Completely New to Hockey

[Judge13]

Hey all,

So I am brand new to Hockey. I'm transitioning from Football. I feel that there is more playability with Hockey than after post secondary football.

I'll be detailing my journey (if anyone cares) about the transition. Hockey Players here were looked at like the kids from Letterkenny and football players and hockey players never ever got along. So needless to say.. a week ago was my first day on skates. I got a cheap pair of Supreme 140's and wow they were the most painful and I actually blew apart the skate. Onlookers helped me up and told me that I was too big/ strong for cheap skates.

So I decided to pull the trigger and commit to learning and becoming a studentbof the sport. After a 3D scan amd trying on 46 pairs of skates.. I landed on a pair of Bauer Vapor X800 Gen. II. As they're on sale to make way for the new Bauer Vapor 2.9.

If you made it this far reading my story, thank you! I'd only ask for advice, tips, and most importantly prayers that I don't break anything haha!

Also, as I am new to skating, how do you deal with people pointing and laughing at you as you learn to skate during a Public Skate or kids like 7 years old skating circles around you?

Thanks All!

Click to read more...

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Hey all,

So I am brand new to Hockey. I'm transitioning from Football. I feel that there is more playability with Hockey than after post secondary football.

I'll be detailing my journey (if anyone cares) about the transition. Hockey Players here were looked at like the kids from Letterkenny and football players and hockey players never ever got along. So needless to say.. a week ago was my first day on skates. I got a cheap pair of Supreme 140's and wow they were the most painful and I actually blew apart the skate. Onlookers helped me up and told me that I was too big/ strong for cheap skates.

So I decided to pull the trigger and commit to learning and becoming a studentbof the sport. After a 3D scan amd trying on 46 pairs of skates.. I landed on a pair of Bauer Vapor X800 Gen. II. As they're on sale to make way for the new Bauer Vapor 2.9.

If you made it this far reading my story, thank you! I'd only ask for advice, tips, and most importantly prayers that I don't break anything haha!

Also, as I am new to skating, how do you deal with people pointing and laughing at you as you learn to skate during a Public Skate or kids like 7 years old skating circles around you?

Thanks All!

Yeah, the boot on entry level skates are not very stiff. You can prove this yourself by squeezing the boot of an entry level skate vs a more expensive mid to upper tier skate. That’s probably what happened to you, you weigh too much for an entry level skate and the structure was collapsing under your load. Somewhat common problem.

I can’t relate to the how to deal with those learning growing pains as I was tought to skate at a pretty young age.

Only advice would be keep playing and practicing as much as you can, as long as you enjoy it. Look for Stick and Puck sessions in your area so you can get out there and work on shooting and stick handling in addition to your skating.

Also hockey clinics for adults are very common so that’s something you can look into as well for improving your skating and skills.

Also for summer, pick up a pair of inline skates. Roller blading can help you with basics of ice skating and you can work on your shooting and stick handling on outdoor roller rinks or even asphalt.

 

[Judge13]

Thanks so much for the advice! Im eager to get my new skates in the mail!
Another odd thing I'd like to mention is that for some reason Im only a Size 9 in a skate.. but in shoes im a Size 12? I thought skate sizes were a size and a half down?
I wish I learned when I was younger but Hockey was so expensive. I know they say Canadians are born skating but I must of missed out.
I think there is stick and puck everyday where I live so I will check it out!

Another question to poll the masses... Is it better to learn with the equipment or not? I suspect Im gonna be falling alot so maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to? At least the pants, elbow and shin pads and a stick to assist with a bit of balance?

There is a sale on CCM 5092 Hockey Pads (Shoulder, Shin, Elbow) for 30% off.. should I get those? Are they any good?

 

[BoardsofCanada]

Take a power skating course. After one summer of twice a week workouts, I went from a beginner to an intermediate player in my rec. league.

