Beer Leagues, Gear, and other Non-Pro Related Items

VORP Speed

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 23, 2010
6,633
Ground Zero
Got a pair of skates, went out with the kids after their hockey games on Saturday, am at the rink now on a snow day. I’m getting pretty good at left turns, but still don’t have a feel for the whole “stopping” thing. Maybe I’ll take some lessons. Thanks again to everyone here for the encouragement.

Btw, how the hell do you fight on skates??
 

LogansDad

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
29,049
Alamogordo
Are you able to snowplow stop yet? Try getting that down first before you start doing the sideways "hockey stop", if you don't. It takes a little bit, but once you get confident stopping everything else gets a lot easier to at least try.

I'm also glad to hear it is going well for you. I have a feeling that when I'm on my deathbed, my biggest regret will be not learning how to play this wonderful sport until last year, when I was 38 years old.
 

LogansDad

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
29,049
Alamogordo
Also, I finished my last fitness test as a member of the Air Force today and can officially focus all of my workout efforts on achieving my dream of being an NHL Center, so I'm pretty excited about that.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Are you able to snowplow stop yet? Try getting that down first before you start doing the sideways "hockey stop", if you don't. It takes a little bit, but once you get confident stopping everything else gets a lot easier to at least try.

I'm also glad to hear it is going well for you. I have a feeling that when I'm on my deathbed, my biggest regret will be not learning how to play this wonderful sport until last year, when I was 38 years old.
The reason you snowplow first is learning to use your edges to stop- once you find the skate you put more pressure on, you can start stopping with pretty much just that foot, and turn your body accordingly. At the snow plow stage, just work on 'plowing' as quickly as you can.

edit: and LD- you won't regret anything, because you'll have played for years.
 

Dogman

Yukon Cornelius
Moderator
SoSH Member
Mar 19, 2004
15,177
Missoula, MT
The hockey market here in Missoula has blossomed so much the last few years that it is a ton of fun to play as the small city feel (~75K residents) means tons of acquaintances and friends skate. There are 9 leagues now with 2 women only and the rest are co-ed so hockey is taking a center stage around town. Two rinks side by side, one indoor, one outdoor. Outdoor has a roof and 3 walls so on the cold and snowy nights, it can be bitterly cold and snowy on the ice. Last week was -5 with a wind chill of -25 when skating outdoors. My shirt was frozen by the end of the first.

I've been skating in the competitive league which is below the Cup and advanced leagues. It's basically pretty fast, good passing, positional hockey. Tons of fun. Playoffs start in a few weeks and my teams sits in a tie for second at 9-4. I've been skating with the first line this year and it's been fun as one of my good friends is basically top 3 in the league and he centers the line. I think I have 8-9 garbage goals off of his and the left wing's work.

We were playing the 5th place team who basically needs to win the last two to get in the playoffs. Third period, we are up 2-1 with 6 minutes to go. Face-off to our goalie's left and our defenseman plays puck around to my side. Going for the puck against their winger and instead of him playing the puck on the boards, he just jacks me up in the head with a cross check in the right temple and I went down. Hit the back of my head on the ice. I don't remember skating back to the bench. Ref didn't make a call and I didn't finish the game. Couldn't shake the stars. I was told I was helped back to the bench. I have no clue who hit me. Our captain spoke with the refs after the game to let them know I didn't finish the game.

Rules are explicit. Any opposing player injuring another gets an automatic suspension for one game. Severity of injury merits longer suspensions. Just received an email that the opposing player is suspended for the rest of the season and playoffs and the ref must retake the certification test this offseason. USA Hockey and the rink don't fuck around with injuries to any player.

I feel better this afternoon but last night and this morning were not pleasant. Fortunately, my sister is an ICU nurse and I stayed with her last night as a precaution.

Just BS that this shit still happens in league play.
 

LogansDad

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
29,049
Alamogordo
It's good he got suspended, but a banning seems like it might be more appropriate. We all have real fucking jobs we need to go to, and there's no fucking place for that shit. Head shots are fucking scary, and it's worse when they are clearly intentional.

