u/Plenty-Company-3105

Now I was never very good but I can switch hit to an extent and I love baseball and running around trying to catch things.

I played/trained with a team around 2013-2014. Random small lower division team in North England but the legendary Sam Dempster was the GB coach at the time and came to give us two training sessions. I don't think half the players realised how random that was.

Anyway reached out to the only local team and decided to go try again just for fun but see if I can improve.

It's just horrible turning up for the first time alone to these things!

I played inline/roller as a child it was pretty big. Loads of teams and accessibile. Parents couldn't really afford the jump to ice. Went college and start work/life. Always wanting to go back to hockey.

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I can skate well but not well enough to jump into a team environment. So I look at my options now I'm older and have money to enjoy hockey...

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Basics sessions. Each Sunday or Monday depends on location the local rink (one in my city which is very lucky in the UK) offers hockey Basics for over 18s. Sundays 9-10pm for £10. Sounds good.

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Until you turn up. It's 30-40 guys and girls. Most are very good and on teams and come for the additional ice time. Some are in the middle and some new. You might get to take part in 3 or 4 drills because of the number of people. Rest of the time you stand waiting.

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So I contacted the ice rink to ask about private rental. Thinking a few of us 5-10 could hold our own stick/puck session for a hour or so. It's around £150-300 but the rinks says they don't allow sticks or pucks to be taken on the ice during a private session...........

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Teams want £60-100 per month to join and train. That's completely fine but the training is always at midnight midweek. That's also fine but when you are not quite at the level to join a team it seems completely impossible to practice anymore

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Public skating is fine for just skating around but you can't practice with your stick for example.. Not even on a private hire as above

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Just a rant but when you see how lucky it is in USA/Can/East or North Europe to get on the ice, get to classes or just skating in the wild it's quite heartbreaking!

I love the setting and the theme and everything about Wildlands apart from the enemy AI instantly knows where to find you as soon as you make a noise.

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I had some drive over 300m to come find me whilst I was doing another task!

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Such a shame. Breakpoint makes it better.