First ever league game

[Nakket 0]

Just had my first official game yesterday. It was C league with no checking...pretty basic.

Wow was it fun. I mean I just started four months ago, but there's a healthy mix of people who are better than me and who I am better than. It's just as much fun as I envisioned, and while I may get frustrated at "that guy", I always humble myself by being "that guy" on the very next play. We're all trying to learn and have to start somewhere... (I'm sure people would be laughing watching us as we flail and fall and miss passes).

All in all it was awesome, I scored a goal (officially!), we made a three goal comeback with five minutes left in the third, and a lady on the other team gave herself concussion after taking a shot and having her momentum cause her to fall (not awesome, but you get what I mean).

Some guy told me I shouldn't worry about calling off work for C league hockey. I had to tell him that I love hockey, even after just four months, and I'd play it any day over my crappy dining service job for the college.

[coryroth24 15]

And that's what it's all about... (Think Barry Melrose when you say that out loud)

[sickwilly 37]

Glad it went well. Keep it fun!

[Chadd 916]

We have a guy on our team that is in his first season playing league hockey. It's always fun to have new players.

[JBarrera 0]

As a player who has played for 18 yrs (started when I was 10) It's always nice to see newcomers who are 18+ pick up the game and learn. There's a guy in my Friday group who started playing last year, and he's in his 50's!!!

[Scotty 8]

Always fun to see new guys who are finding a love for the sport. The more you play, the more fun it gets!

[tamtamg 12]

My best advice would be to avoid this message board unless you want hockey to become an expensive habit. I'm not saying it's a problem, some of us live perfectly normal lives, others rent storage units to stash their gear :p

[NextBobbyOrr 0]

My best advice would be to avoid this message board unless you want hockey to become an expensive habit. I'm not saying it's a problem, some of us live perfectly normal lives, others rent storage units to stash their gear :p

Haha try and stop him before it gets infectious.

[n3ss 0]

I just bought 2 more pro stock sticks... and found a RH toe curve on ebayh... don't get the disease, OP, it'll drain your bank.

[Nakket 0]

Thanks for all the encouragement. I always loved floor hockey in PE during high school, so it was always like some far away dream I never really thought about pursuing. Glad I picked up the gear and went for it.

As for the gear thing...I think it's too late. I already have four sticks, and I'm eyeing some new gloves to replace my entry level gloves. That's mild compared to some, but everyone knows gloves are a gateway gear.

[Chadd 916]

Thanks for all the encouragement. I always loved floor hockey in PE during high school, so it was always like some far away dream I never really thought about pursuing. Glad I picked up the gear and went for it.

As for the gear thing...I think it's too late. I already have four sticks, and I'm eyeing some new gloves to replace my entry level gloves. That's mild compared to some, but everyone knows gloves are a gateway gear.

Take your time before stocking up on new toys. Take some time to figure out what you like/don't like and why. It will save you money in the long run and make finding the "right" pieces of gear a little easier.

[MLSman 22]

Take your time before stocking up on new toys. Take some time to figure out what you like/don't like and why. It will save you money in the long run and make finding the "right" pieces of gear a little easier.

Ditto! Lock in to your favorite....then buy an unnecessary abundance of it! Wait....I'm not helping.

[MatthewRoach7 130]

Welcome to the club ad congrats on the goal! Did you keep the puck? lol. Like someone said this can be an expensive habbit quick so be careful!

[Steve_v3 289]

Just had my first official game yesterday. It was C league with no checking...pretty basic.

Wow was it fun. I mean I just started four months ago, but there's a healthy mix of people who are better than me and who I am better than. It's just as much fun as I envisioned, and while I may get frustrated at "that guy", I always humble myself by being "that guy" on the very next play. We're all trying to learn and have to start somewhere... (I'm sure people would be laughing watching us as we flail and fall and miss passes).

All in all it was awesome, I scored a goal (officially!), we made a three goal comeback with five minutes left in the third, and a lady on the other team gave herself concussion after taking a shot and having her momentum cause her to fall (not awesome, but you get what I mean).

Some guy told me I shouldn't worry about calling off work for C league hockey. I had to tell him that I love hockey, even after just four months, and I'd play it any day over my crappy dining service job for the college.

That's great! I started playing after I got out of high school myself. My first goal was from a shot going 4 feet wide the hit a skate & went in. It can be so much fun to play on a team. ENJOY!

[NextBobbyOrr 0]

Ditto! Lock in to your favorite....then buy an unnecessary abundance of it! Wait....I'm not helping.