To answer your question, you should definitely learn with full equipment on. I personally skip the shoulder and chest pads but everything else is a must.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Thanks so much for the advice! Im eager to get my new skates in the mail!
Another odd thing I'd like to mention is that for some reason Im only a Size 9 in a skate.. but in shoes im a Size 12? I thought skate sizes were a size and a half down?
I wish I learned when I was younger but Hockey was so expensive. I know they say Canadians are born skating but I must of missed out.
I think there is stick and puck everyday where I live so I will check it out!

Another question to poll the masses... Is it better to learn with the equipment or not? I suspect Im gonna be falling alot so maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to? At least the pants, elbow and shin pads and a stick to assist with a bit of balance?

There is a sale on CCM 5092 Hockey Pads (Shoulder, Shin, Elbow) for 30% off.. should I get those? Are they any good?

Yeah 3 sizes sounds like a big gap. But you said you got your foot laser measured and found a pair that fits well? Maybe your shoe just runs small?

Yes you should learn with equipment. Like poster above said you can ditch shoulder pads though but definitely want elbows and shins. Falling on your knees and elbows wouldn’t be fun.

As for the 5092, that model is more intermediate-advanced player. But if the price point works for you go for it. You might find cheaper options for entry level models of pads In Tacks line or other lines.

 

[Judge13]

Ok at the risk of exposing myself as more of a noob.. So I have a really good Compression Jock/ Cup that I used for MMA.. My question is.. what do I wear for down there? After the compression shorts and cup.. do I still get a mesh short to wear?

 

[BruinDust]

I'll give 5 pieces of advice.

1) Enjoy it. It's meant to be fun, something you look forward to. If you don't enjoy it your wasting your time.

2) Don't get frustrated. I play rec hockey with a wide range of skill-sets, everything from beginners like yourself and upwards. And I've noticed that the vast majority of players want to see everyone succeed and have fun. Even experienced players get a rise out of seeing a beginner make a nice play or score a goal. If you bobble a pass from a strong player, don't worry about it, the vast majority of us have been there before, and experienced players bobble passes and make mistakes too.

3) Figure out, in time, what you do well, what your strengths are and use that to get more out of your time on ice. Not to say don't work on your weaknesses, but recognize your strengths. For example, you may not be a great skater but know where to be on the ice and have good hand-eye, so go to the net and get those rebounds/deflections goals in tight, find soft spots to get shots away.

4) Wear all the equipment, and I mean all of it. The last thing you want as a beginner is to bang-up your elbow or bruise a rib because you didn't wear elbow pads or shoulder pads.

5) Try, as much as possible, to take something positive out of each ice session. Doesn't have to be a goal. Might be something as simple as a good pass, or a bank off the boards, or stopping an on-rushing player with the puck. Those little positives are what will hook you to the sport and keep you wanting to go back and play again.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Ok at the risk of exposing myself as more of a noob.. So I have a really good Compression Jock/ Cup that I used for MMA.. My question is.. what do I wear for down there? After the compression shorts and cup.. do I still get a mesh short to wear?

Yes the mesh shorts will contain the Velcro tabs to attach the hockey socks.

Or you could look at something like this which combines the cup, compression short and Velcro in one garment.

Bauer Pro Lock Hockey Jock Shorts - Senior - Ice Warehouse

 

[Judge13]

... To be honest I never thought I would get this much support and help here. But I really thank you all!

I am looking into finding some skating lessons for adults around here. They have lots of kids programs but not many adult ones.

Yes I did that Bauer 3D Scan and the CCM Scan and I thought I was a Supreme or a Tacks but I got Vapor. And I like them. The Vapor really locks in my ankle and had the least amount of pain off the get go. But yes, I got 9 EE. But I brush the toe cap a touch when I sit and I don't when I stand and get into a hockey stance and they said that is how they should fit. I have a return warranty even after 1 bake just in case.

Gotcha! I will practice with all the equipment. In football skill players just practice with Helmet, cletes and gloves. After my experience with the cheap skates, spending a bit more for some stuff especially protection is ok. The human body only needs 1 kidney to live right? Hahaha

I appreciate those 5 things. Believe me, I am going into this with only 1 expectation.. To Try with discipline.
Playing high caliber football made me appreciate skills of different sports.

