Task for you canadians!

[eugegall 0]

Hey guys. Here is the story. Please read all.

I'm 21 and have been playing once a week for 1 year as a "C"

My friend is 23 and has been playing 6 months as a "D".

Were both British and live in the UK near London. As I’m sure most of you are aware there is not allot of hockey in these parts. However we have both always loved the game.

When I was younger my parents could never afford for me to play so I have missed out in joining a team, this was my dream. When i turned 20 I thought better late than never, So joined my local rec team.

As it happens for how long i have been playing i'm not too bad. This brings me onto my challenge for you all.

I want me and my friend to fly to somewhere in Canada for about 1 or 2 months and play intense hockey with tuition. On and off ice. I would like to find someone to coach the two of us and maybe somewhere to stay. Obviously you will be compensated for this. I want the right person to take me and my friend to the next level. So when we go back to the UK we have caught up and can play in a minor league.

Please don’t ignore this. We both have the ability to be OK at the game however there is only so much we can do here. IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE A SPARE ROOM AND A LITTLE SPARE TIME AND WOULD LIKE TO EARN SOMETHING THEN PLEASE ASK YOUR QUESTIONS.

Thanks for listening to me.

[fatwabbit 93]

this is going to bring up a few protests from the guys "why not the US?"

wishing you luck my friend, I sure dont have the guts to do that myself. Something I admire about people who follow their dreams.

[eugegall 0]

LET ME MAKE THIS CLEAR.

I would like canada for a number of reasons.

its part of the dream of mine. i know some people out there and its the place i want to go. always have done. so in respect of going on holiday and a hockey camp. i decided to kill two birds with one stone.

i started an aviation business when i was 19. this gives me the freedom to follow my dreams. and why the hell not.

thanks dude

[Zamboni 6]

I'm not aware of adult hockey camps like we send kids away to for a week, if you find something like that consider it. My son loved week away when he was 8, 3 hours practise ice a day with an evening game.

Most adult beginner courses I hear of are one hour weekly for 8-10-12 weeks.

Ice costs would really factor into your private instruction plan for just two of you. Maybe you can hook up with a MSH member, do stick & puck, informal shinny as extras to whatever organized courses you find in city you stay in.

I don't teach adults myself, I can yell at kids, make them do 'suicides' for not listening/working hard....does not go over well with adults :lol: . Let me know if you land in Toronto, I run private ice through the summer....you can come out as 'puck farmers' sometime if it fits your schedule.

[BigDipper 0]

First off, England as a Commonwealth agreement with Canada, so that's a plus for visa issues. My advice would be to target larger markets. Example Toronto. Year round ice as well high demand for hockey would definitely put you in a better position. Finding someone to "host" you for rooming arrangements would most likely be a tough find. However, it seems you have some money to toss around so finding a sublet apartment shouldn't be too hard. Private instruction can be really good, but as mentioned before become costly really fast. I've seen several adult camps, and they really good too. It all depends on your current skill level. I have some contacts in Toronto and Nova Scotia as well and would more than happy to try and help you out. IF you want PM me, and I'll give you my number so you can call.

[Viking 1]

I don't really have an extra room, or a lot of spare time, but if Ottawa or surrounding area is in your plans, I can help you find a place to stay, and places to play hockey.

[Hidious 0]

I'd wait for next winter because the hockey season is coming to an end and it would probably be harder to find what you are looking for during the summer.

[mack 44]

This is the weirdest version of slave trading I've ever heard of. I need to watch Spartan just to put it all in perspective again.

[Aussie Joe 0]

As long as you give them their 40 acres and mule, everything should be fine.

[hunterphfr 12]

Not exactly what you were looking for but back to back week long residence schools and a 3 day weekender. One of the premiere hockey schools in North America. 1 and a 1/2 hours outside of Toronto, on University of Guelphs campus.

http://www.canamhockey.com/index.php?view=...&camp_id=38

Trying to get a father son gig together for myself this summer.

