yvan12 0 Report post Posted October 15, 2006 What was the longest time you weren't playinhg hockey and do you feel "rusty" after coming back on ice? 15 years due to knee injuries, work, wife and family, but primarily the knee problems. The toughest thing to do is to get back into the routine of committing to a team or activity after being away from it for 1 season, let alone 15 of them. You tend to find other things to do with your time. Ironically, it was an Orthopaedic Surgeon who wondered why I wasn't playing in the Oldtimer's League he was in. When I told him about the knee, he said skating would actually be good for it because it would keep it loose, and he was right. To protect the knee I sharpen my skates differently, but that is another discussion. I wasn't 'rusty', I was 'corroded' lol. It was a long time, and many things changed...weight, shape, hands went to concrete, legs went to spaghetti, but the desire to play and have fun came back and that is what it is all about. I wish I had returned much earlier. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thejackal 46 Report post Posted October 15, 2006 stopped playing after Novice B. Started again 3 years later and made the Bantam A team (inthe meantime i actually found some skills). Right now its a pain in the a$$, havnt been on ice forever since moving to norcal. i'm definitly going to play again next year in college, probably rec. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3 Report post Posted October 15, 2006 stopped playing after Novice B. Started again 3 years later and made the Bantam A team (inthe meantime i actually found some skills). Right now its a pain in the a$$, havnt been on ice forever since moving to norcal. i'm definitly going to play again next year in college, probably rec. You left Montreal Jackal? Where are you now buddy? North California? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Oberon 0 Report post Posted October 15, 2006 I took ten years off after a knee injury. It took a year of pick-up to get back my legs and feel for the game, and another year to come to grips with the fact that the jump I had in my twenties just isn't coming back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HotBacon 0 Report post Posted October 17, 2006 I "retired" after graduating college and didn't touch a stick for 6 years. I was convinced into playing an alumni game and couldn't believe how much I missed being on the ice. My skating was surprisingly not all that bad. I lost a bit of speed and agility of course, but I'm not quite sure if that is the layoff or the age (it's amazing how stiff and slow a 30 year old is when compared to a 20 year old). My hands are what is really depressing me now. I've hit about 5-10 open hockey sessions and my stickhandling and shot are nowhere near what they used to be, and actually seem to be getting worse. I've upgraded from Easton ultralites w/ woody blades to broken synergys w/ composite blades, so we'll see what happens. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hockeyherb 1 Report post Posted October 17, 2006 22 years for me! Didn't even own skates during that period of time. The first time I went rec. skating it was as if I had never skated before. Shoot, I thought I had this category sewn up! I took 20 years off. I didn't play from the time I was 18 until earlier this year when I was 38.Surprisingly, other than being out of shape, I think I didn't lose much and was one of the top scorers in my league. I think playing from age 5 to 18 with a lot of those years also doing power skating must have ingrained it in my brain so it really was like riding a bike.I've never enjoyed it anymore than I do now though because I can drink beer after the games now! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
