Which division?

[sectachrome 40]

Im going to join an adult league next month (at BVICE in CO for anyone local). I have never played ice hockey before but I have played roller for a long time. I have about 4 or 5 stick & pucks under my belt. I have a decent shot, and can stickhandle pretty good. Im still a little clumsy skating, but crossovers, skating backwards/backwards crossovers come pretty naturally. My biggest hindrance is only really being able to stop on one side.

They have A,B, and C divisions. Im not sure which to sign up for, obviously between B and C. What are the skill levels generally like?

[RecLeagueHero 0]

Is it possible to watch a couple of games before you play? Might be a good way to see where you fall talent wise. If you can't then I'd recommend going to the lower level. If you are more suited to the mid-level you can change for the winter season.

[sectachrome 40]

Is it possible to watch a couple of games before you play? Might be a good way to see where you fall talent wise. If you can't then I'd recommend going to the lower level. If you are more suited to the mid-level you can change for the winter season.

No, the current season is over. But thats what I was thinking. Ill probably go offsides and ice it a bunch of times anyway like a noob because Im not used to worrying about it

[tdjb 0]

I haven't played in the league there (I just moved back to CO), but my buddy who plays there is in the "B" level and is an all around average player (good skills all around, just not as "hockey smart" as the "A" players). He's told me the talent level at bvice is pretty good so I'd suggest going for the C league.

I know a lot of the guys who show up to the drop-ins also play in the adult league there, so maybe do a drop-in and see what someone suggests. I know they have early morning ones and lunchtime ones.

[chk hrd 164]

Start in the C level, it will be harder than you think.

[yrhmblnr8r 69]

It's been a while since I played at BV Ice. Our team moved from B at BVI to C1/B4 at www.icecentre.com. Here's how they define player levels at the Ice Centre.

2. Can you define your levels of play?

A Division Highly skilled hockey players who have played junior, college, semi-pro and pro hockey and others who have played at a serious competitive level.

B Division Very skilled hockey players playing at a high level

C Division In general, players that take the ice for fun, exercise and excitement. Typically our largest division of hockey players.

D Division For players with lesser defined skating and stick skills but enjoy playing in a competitive setting.

Over 40 Competitive This league plays at an unexpectedly high level. Extremely competitive players over 40 years of age.

Over 40 Rec For players over 40 years of age that desire a recreational atmosphere with little to no emphasis on winning or losing. Recommended for the novice or non-competitive player.

Ankle Benders For new players with no playing experience. A totally FUN experience for those just starting their hockey career!

[vnderachiever 3]

honestly I'd shoot for the lower division now, for two reasons: 1. It's much easier to tone down your game and make good passes if you end up being a ringer who scores 8 goals a game, rather than being in the higher division and getting run around 'til you get your feet under you. and 2. Personally, I'd rather be a guy who the lower division team can look to to make a play, rather than someone who gets pushed away from the B division team because I may not be able to keep up.

Now that's all contingent on how you stack up against the B division teams, but as it was said before, go to a drop in or two and see what the guys there say, I'm sure they have a good idea of what's going on.

[sectachrome 40]

Good advice, thanks guys.

[fawn111 0]

I went from Roller to Ice..... Stopping in Ice is the most obvious diference between the two... Ice is almost an entirely different game when u factor the starting and stopping involved....

I, like you had problems stopping on the one side, and worked it out in public skating sessions till I had it pretty good where I could feel confident in a game setting. Really is the most important aspect when going from roller to ice.

Oh, Join C.... excellent reasons given from Vnderachiever

[Bmplam 1]

Just play some pick up and talk to the guys there. They can help the most since they will see you on the ice.

[JJ Thompson94 0]

You said you have never played ice hockey before. Its no doubt that you should play C. At a rink with only three divisions you probably will have trouble keeping up in C. The fact that you thought B was an option was a bit funny.

