[StinkyD]

So I just signed up here and I want to join in on a level 1 game. I've never played organized hockey so the only quipment I own would be skates and a stick.
My question being what equipment should I pick up/bring to a game? Ultimately my goal is to be in the AHA sometime in the next couple years if not the end of this year.

I'm assuming if I go into Strauss or total hockey they would help me get fitted and setup?

Thanks for the help.


Oh btw I looked all over the site and the only thing I could find about equipment was having to wear breezers.

[duffman]

I looked at the faq too for an easy link. Here's what you need:

Skates
Shin Pads
Cup + Supporter. Get the ones that have velcro for hockey socks
Breezers
Shoulder pads
Elbow pads
Gloves
Helmet - I believe AHA requires black helmets
Hockey socks
Black jersey - practice jerseys are the cheapest at play-it-again
White jersey

I'd recommend you start with play-it-again as far as gear. If you're brand new, you're not really going to notice the difference in quality and can start upgrading after you spend some time on skates.

[Austin]

http://www.jmshockey...terms-and-rules

[shoglund]

Brent is right, AHA (at least lower levels) requires black helmets.
They also require black breezers.
You'll save yourself some $$ if you get black right away.

[Austin]

The AHA "requiring" black gear is news to me. They require gear that matches the rest of your team / colors, so the vast majority of teams have black helmets / breezers. The odds are you will save money, but I don't think it's required.

[StinkyD]

Thanks for the replies. Damn I missed the rules area I guess.
I'm not new to skating and I've played pickup games at a local outdoor rink. Also I'll get out a few times a week and just skate and shoot a puck around. NBD

[Austin]

Then you probably don't belong at Level 1. Level 1 is for beginners, some people putting the stuff on for the first time. If you can skate reasonably, turn, stop, shoot, etc., you're probably not Level 1.

[StinkyD]

Is did the evaluation and it said how many years have you played hockey. I said 0 since I haven't officially played so it put me at level 1.

Can I show up to a level 1 and see how I fair?

[Wild4life]

If you go to a lvl 1 game and they see you're better than anybody else on the ice, they will bump you up to lvl 2. Or you can always go back on your levels and request to be bumped and a captain will evaluate you at your next game.

EDIT: When you look at the lvl description it says if you played pond hockey you are most likely NOT lvl 1...

[bgarn]

StinkyD, on 20 January 2012 - 03:44 PM, said:

Is did the evaluation and it said how many years have you played hockey. I said 0 since I haven't officially played so it put me at level 1.

Can I show up to a level 1 and see how I fair?

"Official hockey" and "pond hockey" are practically interchangeable when compared to the very different "no hockey at all, ever" (which is where the true newbs belong). We do include an option on the survey to list pond hockey as one category of your experience.

A lot of people answer the survey as you do--they think "all hockey experience" = "organized hockey experience." But, there is a big difference in experience between never ever playing hockey--or even being on skates before--and growing up playing at the outdoor rink down the block. Those two people do not belong on the ice together.

I have found that the best rule of thumb is experience = time in skates on ice.

Please e-mail support at JMS hockey dot com and we'll get you sorted out. Thanks.

[Tapeleg]

Don't forget to get a cage for that helmet. I know it's a personal choice, but in lower level games, sticks tend to accidentally come up high. Save your teeth and eyes.

[bozak911]

shoglund, on 20 January 2012 - 10:57 AM, said:

Brent is right, AHA (at least lower levels) requires black helmets.
They also require black breezers.
You'll save yourself some $$ if you get black right away.

I have a question about that...

I know that black helmets are "recommended" by the AHA, maybe even required. When I was getting my gear last spring, I couldn't get a black helmet that fit my melon. Even the M11 Larges wouldn't fit and those are the most adjustable larges.

I ended up with a white Easton S9 XL being the only helmet anywhere, in stock, that would fit. Even that helmet is adjusted out...

So yeah, I have a big head.

When I get ready for getting into the AHA, and I can't find a black helmet that fits... Will they take that into account?

[bozak911]

bgarn, on 20 January 2012 - 04:34 PM, said:

"Official hockey" and "pond hockey" are practically interchangeable when compared to the very different "no hockey at all, ever" (which is where the true newbs belong). We do include an option on the survey to list pond hockey as one category of your experience.

A lot of people answer the survey as you do--they think "all hockey experience" = "organized hockey experience." But, there is a big difference in experience between never ever playing hockey--or even being on skates before--and growing up playing at the outdoor rink down the block. Those two people do not belong on the ice together.

I have found that the best rule of thumb is experience = time in skates on ice.

Please e-mail support at JMS hockey dot com and we'll get you sorted out. Thanks.

I've been trying to recruit a few people for JMS lately and I'd like to insert my two cents in response to Barb's post here...

