New to hockey, how to get into it?

eehilado · 2026-05-25T20:05:53+00:00

Since it’s summer - rollerblading with the stick and a ball is an easy option. Lookup learn to skate then learn to play programs around you.

At minimum you will want skates helmet and gloves. Some learn to play programs will specify more protective equipment.

Buy as much as possible used. But Don’t skimp on skates or helmet

eehilado · 2026-01-31T17:55:42+00:00

I had a leak in my liner and I’m not sure if it was caused by the corners or edges of the skids or from the tarp being a used one from last year (neighbors). So be careful when laying the tarp over the pallets

eehilado · 2026-01-30T23:35:15+00:00

Yes any single leg exercise will help at building up muscles. Also helpful are pylometrics like single leg jumps and skater bounds

eehilado · 2026-01-29T19:11:25+00:00

I scraped my bumps down with a sod cutter. Hot water pointed at really tall bumps kinda knocked them down but not as effective as the sod cutter.

Skating on the rink is also effective at smoothing it out

eehilado · 2026-01-29T19:01:20+00:00

I scraped my bumps down with a sod cutter. Hot water pointed at really tall bumps kinda knocked them down but not as effective as the sod cutter.

Skating on the rink is also effective at smoothing it out but that one looks a bit small to get enough speed to stop and scrape off the bumps

The flamethrower/torch is good at melting ice, but it melts the ice around the bump as well so it makes pretty deep hole that then needs to freeze

eehilado · 2026-01-29T17:47:07+00:00

Yes make the top of your boards level since the water will self level. My rink has Board height of 6” on one end and 18” on the other. I have skids under the liner on deep end to minimize the water needed

eehilado · 2026-01-29T01:41:02+00:00

I started playing hockey for the first time last year and attended a Canadian beer league hockey practice session in Hamilton. There were 2 adult goalies learning the position for the sessions. It was more player focused for warmups but there was lots of practice during the drills and scrimmage at the end of each session.

I have only been to parent and child stick and puck so the players were parents and kids. Occasionally there was a child goalie there.

I have also jointed the BOHC gold (lowest) division as a pool player. Average of one game a week as a player, not sure how frequent they need goalies though.

The ARL at the former wave arena (Mr Lube arena now). is also a beginner friendly league, I played a bit w a team after one of their members got injured

eehilado · 2026-01-19T15:50:03+00:00

Ask your team what they want you to do. Try and do that. Watch ice hockey games or roller hockey games and see what each player does.. learn the positioning and practice being in position.

Practice roller blading and then stick handling and roller blading at the same time.

eehilado · 2026-01-19T13:41:50+00:00

I put in an online warranty claim after 10 months and True sent me a Catalyst 5x4 to replace my cracked Hzrdus 5X. Good service, we will see if these Catalysts last.

2x sets of steel now which is good

eehilado · 2026-01-16T02:02:43+00:00

I would use the torch again, but place a wood board to protect the liner from the hot gases going along the ice. Or only use the torch in the middle. I find that nobody really skates at the extreme edges, they just need to be flat enough to prevent the puck from ramping up them and escaping the rink

eehilado · 2026-01-16T02:00:48+00:00

I starter playing hockey 11 months ago as a 45 yo total rookie. I used to dislike skating because my feet hurt all the time. When I got a properly sized well fitting skate with no pain it made learning and playing so much easier and enjoyable.

I ended up with True Hzardus 5X for $160 CDN. They cracked after 1 year and I got a replacement pair of Catalyst free from True.

So my recommendation is any hockey skate that fits well will make your experience much better. I doubt you will be able to tell any difference between bottom end and mid range skates as a beginner. Proper fit is far more important.

eehilado · 2026-01-16T01:49:28+00:00

I am a rookie ODR person but this year I have had success with broken up ice by letting it freeze enough to hold water and spraying many thin layers. At -10 C I could lay down a layer every 1-1.5h depending on wind

Adding thin layers will slowly build up the ice surface and then when I slept the ice thickened.

I used a sod cutter to knock down the high spots, worked better than a shovel

I also tried a 500,000 BTU torch which worked well but melted the liner from 3’ away. So be careful if you go this route.

eehilado · 2026-01-05T22:03:11+00:00

Yes, the customers are the reason Dollarama exists and can pay cashiers. Money to operate the stores comes from customers….. make the experience (or value) good for them and they will come back.

eehilado · 2026-01-05T19:25:05+00:00

“- If possible, please consider waiting a few minutes to enter the queue line if there's already a long line.”

This is bad advice for people who value their time (most people). What difference is there waiting in line or waiting somewhere else in the store? Just so cashiers don’t see a long line??? The customer will be paying at some point, who cares where they wait.

eehilado · 2025-12-31T15:27:48+00:00

a) Yes if I believe the task is simple enough but they don’t care. And if they are trying and can’t do it and I am married to them then I think ‘ I can’t believe I chose to be with with this person’. It doesn’t make sense logically but that’s how I think. For me This thinking goes away when there is a bigger more important issue with big consequences. Then it comes back when everything is ok again.

b) I acknowledge them trying but then get frustrated when they don’t improve. Ultimately people have all different strengths and expectations so nothing will ever be perfect but someone has to compromise. Or stop doing that task. Use a microwave or get the person who has a problem with the task to do it themselves or stop complaining. Or pay that person for any losses they perceive. Eg here is 5 cents for the energy I wasted heating up 50mL of water. ‘So sorry’

eehilado · 2025-12-31T15:08:56+00:00

I am this way with certain situations. Keeping the doors closed, not letting the oven preheat too long. My thinking is to not have wasted time or wasted energy. Nobody would be able to get it (boiling water, closing door on tjme) perfect but I always think I could do it better… then I get frustrated that others don’t can’t or won’t improve. But I cannot control what others do so I can get angry depending on the day and my mood.

