PlayoffBeard365
Registered User
Always been a fan of hockey but never played or even skated till now. I'm 38 and started skating last December. Started playing pick up this February. I play 1-3 nights per week. I take a weekly 30 min private power skating lesson and hit up 1 or 2 stick n puck sessions per week. I plan to take private LTP lessons from a local ex NHLer in a few months. I started to shoot about 100 pucks a day into a net in my driveway and spend 20 minutes on drills. Also, Ive added hockey specific mobility and flexibility training to my workouts.
Obviously I'm obsessed!! It's only been a few months and I still suck really bad!!! I believe I have the athleticism and drive to be a good player but I'm waiting for it all to CLICK!
Translating the skating and stick handling to game situations has been downright difficult though and comical/embarrassing at times. As a forward, the best I can do at this point is cover the point, scrum along boards, find open ice and go to the net.
BUT most of the time when I do get the puck I lose it quickly, dump it in or out of zone without attempting to make a play, stand upright and lose my control/balance or straight up miss the pass. I know my lack of experience causes breaks in the flow of play and some people get aggravated and I get frustrated too (but not overly so).
I'm having a blast, enjoying the journey and my local hockey fellowship has been kind and tolerant. But, at the same time I want to and expect to play better. I'm wondering how long it will take to click; 6 months, 1 year, 2-3 years??? At this point, I'm just talking playing decent within the flow rec hockey, nothing fancy. Accepting the outlet passes from D, crossing into the O zone with puck, working the boards effectively, speed thru the neutral zone, and when I go to the net being effective with taking passes and getting in position for rebounds.
I know there is no fast way to success other than hard work which I'm willing and able to do. Also the confidence factor can be huge. But, I'm curious how long it took/takes most people to progress into playing effective hockey at rec level???
Obviously I'm obsessed!! It's only been a few months and I still suck really bad!!! I believe I have the athleticism and drive to be a good player but I'm waiting for it all to CLICK!
Translating the skating and stick handling to game situations has been downright difficult though and comical/embarrassing at times. As a forward, the best I can do at this point is cover the point, scrum along boards, find open ice and go to the net.
BUT most of the time when I do get the puck I lose it quickly, dump it in or out of zone without attempting to make a play, stand upright and lose my control/balance or straight up miss the pass. I know my lack of experience causes breaks in the flow of play and some people get aggravated and I get frustrated too (but not overly so).
I'm having a blast, enjoying the journey and my local hockey fellowship has been kind and tolerant. But, at the same time I want to and expect to play better. I'm wondering how long it will take to click; 6 months, 1 year, 2-3 years??? At this point, I'm just talking playing decent within the flow rec hockey, nothing fancy. Accepting the outlet passes from D, crossing into the O zone with puck, working the boards effectively, speed thru the neutral zone, and when I go to the net being effective with taking passes and getting in position for rebounds.
I know there is no fast way to success other than hard work which I'm willing and able to do. Also the confidence factor can be huge. But, I'm curious how long it took/takes most people to progress into playing effective hockey at rec level???
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