Position: Goalie / Defense

Years: 9 / 2

Knees started going out so I decided to skate out... can hardly watch a game now without wanting to put the pillows back on but if I do... I'll end up walking funnier than I already do.

Never got the chance to play ice hockey but I played plenty of street hockey. I also played organized deck hockey for about 3 years. When I moved to Charlottesville that all stopped...otherwise I'd still be playing.

I never played ice hockey..However growing up I played street hockey almost everyday after school till dark...

I possess a phenomenal slapshot and have a devastating lethal backhand move.

played ice hockey from Atom to Bantam than in high school. Played in a beer league than I got too busy. I played ball hockey for one year on an all Armenian team, these guys were savages and fought almost every game. We weren't competitive at all so I quit the folowing year as I wanted to win and couldn't bother playing with a bunch of guys that didn't understand the fundamentals of hockey.

Ball hockey is so much dirtier than ice hockey way too many slashes wih less equipment on.

I played a little.

I learned how to skate when I was 4 years old, and went on to play competitive hockey until I reached the junior level. Made the choice to play Junior A where bodychecks weren't allowed, as I was tired of the injuries.

Played as a center. My biggest assets were / are my overall vision on the ice, playmaking and passing skills. In my last season at a competitive level, I was mostly used on the power play and the pk. Barely saw ice time 5 on 5, only when we were in need of a goal.

I haven't been playing organized hockey for 2 years now, and I miss it as hell. Still hitting the pond though. Actually, we have this tourney coming up, made it last year and it was lots of fun :

http://www.tournoihockeylacbeauport.com/Index2.htm

I learned to skate when I was 3, and played hockey from when I was 5 until about 21. I'm hoping to start going back out again next year (I need to get in shape).

I played every position, except center (I had asthma and never really had the wind to skate as much as a center has to). I was a better goalie than anything else.

Okay, I played wing through my first several years of minor hockey. Strangely enough, I played goal for one year when I was eight (no one else would do it). I became a defenseman by pee wee, and played my first year of junior B (now Tier II Junior A) as a defenseman. My coach thought I was undersized, and I switched to become a checking centre. Saw lots of ice time against some pretty good players, and got the snot kicked out of me quite a few times as well. My last year I played off wing on the power play, as well as my regular shift at centre. I never had a good scoring touch, or a good shot, but I was fast, and an excellent passer (still am). After junior, I wasn't really good enough to play anywhere for real, dabbled a little bit here and there, but became a rec player, although I played with a lot of pros. I still skate at least twice a week, and play five days a week in the summertime with NHL'ers. I still have no shot.

I actually kinda like roller hockey more...it's a smaller rink...a bit faster and WAY dirtier.

I miss Downsview arena, I loved the smelled of popcorn as soon as you walked into the heated area, and the smell of stench when you walked into the changerooms.

I've played hockey from the time I was 4 until I was about 20, I think, competitively.

I played C/RW and starting in Pee Wee, I lead my team in goals and points ever year. Unfortunately, I never got a shot at AA or higher, aside from being called up for one tournament, and that really disappointed me. I really feel as if I could have made it somewhere if my parents would have pushed me into AA at an early age, and/or my parents knew people in the hockey world (stupid politics, 100% serious). I never worked hard enough on my conditioning or anything like that, though.

I miss competitive hockey so much.

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I also played a few seasons of roller hockey when they had this league here. I've got a lifetime point streak, including two games where I played goal, lol. That was an easy game.

How about St. Mike's arena? Or Weston Arena? Those old wooden beams. And in Hamilton, where I grew up, the old Hamilton Forum, or the Parkdale Arena, where i played a lot of minor hockey... just a tin barn..... ah, good times....

The Old Dixie Arena (barn) was always one of my favourites.

I started playing hockey when I was 4 and played competitively up until my 2nd year of University. I started out as a defenceman but I kept making end to end rushes so they moved me up to forward. I played Triple A in the Mississauga area one year and then the next season I somehow slipped to the next level down (red or white, I can't remember). I remember my coach asking me to shoot righthanded (I'm a lefthanded shot) so the Triple A 'scouts' watching the game wouldn't call me up.

With the Triple A team we went to California (Santa Monica and Los Angeles). Almost everything was provided; sticks, socks, helmet, dress clothes, jackets, hockey bag, etc... Good times.

