I know there are several Men's League and advanced players on here so i wanted to pose a few questions.

I've really gotten back into hockey the last couple seasons and two of my really close friends who played in college are graduated and moved back. They are currently playing in a league here and have sparked my interest to getting back on the ice.

I played youth hockey growing up on several competitive teams. I stopped playing when i was in Pee Wees. I can still skate pretty well and still know the game, but as you can see I haven't played in a real game in 12 years or so. That being said, what level B, C, C2 should i look at getting into for my first time back? I would ultimately like to play with one or both of my friends, but i imagine that won't happen right away, but i also don't want to get into a league that is too slow or novice. And any tips for getting started, or a good place to find some gently used equipment? I checked craigslist, but no luck on a few quick searches.

5/20/2009 3:00:48 PM

Jeepin I would so play

Have you ever seen a black man on ice skates ?

5/20/2009 3:04:10 PM

I'd start in C1 if you haven't played in quite a while but had competitive experience when you were younger. Even the B leagues here have some guys that played D1 or semi-pro and lots of younger guys that played AA/AAA travel all the way to midgets. With that said, every rink is different...the B at the Reczone isn't anywhere near as good as the B at the Factory top-to-bottom. Where are your friends playing?

5/20/2009 3:06:35 PM

I'm pretty sure it's the Pineville Ice House leagues, that was where I played and I dont think there is another rink around here since Eastland closed. (Charlotte)

5/20/2009 3:11:24 PM

^^^

Active

Players currently playing in the NHL or an affiliate team

Forwards

* Donald Brashear (half black[1]), Left Wing: (Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals)
* Dustin Byfuglien (half black[2]), Right Wing: (Chicago Blackhawks)
* Nigel Dawes (Half Jamaican) [3], Left Wing: (New York Rangers, Phoenix Coyotes)
* Robbie Earl[4], Left Wing: (Minnesota Wild affiliate)
* Mike Grier[1], Right Wing: (Edmonton Oilers, Washington Capitals, Buffalo Sabres, San Jose Sharks)
* Jarome Iginla (half Nigerian[1][5]), Right Wing: (Calgary Flames)
* Georges Laraque[1], Right Wing: (Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Phoenix Coyotes, Montreal Canadiens)
* Jamal Mayers[1], Right Wing: (St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs)
* Greg Mauldin[6], Right Wing: (Columbus Blue Jackets, Ottawa Senators affiliate)
* Kenndal McArdle, Left Wing: (Florida Panthers affiliate)
* Kyle Okposo (half Nigerian[7]), Right Wing: (New York Islanders)
* Wayne Simmonds[8], Right Wing: Los Angeles Kings
* Anthony Stewart[5], Centre: (Florida Panthers)
* Chris Stewart[3], Right Wing: (Colorado Avalanche)
* Joel Ward[9], Right Wing: (Nashville Predators)

Defensemen

* Shawn Belle[10]: (Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens affiliate)
* Francis Bouillon (half Haitian[11]): (Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators)
* Trevor Daley[12]: (Dallas Stars)
* Mark Fraser[13]: (New Jersey Devils affiliate)
* Derek Joslin (San Jose Sharks)
* Johnny Oduya (half Kenyan[14]): (New Jersey Devils)
* Theo Peckham: (Edmonton Oilers affiliate)
* Bryce Salvador[15]: (St. Louis Blues, New Jersey Devils)

Goaltenders

* Chris Beckford-Tseu (half-Jamaican)[16] (St. Louis Blues)
* Kevin Weekes[1] (Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightining, Carolina Hurricanes, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils)


[Edited on May 20, 2009 at 3:21 PM. Reason : *]

5/20/2009 3:19:41 PM

But I think you are right that C1 would probably be best because i'm looking for the "Beer League" atmosphere. I want a competitive game, but i also want the fun experience/comradarie

5/20/2009 3:20:04 PM

I live 5 mins from Pineville

Jeepin let me know if you're serious, although the leagues probably wouldn't start up again till the fall

I can be Fulton and you can be Portman

5/20/2009 3:21:28 PM

hahah deal. there is a season starting in a couple weeks, but i think i'd ultimately be shooting for the Fall league.

5/20/2009 3:22:48 PM

suspend me

[Edited on May 20, 2009 at 3:23 PM. Reason : l]

5/20/2009 3:22:48 PM

KNUCKLE PUCK

5/20/2009 3:23:11 PM

C1 league

5/20/2009 3:48:40 PM

I was in the same boat as you just last year. I unfortunately quit hockey after my second Pee Wee "A" season. I was an "A" player back then but, as of January 2008, it had been ~8 years since I got on the ice. I spent the 1st month or two playing pickup a couple times a week then I joined the Cary/Garner Icehouse B/C league.

