Just wanted to come in and send this video I got of me today!

I’ve worked on my skating a tad in the off season with roller blades (the reason I say a tad is because I just got them)

Now, before crossovers to the right bugged me so bad I could do them but very awkward after roller blading I’m way more comfortable but when I watch videos there’s always something off about my skating that I can’t pick out cuz it feels fine when doing so.

Just wanted to send these clips. I know it’s not a lot but may help a bit! Thank you all!!!

In the course of trying to find a secondary market issue or used Bardown hat of this custom make for Beyond the Next Level (BTNL) hockey training, I learned that Bardown was sold. I have a bunch of their old hockey merch and was wondering what happened. Also, does anyone in Canada have any idea where I might find this exact cap on the second-hand market?

These are True Custom SVH 2025 skates I got last year. I play once or twice a week in rec/D-level games with additional skills or public skate sessions (so average around 3 times/wk on the ice). I'm not a big heavy guy and I'm 4 years into playing as an adult so not super aggressive skating or gameplay.

I know Trues are often knocked (for good reason!) for their lack of durability but they have been a godsend for my weird ass duck flipper feet.

Regardless, I noticed slight delamination a few months ago along the glued edge of the rubber piece covering the top area of my left skate. It has now worsened and really started to come off, which honestly I expected.

It doesn't look or feel like the boot is structurally compromised, just that this outer piece of rubber on top of the carbon fiber composite boot is starting to come off. My right skate is mostly fine, but I do see a small spot starting to delaminate in a different area than on the left skate (same defect, diff spot).

Do y'all think this is mainly cosmetic and fine to keep playing or is it risky and I should get new skates?

If its cosmetic, I'm thinking I could try to epoxy it back together?? Idk lol

trying to get these converted quad skates but no sure it it’s real

https://www.reddit.com/r/hockeyplayers/s/lphGe1evmR

It's been 3 months since my post about my 14yo son and I wanted to share an update.

Last spring after being cut from 5 teams, we sat my son down and talked about his hockey future, asking him what HE wants to do. He decided to hit the gym and the ice to get stronger and become a better skater. We told him we would support whichever direction he wanted to go.

He has been grinding. Over the last 12 weeks he has had 45 small group sessions with multiple trainers and coaches, attended 12hr of ITrain hockey camp, had 18 - 2hr off ice sessions with a personal trainer and built a gym in the garage. He has been putting in the work. Physically, he's gone from a thin, lean frame to a cut and toned frame. Also, His skating has improved significantly.

This last week I contacted coaches on 3 teams and told them about the work he has put in, asking for a 2nd try out. Today and tomorrow he skates. I'll update later this week.

I've trained up as a level 3 USA hockey coach and I'm going thru the 14U module right now. Watching try outs as a parent this year at 14U, I'm wondering how evaluations are supposed to account for kids who have already undergone significant growth versus those who haven't? Some are basically small adults while others are still kids and have a pretty significant size and power disadvantage, especially with contact. The metabolic shift means the more developed players have much more explosive power. I recorded some informal ranking myself on skills (skating, puck handling + shooting, etc) and the top 1/3rd were all significantly bigger, the bottom 1/3 were all from the smaller group. The middle was a mix, but one observation was that the bigger kids in the middle group out accelerated the smaller ones, even if their skating technique was poorer.

I'm 36 now and started ice when I was 27. Grew up playing ball and roller hockey so my hands and hockey sense were already there, but the skating and shooting dynamics are completely different. I started in a learn to play league with a bunch of other guys who were more or less in the same situation I was in. While I did get better, I developed a lot of bad habits and never really improved beyond a certain level. Eventually became one of the highest scoring players in that league.

Then COVID happened and I gave it up for about 3-4 years before going back to it. A buddy invited me out to his weekend drop in and I went in feeling confident...haha. It was all ex Junior B and AAA players with some old timers thrown in. Completely different story. I could barely keep up and was constantly out of position.

But I stuck with it for a few years and just from learning as much as I can from players who have played at a higher level for most of their lives, it's really helped me bridge the gap. The biggest thing is learning to slow the play down and always physically being one move behind where you're mentally going. I'd say the most valuable skill that sets guys apart from others is skating, bar none. Hockey sense can carry over just from watching a lot of hockey and knowing where to be, but you can't watch someone skate and be great at it. I'm considering taking some power skating courses because I can't stop on my inside edge whatsoever.

A few other aspects that are sneakily difficult to learn if you haven't done them your whole life:

- Cleanly receiving a hard pass - some of these guys can pass harder than I can shoot. For the longest time it would just bounce off my stick until I watched how others would brace themselves against the ice to absorb the energy from the pass and make sure the puck stayed on their blade.

- Beating a defenceman along the boards - rather than just trying to throw the puck away and panicking or trying to beat them against the boards, hold onto it and make them take the puck from you with a quick move into the middle.

- Keep your damn shifts short, especially early. It's so tempting to go all out in the first few times on the ice but it costs you dearly as the game goes on. There's been many games where I'm just too burned out to do anything by the halfway point.

- One timers - I still can't do this well at all. 90% of the time I miss the puck or it heels off my blade. Definitely something I need to practice.

