what made you start hockey?

[number21 3]

I got hooked after going to a couple of my roommate's beer league games in Chicago. It looked like a lot of fun so I got some old gear from a family friend, started working on skating and took a hockey class. One of the best choices I have ever made. I also wish I would have gotten into as a kid.

[Jarick 5]

I'm from Minnesota so I was on skates when I was 2 or 3 and played until 12. As an adult, watching MN Wild playoff run and then the return from the lockout made it really exciting, so I got some cheap gear and took it back up.

[5 Minute Major 1]

'85 Finals Flyers/Oilers.... hooked ever since then.

[Axxion89 32]

Been playing in the street since I was 7, almost got a chance to play in HS but family didn't have the $3k to play in NYC =( Then during the summer after my sophomore year, my best friend who I played hockey with my whole life asked me to play open with him, I used his old equipment and it took off from there. I now play forward and goalie!

[TeamHonda401 54]

I was a big hockey fan, but didn't know where a rink was/how to get started. Met a kid in a class my senior year of high school that was a big fan and also has been playing since he was a little kid. He talked me into buying skates and a stick and went out to the mini rink in my town. Skated for the winter there, then went out and bought all the gear and started playing c-league and pickup. Took off from there.

[snuzzo24 0]

Always wanted to play when I was younger but never got the opportunity. Been a big hockey fan my whole life so when I got to college last year I figured better late then never and started skating with some help from friends and playing pick up games at the outdoor rink in the winter. This summer I am taking a beginners clinic and I will be playing in the intermural hockey league that is run by my school when I go back this fall and spring.

[iceNsteel 0]

The biggest factor was my parents purchased a 7-11 franchise that was right down the street from one of the area rinks. So after games/practices there were always people coming in, and they ended up sponsoring the hockey association. So when I got old enough for mites they signed me up and I loved it.

[pittu 15]

Some folks in my small town had decided it was time to start a hockey association back in about 1976. They were friends of my parents and I was 5. I played until I graduated high school, but was more interested in beer and women...

Played a little intramural hockey at michigan tech, then quit playing for over 20 years. Started playing again this past spring when I got off the nicotine and needed an outlet for aggression and something physical to do to keep my sanity.

Best thing I could have ever done for my health. I am playing a few days a week and having a great time while staying in shape.

[17D1998 1]

being Canadian

+1.

[twolinepass 0]

I played a bunch of different sports as kid and I was horrible at all of them including hockey but I enjoyed hockey the most so I stuck with it. I got into hockey originally because I had a big brother from Big Brothers / Big Sisters and he was from Pittsburgh and was into hockey.

[zachary 2]

I was born in Pittsburgh in 1990 and my parents watched Pens game all the time. My mom told me I would sit right in front of the TV and be so interested. Lemieux is the main reason I even play. If the Pens didn't draft him then I am not sure how much interest I would have in the sport. Moving away from Pittsburgh when I was 5 also helped me gain a real passion for hockey since I moved to Philly and I had to deal with the enemy. Lemiuex was my hero and Jagr was also a big influence. I combined both of their styles and even incorporated some Kevin Stevens in there too.

[interpathway 9]

Lemiuex was my hero and Jagr was also a big influence. I combined both of their styles and even incorporated some Kevin Stevens in there too.

You should've been drafted this weekend, .

[CaptainFantastik 0]

At 10, the '94 eastern semi-final playoff series between the Rangers and Devils. I started taking learn-to-skate lessons at the local ice rink right after that. Haven't stopped since.

Pretty much same for me. The 94 playoffs, the EC Finals and the Finals in particular. I was 17 at the time and a buddy was staying with us who was a big Canucks fan and made a point of watching all the games and I got sucked in. Something about that 94 Canucks team with Bure and the epic battles of the EC and then Cup Finals just sparked something in me that inspired me to go to the local rink and sign up for beginning hockey classes. 17 years later and i've never looked back. I still have that Finals game 7 and the Rangers victory celebration recorded on VHS somewhere.

[XveritasX 13]

When I was 5 and my brother started hockey and my parents would always bring me to his games. I remember watching and asking when I was old enough to play. I played till I was 16 or 17. The last year of hockey I had a pretty bad coach and just wasn't a great year so I stopped after. When I moved for to go to university I got a job in a Sportchek and selling the hockey equipment got my interests peaked again and I signed up for a mens league. Been playing for two years now and it's been great, expensive but great.

