Roller Hockey: Good or Bad for Ice Hockey?

[then00b 1]

Well, some of my friends play on a roller hockey league for high school teams and asked me to join them for the spring season. I played roller for 4 years before making the switch to ice. The question I have is, would roller hockey help or worsen my skating technique for ice hockey (which I am trying to improve now)?

Thanks

[Sniper407 0]

my coach always said it was bad for ice hockey... and for the kids i know that play roller and ice arent great on ice...

[mik3 1]

It takes a little getting used to, but once you get used to going back and forth it's easy. The more playing time you can get, the better.

[mik3 1]

my coach always said it was bad for ice hockey... and for the kids i know that play roller and ice arent great on ice...

Coaches have a bad habit of doing that because they tend to not want their players to play for anyone but them. But there's TONS of players getting drafted lately that play ice and roller. Just look at Bobby Ryan for Owen Sound, all that kid played early in his life was roller hockey and there's a good chance he'll go first two rounds in the draft this year.

[jnicklo 0]

I play with some fellas that play both Ice and Roller.....amazing on the ice or the sport court.

I guess it just comes down to how easily you let yourself pick up and change skating habits. Also how easily you adjust your timing with the puck.

[mickz 107]

I find that the skating is different from Ice and Roller.

[Chadd 916]

Well, some of my friends play on a roller hockey league for high school teams and asked me to join them for the spring season. I played roller for 4 years before making the switch to ice. The question I have is, would roller hockey help or worsen my skating technique for ice hockey (which I am trying to improve now)?

Thanks

If you're having problems with skating technique, inline won't help you. It will benefit your stickhandling and puck skills though. The extra time and space inline hockey offers is a good way to improve those skills in game situations.

[mickz 107]

Anyone with a Rocker Chassis find that it helps in anyway? I don't have one but I'm just looking for feedback.

[then00b 1]

Well, some of my friends play on a roller hockey league for high school teams and asked me to join them for the spring season. I played roller for 4 years before making the switch to ice.  The question I have is, would roller hockey help or worsen my skating technique for ice hockey (which I am trying to improve now)?

Thanks

If you're having problems with skating technique, inline won't help you. It will benefit your stickhandling and puck skills though. The extra time and space inline hockey offers is a good way to improve those skills in game situations.

If it wont help me, will it worsen the skills or just not benefit it? I am going to a skating instructor currently to help improve my skating skills on ice. I do need better stickhandling and puck skills so I guess roller could help. Playing time wont be an issue (my friends tell me that you get a ton of playing time).

[Justin 1933 134]

my coach always said it was bad for ice hockey... and for the kids i know that play roller and ice arent great on ice...

complete ignorance...that's all I can say...Roller will do nothing but help your ice hockey skills....

[kosydar 0]

When I was younger there were a couple years in a row where we'd get a few roller hockey players on our team. Each player had never played ice before, and for the most part, none of them had even stepped on the ice before. So from my coach's standpoint, it had to be a nightmare coaching these kids. None of them could skate very well, especially when it came to stopping. And even worse off, none of the kids put in the extra time or effort to learn to adapt. They played with the roller hockey mentality of not playing defense and hanging around the redline on the breakout.

On the other hand, I've known plenty of good players who also play roller. I don't think roller is bad for ice, but if you make the transition from roller to ice, you'll need to put in the work with your skating.

[Jackal3688 0]

Anyone with a Rocker Chassis find that it helps in anyway? I don't have one but I'm just looking for feedback.

Yes, I use a rocker chassis and I wont use anything else. I've always played both ice and inline, and i feel its literally effortless to switch from ice to inline or inline to ice. For some reason, I just cant get used to a Hi-lo setup, or dont even want to take the time or bother. The rocker works great for me. So hey, if something works, why mess with it?

[then00b 1]

Well Ive decided to play based on the opinions here, as well as the recommendation by my skating instructor. Anybody have any recommendations for skates at around $150? No need to have this years model, can be closeout, etc. No need for the best, as long as it performs well. If it matters, I am currently in '03 Easton Z-air comp SE ice hockey skates.

[mik3 1]

150usd? or 150can? If you fit into a size 9 you can get a pair of 2003 D2 missions for 150 right now.

[then00b 1]

Sorry, 150USD.

Well, I dont think I'll be able to see if I can fit into a size 9 roller skate because I do not know of any roller hockey shops around me. Is there a difference between skate sizes for ice and roller? I wear size 8.5 Easton Z-air's now but am going to get new ice skates soon because the 8.5's are getting too small.

[mik3 1]

I'm not sure, you should try to pm justin and ask him if he knows what an 8 1/2-9 easton would translate into a d series roller mission.

[DrMolotov 0]

Anyone with a Rocker Chassis find that it helps in anyway?  I don't have one but I'm just looking for feedback.

Yes, I use a rocker chassis and I wont use anything else. I've always played both ice and inline, and i feel its literally effortless to switch from ice to inline or inline to ice. For some reason, I just cant get used to a Hi-lo setup, or dont even want to take the time or bother. The rocker works great for me. So hey, if something works, why mess with it?

What chassis do you use? I waas looking to buy a pair of inline skates this spring and put the C/saw chassis on them, as advertised on Smart Hockey's Vinny Lecavallier skills CD-Rom.