I believe it might've been Chadd or another mod who said this in the your gear section. "Were like an AA group, except we don't quit." I dunno if I quoted it right, or if it's even any of them, but I laughed so hard when I read that.

[Spikewhtbread 0]

Just had my first official game yesterday. It was C league with no checking...pretty basic.

Wow was it fun. I mean I just started four months ago, but there's a healthy mix of people who are better than me and who I am better than. It's just as much fun as I envisioned, and while I may get frustrated at "that guy", I always humble myself by being "that guy" on the very next play. We're all trying to learn and have to start somewhere... (I'm sure people would be laughing watching us as we flail and fall and miss passes).

All in all it was awesome, I scored a goal (officially!), we made a three goal comeback with five minutes left in the third, and a lady on the other team gave herself concussion after taking a shot and having her momentum cause her to fall (not awesome, but you get what I mean).

Some guy told me I shouldn't worry about calling off work for C league hockey. I had to tell him that I love hockey, even after just four months, and I'd play it any day over my crappy dining service job for the college.

Congrats from another 18+ who just started playing! It is the greatest feeling when you feel yourself improve and start looking like you know what you're doing out there.

[number21 3]

As someone who started in my mid-20s, what helped me the most was finding some good classes that can help you out with the basics and a bit of conditioning. Some good drills are extremely helpful! Take all the classes you can afford to. (I wish I could afford one right now! Stupid car repairs.)

Also see if you can find a few experienced people to give you tips on your actual game play. You'll run into some guys who will run their mouths about your skill, they're not worth worrying about.

Best of luck!

[Nakket 0]

For equipment, I've really found I like the PM9 bauer curve, and I currently have 3 sticks with that pattern. I have found skates make all the difference. After having the holder break after blocking a shot, I bought some 5k's cheap, and I have since found I skate much better.

I don't want to come off as snobbish or cocky (because I honestly am nothing great) but I do think that for only playing for four months I am a lot better off than most would be. This is for two reasons. First, I used to have a paper route I roller bladed. The swinging bag combined with the heavy papers gave me confident skating feet and a sense of balance, and I literally only went to one open skate before hopping onto a pickup game. I think I take it for granted that I can skate so well for playing so little. Second, and surprising to some I'm sure, is the awesome people at pick up games. There were saturday and monday night games, where saturday was more relaxed, maybe 10-15 people, and monday was the big show with 30+ consistently. I actually got scared off my first Monday night and left with regret. But I came back. That was a smart move, because these guys are awesome

They are all better than me, but they are so helpful. They tell me where I need to be on defense or what I should be doing in certain situations. They'll give me tips on what to do and what not to. My favorite moment was when I was talking to one of the guys from my college who comes to open hockey, and he asked me how long I had been playing. I told him and he said I played a lot better than most beginners.

Either way, I really am glad I joined hockey in general. I might not be that great now, but I have to give it time. I see it as though baseball was my first love. We had a great time together for a while that I'll always remember, but in the end it just couldn't work. Hockey is my true love, something I can play forever and I don't see that changing.

[Spikewhtbread 0]

My favorite moment was when I was talking to one of the guys from my college who comes to open hockey, and he asked me how long I had been playing. I told him and he said I played a lot better than most beginners.

I had a similar moment and it was a huge boost. Up until then I hadn't really had an opinion from someone I respected so it was nice to hear!

[fawn111 0]

Started Ice when 2 years ago when i was 37 (roller for about 10years prior)

Best thing i ever did in my life... all week i look forward to the games with a certain giddiness that an adult male probably should not be overly proud of.

In my team's 4th season. Yet to make the playoffs, but last year we were a point away form the last spot.

[doodman 0]

Don't neglect your sticktime/sticknpuck! I find when I play too much as opposed to 'practice' I start bad habits or plateau. You can never be too good of a skater or stickhandler.

[interpathway 9]

I love new people who "get it". Three years down the road it benefits everyone.

[powdah 0]

I started at age 45 because my son and daughter started playing and it looked really fun. Another dad slightly younger than me, who played in high school got us on a team. Really fun to go through the same development as my kids - I can say to my son "you get the puck on the wing, see a defender and don't know what to do?" because I go through the same thing.

A little frustrating because I don't have time to practice as someone posted above. Keeps me training at the gym all week and I love the beer in the parking lot.

I can tell you this - as an old guy. I backcheck more than some twenty-somethings on my team. Everyone hates you, when you don't skate hard especially if you are young. Nobody cares as much if you don't have great skills or hockey sense - if you give a good effort and try to improve you will enjoy the game and teammates.