With the red/white team we had a choice whether to play a game at Maple Leaf Gardens or play a few games in Philadelphia. We chose Philadelphia and it rained for the 4 days we were there. I got to eat Philly Cheese steak though...mmmmm.

Teamates that have been drafted: Jamie Cooke (Philadelphia Flyers) and Brendan Shanahan (New Jersey Devils).

Like a few of you guys I am also getting back into shape so I can play again. My RBK Sidney Crosby 5K's are waiting for me.

Tthe stick selection now is absolutely insane. I remember when Koho, Sherwood, and Titan were the only options. Best arena I liked playing in was Rhoding arena Keele and Wilson area located in a residential neighbourhood. The walk to get the bus was a bitch though, especially with all the equipment.

I started when I was 7. Would have started earlier but I was playing soccer and skiing so I didn't have time at first. Also, my older brother quit the first time he ever went on the ice so my dad was worried about getting me in unless I truely wanted to. Highest level I played was Junior B. Could have played Junior A but I was playing university soccer so hockey wasn't a priority. Hockey never was my main sport and if I had ever really focused on it I may have been able to make an OHL team but I was undersized (5'7) and the way the rules used to be called hurt me. The last time I played was only for half a year at 18 after my university soccer was over. I was new to that Junior B team as my old team had turned to crap. They had won the 2 years before me, lost the year I played for them and won the next year after I quit. Kinda sucks cause I could have played for them again if I really wanted to. Mostly played wing when I was younger and some centre when I got older. Played one shift of defence in my life and got an assist. My biggest assetts where my speed and passing. Have only been on the ice once since quit and have yet to miss it mainly cause i'm still playing soccer and its my best sport.

Yess I played Hockey since I was 3 years old.

Bebitte Mag Year 1 ( 3 years old ) ( Mag is a kind of program of practices for the too young kid )
Bebitte Mag Year 2
Pre-Novice Mag year 1
Pre-Novice Mag year 2 ( you don't play real game full ice until Novice )
Novice B
Novice A
Atome BB
Atome AA
Pee-Wee BB
Pee-Wee AA
Bantam BB
Bantam AA
Midget AA...and I stopped there , I was smoking too much weed at the time , and I do regret it since I was a pretty good center , and a very good playmaker , very good at stick handling though.
At the end I was always doing the AA team.I'm sure if I had played another year I would have made the Midget AAA since I was very good Midget AA first year.
I miss this game so much , i'm actually doing some research to find some garage league.

Hockey for life.

I wish that the hockey system in the US was as expansive/organized as it is in Canada...Anyway, never got the chance to play ice hockey (didn't get in early enough, and my high school didn't have a team), but I played a year of organized roller hockey as a forward. I remember my first goal like it was yesterday; got up on a 2-0 break, the center made a great pass just outside the crease and I buried it into the empty net.

Ah good times. Though hockey was the reason I had my only concussion in my life (idiot hits me from behind and my head hit where the glass ends and the boards begin.)

I started ice skating in 3rd or 4th grade at a hockey start program. In 6th grade, I played my first year on a travel team since my school did not have a team. The next year, my school got a team, so I played for the 6th-9th grade team. All the better players played travel and HS, but with me being the youngest of 3 playing, my family could not afford it.

In 9th grade, I made the varsity team as a foward. I had played forward for the middle school team, but moved on D when we had leads, on penalty kill, etc. I get to my first varsity game to find out one of our Dmen quit the team that day. We only had 4 Dmen, so I had to move back to play D. From there, I played D all through HS hockey, mostly an offensive style and 35+ mins (of a 45 mins game) my Jr and Sr year when we only had 3 decent Dmen. Once my older brothers graduated, I got to play travel also and won a PA state championship. After HS, I went to Purdue and palyed 3 years (98-01) of club hockey, then 2 years of roller hockey.

Now, I play 2-3 adult league games/week in the Pittsburgh area, playing mostly forward. I also go to USA tournies in Indy and Columbus every year.

Shanny turned out to be a pretty good player ....Jamie Cooke not so much...

So you chose to play in Philly instead of the SHRINE of all of hockey???I have been to Philly though and I love the city..And the Cheese Steaks are really good.

Am I the only who doesn't know what organized deck hockey is.