What she has in bold is very important to consider when filling out the evaluation form.

Last February, I had never been on skates in my life. It showed. I'm in Level 1. I still cannot do a hockey stop (working on it), but through taking skating classes, I can do crossovers well, put on speed quite sufficiently, and I have started mastering the art of forwards to backwards conversions. I am even able to start doing backwards crossovers.

The best stop I can do is a one foot stop, otherwise, I have the t-stop down.

When I am on the ice for a JMS Level 1 game, I don't have the confidence to get up to top speed because I consider it reckless. It is reckless because I cannot comfortably stop if someone gets in my way. Therefore, I won't chase someone down, passed the blue line because if they pull up, I'll bowl them over and cause a potential issue.

Thing is... I know the game. I can pass relatively well, I can stick handle decently, I see the empty spots where someone is going to be, and I don't lose the ability to make decent decisions when gassed. I cannot time shots as I rush and often whiff. I often don't even think about where I need to put the puck. Sure, I could be more accurate sometimes, but if I see it coming around the boards at me and there is a team member on the other side, I'll whack it around to them. Problem is, no one in Level 1 expects that...

Simply put; I am Level 1 and I know that I will be for a long time, because of my skating.

Now, let's contrast all of that with my neighbor, whom I am trying to recruit to come out and enjoy a few games of JMS.

He has never played any organized hockey and he has a 7 year old son who was bumped up to Mites 2. When we first talked about his abilities in the summer, he led me to believe that level 1 would be perfect for him. It would give him the opportunity to get into the game, learn some basics, and get into it. His estimation of his skating was "just barely enough to keep up with" his son.

This winter, he cleared off some of the ice behind our houses. I've helped with maintenance and repair, getting the surface smooth and not dangerous to skate on. I watched him out there the first time they cleared it and then I went out to join him.

He can skate. He can skate very well. Forward to backward conversions without even thinking about it. Backwards crossovers that are slick. Able to skate at speed backwards and forwards about equally. He can handle the puck, but he has to think about it.

Simply put; He is *not* level 1. Yet, he has never "played" hockey as part of a team.

I've hung out and watched some of the Level 2 JMS games and I've watched a bit of a handful of Level 3. If I were weighing my neighbor's skill level from a JMS perspective, I'd put his skating on par with anyone in Level 3, but his ability to play the game on par with anyone in Level 2. Give him four or five games at level 2, and he'd be bumped up to Level 3.

So to reiterate Barb's point... If you can skate and you come into Level 1 with confidence in skating, you'll make us true noobs look horrible.

[Austin]

bozak911, on 30 January 2012 - 10:27 AM, said:

I have a question about that...

I know that black helmets are "recommended" by the AHA, maybe even required. When I was getting my gear last spring, I couldn't get a black helmet that fit my melon. Even the M11 Larges wouldn't fit and those are the most adjustable larges.

I ended up with a white Easton S9 XL being the only helmet anywhere, in stock, that would fit. Even that helmet is adjusted out...

So yeah, I have a big head.

When I get ready for getting into the AHA, and I can't find a black helmet that fits... Will they take that into account?

No. I tried playing this card myself (in a hypothetical case). Black isn't required, it's just that the vast majority of teams wear black breezers and helmets. I wear a Bauer HH4000 L. The XL is / was insanely large (I don't think this line is made anymore). Bauer and Eastons were the only two that ever fit. CCM isn't even close. Reebok might have something for you, thinking about it.

[ThrasherThetic]

Krylon is your friend.

[mheutmaker]

Funny, I was going to mention the Krylon idea too. A couple guys on my team painted their helmets this season and they are holding up great. Prep the surface well before painting and it should work. Of course helmet manufacturers will tell you not to do this, mostly because they'd rather sell you a new helmet.

[ThrasherThetic]

Just remember to put masking tape over those certification stickers before you paint. Leagues can get antsy about that kind of thing.

[mlobitz]

Austin, on 30 January 2012 - 12:47 PM, said:

No. I tried playing this card myself (in a hypothetical case). Black isn't required, it's just that the vast majority of teams wear black breezers and helmets. I wear a Bauer HH4000 L. The XL is / was insanely large (I don't think this line is made anymore). Bauer and Eastons were the only two that ever fit. CCM isn't even close. Reebok might have something for you, thinking about it.

I have a pretty big head... In fact, my friends call me fathead. Consider that on top of the fact that I'm about 6'3" and 240lbs and it gives you an idea about the size of my head. I wera a Rbk 6k large and it adjusts to fit nicely.

[Go4HockeyFan]

I'm new to JMS Hockey and appreciate all the info I'm finding in the blogs. I'm starting at Level 1 and look forward to meeting all of you on the ice. I've got some experience on skates but never played organized hockey. Very excited to get started!!