Men's Hockey Lessons

[SteveToms]

Hey all, one of my friends is 24, and he hasn't played hockey for 10 or so years now, is there anywhere he can go to get lessons or the like, as he wants to get back in the game now.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by SteveToms

Hey all, one of my friends is 24, and he hasn't played hockey for 10 or so years now, is there anywhere he can go to get lessons or the like, as he wants to get back in the game now.

The HNA has a very good beginner program, if he's played hockey before, he can still use the program to get his head back in the game and get his legs back. They run the program twice a year, once in September, and once in January.

At the end of the program they put teams together and you start playing againts each other for half a year, then you are thrown into the bottom division the following season.

If he doesn't want to be put on a team, he can specify that before he starts.

Just go to hna.com and find the contact info for the Calgary office.

Also the NCHL runs a beginner program, where they also want to put you on a team....

Just go to www.nchl-calgary.com (it's right on the first page, at the top of the "news" section, it's called "nchl bootcamp"

Hope that helps.

[CrispyGriz]

I would recommend the cheaper version and hit as many games of shinny as possible, The better the competition the quicker he will improve, its how i learned to play so i can speak to the effectiveness.

[SteveToms]

Thanks guys, I will send this to him

I might get back in shape and back into hockey myself. I remember one play I made that was awesome, we were the PK, I bounced off the boards pass the defender, and was able to get to my teammate leaving the box, breakaway goal!

[REDVAN]

I need to learn to skate better before I learn to play hockey. But that'd be cool.

[MaxPower]

I'm in the HNA program right now, just finished the 10 weeks of practices, now starting games. It's an awesome program, especially since I've never played real hockey before.

[tvp2003]

Related question -- what's the learning curve on picking up hockey as a goalie? I was a pretty fine street hockey goalie in my younger days, but 15 years later I'm interested in trying it out on the ice. From skating, learning the basic butterfly, etc... is it too late to start?

[STeeLy]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Related question -- what's the learning curve on picking up hockey as a goalie? I was a pretty fine street hockey goalie in my younger days, but 15 years later I'm interested in trying it out on the ice. From skating, learning the basic butterfly, etc... is it too late to start?

I don't thing anything is ever too late...

I've never played hockey before, but I'm worried more about skating (I can't pivot or skate backwards to save my own life)... I do want to start at some point cuz I used to love to play street hockey.

[soulchoice]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Related question -- what's the learning curve on picking up hockey as a goalie? I was a pretty fine street hockey goalie in my younger days, but 15 years later I'm interested in trying it out on the ice. From skating, learning the basic butterfly, etc... is it too late to start?

How is your skating overall? I play every position in hockey and can tell you that as a goalie, your skating should not be weak, or you may find the curve difficult. Nowadays, the goalie is usually the most agile and best skater on the team, not to mention well conditioned.

Never too late to learn though, go for it!

I have taught guys who were 50 yrs old during power skating/hockey skills before, and they had a blast. So never too late.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Related question -- what's the learning curve on picking up hockey as a goalie? I was a pretty fine street hockey goalie in my younger days, but 15 years later I'm interested in trying it out on the ice. From skating, learning the basic butterfly, etc... is it too late to start?

I can't speak from personal experience, but I can tell you that I've seen guys do it. At first, you'll find it tough, especially low shots that require lateral movement, but you'll probably find that you improve dramatically for the first little while before hitting a bit of a plateau. I'd say go for it! Worst case is playing in a C or D league, and that's still a lot of fun. Everybody loves a goalie--you won't have trouble finding a team.

[LIP MAN]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

I need to learn to skate better before I learn to play hockey. But that'd be cool.

I second that. While my friends who had parents who were loaded can skate well, I can attest to having better hands than almost all of em. I feel like I could have been a really good player if I had just had the chance to play hockey, but meh, it's just an expensive sport to play, and made due with other sports anyways! Any good power skating schools we could recommend here?