I'm a little pissed today because I've been trying to get onto a Bronze B team with the guys and girls I went through my first learn to play class with. They are 1-22 this year, and had a slot open. I didn't join this past season because I thought I was going to be going TDY for a month and a half, and didn't want to make the commitment to the team knowing that. But the time my trip got canceled, rosters were set, but I let the captain and some players know back in October that if there was anything I could do to get on, then I would do it. So, with the new season starting, almost everyone on the team wanted to get me added, but the captain had another guy he met along the way that he wanted to join. So, they put it to a vote, and I won, but instead of putting me on the team, he decided they were going to do full team pre-pay this year, which allows them to have three subs, and he was going to "let" me be the sub. Mind you, it took almost two weeks for him to figure this shit out, and now almost all of the other teams have filled up, so I can't even get a full time slot somewhere else. I know I should just write it off, but I really like everyone on the team except for this dink, and it's also a position where I know I can step in and make the team better as well, so I'm really frustrated. (The same guy just got kicked off his Bronze A team because "they had some other guys they wanted to get on the team".... totally not because he's a dick. Really.)

I think I might just take the learn to play class for a third time, and worry about finding a team after I retire and (likely) move at the end of the year.
 

wiffleballhero

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 28, 2009
4,528
In the simulacrum
Have you ever thrown a beer league game for the draft pick/ playoff match-up? Moral quandary coming up for my team. I vote 'Suck for Luck' but we shall see. For us it is a double benefit: likely better match-up against a -- just by chance -- higher ranked team in round one this year, plus the second pick in the draft (in a draft that is usually with 2-3 good players and then about 50 beer league JAGs).
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
14,461
Gallows Hill
Have you ever thrown a beer league game for the draft pick/ playoff match-up? Moral quandary coming up for my team. I vote 'Suck for Luck' but we shall see. For us it is a double benefit: likely better match-up against a -- just by chance -- higher ranked team in round one this year, plus the second pick in the draft (in a draft that is usually with 2-3 good players and then about 50 beer league JAGs).
No. Karma always bites you in the ass when you do that. Play it straight.
 

The Napkin

wise ass al kaprielian
Moderator
SoSH Member
Jul 13, 2002
28,534
right here
Wow, that's awesome! Where'd you find that? Thanks for sharing, I really hope everyone reads the whole thread so they don't miss it. I just wish there was more of it I could watch someplace.
 

wiffleballhero

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 28, 2009
4,528
In the simulacrum
Keeping my teeth (but not thrilled about it):

So two years ago I switched to a bubble (actually one of those full coverage jobbies with the half bubble, half steel cage on the bottom).

I really hated wearing a full cage. I hated, hated, hated it. Too heavy, couldn't see. It sucked. I've hated them since about 1985. And if somehow all my teeth just fell out, I'd go to the half shield. But until then I am just not willing to play without something covering my face.

But I also sort of hate the bubble. Air flow is limited and it seems really heavy. After a helmet upgrade I finally got the bubble to a spot where it generally feels like it does not restrict my vision. So that is good. But it sure is not the same as wearing nothing. And it is heavy. Did I mention that?

So I am wondering about this Bauer Re-AKT titanium cage. Anybody out there have experience with both this and a bubble? What do you think, is it worth making the switch, even as a committed cage hater?


FWIW, compared to a regular cage, I'm sticking with the bubble. Also, I've spent hours, I mean hours, combing craigslist for a used, old 'cat's eye' players cage from the 1970s. I'd love one of those! (Anybody got one in their attic they want to sell me?)
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
(knocking furiously on wood)
I have a couple of quality mouth guards and have never lost any teeth. I've taken both sticks and pucks in the mouth more than once.
(continues knocking)

That cage isn't going to be much different than any other cage. You could use bolt cutters to snip a few bars and give you better vision- I've seen plenty of guys do that.

I skate with a couple of guys that have the cats eye type mask...I will try to remember to ask where they got it.
 

wiffleballhero

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 28, 2009
4,528
In the simulacrum
I have a couple of quality mouth guards and have never lost any teeth. I've taken both sticks and pucks in the mouth more than once.
I've considered a half shield and maybe one of these:


But I don't know, seems like wishful thinking to imagine it will do enough.

I skate with a couple of guys that have the cats eye type mask...I will try to remember to ask where they got it.
I'd bet they are old and they got them from helmets they wore in about 1979.
 

wiffleballhero

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 28, 2009
4,528
In the simulacrum
Bandy players wear an oversized chin protector with a little lip that comes up. I've wondered also if I could track one of those down and then maybe make a mouth guard attachment that might have a little more to it (3D printing?).

I'm entirely willing to fiddle with my gear in outlandish ways that make me look like a maniac: my sticks tend to sparkle with nail polish since I 'repair' all the nicks. I also used a zip tie to permanently set my cup into my pants (that was a stroke of genius). The cup thing took me about three tries to get it 'zipped' in at the spot it would sit normally, but it is sort of handy to have that now just as part of my pants.