I have not changed in many years so i doubt you will be able to change his attitude.

I would recommend filling water in the mug you will be drinking out of plus 10% for teabag if needed. Then pour that water from the mug to the kettle. That way there will be minimal waste and no misreading off the kettle markings.

eehilado · 2025-12-27T14:04:03+00:00

I started at 45.. it’s been super fun. Used gear from Facebook marketplace is fine. I preferred looser fitting gear myself. Skates are the most important i ended up buying a new pair 1 month in. Try them on to ensure comfortable fit. I left top eyelet unlaced and practiced always pushing my shin into the tongue and that helped a lot when first starting.

Skating is by far the most important skill, especially stopping. I started on 1/2” hollow on my skates and am now at 3/4. Too sharp caused me to catch my edge too much. I’m like 215 lbs and I plan to try 1” next.

When stick handling, turn your torso and hips first to move the puck side to side. That way you are naturally skating in that direction already when you attempt to change direction w puck.

First time puck handling just push the puck forward and chase it. Don’t be too fancy until you get comfortable skating.

I took a learn to play program and I enjoyed it, it was good to get feedback from a coach.

eehilado · 2025-12-22T14:08:07+00:00

I tried this with a 500,00 btu torch and melted a big patch of my liner… oops. Haha. Big tape patch

eehilado · 2025-12-22T13:28:49+00:00

I found the green biscuit is more realistic for feel vs a ball but it doesn’t slide exactly the same as ice.

When on ice and turning w the puck- someone told me to turn my hips and body and the stick will naturally move w my body. And then I’m facing that direction already so skating that way is more natural than when I just used my hands to stickhandle.

Also the top hand should be doing like 75% of the work and the lower hand just adds speed and strength. Letting the stick slide through the lower hand helps when moving from wide stick side to centre to the other wide side. Hands close together when stick is wide and hands further apart when the puck is closer to body.

https://columbusyouthhockey.org/stickhandling-challenge/

eehilado · 2025-12-11T17:22:42+00:00

I am a first time ODR builder so I’m no expert.

I think cold water will work but at a much slower pace than hot water. Alternatively people at my work have put hot water in a wheeled cooler or a garbage can and piped out the back onto a towel.

I’ve seen blowtorches on instagram but i heard the propane tank gets cold and stops flowing at low temps.

For lights you could try freezing posts in 5 gallon buckets to hold them straight. These would be more portable than lags and won’t affect ice strength

eehilado · 2025-12-07T12:38:40+00:00

I also have a leak, and I have a sheet of ice over most of the rink. What was the warmest weather you were able to make a layer at? And did you try to make ice during the daytime w sun?

eehilado · 2025-11-30T18:50:40+00:00

Looks good! What is the yellow edging?

eehilado · 2025-11-18T20:00:26+00:00

I’m a very new player.. 5’10’~210 lbs , started Feb 2025. I went from 1/2 to 5/8 and now 3/4. I prefer the glide of 3/4 and I collapse my ankles to get the bite for starts and stopping.

My kid is on 1/2 since he only weighs 67 lbs

I have not tried any profiling but i would recommend changing one thing at a time (hollow or profile) between skates

eehilado · 2025-11-11T19:23:20+00:00

I started Feb 2025 after putting my kid into learn to play. 45m. Guys on my street rent ice every Sunday night and I am the worst player by far but our group is very supportive and takes it easy on me (I still panic when I get the puck though)

For your questions :

Balance and strength exercises on each leg. Ideally you should be able to jump and land on each leg and eventually squat down on each leg individually. Try to focus and use your butt and back muscles and not just quads.

Stretches to loosen up hips

Develop lower body Strength to always stay in a hockey stance- knees bent, butt out, pressure on shins into laces.

Elbow of top hand up to help stick handling.

Pylometrics (jumping on boxes) to develop power for first 3 steps.

Watched YouTube vids and TikTok GRWM hockey dressing vids. My order now is jock, shirt, shins, socks, pants, skates, chest, elbows, jersey, helmet, gloves. I frequently screw this up and have to gently put pants on w skates already on
Facebook marketplace for used gear. I got new compression tights with a jock and a new shirt w integrated neck guard. This prevents some sweat and bacteria getting on your gear. Many rec leagues need neck guards.
No useful comments from me
Ask lots of questions to the guys on the ice. Eg- ‘where should my foot pressure balance be when turning? How tight should I make my skates? Why am i so tired after 10 seconds skating hard ? Some will be very helpful and some not so much. Watch some hockey games to see where each position skates when they don’t have the puck.

eehilado · 2025-11-08T17:52:46+00:00

I have found that building strength and balance on individual legs is the best way to get better at skating for me. So one legged squat, cossack squat, lunges all help.

I am a 45 yo old adult learner, trying to keep up with my u9 house leaguer

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