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D C posted:THIS, my pro-deals on CCM Vector sticks ruined me when I was 17, I cant use anything but 1 piece sticks now. I think that's why I cling to my Grip-lite shaft and my eight year old Easton Inferno skates. Once that shaft is gone, I pretty much only have the option of moving onto the expensive one-piece sticks. And they don't even make my line of skates anymore  .
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| # ¿ Nov 7, 2011 21:18 |
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| # ¿ May 20, 2013 14:31 |
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Thufir posted:So all the Flyers - Tampa forechecking mess got me thinking about how ineffective my beer league team is at it, probably because we don't know what we're doing. I think I've heard that the deepest forward (F1 I guess) should try to force the puck carrier towards the boards, is that right? Assuming all the forwards are more or less equally deep which position should pursue the puck carrier? I play center but a lot of times the wingers I'm with aren't very strong skaters so I'll forecheck deep but that leaves me a long skate back to my own end if we don't get a turnover. Is that something a winger should be doing? The most common forecheck has the first forward into the zone (F1) go to the puck, the second forward (F2) go towards the boards, where the winger in a basic breakout plays, and the third forward goes into the high slot area (F3). The reason your F1 want to play the puck handler towards the boards is because when he tries to make that breakout pass you will have F2 waiting there to make the play on the puck. Likewise, if you play him inside towards the net, the puck handler can easily reverse play, and then you only have your high slot guy there to pressure the puck, and the other two forwards are more likely out of position. In that situation, it is F2's (the guy on the boards) resonsibility to hustle all the way across the ice to get in a similar position as he was in the original forecheck. I hope that is an adequate explanation for your question. In your case, you would take the role of F1, and would need one of your wingers to make sure they get into the F2 position.
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| # ¿ Nov 10, 2011 20:47 |
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So I suited up for the first time since last December last night with the Bantam A (13-14yrs) team I coach. I coach with two other kids I graduated with in 2006 and last night made me realize how out of shape I am. We only had nine kids show up for practice (Saturday night, 9:15) so plus the three coaches we just played 3v3 half ice all night. It was a blast playing with them and I know they had fun. I would just stay up towards the blue line distributing to my team.
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| # ¿ Nov 20, 2011 17:37 |
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trilljester posted:I played in that tournament last year, it was ridiculous. They did no policing of the different skill levels, so basically any team that didn't have 5 or 6 ringers got smoked. I heard that at the tournament this year they had 1 "friendly" match and moved teams that were way too good for the novice level up to the intermediate level. But still, the novices teams were stacked from top to bottom. I haven't participated in a beer league before, so I may be unaware of the scale of skill level amongst teams, but, if you want to play the PK through your rotation, I think it would do wonders to just explain the basic Box PK and tell them not to break it, and not to chase the puck. Maybe some of the skaters aren't capable, but I know that I'm not extemely worried when I'm forced to play one of my worst defenders on the PK because disciplined positioning does wonders. Just a thought, and take it for what it's worth since I'm not experienced in the beer league situation. EDIT: Also, if you're having trouble with some lackluster defending, preach to your defense about holding the slot down. Just lift the stick and stay on the guy like a pest will do wonders for protecting your goalie.
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| # ¿ Nov 21, 2011 20:57 |
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Matty D posted:Just gathered up all my hockey gear for the first time since High school...about 6 years. My stick is a CCM Vector from back when 1 piece composites were news - the loving thing has a 110 flex. 110. I had no idea. I played with it for like 2 years in High school. I like the 100-110 Flex range. I'm still using an Easton Grip-Lite shaft w/ a random blade. I love the thing. It seems crazy to me to use any stick with less Flex.
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| # ¿ Nov 22, 2011 20:19 |
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Well, it turns out I got a bench minor for explaining what interference was to the ref this weekend. Seriously, you look at the game differently once you're a coach.
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| # ¿ Dec 12, 2011 21:03 |
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Topoisomerase posted:You look at it differently when you're a ref too. No joke. It's not as easy as it looks, guys. I hated reffing when I did it. There were too many cases of calls that could be made that maybe shouldn't be. Too many situations where I either set the precedence to call everything or little. So much goes on in a game. Plus, breaking up fights isn't much fun. I didn't ref for too long.