In terms of a half shield, I am less concerned about shots or otherwise hard hit pucks. I play center and let's say I am not exactly sliding into blocking shots every game. But I am also short and I get a seemingly constant barrage of elbows, shoulders, stick shafts and wobbly, bouncing (but soft) pucks into my face. It is those that I'd like to cushion.
 

LogansDad

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
29,049
Alamogordo
Sorry for the bump, but do any of you have a good place to order jersey numbers/letter that can get here relatively quick. Everything I turn up on the Googles has complaints against them or don't look nearly professional enough. Etsy isn't turning anything up for me, either.
 

VORP Speed

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 23, 2010
6,633
Ground Zero
Got a pair of skates, went out with the kids after their hockey games on Saturday, am at the rink now on a snow day. I’m getting pretty good at left turns, but still don’t have a feel for the whole “stopping” thing. Maybe I’ll take some lessons. Thanks again to everyone here for the encouragement.

Btw, how the hell do you fight on skates??
So I get an email from one of the hockey dads that he signed me up for the dad league. Why not, right? I've been on skates 3 or 4 times now so I'm totally ready. Starts next week.

I picked up a stick. They had to put an extension in it and it looks a lot bigger than I imagined a stick should be, but I guess the hockey shop guys know what they're doing. Ordered some gloves that were on a huge sale. Need to go in this weekend and pick up everything else. I assume you wear the full gear for this kind of thing, right?
 

tonyandpals

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Mar 18, 2004
7,856
Burlington
So I get an email from one of the hockey dads that he signed me up for the dad league. Why not, right? I've been on skates 3 or 4 times now so I'm totally ready. Starts next week.

I picked up a stick. They had to put an extension in it and it looks a lot bigger than I imagined a stick should be, but I guess the hockey shop guys know what they're doing. Ordered some gloves that were on a huge sale. Need to go in this weekend and pick up everything else. I assume you wear the full gear for this kind of thing, right?
Typically yes to the full gear. Most leagues require it. If it was more casual pickup lots of guys don't wear shoulders. But just starting out, with others just starting out, I'd wear as much as possible, including a full shield.

Cup, Jock/Garter, shins, socks, pants, skates, elbows, shoulders, jersey (always good to have a white and dark in your bag...don't be the guy w/ yellow or gray) helmet and gloves. May want to practice getting dressed at home and walking around in all the gear :)

Most importantly, have fun!
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Typically yes to the full gear. Most leagues require it. If it was more casual pickup lots of guys don't wear shoulders. But just starting out, with others just starting out, I'd wear as much as possible, including a full shield.

Cup, Jock/Garter, shins, socks, pants, skates, elbows, shoulders, jersey (always good to have a white and dark in your bag...don't be the guy w/ yellow or gray) helmet and gloves. May want to practice getting dressed at home and walking around in all the gear :)

Most importantly, have fun!
Thank you.
 

VORP Speed

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 23, 2010
6,633
Ground Zero
Typically yes to the full gear. Most leagues require it. If it was more casual pickup lots of guys don't wear shoulders. But just starting out, with others just starting out, I'd wear as much as possible, including a full shield.

Cup, Jock/Garter, shins, socks, pants, skates, elbows, shoulders, jersey (always good to have a white and dark in your bag...don't be the guy w/ yellow or gray) helmet and gloves. May want to practice getting dressed at home and walking around in all the gear :)

Most importantly, have fun!
Thanks for the advice. Played my first game tonight. Totally a blast, even though I completely suck. It’s more of a pickup thing than a league...whoever shows divide up light/dark (good call on that) and just go for an hour. Tonight was 10 guys so was 4 on 4 with one on bench, playing half ice where you had to clear the blue line on change of possession. They put a special gimp rule in place for me where I didn’t have to clear. That helped. Can’t wait to actually learn how to skate now!
 

DourDoerr

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Lifetime Member
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Oct 15, 2004
2,937
Berkeley, CA
I'm curious if 3on3 rinks exist on the East Coast. I played for years at SharksIce in Fremont CA for years and switched to a 3on3 rink in Livermore. A lot of the guys on the team live in or near Livermore and didn't want the commute. At first, it felt more like a drill, but it quickly became its own game with its own quirks.
 

tonyandpals

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Mar 18, 2004
7,856
Burlington
I'm curious if 3on3 rinks exist on the East Coast. I played for years at SharksIce in Fremont CA for years and switched to a 3on3 rink in Livermore. A lot of the guys on the team live in or near Livermore and didn't want the commute. At first, it felt more like a drill, but it quickly became its own game with its own quirks.
Holland in Woburn MA is a 3 on 3 rink. That's the only one I know of (but I really haven't looked).
 

