight at 9:45. Will Covar continue his scoring streak? Can the team hold their zones to provide better breakout opportunities and provide relief for the goaltender?

You'll find out tomorrow!

Aim High! Go Top Shelf!

This threads good and all but it's full of top shelf homers!

Top Shelf defeats the Cat 5 Caniacs with a 4-1 victory in large part thanks to a hat trick by our star defenseman. This victory places us at second in the division.

I had zero points, and finished with a +3 differential.

We play 15 games in the season, with 2 playoff games. So here's the standings at the quarter mark.

Dynamo? REALLY?

FYI on Sunday ill be making my preseason debut for the Nitehawks vs I don't know who.

jwhouk said:

Dynamo? REALLY?

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Yeah, really.


You'd think if they were going to name their team after the Running Man, they'd name it after Professor Subzero.

No, I mean... DYNAMO? That's a name out of the 1980's. Why not go all the way and call them Sparatak Dynamo Lokomotiv 2000?

I just wanted to reference Running Man.

Our next game is tonight against Rampage. The game is at 11:15PM so our bench is smaller than normal (we're one of the larger teams, with good attendance, can usually fill 3 lines forwards and defense), because of this I've been moved to Center. Time to crush it!

We will also be debuting in our new Alternate Sweaters.

Needs a little more gold and blue.

jwhouk said:

Needs a little more gold and blue.

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Said no one ever.

I just did, so there

(Oh, and add a more menacing logo, like a sabre-tooth tiger.)

They should have kept the old color scheme is all I'm gonna say.

Bitter defeat last Friday brings Top Shelf down to 3-2-0-0. Now back in their classic white sweaters they seek their second victory over the hungry Freaks & Dekes.

Aim High! Go Top Shelf!

Covar said:

We will also be debuting in our new Alternate Sweaters.

View attachment 8380

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Nice looking sweater, but I'm curious; what's the deal with the hanzi/kanji? Heaven?

It's a metaphysical top shelf I suppose.

Preseason ends in my rec league. 1 goal. 2 pim. 3 games with 3 or less subs....gonna be a long year.

Getting ready to resume hockey tomorrow after a far-to-long Thanksgiving break. Standings are still pretty fluid. First place is right out, but if we play hard there's room to move up with a strong push.

I'll necro this thread.

I play for the leagues Charlie Brown team. We've yet to win. However tonight I scored a goal off my cup and I feel that's kind of newsworthy.

yo @Covar you still playing hockey?

I'm taking the fall season off. I was starting to get burnt out with the team I was playing on. Good group of people, provided we weren't in the process of losing a game. We finished .500 the last two seasons so yea. I'm not a fan of finger pointing (especially when you don't point it at yourself at all). Our Lower C leagues are broken up into North and South, I'm going to probably join a North team this spring. It's a little better talent (still Lower C level though) and I think I can hang, and I'll be able to improve my game more getting to play with better players than me.

Jamming on that groove. The hockey we play is too low stakes for finger pointing. Here's hoping your next team has maturity to go with the talent.

Hawks start the preseason with a 7-4 victory. 1G 2A for me.