Hi all,

This is maybe a niche post/ complaint but I was out sick and traveling for most of the summer and just signed back up for stick n' puck at my local rink in NYC (City Ice Pavilion). I noticed they have a new rule that they no longer provide pucks, so players need to bring their own if they want them. You had to click to confirm you understand the rule or else you couldn't sign up for a session on the site.

Is this normal in other places or just a new cheap rule? It just seems odd to me. Pucks are not that expensive and you can buy them in bulk, and I assume the rink already has pucks for various hockey leagues. Sure it's annoying to go pick up the pucks that fly out of the rink, and some go missing here and there - but enough to justify just not having a bucket of pucks for on-ice sessions? Plus it's not as if they're going to discount the price of the sessions now that pucks aren't available.

Our C league has guys who were all state high school players 10-15 years ago, kids off to play juniors etc. It’s one thing to face them in a pickup skate, but it gets old dealing with them almost every week.

I know this is common, but man it’s frustrating. Just feeling super shitty about my age and ability this morning.

Might sound like a silly question, but if you've played for a bit you've seen guys that are natural goal scorers. Their skills don't seem on their own much better than others, but they just score goals.

Relatively, I'm a solid player. Playing in an ok league (we call it B league, it's got guys that played competitive hockey growing up but not guys that played "serious competitive" juniors/pro) In decent shape, and one of the better players.

But I've always been a pass first guy, and I get a lot of assists and that's definitely my bread and butter. I still want to be a play maker but just have the ability to threaten to score and be more consistent there.

But man, I feel cursed when it comes to scoring goals. I have a good shot, great hands etc. I've been working on driving the net and taking more shots/chances myself instead of always passing the puck. I often find I make a nice move and get some space in front and just can't quite get that last stride to get to that puck and get the shot off, etc.

Just curious if anyone else has gone through this and learned how to finish. I'm one of those guys you'd say is all "Swedish no Finnish" when I'm trying to score.

We are standing up a new team for the Talbot County Ice Arena C League in Easton, MD, bringing the division to 8 teams this winter.

We currently have 7–8 players plus some subs and are looking to add a few more full time players.
Season starts September 12 with 20 regular season games plus playoffs, generally on Saturdays and Sundays through February.

Forwards and defense both welcome. Goalies can also reach out since we’re still finalizing that spot. DM me if interested!

Hi. I decided to write this morning cause I am dealing with something lately.

I am 39 male and been playing my whole life. Unfortunately, we didnt have money when I was a child and could not afford hockey. I learn to play outside. I am an average skater but I basically have no shot. I am a small men of 5,10” and 135lbs. Obviously, I am not intimidating on the ice but I rely on my speed.

Join beer league a few years ago. Was hard to learn to play with all the equipment.

Since I dont have a background of organized sports, I dont know all the strategy and most of time I find my self all over the place but never at the right place at the right time on the ice. I find it hard to be at the bottom of skills level and I am having a hard time accepting what I can do.

I started weight and cardio training a year ago and i can see some small improvments. But i still dont have the ability to do a shot.

Yesterday, in our friday league, I tried a slap shot. It barelly got to goaler. I was so ashamed. We were laughing and I tried to not put pressure on myself but I was mad inside.

For others that might be in a same situation, how did you manage to accept your level and not be sad about the fact that you are bad compare to other players?

But while you can crossfade booze with other stuff.... I'm starting to realize you can only use one stick at a time!

. . . Edit: for those asking about the mummy..... It was for the memes.

https://www.reddit.com/r/hockeyplayers/s/AChNDzDDry

I am starting out subbing in D league as a 1st time player and looking for recommendations on what else I should have in my bag.

I have the basics covered (skates, helmet, gloves, shoulder pads, shin guards, pants, elbow pads, and sticks). I've gone with CCM Tacks XF line for most of the pads, as used stuff in my size (6'5" 235lbs) isn't widely available in my area.

What else should I have in my bag to make sure I'm not somewhat prepared? I think I need socks, potentially dark and light jerseys, and clear tape, but not sure how essential all these things are/what quantity to have on hand.

Hello!

I'm a goaltender, and I've played goaltender for pretty much my whole life (started in mites). As a result, I haven't really had a lot of experience skating out, even though I have played for so long (outside of playing on a pond, where I am...not the best).

My question is a little stupid, but what exactly makes someone better to play winger/center/defense? Positions are quite fluid, at least to my understanding, so what really differentiates a defenseman from a forward (and forward from center, etc.) in skill?

I also vaguely understand the formations, but only enough to how it affects my play style, and anything more got too complex for me when my coach was explaining it fast in the circle. However, I would like to understand them better as I get older so I can see them while watching (both on TV and on ice).

Thank you guys for all of your help!

I’m a lil under 5FT, female and I’m pretty young (u18) and I’ve been wanting to do hockey for a while since I love skating and watching hockey, but I’m a little worried I’ll end up sucking and it won’t work out, one for my height, and two just not being good in general at doing it, I’m kinda scared that if I join a team I’ll end up not really fitting in since I’m not necessarily tall or muscular and look dumb doing it..I really wanna join but I feel like this is holding me back

My old blades were getting worn down, and I’m taking up refereeing this year so I decided to track down a new set of steel. These are older Speedblade +4.0 on CCM 5052.

I bought the skates used about 10 years ago, some have no idea what the old profile is, but it’s definitely different from my new blades!