After a year back on the ice, I'm now in The Factory "A" league. Mostly everyone in this league either played in college (club or varsity), were semi-pro or played/playing Juniors hockey. There's even a dude in this league (Steve Rice) who played in the NHL.

My biggest challenge was puck handling and shot accuracy. In terms of skating, I picked up where I left off 8 years ago. Puck handling and shot accuracy was a whole other story.

Don't even bother with C2. You'll get hacked to death. I would go to as many pickups as you can before signups to get some practice in and get a good idea where your skill level is at compared to the rest of the crowd. You'll probably want to start in the C league and then move your way up.

Play it Again sports has used hockey equipment but I think they're a ripoff. I would still check them out though because you might get some good deals. I ended up buying all new pads and tried to buy the least expensive equipment I could. Don't buy cheap skates though. I made that mistake and now I'm paying for it. Good skates are expensive (>=$200) but it's well worth it.

[Edited on May 20, 2009 at 3:51 PM. Reason : Try the skates on at the store then buy them online.]

5/20/2009 3:51:00 PM

^awesome thanks!

5/20/2009 4:15:58 PM

OK, so don't give me too much crap for this, but is there any sort of league, organization, etc. around Raleigh where dudes can learn hockey and play with fellow n00bs? I mean i know how to ice skate on hockey skates, but not an exceptional skater (haven't had a chance to really work on it). I know hockey basics and rules, but not from a players perspective. I grew up playing roller hockey (I know, it's COMPLETELY different, but certainly there is a parallel or two.) I've never played organized hockey.

So I guess my real question is: Is there any way a 26 yr old could get into hockey without frustrating his teamates and making a total ass out of himself?


[Edited on May 20, 2009 at 4:17 PM. Reason : .]

5/20/2009 4:16:02 PM

i know the pineville icehouse has an Adult LTP (learn-to-play) Developmental league that has 4 teams, with less games but it includes scheduled practices and drills/lessons.


I would imagine the Raleigh IceHouse would offer something similar

[Edited on May 20, 2009 at 4:24 PM. Reason : -p]

5/20/2009 4:23:54 PM

I can ice skate fine and handle the puck ok but dont know jack shit about strategy, line changes, defense, stopping, etc.

Also, what is the tolerance on fighting in these sorts of leagues ?

5/20/2009 4:27:43 PM

i'm so up for this if someone wants to get a team together in raleigh. i played squirts -> midgets growing up but haven't played since 9th or 10th grade.

5/20/2009 4:41:10 PM

Quote :

"In terms of skating, I picked up where I left off 8 years ago. Puck handling and shot accuracy was a whole other story."

Complete opposite for me.

5/20/2009 4:44:10 PM

^^^no fighting, its not tolerated (also it kind of makes you like an ass) usually comes with a 1-2 game suspension automatically
^^^^^pick ups and c leagues are your best bet. c- league is chock full of beginners and would be great with supplemental power skating (public skate to practice what you learned) and pick ups. If you are really serious i cannot stress power skating enough, skating is 99% of hockey (check out robby glantz for adult clinics in the area)

also... most "adult" hockey players love to see new beginners on the team, we like to see the sport grow and it takes us back to the days when we first started playing... your passion revitalizes our passion so don't get discourage and HAVE FUN!

[Edited on May 20, 2009 at 4:48 PM. Reason : wrong number]

5/20/2009 4:47:11 PM

You should definitely move to Raleigh... because I want to do this as well.

I played in high school but haven't played AT ALL since then. It would come back to me like riding a bike though, I'm sure...

I just don't know ANYONE in Raleigh that plays ice hockey and I don't want to join a team on my own not knowing anyone else on it for a rec league...

[Edited on May 20, 2009 at 4:48 PM. Reason : x]

5/20/2009 4:47:55 PM

seriously, lets get a team together. when does the next league start?

5/20/2009 4:52:28 PM

^^gah if i were still in Raleigh we'd have this deal sealed

5/20/2009 4:55:51 PM

A TWW team would certainly be something to behold. I'd play but I'm already skating three nights a week.

^ In addition to Pineville, there's also a twin rink called Xtreme Ice Center in Charlotte.

5/20/2009 5:02:45 PM

No slapshots or checking in the Pineville league, I called and checked

sounds like baby stuff

[Edited on May 20, 2009 at 5:04 PM. Reason : haha read twin rink as twink]

5/20/2009 5:03:45 PM

I think both the Iceplex and the RecZone have adult learn to play classes where beginners and people getting back into it can go get some practice.

I play at the Iceplex which has Olympic size ice as opposed to the RecZone and the Ice House in Wake forest. At the Iceplex, they usually start a lower C team from the people that just finished the learn to play class. So you can go to the class, meet people and then start a team with people you've already been skating with for 8 weeks or so.