TFP

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Dec 10, 2007
20,380
Won our winter season championship tonight. Double elim playoffs in the winter and we lost our first game then ran the table including beating the first place team twice in the finals. Super satisfying because they’re really good and they got PISSED when we beat them.

Turning into a dynasty in the Westborough A league.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Won our winter season championship tonight. Double elim playoffs in the winter and we lost our first game then ran the table including beating the first place team twice in the finals. Super satisfying because they’re really good and they got PISSED when we beat them.

Turning into a dynasty in the Westborough A league.
Boom.

I like that double elimination...that final game must have been a pretty intense affair for men's league.

I'm curious if 3on3 rinks exist on the East Coast. I played for years at SharksIce in Fremont CA for years and switched to a 3on3 rink in Livermore. A lot of the guys on the team live in or near Livermore and didn't want the commute. At first, it felt more like a drill, but it quickly became its own game with its own quirks.
Falmouth has one, as does Somerville. A bunch of guys I know skate at the Falmouth one a lot...I'm not a fan, although it will give you a hell of a workout. It is its own game for sure.
 

TFP

Moderator
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Dec 10, 2007
20,380
Boom.

I like that double elimination...that final game must have been a pretty intense affair for men's league.
Yeah - winter season is double elim while summer is single mostly for time/schedule reasons. I like double elim better though.

Naturally we repeated our tradition of walking into the bar with the speaker playing We Are The Champions. Always fun.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Yeah - winter season is double elim while summer is single mostly for time/schedule reasons. I like double elim better though.

Naturally we repeated our tradition of walking into the bar with the speaker playing We Are The Champions. Always fun.
what bar?
 

TFP

Moderator
Moderator
SoSH Member
Dec 10, 2007
20,380
Owen O’Learys in Westborough. Pitchers come with $1 pizzas.
 

wiffleballhero

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 28, 2009
4,528
In the simulacrum
I hope I can get some of TFP's pixie dust.

Tonight my team is in the championship game of our league. (It is an annual, not seasonal league, too. We've been at it since September.) We got a little lucky and threaded the needle with the playoff match-ups, so here we go. We are major, major underdogs tonight.

Longer post, win or lose, tomorrow. Wish me luck.

I am hoping to find the time for a nap this afternoon. Gotta have fresh legs.
 

TSC

SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
SoSH Member
Oct 25, 2007
12,280
Between here and everywhere.
Hoping for the same i/r/t TFP's Pixie Dust.

I'm down in Tampa right now playing in the USA Hockey Disable Warrior tournament.

My team is 2-0 heading into the final round of the play-ins today. The team we're playing (Tampa) may have to forfeit, as their last game ended in a massive line brawl with Chicago, and Tampa has 7 players suspended.

We play the first round of the playoffs tonight, after our game against Tampa this morning. The Championship (if we win tonight) is tomorrow AM.

In other news - if you;ve never seen blind hockey before. Go out of your way to find it. They've been playing as part of this tourney and oh my god are they amazing. They use a puck that sounds like a cowbell. The goalies have to be 100% blind or use a blindfold, and the referee's have a high pitched 2nd whistle that let's goalies know when the opposing team has entered the offensive zone and has made the required one pass before they can shoot. It's awe inspiring for sure.
 

LogansDad

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
29,049
Alamogordo
Good luck to both of you! I finally have my first league game (just Beer League, I'm not very good) this coming Thursday. I can't wait.
 

RIFan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
3,087
Rhode Island
Hoping for the same i/r/t TFP's Pixie Dust.

I'm down in Tampa right now playing in the USA Hockey Disable Warrior tournament.

My team is 2-0 heading into the final round of the play-ins today. The team we're playing (Tampa) may have to forfeit, as their last game ended in a massive line brawl with Chicago, and Tampa has 7 players suspended.

We play the first round of the playoffs tonight, after our game against Tampa this morning. The Championship (if we win tonight) is tomorrow AM.

In other news - if you;ve never seen blind hockey before. Go out of your way to find it. They've been playing as part of this tourney and oh my god are they amazing. They use a puck that sounds like a cowbell. The goalies have to be 100% blind or use a blindfold, and the referee's have a high pitched 2nd whistle that let's goalies know when the opposing team has entered the offensive zone and has made the required one pass before they can shoot. It's awe inspiring for sure.
This showed up in my feed just after reading your post. Huge props to them getting out there. Amazing.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
I would wear a cage if I played blind hockey.

edit: and Good luck to everyone starting or finishing seasons.