Thread: Novice level pickup games (ice)?

Originally Posted by SuperCalo2000

Sir JW and PTDP beat me to it. keller09 is also right. Hit up a stick time. There you can practice some of your skills and even get some good tidbits.

Let's just be clear: sticktime and pickup games are not (nor should they be) the same thing. Sticktime is for working on individual skills. Pickup games are for getting team-play experience.

That said, outside of Hockey-101 class (most rinks have something like this) scrimmages, every public pickup is likely to be dominated by fairly experienced players. Those guys don't mind you being there, but they're not going to coddle you (too much) so you're not going to get your stick on the puck for long in that environment.

If you really want to play w/ like-minded novices, you're going to have to organize a private pickup yourself. John Bryan used to do this at TSC years ago, don't know if he does it anymore (his website suggests not).

The way to recruit novice players is thru (a) scouting @ sticktime, (b) scouting @ your novice league games, and (c) ask RR to send a mass email/PM to everybody on LGK soliciting novice players for a regular PU at ________ rink.

I once went to a public pickup at IceStation Valencia, and there were 2 goalies, 10 skaters, and we were all novice or bronze level. It was a PERFECT pickup game! .... but, like Haley's Comet, I have yet to see such circumstances duplicated.

Originally Posted by beingbobbyorr

I once went to a public pickup at IceStation Valencia, and there were 2 goalies, 10 skaters, and we were all novice or bronze level. It was a PERFECT pickup game! .... but, like Haley's Comet, I have yet to see such circumstances duplicated.

Let me know if you ever get a group together. Always looking for more icetime.

The only way to get better, is to play with better players. Like beingbobbyorr said, they aren't going to help you too much, which will force you to learn how to play.

Get involved with the LGK pick ups...There are plenty of people who can show you a thing or two.

so a little ot here but i just started playing in my first ice season and after 2 pre season games i am finally getting the hang of ice over roller which i played for 12 years. my biggest questions are how do you know when skates need a sharpening? i get them done and they guy always said i had lots of life left but i notice i slip more. is that normal? also, between ccm/easton and bauer skates, what do you recommend to a bigger guy [5/10, 250 lbs] i have eastons now that are too big. thanks!

20Luc,
Check the thread on hollows.
For skates go to a shop w/ lots of options and get the ones that fit.

Originally Posted by LOSTcauseZERO

The only way to get better, is to play with better players. Like beingbobbyorr said, they aren't going to help you too much, which will force you to learn how to play.

I would edit that to read "The only way to get better, is to play with slightly better players. ...."

To use TSC rec league terminology: a novice player playing with Bronze-B people will get better; a novice player playing with Silver-A people will get hopelessly frustrated.

Originally Posted by mudfisher

Get involved with the LGK pick ups...There are plenty of people who can show you a thing or two.

Do these really happen often enough? If you're not playing at least once per week (with your novice -- or slightly above -- peer group), I'm skeptical that it's really going to help much.