Who here actually plays hockey?

[St. Clown]

Re: Who here actually plays hockey?

My league's fall session ended for us this past Wednesday as we were bounced in the first round of the playoffs. We took the Neanderthals (pretty fast team) to a shoot out, which comes after OT in our league, and OT/shoot outs are only during the post season. Final score of the game was 3-2.

I'm looking forward to winter session, which begins the second week of January. Until then there's pick up hockey.

 

[HockeyBum]

Re: Who here actually plays hockey?

Fellow hockey players/ankle benders... does anyone have recommendations for composite hockey sticks (preferrably under $70-$80... if that's doable)? I usually play goalie, but I like to skate out from time to time to mix things up. I've always used cheap wood sticks when I skate out, but the prices on some composites seem to have dropped to levels where I may be able to justify buying one. I broke my favorite stick last time out, so I need to replace it.

What kind of sticks do you guys use? Have you had good luck with what you have? My backhand shot is important to me, so I'm looking for something with a shallower curve. Any reviews/recommendations would be welcome.

 

[hockeyplayer1015]

Re: Who here actually plays hockey?

Fellow hockey players/ankle benders... does anyone have recommendations for composite hockey sticks (preferrably under $70-$80... if that's doable)? I usually play goalie, but I like to skate out from time to time to mix things up. I've always used cheap wood sticks when I skate out, but the prices on some composites seem to have dropped to levels where I may be able to justify buying one. I broke my favorite stick last time out, so I need to replace it.

What kind of sticks do you guys use? Have you had good luck with what you have? My backhand shot is important to me, so I'm looking for something with a shallower curve. Any reviews/recommendations would be welcome.

I think you can get the cheapest composites for down around 40-50 bucks on hockeymonkey/hockeygiant/insert other hockey equipment site here now.

I just use some old composites I still have from when I played before college right now. Using a Mission M-1 for now until it breaks.

 

[St. Clown]

Re: Who here actually plays hockey?

Fellow hockey players/ankle benders... does anyone have recommendations for composite hockey sticks (preferrably under $70-$80... if that's doable)? I usually play goalie, but I like to skate out from time to time to mix things up. I've always used cheap wood sticks when I skate out, but the prices on some composites seem to have dropped to levels where I may be able to justify buying one. I broke my favorite stick last time out, so I need to replace it.

What kind of sticks do you guys use? Have you had good luck with what you have? My backhand shot is important to me, so I'm looking for something with a shallower curve. Any reviews/recommendations would be welcome.

Check out this link: http://www.hockeymonkey.com/bauer-hockey-stick-vapor-x15-s10-sr.html. It's the x:15, which they have available some left handed sticks still. This is last year's model, and a good entry stick for composites. It's what pjoyn uses (used?).

For Bauer sticks, the PM9 blade should be what you want. There's a blade pattern chart, which is of middling help, if you'd like to compare. The PM9, I've found, it's done well for me.

I've found that the close to the toe the curve, the more it's designed for lifting the puck, and the more open the blade pattern, the same. Another thing to watch is the lie of the blade; the larger the number, the more the stick is designed for a taller person. That's why I don't recommend the P88 blade pattern for you.

 

[jen]

Re: Who here actually plays hockey?

I have never hurt my back. Ever. Never once had a problem with it. So when do I decide to injure it? Sometime between when I left my house on Thursday, and when I got to my friend's to carpool to Eagle River for pond hockey. I'd have rather missed my regular team's playoff weekend than pond hockey. S-u-c-k-e-d. I went anyway, just in case I made a miraculous recovery overnight (I didn't), and had a blast, so I am already counting down the days til next year.

 

[St. Clown]

Re: Who here actually plays hockey?

I bought a pair of Graf 307's today. My CCM Vector '07 skates were a freaking disaster. Both tongues detached from the boots, the composite material split along the eyelets for the laces, causing rivets to pop, and they were breaking down in other ways, too. I've heard good things about Graf, the only bad thing is that they're not the easiest skate to find in stores. I ended up having to go to General Sports in Edina to find them. I had molded insoles put into the skates, and now they fit like I've been wearing them for years. The only concern is the high portion of the skate, the back of my calves my need some duct tape.