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by LIP MAN

I second that. While my friends who had parents who were loaded can skate well, I can attest to having better hands than almost all of em. I feel like I could have been a really good player if I had just had the chance to play hockey, but meh, it's just an expensive sport to play, and made due with other sports anyways! Any good power skating schools we could recommend here?

I second (third) that. I play rec hockey, and while I'm a decent player, skating is definitely the weakest part of my game. I get where I'm going, but I feel like I need to work way harder than a lot of other guys to get there. I really need to work on acceleration and strength in turns/changes of direction, etc.

I'm always hoping I'll see some ad for a quick 2 or 3 day power skating course for adults whenever I'm back in Calgary, but I haven't yet.

[Mike Oxlong]

This guy is really good and he has a bunch of Adult programs.
http://www.tuckerhockey.com/

Our team which plays in the HNA hired for a practice one time and I was really impressed. This guys knows his hockey and is a good teacher.

I am thinking about taking his intermediate course.

[SteveToms]

Hate to bring a old post up, but I was talking to my friend and he would like to be a goalie after a few years.

Are there like adult goalie schools?

[CMPunk]

Originally Posted by SteveToms

Hate to bring a old post up, but I was talking to my friend and he would like to be a goalie after a few years.

Are there like adult goalie schools?

The goalie shop can provide lessons, but there really isn't a strictly adult goalie camp put there

[Buff]

Originally Posted by CrispyGriz

I would recommend the cheaper version and hit as many games of shinny as possible, The better the competition the quicker he will improve, its how i learned to play so i can speak to the effectiveness.

Thatis what I did. I hadn't played ice hockey in 17 years. The only type of hockey I had played was ball hockey and it had been 5 years since I played that too.

A group of friends played some pickup hockey every week so I got some skates, helmet, gloves and and a stick and I went out to play. We played once per week and I slowly got into the swing of things. The first year I would've been lucky to get 10 goals in 20+ games, which is rather pathetic because now I average 3 goals per game and I'm far from the most productive scorer (its shinny, we don't play defense).

If your friend can do it once per week he'll slowly improve with time. If he isn't confident on his skates then he may want to also add an outing at a public skate every week or two on top of playing hockey. Skill and confidence in your skating goes a long way in your game.

edit: I guess I should've read through the entire thread to realize I was responding to an old old post.

[SteveToms]

Originally Posted by Buff

Thatis what I did. I hadn't played ice hockey in 17 years. The only type of hockey I had played was ball hockey and it had been 5 years since I played that too.

A group of friends played some pickup hockey every week so I got some skates, helmet, gloves and and a stick and I went out to play. We played once per week and I slowly got into the swing of things. The first year I would've been lucky to get 10 goals in 20+ games, which is rather pathetic because now I average 3 goals per game and I'm far from the most productive scorer (its shinny, we don't play defense).

If your friend can do it once per week he'll slowly improve with time. If he isn't confident on his skates then he may want to also add an outing at a public skate every week or two on top of playing hockey. Skill and confidence in your skating goes a long way in your game.

edit: I guess I should've read through the entire thread to realize I was responding to an old old post.

It's alright, more opinion the better.

[return to the red]

Originally Posted by Buff

Thatis what I did. I hadn't played ice hockey in 17 years. The only type of hockey I had played was ball hockey and it had been 5 years since I played that too.

A group of friends played some pickup hockey every week so I got some skates, helmet, gloves and and a stick and I went out to play. We played once per week and I slowly got into the swing of things. The first year I would've been lucky to get 10 goals in 20+ games, which is rather pathetic because now I average 3 goals per game and I'm far from the most productive scorer (its shinny, we don't play defense).

If your friend can do it once per week he'll slowly improve with time. If he isn't confident on his skates then he may want to also add an outing at a public skate every week or two on top of playing hockey. Skill and confidence in your skating goes a long way in your game.

edit: I guess I should've read through the entire thread to realize I was responding to an old old post.

you guys still possibly looking for another guy to play...it's been some time (say 10 years)since i have played and such but I have been seriously thinking of getting back into things. probably too late for this year but what about next?