Ice hockey

[repiV]

Anyone here ever played ice hockey?

I went ice skating lastnight, and although I sucked at it and fell over twice (man that hurt), I enjoyed it and it also made me realise how awesome ice hockey must be. Graceful AND highly aggressive at the same time. I'd like to learn how to play. No doubt it takes a long time to even master the skating aspect well enough to be able to play AND skate at the same time, but it looks worth it.

Any experiences to share?

 

[Reginald]

I can't ice skate to save my life. Last time I went, I tried to leave the side, got to the middle of the arena, fell over and couldn't get up. Then some imbecile tripped over me and I was limping for the rest of the week. Grr.

Most frustrating of all sports.

 

[repiV]

Didn't the rink have rules about only skating in a particular direction?
It was definitely frustrating, but I saw how some of the people were gliding around effortlessly at over 20mph and I thought, when you reach that level of proficiency, it must be so much fun. Then combine it with hockey and bam.
This guy gave me some good advice - bend your knees and keep your shoulders in line with your knees. I actually managed to glide around and do a lap of the rink without nearly falling over too many times after that.

 

[Raziaar]

I miss ice skating. I used to skate on the ice in alaska with hockey skates. It was so much fun! That's a part of my childhood I miss. I hope to some day move to a state or place that I can get reacquainted with snow/ice. Texas just sucks for it.

 

[CptStern]

bah you brits cant play hockey ..that's what canadians are fer

/me pulls shirt over head of first person he sees, throws off gloves and sends a flurry of punches to the side of the head

 

[StardogChampion]

I used to ice skare for a year or so. I bought a pair of those cool looking hockey skates. I liked stopping on 1 foot, very cool.

 

[repiV]

I don't think I've ever met anyone that plays ice hockey. Not knowingly, at least.
But no doubt the Brits who DO play are better than Canadians.

 

[Reginald]

Didn't the rink have rules about only skating in a particular direction?

Well, yeah. But I thought "Why not cut the corner to get out of peoples' way?"

Anyway, this thread made me ask my girlfriend about ice skating and whether she could do it. And she said yes and now we're going and she's going to try and teach me. Eeeek.

 

[repiV]

I used to ice skare for a year or so. I bought a pair of those cool looking hockey skates. I liked stopping on 1 foot, very cool.

The skating rinks are extortionate here. It was £12.50 for an hour at Canary Wharf...cool if you can afford it I guess.

 

[CptStern]

I don't think I've ever met anyone that plays ice hockey. Not knowingly, at least.
But no doubt the Brits who DO play are better than Canadians.

doubtful ..

brit: "oh this is exhausting, lets stop for a spot of tea"

canadian: /cross checks brit, scores goal ..fans throw squids at brits

 

[CyberPitz]

I can't even rollerskate, so ice skating seems like suicide..looks really fun though.

 

[repiV]

Well, yeah. But I thought "Why not cut the corner to get out of peoples' way?"

Ahh, fair enough.

Anyway, this thread made me ask my girlfriend about ice skating and whether she could do it. And she said yes and now we're going and she's going to try and teach me. Eeeek.

Sounds like fun. Actually I took my new date there yesterday because of the romantic potential. Now I can't stand her, but that's a different story. Just beware of holding her hand but not keeping up and making her fall over with you.
Still, in my opinion it was still a success because I discovered a thirst for ice hockey.

 

[repiV]

doubtful ..

brit: "oh this is exhausting, lets stop for a spot of tea"

canadian: /cross checks brit, scores goal ..fans throw squids at brits

Oh I do say old chap, that was rather unsporting of you.

 

[Reginald]

Sounds like fun. Actually I took my new date there yesterday because of the romantic potential. Now I can't stand her, but that's a different story. Just beware of holding her hand but not keeping up and making her fall over with you.
Still, in my opinion it was still a success because I discovered a thirst for ice hockey.