I know I probably won't be a good skater but I think I would be good to provide goalie screens/ deflections.

Thanks All. Keep the advice coming! Trust me.. I'll be very active posting on here once everything comes in!

How important is base layer? What do you wear? Is it important getting cut Resistant top/ bottoms? Like the CCM Base 360?

I like the Cup I have. Its a Jaco Guardian with a Diamond Diamond cup. Ive taken some nasty shots to there in MMA and it always never failed me.

 

[Judge13]

Alright so all the pads (CCM 5092) Pants, Shoulder, Shin, Elbow, a pair of socks, Mesh Jock Short, and a Practice jersey.. Total is 342.86 All in.. Plus the $436 for the Vapor X800 and Insole.

 

[LeifUK]

Good advice above. Group hockey lessons will help. Group skating lessons too. I’m not sure if one on one skating lessons are a good idea until you find your feet, and learn the basics. One on one skating lessons will certainly help once you get the basics. I’m self taught, and recently started skating lessons, and fixing all of my mistakes is a painful process, getting it right from the start might have been quicker. I see people who have had one on one lessons, and they learn quickly.

Those look like decent pants, but make sure you have enough coccyx protection. If you are older, you might want to look at padded shorts underneath. I wear Xion boxer shorts under my pants.

Get a cage for your helmet. I know someone who recently lost four teeth, and suffered a broken jaw, when someone took a slap shot during a rec game. Oddly enough all his friends who wore visors suddenly switched to a cage. I’ve had a high speed puck hit my cage and I’ve had several stick ends shoved into my (protected) face.

 

[Judge13]

Im in my mid 20's, but I'll look into those things!

Oh yes, I have a helmet with a cage already. Ive seen way too many injuries.

That's what I'm trying to avoid. I want to build a good foundation and good habits. It may seem silly but it took me a long time to nail down the stance you take before the 40 yard dash because I was never taught it and learned my own thing amd it too forever to break it down and relearn.

 

[Claudi27]

Just a few bits, take them for what they're worth, I'll try to give you a different perspective or just some things you maybe haven't considered.

I'm not sure how well you skate, but get into practice as much and as often as you can before you jump in a game. Hockey is tiring specially in the beginning, where every movement takes you 10x as much effort as someone who has been doing it for a few years already. Don't get too sad if you feel exhausted 1/4 after your first practice with an actual 'team'. This can be very frustrating and disheartening, but it's important to push through these initial months.

Someone suggested Roller Hockey. If Ice is scarce in your area it's a good idea, it will build your cardio and some muscles in your leg / groin area that will help you on the ice.

If you have a trainer to tell you what you're doing wrong and prepare drills for you, that's great. If not, you can learn a lot from YouTube tutorials.

Work on giving the puck spin first to help keeping it flat when making passes or shooting.


And for a start, try and have control of:

-Crossovers
-Stops
-Skating backwards

To me these should be the 3 fundaments to work on before you even put your gloves on

 

[shoeshine boy]

welcome to the family! first and foremost know this: hockey is one of the hardest sports to learn as an adult. mostly because it's hard to hide the fact that, at first anyway, you suck. put the work in though and you'll get better.
check with your local rink and see if they have anyone that gives private or semi-private hockey lessons.
I'd also recommend, to get a good feel for the game, check with your local league and see if they need any scorekeepers. you'll make some money and be able to watch the league you'll likely be playing in.

as others have said, when you go to public skate wear your gear. I'm not really sure the shoulder pads are needed (and they draw unwanted attention) but consider getting a cheap roller hockey girdle (you could maybe even wear padded football shorts if you have some) and wearing that under some track pants (it'll draw less attention than hockey pants) along with shins, elbows, gloves and a helmet. I learned the hard way about always wearing your helmet. when I was still learning I fell backwards during public skate, hit my head and had a wicked concussion.

one question you asked that I'm not sure if anyone addressed: the staring and pointing. that's something that you just have to ignore. you don't know those people anyway so what do you care what they think? just know that you're out there working on your skills and stay in your own world.

good luck!