Most of the guys on my team are pretty cool and you'll only find a handful of players that take it too seriously for the C-league level. Most people are there to have fun and really encourage new players.

5/20/2009 5:04:11 PM

I mean I'm not looking to go Bertuzzi on people but I thought at least a little contact would be allowed and even encouraged...its fucking hockey after all

[Edited on May 20, 2009 at 5:05 PM. Reason : x]

5/20/2009 5:05:20 PM

Haha, so I got bored and looked up a few of the kids that played in the area schools (Fairfield Prep, the Notre Dame's etc) that I always played with on one weekend tournament inline teams in the summers -- we always played out of position, me being goalie, the goalie being a forward, etc -- and a lot of these guys went on to have some pretty successful college careers and a few made it as far as the AHL...

** Of course the best of all of us, the one compared to Chris Drury, got killed before he ever played a second of college hockey by a bus on the highway when he pulled over to change a tire

5/20/2009 5:10:28 PM

^^ I think it all depends on what you're looking for. Where I'm at, most people are just recreational players and can't really afford to miss work because they got their neck broke. We do have slapshots though just no checking. It's probably better actually for the beginner leagues because they/we don't really know what we're doing and could really hurt someone if we just started hitting people all the time.

An experienced player knows how to check properly and can recognize when someone is in a vulnerable position and lay up.



[Edited on May 20, 2009 at 5:13 PM. Reason : ^^]

5/20/2009 5:11:42 PM

Most of my "checking" would probably come as a result of not being able to stop anyway

Regardless, I think this would be fun, but like Nymph said, probably only with 2 or 3 buds and not a bunch of random neanderthals

If anyone else in Charlotte is in, I'd love to start something up come fall

5/20/2009 5:22:06 PM

Quote :

"I mean I'm not looking to go Bertuzzi on people but I thought at least a little contact would be allowed and even encouraged."

A little bit of contact and checking are two totally different things. If someone's screening me I'll give them a nice little crosscheck in the back, but nothing severe...same all over the ice. The one-on-one physical battles are still there, there's just no outright hitting. As for slapshots, most beginner leagues don't allow them because no one knows how to shoot properly and you end up with pucks and sticks head-high for no reason. Anything above C will allow slapshots.

5/20/2009 5:34:26 PM

i've been telling my parents for the last four years to keep my shit b/c i'm going to play again someday.

maybe the time is now. tww ice hockey team?!

5/20/2009 5:37:38 PM

TWW ice hockey team would be just to awesome.

5/20/2009 5:42:11 PM

Quote :

"TWW ice hockey team would be just to awesome."

I don't know if you were being sarcastic but I know for a fact there are a few really good athletes on here. Some who have or were going to play D-1 level in certain sports and others who, for instance, played on some pretty damn good AAU basketball teams...

Sure, there are more grade-A dbags than athletes, but they do exist...

V ah, gotcha... some people on here act like no one has seen an athletic event in their life on here.. my b

[Edited on May 20, 2009 at 5:46 PM. Reason : x]

5/20/2009 5:44:17 PM

No I'm being dead serious, I try to get on the ice as much as possible; grad school will be busy next year, but I would love to do something like this. I just have to work on my ankle so I can stop with my right foot again.

[Edited on May 20, 2009 at 5:50 PM. Reason : No worries, I am by no means a good athlete, but I'm an intelligent player. This would be fun.]

5/20/2009 5:45:32 PM

Have jerseys made up with the usernames on the back.

5/20/2009 5:53:26 PM

Anyone interested in meeting for stick and puck? Ive been wanting to get back into hockey since I moved back to the US and think it would be best for me to go to a lot of S&P days before anything else. I havent skated in ages and its been much longer than that since ive played hockey.

5/20/2009 6:34:08 PM

There are quite a few leagues around here. I would go to as many S&P and pickups as possible to get back into it. I have been doing those for the past few years, but havent had the time to get in a league. I really want to, but most of them play really late at night and I have to be up early; unless anyone knows of any

5/20/2009 6:52:20 PM

^ Where do you suggest going to play pickup for a guy that hasnt played in a long time (and wasnt that good to begin with). I'm looking to get back into the game, not get tooled by a bunch of college players.

5/20/2009 7:58:04 PM

no slap shots in the pineville adult league? i played there 4 of the past 5 summers and i never abided by those rules

5/20/2009 8:17:57 PM

all the rinks have pick ups...that said the reczone can get some talent at nights (esp. in off season, junior players like to hang out there read:douchebags). list of rinks: cary icehouse (vinyl's home), garner icehouse, reczone, iceplex (its an olympic oval so most players stay away from there), the factory (north of raleigh), and there is one in fayetteville (ft. bragg), plus one in hillsborough, just give them a call and they have something going

5/20/2009 8:21:12 PM

Quote :

"Also, what is the tolerance on fighting in these sorts of leagues ?"