[Ralphiv#13 0]

I got bullied lots by all the hockey players so I thought if I started playing they'd leave me alone, and they did and then I just started to love the game.

[Thinkingjack 51]

Montreal winning the cup in 93 did it for me

[Haggerty 144]

being Canadian

+2

[zachary 2]

You should've been drafted this weekend, .

Haha I only wish!!

[southpaw59er 0]

Just as the title states. What got you started playing hockey? For me, my brothers had played and got me started as a mite. Curious to see how you all started.

I was 7 yrs old (1967) my dad and his best friend took me to an AHL game - Springfield Kings vs the Providence Reds @ the West Springfield Coliseum. I was hooked! Of course we had to meet his best friend in a smoke filled bar before the game near the arena, I remember sitting at the bar(second hand smoke and all)with my dad and his friend as the bartender gave me cokes.

Winters seemed colder in Western Massachusetts back then and it seemed that there was always a frozen pond to skate on along with the rink my dad used to build in the back yard every winter.

Still playing....

[Stoop 1]

Recently started as an adult. Just a casual hockey fan growing up. Played a little lowest level intramural in college (no goalies, few pads, no one could skate).

But started to look for some fun physical activity as an adult. I grew up playing team sports. But now, pretty much all of my friends work out by going to the gym or running/jogging/cycling. That's what you do in your mid 30s. You go for a run.

I hate running. Every second I just want to stop.

So I saw a beginners clinic and league in my area.

How is beginner hockey as adult sport?

Can play/practice in less than 2 hours? Yes.

Can play locally? Yes.

Weatherproof? Yes.

Team camaraderie/ball-busting? Yes.

Chance to seriously improve? Yes.

Physically challenging? Yes.

Excitement and speed? Yes. (I am slow, but it feels like I'm flying)

The equipment used to be a barrier, but as an employeed adult, it's kinda a plus now. I like to research and find equipment, even if it's just 1% of my performance. If I was a poor student again with time but not money, I'd take it different.

I honestly feel like there's a ton of adults out there stuck on jogging, slow-pitch softball, yoga, etc who would fall in love with hockey, if they tried it. Those other things are fine, and can complement hockey very well. But it's hard to beat.

[steelnation248 102]

I was pretty big into hockey as a kid. I kind of grew out of it for a couple years. Being from the Metro Detroit area, and with the Wings always being good year after year, they don't really get as much attention as the other Detroit teams in the major sports. Wings going to the playoffs again < the Lions winning 6 games. Haha. I just got back into it a couple years ago and was watching it really heavily. A couple of my buddies had played when they were kids and some were still playing and we all kind of collectively started playing. Started with roller hockey in the summer and heavy pond hockey in the winter. It's just advanced from there.

[Cams 7]

My Dad was, and still is a huge Leafs fan. (me too). I was put on skates from the time I could walk. I do know from what my mother has told me, that as a young baby I would be woken in tears from my Dad cheering when the Leafs would score. So, anyways, it was kind of a part of my life from day 1. Learning to skate on the backyard rink with those "Bob skates" (4 blades on a flat piece of steel with leather straps), to holding a chair, to registering for minor hockey. I always wanted to play as it was, plus my Dad played in his younger years, so it was meant to be!

[Machinehead2k5 32]

Watched the Penguins growing up in Pittsburgh, but my family moved to Augusta, Georgia in 90. Found a Northland and a Christian wood hockey sticks in the crawlspace of the house and started playing street hockey. Bought some rollerblades shortly then a bunch of us kids would play roller/street hockey. The Raleigh IceCaps moved to Augusta when the Whalers moved to Carolina in 98. Been playing off and on since then. Probably only accumulated 7yrs of ice hockey experience since 16, now 28.

[GuitarAwesome 1]

Defintely my dad. He had me on skates from 3 years old, and I took such a liking to it, off it went!

[Fire Walker 22]

It was just what you did where I grew up(Canada). We had our outdoor ice from November until March and played everyday after school. I'd freeze all the time learning in my plastic Microns.