Roller/Ice Hockey.... beginning Q's - Page 2

pokerspite · #11 05-26-2006, 03:55 AM

The class can't hurt.

You have to be able to skate pretty well to play goalie. Definitely not a good place to start.

Rollerhockey might be a better starting point, but if you have the money and inclination give icehockey a shot.

bluef0x · #12 05-26-2006, 04:00 AM

Everyone keeps saying that, but I still don't see how it's so much harder to slide 2 feet over than skate rink length back and forth.

Any tips on equipment? Can you get away with $20 pieces of equipment?

pokerspite · #13 05-26-2006, 04:13 AM

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Also, how bad are like the $500 pads on http://www.thehockeyshop.com/catalog...e=S_LegPads_Sr
Haven't made a choice yet, just trying to get a feel on how much it would cost.

How important is equipment (for both goalie and skaters) ?

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I really can't speak to the quality of the goalie pads. That is a helluva price range though.
I would guess as a goalie protection and durability are the two key factors. What good is it to be replacing $500 pads every couple years. But I'm not real familiar with goalie equipment.

If you are skating out, you don't need top of the line gear. You want a comfortable, quality skate (doesn't mean super-expensive) and a good helmet everything else can be middle-of-the-road.

zephed · #14 05-26-2006, 05:16 AM

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Any suggestions on Goalie/D/F? I don't really care and would love to play any position. I always imagined goalies needed to be ultra-flexible.. however my friend said he was a goalie for a roller hockey team and he couldn't even come close to doing the splits and said he had the lowest GAA in the regular season.

Of course I need experience, but I think I can develop rather quickly in hockey-sense if I played often. I'm not trying to go pro, just trying to play and spend some free time. I'm very competitive.

I'm guessing size won't matter much in the lowest leagues, correct? How physical are the low leagues?

Thanks for your post!

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Only play goalie if you really enjoy it. I'd also try to avoid playing D, because once everyone knows you can play it, you will never get to play O. Start at one of the wing positions.

Also, D sucks because you get blamed for every goal while the dumbfuck O players fail to backcheck.

zephed · #15 05-26-2006, 05:17 AM

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Yeah, but I live in NorCal. There's a lot of roller hockey close by, but I would have to travel a bit for ice hockey *I think*. I know there's an ice junior league in my hometown... I'll have to see if there's an adult one too.

And yea, I just looked at like the first google hit for goalie equipment and it was 1k for the pads and 200 for the blocker/glove. Hmm...

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Ice hockey boomed in california in the late 90's. It shouldn't be that hard to find a rink.

Zurvan · #16 05-26-2006, 07:59 AM

Goalies are usually the best skaters on the team. If you can't skate, you can't play goal. To play D, you have to be able to skate backwards.

You're a forward, until you learn how to skate backwards.

zephed · #17 05-26-2006, 08:22 AM

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Goalies are usually the best skaters on the team. If you can't skate, you can't play goal. To play D, you have to be able to skate backwards.

You're a forward, until you learn how to skate backwards.

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werd. except for that goalie part, only the good ones can skate.

Zurvan · #18 05-26-2006, 09:10 AM

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[ QUOTE ]
Goalies are usually the best skaters on the team. If you can't skate, you can't play goal. To play D, you have to be able to skate backwards.

You're a forward, until you learn how to skate backwards.

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werd. except for that goalie part, only the good ones can skate.

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That's what I meant.

Emilgence · #19 05-26-2006, 12:54 PM

I just bought full goalie equipment back in January. Everything was new except the chest protector. Spent just under $2000.
My advice is, especially if you're just beginning; don't get top of the line stuff. You don't need it, and it won't make much a of a difference to your play as a beginner.

I bought lef pads for $300 (Called DR or something) and they work fine for me. The only problem is the roll(the part in around the knee to help getting into the butterfly position), but thats being picky.

In the end, goalie is an excellent position, lots of fun, and it's one of those positions where you don't have to be excellent at it in order to have fun with it.

Emilgence · #20 05-26-2006, 01:01 PM

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Everyone keeps saying that, but I still don't see how it's so much harder to slide 2 feet over than skate rink length back and forth.

Any tips on equipment? Can you get away with $20 pieces of equipment?

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The reason why you have to be a good skater because you need incredible balance when you're moving around in your crease. It is very important to keep your body positioning where you want it while being able to move around. It is very easy for a beginner to catch an edge and fall down. As for speed, you don't really need that (unless you play at a higher level where you are expected to stop the puck behind the net and pass it out; you need to be quick at this).

Most importantly, it's all about blanace and being comfortable in skates.