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| # ¿ Dec 13, 2011 14:03 |
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Gio posted:Honestly, I've played D my whole life, and I still think the hardest thing is making a good first pass. Especially if you have a bunch of forwards who do little to get open, which will only frustrate you more. A key to being effective defensively is knowing where everyone else is on the ice. You don't have enough time with the puck when trying to get it out of the zone to try and find a pass. It helps when your team plays some sort of breakout system so, once you are familiar with your wingers, you don't need to focus on where your team is as much. Then you can concentrate on where the other team is and not passing the puck near them. Also, knowing that you can almost always reverse play be sending the puck behind and around the net to your defensive partner helps. Communication and chemistry is important in defensive pairings. Sometimes the mindsets of the two players contrast to the point of hindrance.
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| # ¿ Dec 14, 2011 20:57 |
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Habibi posted:Edit: ^^^I know it's not the same situation, but D is the best place to 'hide' ringers that aren't interested in going coast-to-coast but just want some rink time, as it allows them to just quarterback the play and fire off passes. At least, that's how I play when I sub for friends' teams at lower levels. Man, I love doing that. I would do that for the intramural leagues when I was in school. I'd just sit back on defense and make passes while yelling out reminders about positioning.
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| # ¿ Jan 9, 2012 17:35 |
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cenzo posted:I've never used a shield, but has anyone ever tried rain-x? It might sound stupid, but I use it on the inside of my car windshield and it doesn't fog when it rains anymore. I love the edit :P sellouts posted:just use a cage, problem solved or let your face hang free.
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| # ¿ Jan 9, 2012 21:46 |
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xzzy posted:After watching Seabrook headbutt a slapshot (results of being tripped) last night, I will never step into a hockey game without a full cage. Yea, I've only participated in Alumni games, and youth hockey practices without a cage. As much as I want to act like a hard-rear end, that cage stays in my bag for when I play real hockey.
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| # ¿ Jan 9, 2012 21:52 |
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I'm confused. Do people really need to take more than one glove off to snap their cage straps off? Let me offer you an alternative. Loosen up the tightness of the cage, then you can slide it up over your head without unstrapping anything. Now you have a dangle cage, and in addition to offering easier removal, you can now use more pronounced head shakes to trick your opponents when trying to deke around them because the cage will shake all over the place. Although in a contact league, a good hit towards the chin and you're going to cut up your chin (but there are chances of that happening regardless in a contact league).
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| # ¿ Jan 11, 2012 14:20 |
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WouldDesk posted:Hockey tape? All the cool kids use these and listen to Dub Step. Eww! Why! You're going to eat through that blade so fast! Plus, the rubber material is going to be hell in handling passes. A few of the kids I coach use it, I don't understand. (I think you may be joking, but I don't know, so just go with it) D C posted:The base 'standard' for stick length is around your chin on skates, your nose off skates. Additionally, defenders usually will have longer sticks to help with poke checks, while wingers and puckhandlers will use shorter sticks to give them more control. It really is preference though, I used a shorter stick throughout High School hockey even though I was a defender.
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| # ¿ Jan 23, 2012 20:48 |
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Green Submarine posted:Tape over the toe is key. It also helps to wrap a strip of tape along the bottom of the blade, and to wrap it tightly enough that you essentially get a double layer. I've been taping along the bottom first for ages. At least 15 years, but I've never been one to tape the toe though. I've tried it, but never really got a feel for it. It's funny watching the kids I coach try to tape the toes, and then asking me to do it. They'll see a specific tape style during an NHL broadcast, then try and tape it that way during the next practice.
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| # ¿ Jan 24, 2012 15:53 |
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The few times I've taped the toe, I usually bring one strip along the bottom of the blade from the heel, and bring it all the way around the toe and back along the top about half way. From there I will tape from heel to toe like you normally would until I reach the tough part of the toe. From there I go slowly, tucking the extra tape underneath itself until the toe is covered. Because of the initial strip, the hardest part is usually gone. Never really used wax. Only use a puck to push the tape down and adhere it better. During my high school days, which was when I skated the most (obviously), I would tape my stick before every other practice, and before every game. Often I would re-tape during the break between the second and third period.