[Simonp27 0]

You could head for a complex like this and hire some ice time http://www.icesports.com/Oshawa_AvailableIce.ashx?lang=en a couple of times a day.

I am sure you could find a local coach and some pick up games if you were there a few weeks.

[NuggyBuggy 0]

I have heard great things about this adult camp: Weekend Warriors. It seems catered to people who are travelling, and they do have a camp coming up in Toronto, among other places. It's only a few days long though.

[Zamboni 6]

You could head for a complex like this and hire some ice time http://www.icesports.com/Oshawa_AvailableIce.ashx?lang=en a couple of times a day.

I am sure you could find a local coach and some pick up games if you were there a few weeks.

Too funny, your in UK and use a rink 10 minutes from my house of all the rinks in Canada-and I had posted earlier. That Canlan Ice sports is a good example of type of facility to be near, they run uncrowded stick & pucks weekday afternoons for $5 person, late shinny etc. Visitors should consider informal extra ice along with whatever they decide upon.

Summer schedules tighten up, lots of kids camps July-August at facilities remaining open, In Oshawa most municipal rinks close....Legends 4 pad stays open. Most other Canadian cities would be similar in some rinks closing so arenas like Canlan have less available ice.

I asked around but no luck finding a week long adult hockey camp so far.

[flyerman 0]

Not exactly what you were looking for but back to back week long residence schools and a 3 day weekender. One of the premiere hockey schools in North America. 1 and a 1/2 hours outside of Toronto, on University of Guelphs campus.

http://www.canamhockey.com/index.php?view=...&camp_id=38

Trying to get a father son gig together for myself this summer.

This (CAN/AM Adult in Guelph) is a great camp. I went back in 2000 and had a blast, plus corrected a lot of bad habits. I highly suggest stringing a series of week-long camps together instead of going the private instruction route. You will have a much richer hockey experience, get excellent coaching, and play games with a team.

A teammate of mine helps runs the Weekend Warriors camps in the States. Like NuggyBuggy said, you might want to check them out in Toronto.

And here's one more angle: You said you started (and still own?) your own aviation business. Why not use your aviation contacts at, say, Bombardier in Montreal, to hook up with someone. I bet more than half the employees play hockey. Just throwing it out there....

[hunterphfr 12]

The other thing about Canam is they can put you up in a Universtity dorm with meal package for the duration of the camp. They have multiple rinks available to them. People come from all across North America for their residence program.

[Simonp27 0]

You could head for a complex like this and hire some ice time http://www.icesports.com/Oshawa_AvailableIce.ashx?lang=en a couple of times a day.

I am sure you could find a local coach and some pick up games if you were there a few weeks.

Too funny, your in UK and use a rink 10 minutes from my house of all the rinks in Canada-and I had posted earlier. That Canlan Ice sports is a good example of type of facility to be near, they run uncrowded stick & pucks weekday afternoons for $5 person, late shinny etc. Visitors should consider informal extra ice along with whatever they decide upon.

Summer schedules tighten up, lots of kids camps July-August at facilities remaining open, In Oshawa most municipal rinks close....Legends 4 pad stays open. Most other Canadian cities would be similar in some rinks closing so arenas like Canlan have less available ice.

I asked around but no luck finding a week long adult hockey camp so far.

I was searching for something a few months ago and came across that multi rink complex which blew my mind - we only have 2 twin rink places and all other rinks are jammed from 6am to midnight. For a UK player seeing all those ice slots at I think $130/hour off peak or something like that is just unimaginable. Wierd conincidence though.

[biff44 0]

There are week long camps in both canada and the US, especially during the summer. there are a ton around Boston MA. But up in Canada, there are these CANAM camps for adults:

http://www.canamhockey.com/

Also Okanagan:

http://www.hockeyschools.com/

Are you going to fly over here yourself? I ran into some pilots once at Oshkosh that did it in a Mooney.