New sport: Ice Lacrosse

[Jason Harris 31]

A friend of mine comes out to Colorado once a month for his job, so we meet up for dinner. Tonight he told me about a new sport that one of the rinks in New England is going to test to increase revenues during the down time between seasons -- ice lacrosse.

There will wear fully hockey equipment (although I'm not sure which gloves), and have five skaters plus a goalie. Three skaters will be attackers and two will be defenders, and neither will be allowed to cross the red line, so it will constantly be 3 on 2 in the offensive zones. The games will be forty-five minute run time, with brief stoppages every two minutes to switch players from bench to ice (I believe).

The rink is going to try this because they believe there is a decent overlap between hockey and lacrosse players.

[UMWhockey 0]

A friend of mine comes out to Colorado once a month for his job, so we meet up for dinner. Tonight he told me about a new sport that one of the rinks in New England is going to test to increase revenues during the down time between seasons -- ice lacrosse.

There will wear fully hockey equipment (although I'm not sure which gloves), and have five skaters plus a goalie. Three skaters will be attackers and two will be defenders, and neither will be allowed to cross the red line, so it will constantly be 3 on 2 in the offensive zones. The games will be forty-five minute run time, with brief stoppages every two minutes to switch players from bench to ice (I believe).

The rink is going to try this because they believe there is a decent overlap between hockey and lacrosse players.

It's not new... they have been doing it at the Prince William Skate Quest in Va for 3 or 4 years now

[gavin 0]

Hang on, 5 skaters + a golie = 6, so how is there only 3 forwards and 2 D? Also, if the D have to stay behind the red line, then wouln't that make it 2 on 5? Or are the forwards also not allowed to backcheck? lol that would be great, sometime beer leagues are played like that anyways... nobody backchecking, three cherry pickers all circling in the neutral zone waiting for me to get the puck up to them.

[Jason Harris 31]

Sorry, I didn't realize that this has been done before. My buddy said the rink manager implied it's a new sport -- maybe he meant new to the NE area.

Regarding the 5 on 2, apparently defenders could only be in the defensive half of the red line, while attackers can only skate in the offensive half of the red line, so it obviously would alway be 3 attackers against 2 defenders plus goalie.

I was thinking further about the switching every two minutes. At first it sounded kinda long, but it makes some sense because players will have moments of not really skating as the ball is in the other end and they're not allowed to cross the line.

[13crayons 0]

I wish they had that at a rink in Illinois, I think it would be a lot of fun :D

[hattrick74 0]

stupid question.......is this played with hockey sticks or lacrosse sticks? and with a ball or puck?

[13crayons 0]

stupid question.......is this played with hockey sticks or lacrosse sticks? and with a ball or puck?

It sounds like it would be played with lacrosse sticks and a ball..just played on ice with regular hockey gear

[aoes812 0]

Wow.. that sounds really weird.. I'd have to watch it to see what it's all about

[warrior37 0]

i dont like the idea of lacrosse on ice, i think its fine the way it is, indoor lacrosse/box is played on an ice rink minus the ice, something tells me that the speed factor would make 'ice lacrosse' less fun than normal

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

Is the ball going to be white or what color?

[Miserable 6]

We had it here in PA last summer. It was a giant bust. It was started as a full league but ended up a one night 3 on 3 open session in a couple weeks before it died.

[Jason Harris 31]

i dont like the idea of lacrosse on ice, i think its fine the way it is, indoor lacrosse/box is played on an ice rink minus the ice, something tells me that the speed factor would make 'ice lacrosse' less fun than normal

That's understandable, Warrior, but this rink is experimenting with the idea strictly in an attempt to increase their revenue streams in the months when hockey is down, such as August. Presumably, the public skates don't pick up tremendously during that time, so they're hopeful the lacrosse will draw some hockey players. My friend said the initial reaction has been good, so it likely will accomplish what the rink's hoping for.

Kovy, that's a darn good question, since a white ball would blend in with the boards often. I'm guessing they'll find a darker ball. The other consideration I was thinking of is whether they'll need to put up netting around the benches because of the bounciness of the ball.

[capes921 0]

i think it sounds like a great idea. i've always wanted to play lacrosse, but i can't run to save my life so this would be the perfect solution

[hockechamp14 0]

I would so do it if it was at a rink around me. I used to play lacrosse and it sounds like a blast.

So would the goalie be in hockey gear or in lax box stuff?... main difference being a catching glove and the leg pads.