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| # ¿ Jan 24, 2012 20:37 |
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xzzy posted:Maybe on the north shore you'll be fine, but that's about it. Holding ponds still have unfrozen water down in the Naperville area. If it's a chilled outdoor rink it'll probably be fine.. but I think there's only a few of those in all of the Chicago area. I always see an outdoor rink when I'm on 294 as I'm driving near the casino by O'Hare. Is that rink any good? I've always been curious.
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| # ¿ Jan 26, 2012 19:31 |
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xzzy posted:Never skated it, but they do have chillers running so the ice could be decent. Always seems to be populated by casual skaters, never seen any hockey going on. I was just wondering. That girlfriend of mine lives up in the North Shore area and I drive past it whenever I see her, and outdoor rinks in general make me excited.
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| # ¿ Jan 26, 2012 21:37 |
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sellouts posted:If you know a few people content to spend $725 in one weekend for hockey, do what bewbies and I are doing -- make a team for the USA Hockey Pond Hockey Championships in Eagle River, WI. It fills up very fast (within a day or so of opening of signups in August) but you'll get there and stay for less than 725, have free Labatt Blue to drink and a pretty fun tournament. It's the one they featured in the pre-game before the Winter Classic the past 2 years. I really, really need to do this in the next couple of years. I know lots of people doing it, I'm just not in competitive hockey shape right now.
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| # ¿ Jan 31, 2012 19:51 |
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Thufir posted:Budweiser Canada put together a flash fan mob for a beer league game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0qZ...player_embedded That's awesome.
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| # ¿ Feb 2, 2012 21:12 |
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110 FLEX. Don't want to ever change. Honestly, I just need to switch to a one piece, or install the blade myself. Stupid hockey shop being stingy on the glue.
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| # ¿ Feb 6, 2012 17:27 |
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Henrik Zetterberg posted:Wow, I ordered that EQ50 on Thursday and it showed up on my porch today. Not bad for USPS and being cross-country. Who needs hockey with a dog like that?!
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| # ¿ Feb 7, 2012 17:32 |
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shyguy posted:Was it just the blade or the shaft that broke? I remember the older Easton composite blades would crack along the bottom, and I remember there was a design flaw or something with the z-bubbles and they would break almost too easily at the bottom. I never used those composite blades. Always opted for the wooden ones that were the same exact thing...just wood. $10 cheaper, and would always last longer. I still do this actually. And speaking of Z-Bubbles. The Z-Bubble Grip was my favorite stick ever. Only stick I used in High School. I went through a lot.
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| # ¿ Feb 8, 2012 13:52 |
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shyguy posted:I emulated playing center by watching Rod Brind'Amour. If he wanted to win a puck back, on the draw he would spin his body around, in essence trying to cut the opposing center off from the puck, and get a stick on it or kick it. Half of the time when I win a draw its with my skate. Just remember to tie up your man after you knock the puck back or to the side.
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| # ¿ Feb 10, 2012 18:40 |
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sellouts posted:If you think you are good (or even serviceable) at hockey and/or your strengths involve speed, accurate passing, or shooting, you should try playing in a pond hockey tournament. That'll knock you down a few pegs. Was this the huge tourny up in Minny/Wisky? Jelly.
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| # ¿ Feb 13, 2012 18:39 |
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Vital Signs posted:So, I'll be playing goalie for a Never-Ever team this Friday. I've been playing hockey for 14 years now as a forward, but the only goalie I've ever really played has been in ball hockey. I'm going to try to hit a few practice type things, but being that it's in a Never-Ever league... I'll be on a pretty good pace with everyone else in terms of skill of the position. Just by playing hockey for 14 years you are a step ahead of them. You'll be more comfortable just being on the ice, even if it is in goal. You'll be fine. Goalie is a lot of fun even if you're normally a skater. Once you realize a slapshot doesn't actually hurt, you're fine.
