Discover Hockey and the NCHL - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

FluxCapacitor · 12-23-2011, 05:20 PM

Hey guys, I saw one or two other posts about this on this board, so I thought I would join up to ask some more specific questions:

-Have any of you done the Discover Hockey program? http://www.discoverhockey.com/Discov...y_Program.html

-If so, what are your thoughts on it? It looks awesome to me... I've never played hockey but always wanted to. I never knew this was even an option. I like the idea that I could form a team with some of my 'classmates' from the program.

-While I think I could handle this program, I'm not sure about playing in a league afterwards... I played some shiny hockey in highschool and was an ok skater in that I used to be able to do crossovers, could skate backwards ok, etc. Of course, I'm 32 now and haven't skated in about 10 years. So my question is: What's the level of play like in the lowest NCHL division (I guess that would be EIII)?

-Is there a league that is more appropriate for beginners than NCHL Div EIII?

CMPunk · 12-23-2011, 05:49 PM

NCHL div three is pretty good for beginners, however you are still going to get teams that bring out ringers. EIII has alot of mixed teams as well. From what I've seen, the learn to play teams don't generally do so well in league games, not unless you get one or two better players and a decent goalie

nickerjones · 12-23-2011, 05:58 PM

The key is just get started and then play it by ear.. The hardest part is getting started.

puckluck · 12-23-2011, 06:04 PM

Welcome aboard NCHL owner.

Jbo · 12-23-2011, 06:05 PM

I played on a EIII team a couple years ago. The talent is all over the map. Best thing to do is dive right in...but be prepared to get your ass handed to you a few times

FluxCapacitor · 12-23-2011, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMPunk

NCHL div three is pretty good for beginners, however you are still going to get teams that bring out ringers. EIII has alot of mixed teams as well. From what I've seen, the learn to play teams don't generally do so well in league games, not unless you get one or two better players and a decent goalie

Yeah, that's one thing I was thinking... A team of all beginners would make it pretty much guaranteed to be the worst in the league right?

CMPunk · 12-23-2011, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FluxCapacitor

Yeah, that's one thing I was thinking... A team of all beginners would make it pretty much guaranteed to be the worst in the league right?

Depends. When I've done score keeping for the beginners, they toss all the newbie on a few different teams. Then you play against each othere for a few game and do the school. Once you're done classes, they throw you in EIII if you want to continue. If you're one of the better beginner teams you'll be ok. If you suck in beginners, it ain't going to get any better for you in league play

FluxCapacitor · 12-23-2011, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puckluck

Welcome aboard NCHL owner.

LOL, I'm not, but I guess I could see that it might look like a bit of a spam post, given that I think it "looks awesome".

To be fair, I'd also consider other options... I did a lot of googling yesterday after discovering this and noticed there is some MIC "Livin the dream" adult beginner program and some Tucker adult hockey beginner programs... But it was hard to find much in the way of reviews on the MIC program. The tucker program also sounds good. If anyone has experience with these, I'd be happy to hear about them too.

I also don't care about the NCHL in particular - in fact, their ice times look awful. I would want to be in the "most beginner league", whatever that is. (hence my last question in my OP). But, I guess the appeal is that if I did the program, I might already know some people on a future beginner team - which is different than if I joined some league as an individual where I'd know no one.

CMPunk · 12-23-2011, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FluxCapacitor

LOL, I'm not, but I guess I could see that it might look like a bit of a spam post, given that I think it "looks awesome".

To be fair, I'd also consider other options... I did a lot of googling yesterday after discovering this and noticed there is some MIC "Livin the dream" adult beginner program and some Tucker adult hockey beginner programs... But it was hard to find much in the way of reviews on the MIC program. The tucker program also sounds good. If anyone has experience with these, I'd be happy to hear about them too.

I also don't care about the NCHL in particular - in fact, their ice times look awful. I would want to be in the "most beginner league", whatever that is. (hence my last question in my OP).

Welcome to league hockey...most of the ice times suck. Pretty much unless you join a team in Winsport, most of the ice times are after ten pm

Tron_fdc · 12-23-2011, 06:27 PM

Ugh. NCHL.

Worst. League. in. The. City.

Do the program, learn to skate, then join another league that doesn't throw lower level teams into 11:45 icetimes so they can try and attract top level teams with prime ice, while charging you a small fortune to play in the league.

jdso · 12-24-2011, 10:31 AM

I'm joining the Tucker Hockey program in January mainly due to the icetimes and arena location. Plus I've heard pretty good reviews on it. The one good thing about the NCHL program is the 25% off coupon for hockey equipment at Hockey Experts. It makes it a lot cheaper when getting all the equipment.

Northendzone · 12-24-2011, 02:25 PM

I have been told that MIC is owned by NSD - i'll it up to each reader to each reader to decide if this is a good thing or not.

I think it would be fun to participate in one of these campsI

FluxCapacitor · 12-24-2011, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northendzone

I have been told that MIC is owned by NSD - i'll it up to each reader to each reader to decide if this is a good thing or not.

I think it would be fun to participate in one of these campsI

What is NSD?

COGENT · 12-24-2011, 02:53 PM

I think HNA has the same type of program. I can't tell you if one is better than the other though.

I've had a few buddies do the NCHL one and they are still playing on the same team 4 years later.

pylon · 12-24-2011, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northendzone

I have been told that MIC is owned by NSD - i'll it up to each reader to each reader to decide if this is a good thing or not.

I think it would be fun to participate in one of these campsI

Quote:

Originally Posted by FluxCapacitor

What is NSD?

Better question, what the hell are you even trying to say?

Aleks · 12-24-2011, 09:18 PM

I found that E-D is all over in terms of playing level. I sub for a few teams and there definitely are people playing well outside their division. As for ice times, I'm a shift worker, and I play in another league that always does weekdays between noon and 2, its cheaper and great.....Most people who sign up for leagues work mon-fri so its just better to have evening ice times

Northendzone · 12-24-2011, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pylon

Better question, what the hell are you even trying to say?

Smart phone is not so smart.......I was trying to say that made in Canada hockey is apparently owned by the folks that run national sports development (nsd).

FluxCapacitor · 12-26-2011, 02:43 AM

Well, I signed up. I'm a little nervous... Guess we'll see how it goes!

SeeGeeWhy · 12-26-2011, 09:45 AM

good luck man. I joined the nchl as a beginner last summer, and am still playing with my team. Actually, I responded to a request for players in a thread on Calgarypuck so I didn't go through the beginner program that you're talking about.

One thing about a team with all beginners is that you don't have anyone on the team that has any kind of experience with coaching or strategy involved in hockey. The skill level and athleticism of your team will be competitive, but teams that play pure scramble/pond hockey style get eaten alive by teams that have any sort of break out or ability to play a positional game in either end I have noticed.

Our team has benefited greatly by having a guy on it who is retired, and is a hockey canada trained ref and coach. Haha, we're lucky I guess! We're middle of the pack and now play in EII after starting out in EIII this summer. Teams seem to evolve pretty quickly, too so I'd say just go out and enjoy it.