Beer Hockey Leagues??? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Mike Oxlong · 10-02-2006, 05:07 PM

The ice time thread, and the public skate thread got me thinking about playing hockey this year. I know this might be a bit late for this season as I know a lot of leagues have already started but does anyone know of any fun men's leagues to play in?

My hockey ability is limited. I can skate but I never really played growing up other than at Lake Bonavista. I used to play shinny a bit so I am not completely terrible but but no means highly skilled.

I would be looking for a beginner league or a not so skilled league to get involved with. Since it is just me and possibly a friend of mine as well we would be looking for a team to join.

Anyone have any league reccomendations to try or does anyone play in a league that is looking for players? Something with decent ice teams as well (not asking for much at least)

I need to get in shape and I figured I might as well enjoy it if I can. Next year I am going to look into this earlier but I am hoping there might still be something available to get involved with.

Thanks!!

ricosuave · 10-02-2006, 05:23 PM

me too.

any openings, let me know

nw, thorncliffe area preferred

brownie · 10-02-2006, 05:30 PM

Maybe we can get a squad together from here for next year.I too am a pond hockey veteran.

Jayems · 10-02-2006, 05:43 PM

If you need a tender, sign me up.

jharp · 10-02-2006, 06:46 PM

if my buddies and i end up with a decent time, we just play shinny, but we could use a few more bodies.
we are all pretty terrible though

V · 10-02-2006, 07:15 PM

Try the NCHL. I know that a couple of teams are short players. Check out the website at nchl-calgary.com. There's a link on the LHS that says something about free agents. Try that. I play in the B division, and I'd say I'm a little better than the average guy that's never played competitive hockey before. I get by just fine in that division. I think the divisions go as low as E, I can only imagine how 'beginner' that league must be.

Some late starts, but a very organized league, it seems, keeps stats very well, good refs so far. Everything I could've asked for except for the late starts and the fairly high price of $520 per season (30 games + playoffs).

Flames2007FIRE IT UP · 10-02-2006, 07:19 PM

team from hear next year would be fun, does anyone know when you would need to register?

snappyk · 10-02-2006, 07:30 PM

I play in the E division, it's not that bad there are some beginer teams but we have yet to play them. The NCHL was looking for guys to join a new team just go to their web site www.nchl-calgary.com it's on the front page.

FLAMESRULE · 10-02-2006, 07:49 PM

I play in the NCHL and HNA. NCHL is not bad, but expect bad ice times. HNA runs a beginner program for people just like you. Check out Calgary's website http://www.calgaryhna.homestead.com/ Both leagues cost about the same, and are very organized. I like the HNA a bit better, I've gone to tournaments in Banff and Amsterdam. Can you say HELLA FUN!!

jar_e · 10-02-2006, 09:04 PM

I recommend the NCHL as well...I never actually played with them, just attended a practice skate...however, even with that, the league seems very organized and had an good group of guys in the C division. I"m in the same boat as the majority of you...never really played organized hockey until this year, and that started with roller hockey this year in Calgary. However, my work has a league so that's why I'm not with the NCHL this year.

Bill Bumface · 10-03-2006, 12:03 AM

Are any of you guys university students/alumni or have friends that are? That league is dirt cheap. I'm on an HNA team and a UofC team right now. HNA is $550 and U of C is $41 (half season). You can sign up as an individual in both, although HNA has been a complete #####ing joke so far. I'll get into that more if anyone wants.

FLAMESRULE · 10-03-2006, 07:58 AM

Hulkrogan, just curious what you hate about HNA? I've been in the league for about 6-7 years. There are some things that drive me crazy (dropping teams down a division mid way through a season, late ice, etc). But all in all, I dont think its much different than NCHL. They have the best tourney's around, if you can make them.

snappyk · 10-03-2006, 08:20 AM

HNA has some pretty goofy rules regarding uniforms, if your socks don't match you can't play, need a visor, the whole moving teams down and so on. NCHL has some really bizzare penalty rules, after the 5th team penalty the opposing team is awarded a penalty shot and if they score you still have to serve the 2, after the 9th you forfeit the game. I'm finding that the NCHL's ice times have been pretty rough so far, the earliest game that we have had so far is 10:45 but that's what you get in the winter with all the kids playing before us. What is your problem with HNA Hulk? I had a problem with one certain ref there bet you can't guess which one.

