Lads idk wtf to do here please help me. For context Im not good at hockey, ive barely played. However I just started uni and made one of the lower teams and would love to play as I’m a huge hockey fan.

Laced up my skates from when I was like 14 and the toe box is incredibly small (like half the width of my actual toes), so I accepted I’m gonna need some new skates.

Went to two stores today, got my foot scanned in one of them. I tried on f40s in a fit 3, tried size 8.5 tiny bit too small in length for my liking and a size 9 which the length felt pretty spot on in. However both pairs were just too damn narrow in the toes, so I went to store 2 and tried on some other brands. Both guys immediately went CCM, so I tried them and again just too narrow in the toes.

The guys had no idea what to suggest and said the only real options are to pop over to Canada and look for some old outdated stock (Canadian dual Nat so I visit fairly often) or to get customs.

I don’t really wanna fork out £1000+ when I’m only gonna be playing in a uni league. I mean if that’s the only option I’ll have to get saving but obviously money isn’t incredibly tight.

Also as you can see from the scan my foot is pretty standard apart from the toe box, I feel if I go up a size to get a wider toe the skates will defo be too wide in the heel/midfoot.

Getting back into hockey has been the absolute best thing for my mental health. The physical activity mixed with goal setting and seeing my progress has done wonders.

I assume most of you have had similar experiences. I guess this is just a hockey appreciation post. I am grateful for the game.

Keep your heads up, stick on the ice. Let's do that hockey.

Here is an outline of my foot. I wear an 11.5 Fit 3 Vapor 3x Pro. Which ironically from what you said in your post I had to order from Canada with a 3rd party shipping company.

Little sis wanted her stick like big bros for learn to play, of course I obliged. Figured I’d show how his stick has held up compared to a fresh wrap. I did redo it once about a month after the original post because he wanted a different color under the wrap, but he won’t let me replace the grungy looking one with a new lace because “that one has all [his] wins in it”

It’s embarrassing, but here’s a clip from my first game. I’m in the white helmet with black jersey playing LW. If I didn’t feel like Bambi before I definitely did after watching this. I will say, though, it felt damn good to get out there and give it a shot!

Cage saved me tonight!
Cut gums and a loose tooth but no stitches!

I’m sure this is a common thing but my True Customs are coming undone where the quarter panel is unglued from the boot. What’s the fix for those who’ve had Trues?

Thanks for playing hockey

Looking for 1 defencemen to join our men's league team. Monday nights at Chesswood Arena. We play in the top division (A division) Level is equivalent to AA. Good group of guys, 25-30 age range. Season runs until April.

Cost: Around $500

hi all,

i picked up my first pair of skates on sunday - bauer xlp 2.0s. i’ve been getting a feel for them and wearing them (with walkable soakers). i noticed my left foot/ankle leans outward when i do anything but stand still. which from my research is supination. i understand i’m going to be a bender and have weak ankles since i’m new to this. i’ve tried different lacing techniques and tightening my waxed laces but no dice.

while i was getting fitted, the guy at the store also had me try supreme m40s which was an improvement specially on the left foot.

i’m looking for any tips/suggestions on this. i haven’t skated in them yet as well but i assume i’m going to have problems on the ice.

photos let me know if i need to take more or better ones.

Hey,

All of my gear is currently navy blue. Now I'd like to buy a Bauer Re-Akt 3D helmet in navy blue, but I'm a little worried that the different shades of navy blue might vary. Is that the case?

Worst nightmare came true, I broke my stick after 2 days of the warranty ending, was wondering if anyone knows if there’s any chance CCM replaces it or if it’s a loss cause 🥲

Has anyone seen a release date for the upcoming Bauer ADV One stick? I heard maybe some time in November. Thanks for any info!

Hi there, I'm just writing to vent. My son's team really seems to have a crazy internal competition to it this season.

A few kids made it to the call-up stage, and now it seems like some coaches and parents are a little bothered by this.

I also found out that ALOT of the players in our league are taking private lessons (thousands a year) to help improve, and the kids who made the call-up stage are not taking lessons.

Just feels like the whole thing is parents trying to get their kids to the show, I just want my kid to have fun. I'm a little nervous about how things will go this year.

quick disclaimer this isn’t like some rags to riches sob story I just need advice

Hello, i’m a 16m In Richmond California, I first started hockey when I was 5 then had to quit because money was tight, tried again and stopped when I was 9 for the same reasons, and independently picked it back up when I was 15 now that i’m much more financially independent in a sense.