 

[beakerboy]

I would advise against learning to skate with your stick, because you don't want to be using it for balance. If you rely on waving it around to counterbalance yourself, you're going to start doing that playing hockey and noone wants a wild stick around. The main reason I went to a cage from a visor was because of errant sticks playing with beginners.

Other than that, solid advice all around. It's mostly practice practice practice your skating.

 

[Richard]

Take learn to skate classes; even if you are the only adult. Trust me, that will help. No pads, no equipment. Then graduate to a learn to play class for adults-almost everyone has them. Concentrate on crossovers. You'll get them with time and they separate a beginner from a decent skater.

Lastly, take a power skating class; you'll understand how to skate, how to transfer weight and power, and how to use your edges.


Good luck!

 

[Judge13]

I think it will be a long long tome before I enter in a game. Hockey is fluid and fast paced where Football is short bursts of chaos as I compare the 2. I'm one of those guys who need to build a foundation and then some before jumping into a game.

There is 2 sheets of indoor ice year round and 3 more in the winter in the town I live in. Its a pretty big Hockey town but I checked this morning and the classes are geared only for 17 Y and down and don't allow adults into their classes. Even their development schools are the same.

Also, won't learn to skate classes encourage wearing equipment. And well I work as a Paramedic and I've done thousands of calls to rinks for head/ face injuries so I will always always wear a helmet and a cage. No worries there.

Thank you for that bit on with the pointers and laughing. I never laughed at anyone who was learning to play football. I don't know where or how people expect you to learn to skate if it's not on the ice. It is super humbling though from going from a decent top football player to a super beginner in hockey.

 

[tarheelhockey]

How important is base layer? What do you wear? Is it important getting cut Resistant top/ bottoms? Like the CCM Base 360?

People can get very detailed about their preferences, but in general I wouldn't worry too much about base layer. Some guys don't wear anything at all under their pads... I find that uncomfortable (velcro scratches) and kind of gross once the sweat makes your skin slick under your pads. A simple t-shirt is all you really need for comfort and sweat absorption. Same on the bottom layer, some guys go commando, others wear standard underwear. An expensive hockey-specific bottom layer isn't necessary at this point. As you get more into the game, you'll know if you want to upgrade to something more specialized.

It never feels quite right to say safety equipment isn't needed, but IMO cut resistant base layers really are not necessary at the beginner level. It makes sense to worry about the very very small chance of a skate cut if you're spending a lot of intense hours on the ice every weak, but realistically the chance of such a fluke accident for someone learning the game an hour or two at a time is beyond slim. Likewise, some guys go for a turtleneck-style throat guard... IMO it's not necessary for a beginner where you're not going to be facing high-intensity game play. The chances of ever needing it are extremely slim, and it's likely to make you uncomfortable.

The one place where base layer might be a consideration sooner rather than later, is your socks. Personally I just use generic white socks, but I have a particular cut that feels best inside my skates. A lot of guys buy hockey-specific socks for various reasons. Skate comfort is so important, especially when it comes to avoiding blisters and getting a proper fit inside your boot, that you might want to try a few things and see what works for you at an early stage.

 

[LeifUK]

Incidentally, the fact that you are good at one sport probably means you have good core strength and balance, which will help you no end learning skating and hockey. And of course you have an understanding of team sports.

 

[Claudi27]

I think it will be a long long tome before I enter in a game. Hockey is fluid and fast paced where Football is short bursts of chaos as I compare the 2. I'm one of those guys who need to build a foundation and then some before jumping into a game.

There is 2 sheets of indoor ice year round and 3 more in the winter in the town I live in. Its a pretty big Hockey town but I checked this morning and the classes are geared only for 17 Y and down and don't allow adults into their classes. Even their development schools are the same.

Also, won't learn to skate classes encourage wearing equipment. And well I work as a Paramedic and I've done thousands of calls to rinks for head/ face injuries so I will always always wear a helmet and a cage. No worries there.