Is ice skating going to make me hate my girlfriend then? We're going to make a day of it round London, with Christmas shopping, ice skating and stuff. Amazing how quickly plans come together.

 

[CptStern]

/me does circles around HL2.net members who cant skate, me does a T-stop shooting snow into faces






btw the best way to learn is by falling down as much as possible ..no seriously ..you develop your ankle strength that way ...also learn how to stop immediately ..t-stop is fairly easy but I'd try a v-stop first ...kinda like stopping in skiing

 

[repiV]

Is ice skating going to make me hate my girlfriend then?

Oh no. It had nothing to do with the ice skating, it was her unbelievably rude behaviour. But even considering that I never want to speak to her again after lastnight, I still had a good time. Which is as good a testament as any I think.
I think you'll have a brilliant time, and have ample opportunity to get closer.

We're going to make a day of it round London, with Christmas shopping, ice skating and stuff. Amazing how quickly plans come together.

Go to the Canary Wharf rink - there's nothing quite like ice skating under a futuristic cityscape. It was a breathtaking environment.

 

[repiV]

/me does circles around HL2.net members who cant skate, me does a T-stop shooting snow into faces






btw the best way to learn is by falling down as much as possible ..no seriously ..you develop your ankle strength that way ...also learn how to stop immediately ..t-stop is fairly easy but I'd try a v-stop first ...kinda like stopping in skiing

I don't think I ever gained enough speed to warrant any kind of stop other than "wait until you've glided to a halt" or "grab onto the barrier".
It's strange to learn a completely new and inherently unstable method of moving about.

 

[CptStern]

you gotta learn how to stop, you can injure yourself other wise

when gliding to a stop point your toes inwards, it'll slow you down

 

[Reginald]

Oh no. It had nothing to do with the ice skating, it was her unbelievably rude behaviour. But even considering that I never want to speak to her again after lastnight, I still had a good time. Which is as good a testament as any I think.
I think you'll have a brilliant time, and have ample opportunity to get closer.
Go to the Canary Wharf rink - there's nothing quite like ice skating under a futuristic cityscape. It was a breathtaking environment.

Gotta love rude girls. :hmph:
And we're going to the Somerset House rink. Cheaper, easier to get to and equally nice.

 

[repiV]

you gotta learn how to stop, you can injure yourself other wise

when gliding to a stop point your toes inwards, it'll slow you down

I bet I'd fall over if I tried that.
Still, as you said...all part of the learning process. I'd like lessons really. It took me a year and a half of coaching to unlearn all the bad habits I picked up through learning to play badminton without guidance.

Gotta love rude girls. :hmph:
And we're going to the Somerset House rink. Cheaper, easier to get to and equally nice.

We were gonna go there - it's five minutes walk from where we work. But they were all booked up. Come say hi on your way through if you want.

 

[Reginald]

They were booked up? Eek. Maybe we should book.

 

[repiV]

Probably a good idea.

 

[Dan]

To stop you just quickly twist your ankles sidewase so that your skates are perpendicular to where you are going and put your weight into your feet so you don't fall over. If you do it right you can spray the person infront of you with ice bits.

 

[63]

*joins Stern.

Canada, ftw!

 

[Baal]

I can skate pretty well. I played hockey for 13 years, and refereed for three.

I'm not refereeing this year though, but hopefully I'll get back into it next year.

 

[repiV]

I can skate pretty well. I played hockey for 13 years, and refereed for three.

I'm not refereeing this year though, but hopefully I'll get back into it next year.

How did you get started?
I can't find any way to...no doubt it's much easier in Canada. As far as I can see, there are two "teams" in London and that's what they have instead of clubs. And you can pay between £5 and £15 and play for a night, depending on the event. I haven't seen anything about coaching or anything...do I have to take ice skating lessons first?
Worst of all, they run at stupid hours. Like between 9:30 and 11:30 on a Wednesday night...an hour's commute away from home.

 

[The Monkey]

I hate ice skating.