Bill Bumface · 10-03-2006, 09:02 AM

This is our teams first season in HNA, and our captain told them right off the bat that we were not a division one team. Someone that was at the Vegas tournament however said that wasn't true, because we looked really good. We weren't at the Vegas tournament, it was a different team with the same name. As a result we got thrown in the top division.

There was exhibition games to determine seeding, so no biggie. We play the team of the guy who runs the league, and lose 4-0. Our goalie stood on his head, and we only managed 5 shots in three 15 minute periods. They spent the entire time in our zone. Supposedly these guys were one of the lower top division teams last year too. It was pretty obvious we didn't belong in the top division.

So then what happens? They put us in the top division because "the schedule is already made". I don't care if your #####ing schedule is already made, fix it! He says, no problem, only 5 games are scheduled, and after that they'll realign the divisions. Part way through that, a 6th game is added. All but one of these are in Chestermere.

I have to say that after paying $550, spending the first 6 games getting destroyed isn't the most fun. We've now lost 9-1, 8-4, 14-0 and 16-2. Our goalie used to play for SAIT, so that isn't the problem. Its not that fun.

On top of this, after buying a new helmet 4 months ago for $110, I need another new one, because mine is white, and our team needs matching helmets. What a joke. Also, you need your real last name on your jersey. Even for spares. So you need a jersey made up for every spare that ever plays for your team.

We had two guys get kicked out of a game for not having shoulder pads. That was our 14-0 loss. We only had 7 guys after they got booted. It was brutal.

On top of that, the rinks are in brutal places (Chestermere? Indus?) and we get some brutal ice times (11:15 at Chestermere on a weeknight).

FLAMESRULE · 10-03-2006, 09:12 AM

The whole uni thing used to bug me as well, but it does make for more of a "professional" look. Although, requiring name bars for spares etc is stupid. I agree on the equipment thing, who cares if you have a white helmet. As long as its certified, and you wear a visor. The thing to remember is that I believe this is league started off in the USA by Gordie Howe, so they are much more concerned about legal issues etc.

Ice times are going to suck in every league. Stupid kids. ;-)

We've had the same problem with the seeding. We play in a lower division and a team from a div up will get dropped in, mid way and we'll get slaughtered. Not fun. I was under the impression that they were only going to make the schedule up 3-4 weeks at a time, so they could see how things were going within the divisions.

Hulk, hopefully they dropped you guys down to B or C div.

Snappyk, that ref is a complete ASS CLOWN. He has a personal hate on for our team. But man oh man, do I have some stories about him from our tourney in Amsterdam.

what teams do you guys play on??

snappyk · 10-03-2006, 09:42 AM

Reaper and I both play for the Demons. I am happy that I don't have to deal with Mr. Referee this year. So far the refs in the NCHL have been really good, they've called some really fair games and we haven't had any problems as of yet.

FLAMESRULE · 10-03-2006, 09:47 AM

Ahh, cool, I think we probably played against each other in HNA. I play on the Roughnecks in HNA and the Eagles II team in NCHL.

Garnett is an knob gobbler. I've had no problems in the NCHL yet either.

Bill Bumface · 10-03-2006, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLAMESRULE

Ice times are going to suck in every league. Stupid kids. ;-)

Its not that 11:15 on a weeknight is unacceptable, its the fact its in Chestermere, making it more like 11:45 with all of the driving time. I thought the point of using out of town rinks was to get better ice times. I know WRAHL has cheaper fees, is insured, and gets earlier times in the city.

Thats another thing that sucks, my friend broke his collarbone in WRAHL, and their insurance covered everything for him. HNA is uninsured.

I play on the Sofa Kings. I'm sure we'll be down to C atleast

I think it will be a lot more fun then.

SeeGeeWhy · 10-03-2006, 10:35 AM

I'd be interested in joining a CP team. I'm similar to MikeOxlong in my skill set and experience... and just want to get out more often.

I live downtown so it's probably equal distances to all rinks for me.

Mike Oxlong · 10-03-2006, 10:52 AM

Thanks for all the info guys. I have heard about the WRAHL before but never heard of the NHA and NCHL. I looked into their websites and sent some emails off. Hopefuly it turns into something. Thanks!!

For the guys interested in getting a team together next year I would be all for it. Someone should remember to start a thread mid summer next year so we can get it organized on time.