Thank you for that bit on with the pointers and laughing. I never laughed at anyone who was learning to play football. I don't know where or how people expect you to learn to skate if it's not on the ice. It is super humbling though from going from a decent top football player to a super beginner in hockey.

Lovely attitude mate.

One last thing. If your soft first skates were painful to wear, just wait until you try the stiff ones lol.

Most young players strengthen their ankles when they're 8-12 and kind of get this out of the way. Basically once the skate starts breaking in (you can fast forward this process by baking the skate) you'll start stressing your ankles so much you'll want to cry

 

[shoeshine boy]

The one place where base layer might be a consideration sooner rather than later, is your socks. Personally I just use generic white socks, but I have a particular cut that feels best inside my skates. A lot of guys buy hockey-specific socks for various reasons. Skate comfort is so important, especially when it comes to avoiding blisters and getting a proper fit inside your boot, that you might want to try a few things and see what works for you at an early stage.

I use Nike dri-fit soccer socks. they're not expensive and have lasted me 10+ years. some people like to skate barefoot but be warned: barefoot skaters have the STINKIEST skates.

 

[beakerboy]

Base layer, I would just go with what you're used to from football; it's a comfort thing, not protection.

For socks, I agree you'll need to try a bunch of different things. After some experimentation I like using worn out dress socks. As thin as possible without resorting to being one of those guys who wear pantyhose. Yes, I've known guys who admit that is what they do.

 

[Judge13]

Oh dear.. Yes I've heard of breaking in skates and also baking them. I just thought the cheap skates hurt alot because my foot couldn't stay in place properly? Ahhhh well guess pain is part of the game.

Yes, I think also part of me wanting to join Hockey is the team atmosphere. I kinda stopped competing in Boxing/ MMA recently. So I am looking forward to the teams eventually.

I can't do it barefoot.. I have this weird OCD thing where I can't even wear shoes without socks. I'm looking at buying a pair or 2 of CCM Proline Cut Resistant socks. I just went to do a call last year at a rink an a possible Achilles tendon sever and it freaked me out. I know that the incident is rare but still.. Yikes.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

Just a few pieces of advice...

- it’s extremely important to understand that you have four edges... an outside and inside edge on each skate. Learning how to balance on each is key to becoming a great skater. Ie, it’s important to balance on your outside edge and become comfortable as you are doing a crossover, or you will do the choppy crossovers that are impossible to get any power from.

As you become more advanced you will need to start to challenge yourself to do a one foot stop on each edge and that’s ultimately something to work towards as you develop beyond the basics.

These kind of stops will be likely far off in your future, but understanding the mechanics behind them is something you should learn ASAP.

I suggest watching Coach Jeremy and Itrain hockey vids on YouTube. You will learn a wealth of information from these guys and start to understand the mechanics of your edges.

- another important tip is negative space in your skates or improperly fitted skates. A lot of people have skates with too much toe room in the cap or their heel slips out because the skate is too big and they curl their toes when they skate (curling the toes is a reaction to help keep the skate in place). This is... bad. You will lose power and balance this way, so make sure you have someone properly fit your skates or if it’s a bigger toe cap issue, there are products out there that can help keep your toes in place, the one I can speak about from experience is Powerfoot Performance inserts.

When you are pushing off with your skates, if you feel your toes curling, then you probably need a product like this or your skates are too big.

This is most definitely something to be aware of that most beginners and even seasoned skaters aren’t aware of. Once you become aware of it, it’s impossible not to notice if you are doing it.

- finally, watch good skaters when you are on the ice and see what you can learn. Also don’t be shy about asking them for advice, most of us seasoned skaters like helping others out.

 

[Judge13]

My YouTube history is all Coach Jeremy and Hockey Tutorial. It is overwhelming but I do like that there is constant learning with this sport.

I am glad to hear that some people are willing to help teach. I hope there are some good people like that where I am.

I am overwhelmed and grateful for all the advice, encouragement and help so far!!

My skates come in tomorrow. Im trying to justify to myself to buy the gear. But the wife is watching...