[Jason Harris 31]

Okay, another new version of hockey that's been around for fifty years, but I never heard about it until I saw this article today in the Boston Globe:

Underwater Hockey

[biff44 0]

Don't know about hockey, but I was in Florida once on a southern tour.... where I met this little redhead who was an underwater specialist.

[David13 0]

"There will wear fully hockey equipment (although I'm not sure which gloves)"

Just a question exactly what is the difference between hockey and lacross pads? Or just any of the pads really could you use your pads for both sports?

[Jason Harris 31]

My friend told me that slashing the stick is allowed and that the hands are considered an extension of the lacrosse stick, so the gloves are more padded. (Although, I thought I've read here that some people considered lacrosse gloves to be more mobile.)

[sonsplayhockey 0]

I play in MD. Hockey is never down.

Adult leagues go all year.

Summer ice is filled with camps, clinics, parties, open skating and Travel team practices.

The only time I ever see the rinks unused are between 12-6am and during the work day. Figure skaters practice during the day on some rinks but with 3 rinks, they usually have 1 of them down at any given time from 8am till 2pm.

If they want more business, they should come up with some way to increase the market. Lacross does not seem the answer to me, but just a fad. You have to learn to skate, so now, you get Hockey players who play lacross beating up on all the hockey only or lacross only players. If they want more business they should start broom ball games or beginner hockey leagues where people who have $$$ but no skill can join.

I just wish my rink would do daytime stick and puck. I'd skip out of work for an hour or two if I could just work on things I want to work on.

What gets me urked is that in July and August 11-1 pickup gets cancelled from all the clinics and camps.

[cja5150 0]

i dont like the idea of lacrosse on ice, i think its fine the way it is, indoor lacrosse/box is played on an ice rink minus the ice, something tells me that the speed factor would make 'ice lacrosse' less fun than normal

That's understandable, Warrior, but this rink is experimenting with the idea strictly in an attempt to increase their revenue streams in the months when hockey is down, such as August. Presumably, the public skates don't pick up tremendously during that time, so they're hopeful the lacrosse will draw some hockey players. My friend said the initial reaction has been good, so it likely will accomplish what the rink's hoping for.

Kovy, that's a darn good question, since a white ball would blend in with the boards often. I'm guessing they'll find a darker ball. The other consideration I was thinking of is whether they'll need to put up netting around the benches because of the bounciness of the ball.

It sounds like an interesting novelty.

I hate to be the "hater", but I don't see the business strategy as coherent.

The game requires those who can skate, therefore drawing it's majority from Ice Hockey players. Many hockey players take the summer off (none of us of course) to pursue outdoor activities, time off, etc.

Essentially the "plan" is to draw these same skaters back to the rink for a "different" game... The reality is that it's Ice Hockey with Lacrosse sticks.

[forsberg91 0]

Ice lacrosse sounds crazy. I'd definately give it a try.

[Dougie8 0]

Last year in the summer, I was just shooting with my rollerblades one. I then got my lacrosse stick and started shooting with a lacrosse stick and rollerblades, its alot of fun, I think I'd like to try lacrosse on ice, I havent played lacrosse for a couple years now.

[gavin 0]

While we're talking about weird hockey alternatives, I might as well mention floorball. I used to play in floorhockey tournaments in BC when I was a tyke, but apparently in Europe they play with a ball and they take it WAY too seriously. Just search google, youtube or anywhere for "floorball" or "airhook"

The airhook, I'm not sure of the attraction but it seems like they really enjoy stickhandling the puck in the air. It doesn't look too hard but the only real reason I can see for the skill is when they do wraparound behind the net to score. Kinda like the Michigan move on steroids.

Anyways, I just thought was worth mentioning because I hope to move to Europe in a year or so, and that seems to be pretty popular over there.

[Jason Harris 31]

Floorball is huge in the Scandinavian countries, probably because it's an inexpensive sport. One stick and a ball are all that is needed, so schools play it in Phys Ed. I played about two months ago and found it to be a lot of fun, although more aerobic due to the running involved. I will try to play again, now that my Wed. nights have freed up.

Back to ice lacrosse, yes I agree it's a novelty but the determinant whether it will take off or be just a fad is whether it's fun. In other words, they should be able to attract players just upon the novelty of it; if the players like it they'll come back for future seasons.

[jrwarrior16 0]

is this going to be brought to NE?