Unless you fight your own team mate. I saw it in a B league game once that I scorekept. The refs just stood back and watched. Good times. But honestly, in a C or even B/C league guys are generally too busy just trying to stay on their skates let alone get scrappy. Ugh I miss Raleigh.

Speaking of which. Does anyone know anything about the Ice House Leagues out here in Greensboro? I figure I am exiled out here I might as well skate.

5/20/2009 8:52:27 PM

fuck, this makes me really want to play again. how much would it cost to ship a hockey bag from pennsylvania to raleigh?

5/20/2009 11:09:56 PM

I, too, am interested in playing rec hockey.

However, I just started getting on ice skates. Wasn't too bad the first time, actually. I just need to go to more free skates at the ice house and then I was thinking about taking a Learn to Play class. A few other people I know want to get in it with me.

Team TWW could very well be possible, if we really wanted to do it.

[Edited on May 20, 2009 at 11:26 PM. Reason : lol Ronny on D ]

5/20/2009 11:24:57 PM

I think the IcePlex has the best setup for learning to play hockey. Thursday nights they have a Learn-To-Play class that improves your skating, teaches hockey skills, and shows the basics of your position. They then follow each class up with an open pick-up to practice what you learned.
http://www.iceplex.com/adult_clinics.shtml

C-league at the RecZone is where I've been playing for a couple of years now (Chiefs). Its a great beer league (they server beer in the rink!) and the teams stay fairly balanced. I played in the RYHA house teams for about 5 years, got fat in college, and now I just like being able to play hockey with my dad every week (60 years old and still out there!).

I'd be game for skating with some TWW'ers. Just set the time/place!

Oh, and just a tip to beginners... if you want more ice time, play D! Most teams run 3 forward lines and 2 pairs of D.



[Edited on May 21, 2009 at 1:50 AM. Reason : .]

5/21/2009 1:47:28 AM

true about the D...my puck handling and skating have gotten much better since I started playing D. Although you do have to be decent at skating backwards and transitioning back and forth.

5/21/2009 3:12:58 AM

D was what i played for most of they years before i stopped. That's probably where i'll try and get back to when i start. I can still transition and skate backwards pretty well.

5/21/2009 8:01:53 AM

when's the next season start? i swear to god i'll make a trip to pennsylvania next week to pick my shit up.

5/21/2009 9:09:51 AM

i know the Pineville Ice House has a season starting end of the month with evaluations on the 26th for people that aren't on a roster yet.

I would have to believe the triangle ice houses are on the same schedule.



Then there is another starting in the fall which i believe is what i'm gonna join




EDIT* If ever i was thinking of relocating back to Raleigh, the sheer interest in this thread alone would way heavily. a T-Dub team would be awesome.

[Edited on May 21, 2009 at 10:12 AM. Reason : ;]

5/21/2009 10:10:14 AM

For the RecZone, we finish the season at the end of May. No word on what they are going to do for summer yet. Sometimes they have just a short 8-week season with reduced number of teams, and sometimes they do a few weeks of camp-style classes with NC State coaches/players leading followed by a few weeks of relaxed games. Next full season will start in August.

Here are the days that each rink/league plays:

RecZone in Raleigh (http://www.reczone.net/)
B League: Thursday Nights
C League: Sunday Nights

Factory Ice House in Wake Forest (http://wakeforest.pucksystems.com/)
A League: Sunday Nights
B League: Tuesday Nights
C1 League: Wednesday Nights
C2 League: Monday Nights
Summer Season started in early May.

Ice House in Cary and Garner (http://cary.pucksystems.com)
A League: Tuesday nights.
B League: Sunday nights.
B/C League: Monday nights.
C1 League: Thursday nights.
C2 League: Wednesday nights.
Developmental: Sunday nights in Cary only.
Also, Ice House is doing a 7 week Learn-To-Play session starting in June.
http://www.icehouserinks.com/garner/hockey_altp.html

IcePlex in Raleigh (http://www.iceplex.com/)
B League: Monday nights.
B/C League: Tuesday nights.
C league: Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday nights
Developmental: Thursday nights.

[Edited on May 21, 2009 at 11:00 AM. Reason : .]

5/21/2009 10:49:59 AM

I've taken the first step. I got a pair of Bauer 8090's yesterday.

Now I just need to get my legs back. I used to be able to skate my ass off, but it's been a few years. Hopefully finally having properly fitting skates will help a bit.

5/21/2009 10:52:03 AM