u/Stellartransit

Hi friends.

I'm brand new at both hockey (1 season skating out) and now goalie (literally only 2 learn to play sessions). I strained my MCL almost 2 months ago literally first time I tried on leg pads and I slipped awkwardly. I thought it was fine, so kept skating out as a player up until late July when I was starting goalie sessions in earnest and the pain was bad enough I had to skate off for fear of hurting myself further.

I saw a doctor, confirmed it was an MCL strain and started physical therapy on 7/28. The PT has helped, noted how tight my hips were and while it's been awesome with them focusing on my hip strength and mobility, I just can't help being frustrated with how I feel 90 percent fine in all movements but still am stuck at home instead of hitting the ice again.

All of my PT exercises, extra stretches, incline treadmill walks, goblet squats, etc - all feel fine, but sleeping is a nightmare (no pun intended) and every day that I start to feel better it seems the next I have that swollen sensation in my knee and a slight twinge with a random motion and I feel back at square 1.

Has anyone else gone through this? I know recovery isn't a straight line (so the PT keeps telling me) but man - it's really bumming me out.

Not asking for medical advice, I'm doing all the right things...just venting I suppose.

Appreciate y'all.

Hi y'all.

I'm one of those weirdo's who is:

1. Right handed (writing and throwing)
2. Shoots right when skating out (It was awkward as hell trying to shoot left for me)
3. Naturally likes to catch things thrown at me with my right hand

I never really played baseball growing up, which I suppose is why using a regular catcher feels weird to me. I also swing a bat righty...

All that to say, I am hitting up learn to play next week, have mostly a full set of used gear including a regular glove and blocker. No stick yet, so will be borrowing.

I'm trash all around, as I'm just starting out, so wondering should I just stick with regular, due to the already owned (albeit beat up and used) set I have, and work to improve my left hand glove? Or should I go with the "instinct" of catching right and try and find myself a good used full-right set?

Interested to see if anyone else was in a similar boat starting out.

Appreciate you all!

Hi again friends.

I posted earlier about trying on a friends pads and skating out to see how it goes. TLDR, been playing hockey for only a couple months. I'm 43, so not only a noob but on the olderside - even if I'm in decent physical shape. I'm an "okay" skater, as-in I can make my way around, stop, skate backwards and standard turns fine (strong punch turns on my right side, my left is shit). I'm working on my edges and currently playing Defense in a rookie league. I'm probably middle of the pack skating wise for my team.

I have a goal(hah) to head into my rinks next Learn to Play as goalie (in July) and if I can build my confidence, head into the next season as goalie in rookie. My current goalie on my team swears I'm a better skater than he was when he started, and is encouraging me to give it a go.

Went to a stick time with my goalie, he let me wear his gear, when I had an interaction with another goalie at the rink that surprised me. He came over unsolicited while I was trying to drop into butterfly and pads weren't rotating - at first it was fine. Asked if he could offer advice and while short and to the point, gave me good advice.

He came back a few minutes later randomly, and said "No offense to you or your friends, but none of this shit matters if you can't skate". Then skated away. He then returned a few minutes later while I was talking to my friends and said "I want to see you C Cut all the way up the blue line. Do you know what C Cuts are? If you can't self-propel all the way up, none of this matters" then skated away again.

I ended up just heading to the locker room and took the gear off.

My skating totally needs work, I'm well aware of this. I think what surprised me was that this was the first interaction in my short hockey journey that was anything but positive and welcoming. The fact that it was unsolicited, at a random stick time is doubly weird to me.

I've not given up or anything, in fact - I'm hoping this community can help me identify some training I can do while home with my inline skates (my c cuts are really weak) - but the interaction did shake my confidence a little bit. So, I suppose I'm hoping there is some balance in the world and y'all have encouraging/constructive points for me.

Thanks for reading. Hope y'all are having a good weekend :)

I'm a brand spanking new player, fresh out of learn to play and half-way through my first rookie season. Always interested in goalie.

My goalie is similar sized and super encouraging. He's meeting me at a stick time here tonight, getting me strapped up in his gear and I'm gonna go make a fool of myself trying not to fall down, feeling like I'm wearing couch cushions on my body.

I'm nervous, and no real idea why. I'm not playing a game and mostly just seeing what it's like before I decide to grab some used gear.

Anything y'all think I should do while I'm there? Any anecdotes, words of encouragement or jokes at my expense to make me less anxious? 😃

Hi y’all.

I’m a new adult rookie player, just making through my first season as a skater. I’d always had interest in goalie, and so now that I’m getting a little comfortable in the game I’m starting to look at piecing together gear but I need to kind of do it on the cheap to start.

I’ve found a pair of Bauer GSX skates, size 8 with regular width. They’re barely used and a great price but…

When pro hockey originally sized me I was in between a 7.5 and an 8

I wear a size 7.5 fit 1 in Bauer X4s for player skates currently and they feel perfect.

Is there a big difference between fit 1 and D&R (regular)? On top of the half size up?

I wouldn’t be able to try them on as they’re shipped from sideline swap.

Any insight yall have would be awesome

Hey everyone, I’m a brand new adult hockey player in Orange County, CA and just started playing in a rookie league at Great Park Ice. I’ve finished Learn to Play and I’m looking for recommendations for a good skating coach for private lessons or small group sessions.

I’m going to continue with hockey bridge classes and open skates, but I really think a coach who could point out my deficiencies and walk me through how to improve would be a big help.

Not looking for elite-level training, more someone who works well with newer adult players and can help build solid fundamentals.

I can travel to rinks throughout OC and the Long Beach area. Any recommendations appreciated!