 

[St. Clown]

Re: Who here actually plays hockey?

I had hockey tonight. I'm not sure my feet will ever recover. Grafs feel a lot different than CCMs. I had more than a few 45-second shifts.

Oh, and the drive from Farmington to Blaine was not my favorite tonight.

 

[Jaws]

Re: Who here actually plays hockey?

Like many, I stopped playing men's league around age 27 or so. 42 now. Just couldn't deal with the d-bags out there any more.

I play hard and I compete and work my butt off, but I just don't have the **** and vinegar anymore to be in all the BS scrums that happen. I enjoyed that crap on some level when I was younger and I was ALWAYS right in the middle of it. I don't (didn't) want to be that guy anymore, so I retired.

Now I play in a couple of relatively high level groups of mostly like-minded individuals. It's a fun group as we've got people from all over the upper mid-west. Wisconsinites, a bunch of Minnesotans, a few from Michigan, a couple from North Dakota and even a sprinkling of Canadians and even a couple of Russians. From guys who played high school to a few who played junior and D-3. Play games to 5 and then the goalies switch ends. Then we drink beers although not as much as 10 years ago.

Twice a week, year round. Hope to do it well into my 50s as the body still works fine although I'll probably have to move to an old man group at some point. Can still keep up with the younglings who play with us, but gets more challenging by the year.

One thought to end with which may be true for many of us...

I'm not as good as I was 5 years ago and I'm getting slightly worse with each passing day. Getting old(er) is an interesting journey. Can't wait for incontinence!

I didn't really start playing until my 20s. Started out with boot hockey, gradually aquired equipment and ended up playing with a number of groups. It was always easy to get ice time because I played
goalie. Played some senior mens and then with several groups of guys 2-3 times a week until injuries and arthritis ended it for me at age 58. Loved every minute of it.

 

[goldy_331]

Re: Who here actually plays hockey?

I play hard and I compete and work my butt off, but I just don't have the **** and vinegar anymore to be in all the BS scrums that happen. I enjoyed that crap on some level when I was younger and I was ALWAYS right in the middle of it. I don't (didn't) want to be that guy anymore, so I retired.

And now you just take that attitude to the message boards!

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Who here actually plays hockey?

And now you just take that attitude to the message boards!

I'm even mellowing around these parts.

Sometimes I forget how much I'm supposed to loathe you people.

Maybe it's early onset dementia...

 

[goldy_331]

Re: Who here actually plays hockey?

Maybe it's early onset dementia...

Paint thinner'll do that....

 

[pgrass01]

Re: Who here actually plays hockey?

Check out this link: http://www.hockeymonkey.com/bauer-hockey-stick-vapor-x15-s10-sr.html. It's the x:15, which they have available some left handed sticks still. This is last year's model, and a good entry stick for composites. It's what pjoyn uses (used?).

I just picked up this stick on Sunday before my game. I accidentally donated my two wood sticks to Wakota Arena after my last game . This is my introduction to Composites as well, as I am pretty inexperienced. The obvious difference is the weight, and that helps with the feel of the puck as well. My wood sticks were so heavy it was hard to tell if the puck was still on the stick at times! I play defense so I do need to work on a decent shot from the point.

Why is it so hard to get people interested in playing hockey? I finally got a friend after 2+ years of needling him who loves hockey to get a pair of hockey skates (he didn't go cheap either, he got the S5's?). But now he's slacking on buying the equipment. The Twin Cities area is very Novice friendly for pick up games (Just My Speed is awesome for that). I try to get him to at least watch a game and keeps making excuses. I know if he would watch he would be like "I'll fit right in!". Oh well.

I shouldn't talk, I scorekept the league I am in for 5 years (for extra money) until I finally got onto a team. Now, I could enjoy playing hockey even if I don't touch the puck. Its just so fluid and a great workout without a lot of stress on the body. I still play baseball and softball, and wake up the next day limping or something. Hockey, not so much, just some tiredness in the legs.

 

[St. Clown]

Re: Who here actually plays hockey?