I assumed it's "playing" hockey with cards?

Have played hockey all my life. Starting skating on backyard rink at 3.
Played AAA hockey once I reached Novice age till 2nd year Midget which I skipped to play Tier II Junior. I then played 3 more years of Junior. In my last year I had over 100 points in the league and our team won the nationals (Roayl Bank Cup). Definitely the highlight of my hockey carreer. Played a year with UPEI (University hockey) and then moved on to Rec. I had graduated from UPEI and had found a job so no need to play University anymore. Not like I would have though because the Coach was a dink. Still play in the local rec league twice a week in the winters.

It's just ball hockey on a court. They have leagues with roller skates as well.

Here's the only picture I can find of it, and yes that's one of my idiot friends.

Click to view attachment

I couldn't figure out what it was.
I was pictuing you playing hockey on your knees with mini sticks on someones deck.

I played hockey from the age of 4 until last year. This is the first year I haven't played, mainly because we just couldn't get enough guys together for a team.

I played houseleague hockey during tyke, then from novice to midget, I played rep hockey. I lived in a small town (Newcastle), and wasn't good enough to play AAA, my team would have been Central Ontario I guess if I were to play for them, anyways I played rep hockey for Newcastle, we were a D centre, lol. It was really fun though, we won the All-Ontario's three times playing teams like Bobcaygeon, Omemee, etc, it was pretty fun.

I played right wing even though I had a left handed shot. I just liked coming down on the off-wing, don't really know why. I played goalie my first year of tyke, but then my parents didn't want me to play it because I sucked at it and it was too expensive.

I prefer the off wing too, but I'm righty playing left wing. I have more moved from that side, I guess.

I did the exact same. I was way more comfortable with the boards to my right.

Played all my life, come from a hockey family. Grew up playing Center and then moved to D in 8th grade through high school - was a pretty offensive defenseman. Played with some great players. Skipped college to start a company so I didn't go beyond but I have always been in and out of rec and men's leagues.

I've skated for less than 2 hours in my life and have never played any form of hockey.

But I play fantasy hockey all the time.

<---is not surprised at all by this.

what gave it away? the geography?

I was very athletic when I was younger and I actually come from a family that has produced a few olympic runners. My parents forced me into sports, which is basically the best way to guarantee that your kid will not want to participate in athletic things. If there was a rink closer to me, I'd be there skating pretty often...

Fun thread guys, nice to hear all your stories !

I started skating when I was 3 or 4, first time was on the Ottawa Canal. I did the same MAHG thing the other guy was telling about, it stands for "Méthode d'Apprentissage de Hockey sur Glace" for two years before Novice. When I was 6, I registered as a goalie in Novice and I guess there were too many kids that wanted to, so I just ended up being a very bad forward. I quit the following year.

At my house though, I'd play for hours with my brother. The basement was totally unfinished and we had an amazing spot to just shoot on net 1-on-1. I ended up owning a pair of brown DR classic 80's pads. I played a bunch of street hockey, gym ball hockey, outdoor shinny, as a forward too lots, we all had such a man-crush on Patrick Roy, everybody wanted to be the goalie lol.

Fast-forward to 2-1/2 years ago, I finally have cash on my own to buy some new gear, so I started really getting back into the game, playing at first as a rent-a-goalie for Goalies Unlimited in Toronto. I'd also play at Mount Pleasant outside rink like 4 nights a week, that was awesome. Toronto is great for outdoor rinks, most of them have mechanical chilling and zambonis, well this one does. They can make ice when it's +7oC and blasting sunshine. And the way it's set up, at 8:30, anybody under 19 has to leave the ice. Then the fun hockey starts, old school shinny hockey. Guys love to have a goalie show up to the outdoor rinks... Toughest thing outside ? Obv no lines and crease to figure out where the net is behind me...good training !

Now I play in 2 adult leagues here in Montreal. Sunday nights we're in a C-calibre league which is quite good, and another, less serious league 2 more nights a week. I love playing again ! Sports are more fun when you win, for sure, and this year we have a winning record, we're actually now 12 in a row on Sundays, clinched the regular season pennant tonight. I'm tall and lean so I can move pretty good and I cover a lot of net. I'm actually the same size as Ryan Miller, 6'2" - 165. Oh yeah, the other thing is that I played on a championship club volleyball team up until U-20, and I was a baseball catcher up till junior, so I have that whole multi-sport skillset thing going...