The problem is that i’m broke compared to all these wealthy kids and other players, and don’t have the ability to buy time like everyone else. At oakland ice yes, the community is there and the support in terms of gear has been so helpful, but it’s extremely hard to be able to play this beautiful sport when week after week goes by and there’s never a stick and puck scheduled or it’s only public skates for the time being. Right now I need help on figuring out how I can develop as a player in the meantime, so when holiday season goes past and I get my licenses I can hit the ice skating better and not looking so rusty. Maybe inline if it translates, or some at home routines you might have? If anyone, especially in the bay area, has any advice it would be lovely. I’m not going to be priced out the fun here any longer

Hey everyone. My buddies and I are interested in attending and playing in a hockey / pond hockey tournament in 2027. We live in a rural Virginia town and are all pretty bad so the only real requirement would be a true d league. We don’t mind losing but getting mercied in the first period sucks.

Open to any suggestions. The more hockey we get to play the better. Any events you all suggest we look in to?

Hello fellow beer leaguers,

I started playing ice hockey as an adult a little while ago and am looking to level up my skills. I feel like just continuing to play more games doesn't improve my puckhandling, wrist shot, and speed. I've been looking at 3 weekslong camps - 1 in Minnesota and 2 in Czechia:

Heartland in MN - https://www.heartlandhockey.com/

Czech International Ice Hockey Camp in CZ - https://www.hockeycamp.cz/

Elgraff in CZ - https://elgraff.cz/

If you've attended one of these camps, I would love to hear your thoughts on the quality of coaching - do you feel like you leave a better player? Do you get a lot of ice time to practice? And the accommodation as well as off-ice recreation - What do you do when you're not practicing?

If there are other residential options, I would love to hear some suggestions too!

Hi all! I am an adult beginner. I just started to skate about 2.5 months ago. It seems the only way to get consistent ice time now to improve is to be on a team. I have made a D league roster.

What are some tips and tricks you would give a beginner in terms of game play?

Appreciate it in advance.

Wanted to start playing again, grabbed my sticks that have been sitting in the corner for 4 years and took off the tape only to find this. Only joking, I know I can get this off somehow. Although… maybe just treat myself

I have a pair of CCM Jetspeed FT6 pro skates that I have been using for just under 3 years and average about 3 skates a week. Just noticed both toe caps are slightly loose and the foam on my left heal is basically gone. They still skate like i would expect.

I would consider myself an average skater for Minnesota. I am 5'10 and weigh around 200 lbs. I expected them to last way longer, at least 5 years. I take good care of them always take out of bag and dry them with a fan.

If i want to practice my shooting off-ice, should i get a shorter stick to simulate that same height-to-stick ratio experience on-ice? or should i just use the same stick i already use on-ice?

Does anybody skate at West Side in Manchester for their stick and puck sessions?

I’m in the area the rest of this week and plan on hitting the ice a few times while I’m in town. Looking for other recs if any other rinks have open ice!

I'm playing in a beer league. I've been using a Bauer BHH5100 for a long time and am reluctant to change. However it's getting old and the pads inside the helmet are starting to crack and unglued. I tried a CCM Super Tacks X but didn't like the padding inside. It hurt my head. I think I prefer Bauer helmets better.

Anyone have suggestions for a helmet comparable to the Bauer BHH5100?

Thanks

Basically, what it says above. I've been on figure skates for about a year, and I want to start working towards playing hockey. I bought a used pair of hockey skates, and I think they fit pretty well. The first couple times that I've used them though, my feet have been rolling out, so I'm basically skating on my inside edges the whole time. I'm planning to get them baked, which will hopefully help.

Any other advice? Or do I just need to skate until my ankles get stronger?

Admittedly, I am a fairly new bear leaguer. With that said, I’ve been getting the chance to skate more often and I just heard about profiling. First - is it like a 1% improvement thing where only elite skaters will notice it/capitalize on the “advantage?”

Also I’ve had my current skates (vapor 3x) for close to three years now. I’ve sharpened them every 6-10 skates and the blades have held up well but they’re definitely shorter. I was thinking of buying new steel and wanted to know if you had any recommendations? I’ve heard some bad things about Bauer’s steel but wanted to know more.

If I would buy the new steel, I would just hold off to do the profiling on that, and keep my current ones as backups.

Thoughts? Any experience with different profiles is helpful

Thank you!