I shouldn't talk, I scorekept the league I am in for 5 years (for extra money) until I finally got onto a team. Now, I could enjoy playing hockey even if I don't touch the puck. Its just so fluid and a great workout without a lot of stress on the body. I still play baseball and softball, and wake up the next day limping or something. Hockey, not so much, just some tiredness in the legs.

That sounds like AHA talk, that does.

 

[MUnRPI]

Re: Who here actually plays hockey?

A little late but... The Bauer Vapor 3.0 is my favorite. Only $70 (depending on where you buy it)

 

[HockeyBum]

Re: Who here actually plays hockey?

I had hockey tonight. I'm not sure my feet will ever recover. Grafs feel a lot different than CCMs. I had more than a few 45-second shifts.

Oh, and the drive from Farmington to Blaine was not my favorite tonight.

I forgot to ask you how it went with the Grafs. I hate breaking in skates. I bought new skates about a year ago, and it took a good 15 games before my feet stopped hurting.

Weird game for me on Monday. Saved several breakaways and point blank chances... but then let a puck shot from behind the goal line bank in off the back of my leg for the game winner. Frustrating to say the least.

 

[St. Clown]

Re: Who here actually plays hockey?

I forgot to ask you how it went with the Grafs. I hate breaking in skates. I bought new skates about a year ago, and it took a good 15 games before my feet stopped hurting.

Weird game for me on Monday. Saved several breakaways and point blank chances... but then let a puck shot from behind the goal line bank in off the back of my leg for the game winner. Frustrating to say the least.

I had to unlace during the game, let my feet free for a minute than then tried playing again. I think I tied them wrong, too tight through the footbed. My feet hurt so bad, I can't even begin to describe it. I think my size played a big part in the pain. I also bought custom insoles with the skates, which give both lateral and lengthwise support to my arches, and I think that added to my discomfort. Add to that, they don't quite cover up my ankles, so I have to make sure I was ankle bending out there. Most skates provide so much ankle support that it's not even a thought, but I had to pay attention in these. Really, the entire experience felt really weird. I could even feel a change in my stride when sprinting; my thighs burned in places that I don't think would get engaged in my CCMs, for some reason. I think that might the blade radius, though. I also felt like I had some balance issues. Some of this might have been head games I brought upon myself.

 

[St. Clown]

Re: Who here actually plays hockey?

Good stuff. The Rubes had a 7:40 game tonight, a very early start time for old man hockey in Blaine. We ended up beating the top team in our league 9-5; started off down 0-2 until I got the scoring started from our side. Their goalie was really bad. HockeyBum stood tall for us in net - a big accomplishment for a man of his short stature - and made some awesome saves, a lot of lateral movement saves for us that he had no business making. This is following the game last week where we beat the #2 team 6-2, and the week before that we won 8-7. Both of the teams this week and last had already beaten us earlier this session. It's good to get some wins. We're now 3-5-1 and on a roll.

What made the game even better was that because of the early start we had five former Rubes in the stands and they smuggled in some beer to drink during the game. You wouldn't think five guys could heckle both teams so loudly for an entire game, but they did it. For the GPL posters on this site, Jupiter, Fear the Gopher and PJOYN were three of the five former Rubes in the stands.

 

[jen]

Re: Who here actually plays hockey?

something I've never seen before today: two girls on the other team started a brawl on their bench, punching each other in the face. ref stopped the game and gave them both game misconducts.

 

[RinkRatEO]

Re: Who here actually plays hockey?

Hi guys,

I'm actually working on a story for an adult hockey newsletter about "That Guy." You know the one: the person who thinks he/she's in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals and plays with a corresponding amount of physicality and/or attitude. Yells at the refs, hurts people (or could hurt people), etc. If you have a good story about such a person - teammate or opponent - and/or how you dealt with him/her, I'd love to hear it. Drop me an e-mail: eolshansky1782 [at] gmail [dot] com.

Thanks!

 

[goldy_331]

Re: Who here actually plays hockey?

something I've never seen before today: two girls on the other team started a brawl on their bench, punching each other in the face. ref stopped the game and gave them both game misconducts.

Cat fight! No hair pulling or scratching?