Early Hockey or Late hockey?

[RadioGaGa 162]

I wasn't exposed to early morning hockey practices as a kid...I'm an adult player. I've always played late afternoon or night hockey...my "earliest" skate has been 4P, and I've been know to go to shinny at 11PM. I know a group that plays at 6:00A, and I've always thought that was crazy. A couple weeks ago, my buddy (who plays in a 7:15A Friday group) said they were going to be short a few...so I went out.

Now, I'm not morning person AT ALL... It's not uncommon for me to still be up at 2A (or later), but I really enjoyed that skate...and I am going tomorrow, and probably for the rest of the Summer.

So, the question is....when do you normally play...and do you prefer late in the day games or early games?

[w0ahitsm3 0]

On saturdays I would typically go to the stick time/scrimmage game around 5:45 am. Be on the ice till about 7:30am. I thought it was a lot of fun. Certainly keeps many of the small kids that are getting private lessons from coming since its so early. Surprisingly though, there would be almost 30-40 some guys coming out for these hours that the rink began to let us use both sheets of ice to practice on. Its great leaving and feeling like youve already done so much for the day, and yet its only 8am.

[thejackal 46]

i have fond memories of getting up at 5-6am for minor hockey, but now i'd much rather play late, have a quick shower and then go for beers with the guys/girls

[Smitty34 0]

I have friends that have gone to pick up as early as 6AM. I used to think they were crazy, but over the years (while I've never played earlier than 10AM) I've learned that when it comes to hockey, I can play at any time and enjoy it. That being said, I do prefer night games because I'm more awake at that time and I have more to to have a pre-game meal and do whatever else I need to do to prepare before a game. Also, I play way more at night than I do earlier in the day, so I'm just more comfortable and used to late hockey games.

[Chadd 916]

I can't do hockey at 6AM, it's too hard to stay up that late. I've played a little later from time to time on weekends but it's certainly not my preference. 9pm starts seem to work best for me.

[ashtonhutch05 0]

Hate early hockey, but luckily I hardly ever have it. I just don't play near as good when I'm not awake.

[SuperMan3 1]

Earliest I've ever gotten up for hockey is 1 pm and I thought that was early...

[samson35 0]

I actually find playing in the morning very refreshing. I mean, I feel like shit having to wake up early, but right afterwards I feel great. Though, sometimes I just crash in the afternoon because of the early wake up.

[thorpedo26 0]

iused to love morning practice at 6:30 am, im not sure why though somthing about being the first person at the rink i supose

[Hordie Gowe 17]

The group of guys I skate with have had our skate three times a week in the morning (6:30am) for almost ten years now. Most guys just go right to work after the skate.

[RadioGaGa 162]

The group of guys I skate with have had our skate three times a week in the morning (6:30am) for almost ten years now. Most guys just go right to work after the skate.

Most of the guys in this early group are bankers, salesmen or own their own businesses...so they can roll in whenever they want. It's 7:15-8:15...but with no one after them, they often play later...til 8:30-8:40 some mornings.

samson...I agree....getting up at 6:20 when I can usually sleep in until after 8:00 (I live close to work) is hard, but the skate is quite energizing.

[kilner 0]

When i played ice hockey i always used to love having to wake up at 5ish to get on the coach for half 6 to travel god knows how many hours up and down the country to play.

Now i play roller, we sometimes have games at 9am (thats always the earliest face off time), and because i live about an hour away from the rink i have to get up at about 7ish - love it!

[playthehawkee 0]

I was up at 5am this morning to go out and skat/shoot a ball around. First time I've done it, drove home after that, shit showered and shaved and came straight to work.

I am feeling a little groggy now though, but now I'm just sitting at my desk.

But it was nice being out this morning, the air was a lot cooler than what I'm used to and I had the rink to myself.

I think I'm going to do it every morning before work.

[NorrisContender 4]

I like playing in the evening better but I can NEVER get to sleep at a reasonable hour on game nights. If we play at 8:15PM I'm still wide awake at 1:00AM. Luckily I can "work from home" the next AM.

[pg-1000 0]

Definately a night-time person. Have been playing at 11AM on Sundays, and late, start from 7PM and 9PM during the week. Prefer the night games, even played from 11PM. Like my long lies too much.

[mxihockey 0]

During the school year I like getting up around 6:00, head to the rink and skate until about 7:30. It's awesome skating around with the lights dimmed. Then ill take a shower in the locker room grab my back pack and head to morning meeting. After that I usually have a free period so I'll go back to the rink and skate again for like 45 minutes. When schools over I wait around for all the girls/jv teams to have practice and then we finally go on... I definitely enjoy skating in the morning better. Right now I'm having a ton of trouble getting back into my sleep schedule, I've been waking up around 1:00 PM. It sucks. Any suggestions on how to get back to my normal wake-up time?

[tro 4]

I play in 2 leagues during the winter, 1 is a 7am start and the other is a night league (7-10pm starts). The first time I played at 7 it was like a punch in the face, I could not get the legs & lungs going.

4 yrs into it, the morning is where I fly, fresh legs & fresh ice (I love the fresh ice). After a day at work, come home play with the kids, my legs and back start to feel it by the time I hit the ice.

So for me it is early hockey for sure.

[top_shelf_24 0]

I find I play my best hockey very early in the morning. I prefer a 12 oclock game however just in the late last night scenario

[cityofwalrus 0]

when I was little I would have games at like 5:30am... but now I only play at night... but ill play anytime!

[stock07 1]

I enjoyed early morning practices...But prefered night games over afternoon games....Now that Im an adult I could go at either time, but most all the mens leagues around me have night games earliest game starting at 7pm lastest starting at 11pm.

[DEATHTRON 19]

Im a night owl, and perfer evening games. Around 7 or 7:30p start time is fine with me. Gives plenty of time for a lengthy game, meet the girls and some of the other guys out at the bar if we are at home, or have fun at the hotel/bar's if we are on the road. Now that those days are likely done (along with morning skates at 9am on game day) and its just mens league, I like a 9 or so game.

The memories of having to get up early on the weekends though when I was younger...nothing like 6am practice, however I think I enjoyed closing down the rink after college practice and catching last call with a few guys more.

Zach