Midget

[sniper94 0]

I am going to my first year of Midget this year and I am a bit concerned because I am a bit small. 5'6" 150LB 4% body fat and all my friends are telling me horror stories about 17 yr old 6'5" 220lb giants. And I am not too good at body checking. More of a St. Louis/ Joe Sakic player. Of course I know I can make it, just have to keep my head up. I just wondered if any of you had made the big move before and what it was like to you. What was the biggest thing to get used to? Was everything alot faster.

Any imput to ease a troubled mind appreciated.

Sniper94

[seanmccann 3]

Once you are on the ice you can not tell the 1st and 3rd years apart if you do not know them. If you play on the right team you should not notice a huge difference.

[rausch27 1]

thats the size i was when i moved up to midgets , and im not much bigger now, all i did was put on more muscle. all there is to it is play your game and play smart with your head up, youll be fine just try to keep up with the pace

[biff44 0]

Midgets are a lot easier physically than Juniors!

The first thing you have to realize is that almost all injuries occur when you did not see the guy coming. To see the guy coming, you have to skate with your head up and on a swivel. If you can not do that, spend the summer stickhandling a ball without looking at it.

You are a smaller player. You may grow soon, but for now you should be concentrating on your strong points--speed and agility. Work on sprinting and plyometrics this summer, and you will be able to "jump" your way out of trouble. With your small body weight, think how much more agile you will be if you put on just 5 more pounds of leg muscle! Do some squats this summer.

Do these and you will quickly learn during the season that they can not catch you.

If you are really psyched out about the physical side, take some Judo lessons this summer. Judo is a sport of leverage. You would be surprised how easy it is to throw a 6' 2" guy, because you would have the leverage on him.

[Cavs019 710]

Use your speed and keep your head up and you will prosper. The more you become accustomed to the faster pace the more confident you will be, and you'll begin to realize what works and what doesn't. Most important advice I can give anyone is to always keep your feet moving and stay low.

[troybruins89 0]

I'm in my first year of midget also and im only 5'4 115 lbs and I've been playing with the midget players all spring and summer..It's not near as bad as I thought it would be. Physically its not to bad as long as you stick up for yourself. Not being afraid is probably the most important part of the transition.

[EBondo 242]

I'm in my first year of midget also and im only 5'4 115 lbs and I've been playing with the midget players all spring and summer..It's not near as bad as I thought it would be. Physically its not to bad as long as you stick up for yourself. Not being afraid is probably the most important part of the transition.

Exactly, it's all in your head really, you're letting people intimidate you. I am 15, first year midget, and I'm 5-3 5-4 118 lbs....I was scared when I got to the first game, but after playing this spring season for midget, it's not that much different. it's just a lot faster and more physical is all

[biff44 0]

Also, don't forget that it is a rare big player that actually plays big! Many can not get out of their own way, and are slowwwwww! The precious few big guys that are quick are not out to prove anything against a 5' 6" kid, they would consider that unsporting.

[rausch27 1]

Also, don't forget that it is a rare big player that actually plays big! Many can not get out of their own way, and are slowwwwww! The precious few big guys that are quick are not out to prove anything against a 5' 6" kid, they would consider that unsporting.

so true , all the big kids in my high school league are so easy to get around, all you need is speed. the rarely get big hits and usually just hit me when i already got rid of the puck

[D-MaN88 0]

I'll be in my 3rd year of midgets this year, and I've also noticed that the little guys getting in and throwing the body, I've even seen the little guys manhandle some of the big guys with a big hit and then get away so I mean its all your determination and skill. Just keep your head up, feet moving, and notice your surrondings like people say with your head on a swivel and you'll be fine. And the last thing, you can't and I repeat cannot be scared on the look of sheer size alone. Agreed, most of the big guys are slow and sluggish with no hands. I've only seen and played a handful of HUGE guys that were decent to like wow he's good, but also take that with a grain of salt as that was just my experience.

[LkptTiger 1]

...There isn't much of a difference. I think you'll find that the tempo of the game is slightly higher, and guys will finish their checks harder and later then in Bantams, but other then that there isn't much to be worried about...

I'm more worried about the eventual jump to Juniors then I was about the Bantam-Midget transition...

[Chesterfield12 0]

hey man your not to small....i was 5' 4" 110 lbs...im now in my 3rd year and still only 5' 10" 135lbs and ive always done fine...like tha rest say...just keep your head up and u will be fine...and most of the goons that r out to kill you are slow and u can skate right around them cuz they will have to lean over a bit to put their hands on you.

[Megamandan 0]

Comming from a big midget, 200Lbs. 6'3", my advise to you is get speed. If you have speed and look where you're going a big guy won't have time to line you up. As long as you move quickly and skate where there is an opening you're fine. Playing forward the only thing you may have trouble with is battling in front of the net. Thats what my job is, to keep you out of the slot. As long as you move and use your agility you should be fine. My friend is 5' 7" and he goes after big guys and wins 85% of the time, like stated before, big guys are USUALLY slow and top heavy.

[troybruins89 0]

Comming from a big midget, 200Lbs. 6'3", my advise to you is get speed. If you have speed and look where you're going a big guy won't have time to line you up. As long as you move quickly and skate where there is an opening you're fine. Playing forward the only thing you may have trouble with is battling in front of the net. Thats what my job is, to keep you out of the slot. As long as you move and use your agility you should be fine. My friend is 5' 7" and he goes after big guys and wins 85% of the time, like stated before, big guys are USUALLY slow and top heavy.

I forgot about the battles in front of the net, they are a lot harder in midget but if you keep moving a lot and wrap around the net to the opposite side you can sometimes get a few open seconds that can turn into a goal or scoring opportunity. Another thing is if you show that you aren't afraid and dig it out in the corners you'll be accepted off the ice quicker as well.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Honestly, don't worry. It's not a big jump, just use what you have and have faith in your teammates to help you out if needed and you'll be fine.

[sherwood21 0]

Don't try to do too much, it'll happen gradually. I've got to go through a bigger jump (Bantam-Prep/Junior) this year, but you just can't worry about er.

Best advice given so far was to stick up for yourself, keep your feet moving, keep your head up and stay low.

[sniper94 0]

Thanks for the answers all.

I feel a bit better about all that now.

I'm trying not to think about it too much. I know that when I step on the ice it will just be hockey and when I am playing all I think about is the game. I will try to do all the stuff I heard here.

Any other advise keep it coming!

Sniper94

[A_Steeves12 0]

alot depends on waht you'll be playing. like if your playing B then there will be alot of big 17 year olds that go out just to hit and fight. there higher of league you play the less this will happen. there will still be the odd guy but its nothing. just dont be scared and keep your head up.

[Megamandan 0]

there will be alot of big 17 year olds that go out just to hit and fight.

Thats Juniors. ;)

[hocckey77 0]

there will be alot of big 17 year olds that go out just to hit and fight.

Thats Juniors. ;)

or crappy IL high school hockey

[peterhockey 0]

if your scared of being hit when you go into the corners and hold back you can get hurt worse, just get low and go hard through the hit