Think of all the skill levels of hockey players. you'll have your semi pro/jr guys playing in A. THen come the guys who played low Jr or travel or club as kids and then got a job, but still play in B. Then you have the guys who never played too high but have played for a while so they know the game in C. And then comes you and every other beginer that is trying to master the art of skating and stickhandling at the sametime. I suggest finding a beginer league. Good Luck.

[sectachrome 40]

You said you have never played ice hockey before. Its no doubt that you should play C. At a rink with only three divisions you probably will have trouble keeping up in C. The fact that you thought B was an option was a bit funny.

Think of all the skill levels of hockey players. you'll have your semi pro/jr guys playing in A. THen come the guys who played low Jr or travel or club as kids and then got a job, but still play in B. Then you have the guys who never played too high but have played for a while so they know the game in C. And then comes you and every other beginer that is trying to master the art of skating and stickhandling at the sametime. I suggest finding a beginer league. Good Luck.

Like I said, Ive never played ICE, but I have played roller for a long time. I have no problem skating and stick handling at the same time, thank you.

[chk hrd 164]

there is alot of difference between playing roller and ice that takes getting used to. Start in C and if you are that good you can always move up

[sectachrome 40]

there is alot of difference between playing roller and ice that takes getting used to. Start in C and if you are that good you can always move up

I know that. Im just saying its not like this is the first time Ive picked up a hockey stick. The way the game is played is different, but the fundamentals are the same. Im fine with playing in C, Im not arguing. Im just doing it for fun, not looking for fierce competition...

[yrhmblnr8r 69]

BV Ice doesn't have any semi pro/jr guys. I'd say it tops out at good high-school level players. I hung up my skates after Peewee then got back into it at age 23 or 24 as a free agent on a BV Ice C team. We moved up to B the next season.

I agree with the OP that C is the way to start. Summer's a shorter season anyway so it's a cheap/quick way to get your feet wet.

[sectachrome 40]

BV Ice doesn't have any semi pro/jr guys. I'd say it tops out at good high-school level players. I hung up my skates after Peewee then got back into it at age 23 or 24 as a free agent on a BV Ice C team. We moved up to B the next season.

I agree with the OP that C is the way to start. Summer's a shorter season anyway so it's a cheap/quick way to get your feet wet.

Cool. Nice to see a lot of local guys on here, I just moved to the area. I did sort of the same thing, I stopped playing when I was about 14 or 15 and have gotten way back into it since last year (Im 22).

[tdjb 0]

BV Ice doesn't have any semi pro/jr guys. I'd say it tops out at good high-school level players. I hung up my skates after Peewee then got back into it at age 23 or 24 as a free agent on a BV Ice C team. We moved up to B the next season.

I agree with the OP that C is the way to start. Summer's a shorter season anyway so it's a cheap/quick way to get your feet wet.

Well, I can't vouch for the actual adult leagues there, but I do know for a fact that bvice has semi-pro/jr guys that show up to their drop-ins all the time. I doubt those guys play on the winter leagues for obvious reasons, but I'd be willing to bet that some guys with previous junior hockey or college level experience do. The rink seems to attract some of the better players for drop-in's so my guess is it would be the same for their adult leagues but I could be wrong.

I know bvice is your local rink, but if you want to make the drive, the ice ranch down in littleton has a good mid-lower level program. My other buddy who just started playing ice hockey (played roller previously) plays there in their summer 3-on-3 league and loves it. The friday drop-in down there is also a little bit slower then bvice so it might be easier for you to help get you used to playing on ice.

[yrhmblnr8r 69]

I do know for a fact that bvice has semi-pro/jr guys that show up to their drop-ins all the time.

Fair enough. I haven't played there for a few years now. At the time, I wouldn't have guessed very many of the guys had gone much past competitive high school or so. I was mostly B, but I did play a season in A. I know a guy there that played semi-pro soccer. Doesn't count for stickhandling, but he was always in the right position. ;)