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| # ¿ Feb 14, 2012 13:06 |
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Zamboni_Rodeo posted:My dad decided at age 65 that he wanted to (re)learn to ice skate. The last time he'd done it was 40 years ago. So he asked if I wanted to tag along and I said sure. It's his fault I play hockey. (As a side note, he does not.) It really is
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| # ¿ Feb 15, 2012 00:14 |
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Henrik Zetterberg posted:Another neat trick for D-men to use is to put both hands on your stick, then bring the shaft down into the flap at the top of the other dudes pants and push downward. They flop over backwards and as long as both of your hands stay on the stick and it ends up on the ice, it'll look like they lost their footing and fell backwards like an idiot. I LOVE this trick. I would do it all the time in High School. Really, though, you just need to keep your body on the guy in front of the net, and just keep lifting his stick. He will get taken out of the play usually because he gets frustrated and tries to get free, or will start pushing you, or will start slashing or holding you. Often, the ref will already be paying attention to the two of you in front of the net, and once the slash comes, his hand goes up. Wingers are stupid :P As far as in the corner, in a full contact game, you will want to pressure the guy, and get a body on him. If you can, pin him up against the boards, and wait for your center to come in and help (most likely will never come if they're like my centers). Otherwise, you'll win the puck, and should be looking to pass the puck along. Since most beer leagues are non-contact, I'd probably advise to play the corner more like you're on the penalty kill, and give the guy space in the corner, make him come to you, while trying to cut off his passing lanes. Keeping him along the boards means that the only danger he provides is a pass. Keep a wide body, one hand on your stick, so you can move it along the ice to funnel him a specific way, and try to force the wrong pass. Topoisomerase posted:Conversely, my captain is quite over-cautious and at the last tournament we went to, all of our best players landed on defense and as a result nobody was there for us to feed the puck up to so as you can imagine, it's hard to have effective defense when the puck gets shoved back down our throats because our forwards cough it up in the neutral zone every time we try to break it out. Definitely need a balance! Sounds like the youth hockey team I coach. Spends 85% of the time in our defensive zone because as soon as a pass gets up to one of our wingers, they either lose the puck because they aren't looking for the flyer, or don't go to the puck because they are afraid to get hit.
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| # ¿ Feb 15, 2012 14:01 |
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Pinching is an interesting topic,some of the most important points have already been mentioned: Don't pinch if you're partner is. If you are the centered defender on the line, be ready to get back because pinching most often occurs against the boards. Also if in the middle, watch for the backside wing to be flying. If you are going to be pinching you better get the puck or the body. If you are holding the line, keep the drat puck in! Situational awareness is important in deciding when to pinch. I feel that it is or becomes extremely instinctual, and you will either know if you are should or can, or if you shouldn't/can't. If you are getting beat everytime when you pinch, it may be time to quit doing it.
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| # ¿ Feb 15, 2012 19:39 |
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xzzy posted:Not that beer league is the NHL, but in pro games when a d-man pinches, almost every time you'll find his defensive partner retreat to the center face-off dot. Not just the NHL, you'll see that all the way down to High School and below. One of the things I'm screaming from the bench during games. Doctor Butts posted:Do you guys recommend velcro or old school garter? Yes, and yes. The kids these days have their socks stiched to their jocks, crazy stuff. That said, most of the jocks that are like compression shorts, with the velcro work well enough. The one I have from high school has a kevlar cup. Bulletproof baby!
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| # ¿ Feb 16, 2012 19:02 |
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Henrik Zetterberg posted:Good enough to gently caress your mother! I wish I would have remembered that scene when I made that comment!!! Dammit! And yea, my compression shorts are 8 years old. Still great.
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| # ¿ Feb 17, 2012 01:56 |
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So, there is a small chance I'll be moving to N. Cali, Orange County. How far is that from some of you N. Cali players?