Bottom line...hockey is sooo the bestest sport...

First off, I've lived here in Brantford (home of some Gretzky guy) since I was 2-3 years old so it's very natural that everyone plays the game.

I learned how to skate when I was 5, played hockey right after that. From Atom to Midget, I played single-A level hockey. At that time, Triple-A was all politics so they had pretty much the same team every year, a few of those Triple-A guys later played for our team and actually weren't THAT great IMO. Only one of those guys is even close to the NHL right now; he played university hockey in Michigan, NHL-drafted in 2007 and is lingering around the AHL I think. Also, a goalie my brother played with played the O and is a Lightning (lol) prospect right now. His OHL numbers are not impressive and I heard he sucks, lol.

Anyways, back to my story. I played forward to start then moved to D in PeeWee, and by major Bantam I could play both effectively. I loved to hit (despite being smaller) and blast the puck from the point, and was defensively responsible. I still play pickup hockey as much as I can age 22 now), and I want to play in a mens league but can't find any to get in. My biggest assets are speed, good shot, and sound positioning on the ice. Being more of a shooter, I've never had great hands.


I just wanted to mention a hockey pet peeve I have: I hate seeing people who come out to play all decked out in expensive gear and SUCK. There's so many of them with $100 sticks who have no handles/shot, or $300-400 skates and have no speed.

By the way, I still use a wooden stick (Sher-Wood 5030 PMP) and love it. I just don't like the feel of the composites and can't justify spending $100 per since I don't play as much as before. I'm trying to find a pair of Bauer Supreme 5000 skates, it's impossible so far. Anyone have a pair to sell?

rofl

I played for 12 years before a knee problem became too much. Pretty well split time between C and LW.

Walter!

I played a few years back. Just got too hard to play a 11pm game on a Tuesday 20 miles from home. Played mainly RW.

Went out with the rec group this morning. Was my first time out in a few years, and I made it the distance. Last time I tried going out, I left the ice after 30 minutes hardly able to breathe. I felt ok for the most part, got tired quick, but we had 2 subs so I was able to come off a lot. Had 1 shot on goal, but the other side didn`t have a goalie, so I didn`t put anything on it. Got a few assists, most of my passes were on the tape so that felt good. I`m pretty bad in 1 on 1 situations (my stick handling sucks, and I suck at trying to knock the puck off other guys`sticks. I`m very happy to be out again though, will try to get up in time to do it again next week... getting up at 6:30 sucks.

That sounds wicked dude, keep up the good work.

I played competitive ice hockey from the age of 5 to 23. Also played 2 seasons of ball hockey after that. Haven't played for the last couple of years (I'm 25 now) because of health issues, but I hope to find a rec league to play in for next winter.

I'm 6'9" tall, so naturally my coaches always wanted me to play defense, but I enjoyed forward more so I was a winger for my whole life. This probably encumbered me as far as what levels I could play, but I didn't really care. Always been a bit slow, but I have very soft hands and good vision on the ice. I've scored at a pretty good clip everywhere I've played for the most part, despite not having a great shot. I play a fairly strong 2-way game and was usually a 'plus' player. My drawback in hockey, as in life, is I was always a bit lazy. I also had a tendency to get really hot-headed while playing hockey. This, combined with the preconcieved notion that I was a goon (due to my size), led to a lot of PIMs, and a fair number of suspensions. (usually 1 or 2 per season). I miss competitive hockey greatly, and can't wait to play again someday soon.

wow 6 9..thats HUGE...

I had a girl say that to me once.





I can't WAIT to get back on the ice for a game. I hurt my knee 9/13 and have skated 3 times to coach since then. I can't play until at least Nov 2 when I have my follow up doc appointment.

I am hitting the ice this coming Friday. I play in a Chinese church league that plays on Friday nights. I got suspend for 2 games for beating up 2 guys in 1 game 2 years ago.

Needless to say the guys were wimps.

On a side note, I did not starting playing until I was 25. I was brutal and really sucked. I went on the ice with my son when he was 5 and did all the skills that the kids did. I got a lot better and was invited to play in the annual Oriental tournament (very fast and good players). I did decline since I am too old to keep up with the young guys.