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| # ¿ Feb 23, 2012 15:30 |
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Henrik Zetterberg posted:Orange County as in the Orange County by LA in South CA? Or is there another Orange County I'm not familiar with? sellouts posted:Yeah that's southern California, south of Los Angeles. I think a few people play at Anaheim but I've never met them. Kashew posted:....Orange County is deep, deep, deep in SoCal. I don't know what's right anymore. lol. I'm sorry for being an idiot. It is OC. I got confused because the reason of the move is because of my gf's grad school, and she applied to a school in Sacramento and one in Orange County. I'm mixing everything up. Awesome Animals fucked around with this message at Feb 23, 2012 around 21:51 |
| # ¿ Feb 23, 2012 21:48 |
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Thanks for all the responses Cali goons. Sorry I didn't respond right away, busy weekend. I probably won't be moving until this summer (if it happens) but I'm pretty excited about it.
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| # ¿ Feb 27, 2012 02:49 |
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Speaking of playing with NHLers, I grew up with a kid who just got called up to the Bruins. We played travel baseball together, never hockey though. He was always three levels higher than us. It's still crazy to see him on the ice. And score a goal.
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| # ¿ Mar 1, 2012 21:00 |
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Henrik Zetterberg posted:Yeah but he could smoke your Civic. lol, story time. I had a wheelie bag for a few years during youth hockey. Make the high school team as a freshman and haven't been given my school gear yet. Wheel my bag into the locker room and sit down. Captain of the team walks in, grabs my bag and throws it out of the locker room. He then grabs me and throws me out of the locker room and tells me not to come back until I have a proper bag. One of the other captains invites me back into the locker room, but drat if I wasn't as distraught as I've ever been. I then became his target, even though we were both defenders, during practices. It was a tough preseason. Stupid wheelie bag (also, I know the dude was just being an rear end in a top hat, but drat if it didn't make me hate the wheelie bags  ).On a slightly more serious note, the wheelie bags are viewed negatively on the whole by other players. At least around here. I personally couldn't care less, just enjoy sharing that anecdote. Actually, the other Bantam coach doesn't even allow his players to have wheelie bags. 19 o'clock posted:Whatever. It's a game, not a fashion show. People used to make fun of my badonka-donk rear end in my new giant pants. I cried and cried, but soon came around since then. Wait until you line someone up for a hip check. They won't make fun of that rear end much longer.
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| # ¿ Mar 22, 2012 20:22 |
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10 years ago I was stuck on a medicore team with a bunch of kids going through puberty. It was fun. 9 years ago I was getting my rear end beat in the locker room for having a wheelie bag.  (I'm trying to refrain from mentioning that this makes me feel old because it is apparent I am one of the youngest ones who post in this thread)
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| # ¿ Mar 27, 2012 20:39 |
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Krime posted:I work at an ice rink with a fully stocked pro shop, so I have access to employee pricing for myself!
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| # ¿ Mar 28, 2012 01:03 |
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Just don't have anyone with knowledge about the whole flat feet thing.
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You guys and your fancy contraptions. Real hockey players get beat up dryers to use. Like Sid the Kid. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnwPAqMZmFQ
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| # ¿ Mar 28, 2012 03:27 |
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xzzy posted:Pitch is something that should be fixable by a competent boot fitter. The problem is finding guys that do this sort of work.. the only company I know of is a small shop in Minnesota (George's hockey repair) that will take any piece of gear you bring them and either repair it or customize it to your liking. You'd think they would be more lenient to the people who own skates after their feet stop growing. I (my parents) had to buy a new pair of skates every year until I was 15! And now they're doing that with my brother who has another few years until his (ginormous) feet stop growing.
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| # ¿ Mar 28, 2012 19:03 |
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| # ¿ May 20, 2013 14:31 |
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AboveAndBeyond posted:Holy poo poo, this was part of my problem. My neighbors are terrified. Now to get accuracy down and learn the cheat codes for backhand shots. Backhand is the same as a forehand shot use the whip you get from the bend of the stick, and let the puck roll from the heel to the toe, and you will feel the momentum lift the puck.
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| # ¿ Mar 30, 2012 13:48 |
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