How old is too old to learn to play hockey....

[KeziaTML]

I have news for you .... 22 years old isn't too old to do anything new. The post actually made me laugh because I am over 40. I was expecting someone around my age or older asking this question about too old to learn to play hockey.

Now be quiet and go learn and have fun at it.

High school is out of the question, at that age.

 

[Kale Makar]

And I thought 14 was old to start playing.... Maybe it's because all of my friends started playing when they were 6 or 7...

 

[jnk96]

I just post this again, don't want it to get lost at the last page, 'cause nobody answered yet.

1 - Depends on where you are. If you're in a rural area, often you just skate on frozen lakes and ponds. There aren't nearly as many outdoor rinks as there used to be, due to legal liability if someone slips and cracks their skull. Just another negative effect of our increasingly litigious, PC society. When I was a kid, every park and schoolyard had outdoor rinks.
2 - The majority of high schools have a boy's hockey team and many have girl's teams, (Provided the student body is large enough). Ice time is expensive so most high school teams rarely practice.
3 - There are thousands of minor hockey league teams in Canada. Research the GTHL if you want an idea of minor hockey in Canada. Your best bet is the local House League. At 17, I believe you would be in the Midget age group. House Leagues are open to anyone that wants to play, regardless of skill level and the costs are affordable. The most competetive levels of minor hockey in Canada can cost upwards of $10,000 per year.

Thank you guys!
1. I don't know where I'll stay yet, because the organization I travel with has to find a host family first. This could be everywhere in Canada but they told me that most students are placed in BC, Alberta, Ontario and Yukon (which I don't hope although they might have endless frozen lakes in about 10 months of the year).
3. How much do you think would I have to pay at least (regardless of equipment)? That whole exchange thing is really expensive (like $20.000) and my parents don't have thousands of dollars left to pay for hockey. Neither do I...

What way to start would you recommend if I had any possibility? School, a local minor league, ...?

 

[AussieFlyersFan]

I get upset at this because you waste time asking people if its too late for you when you could just use the time to browse the net for local open ice hockey games or clinics. In New York, theres plenty all year round all over the place.

I wouldn't get too upset, the OP posted the question 4 years ago. I would assume they never stuck with it.

 

[boo10]

I just post this again, don't want it to get lost at the last page, 'cause nobody answered yet.


3. How much do you think would I have to pay at least (regardless of equipment)? That whole exchange thing is really expensive (like $20.000) and my parents don't have thousands of dollars left to pay for hockey. Neither do I...

What way to start would you recommend if I had any possibility? School, a local minor league, ...?

Using the Toronto area as an example, registration fees for a house league will probably be in the $500-600 range for the season. There may be some additional fees for practices, but should be under $1000 total for the season. Typically includes one game and one practice each week. Fees could be much higher or lower depending on the region you end up in. I believe that BC will likely be the highest, but not positive about that.

Here's some info on a league I chose at random, just to give you a sense of what's available. http://www.downsviewhockeyclub.com/

 

[IHaveNoCreativity]

It's never too late.

 

[jnk96]

1 - Depends on where you are. If you're in a rural area, often you just skate on frozen lakes and ponds.

I got a message today that I'll most likely live in Prince George, BC. Any information on outdoor rinks, minor league teams or suggestions where to start?

 

[dwanmaster*]

My good buddy took it up at 15 when he saw that our high school team sucked and that anyone could play. He didn't play freshman year but he played outdoors almost every day and gradually he learned to skate. 3 years later of skating outside just about every day it was possible and he is still very raw as he never got "proper" training, but he can stickhandle, shoot and skate pretty decently and he was 4th on our team in scoring last year. I guess you could say he started a trend too because we had 3 more kids this year come out for the team who had just started skating the year before which is very good for a program that just needs as many players as it can get.

 

[Jive Time]

I gotta ask, how did you become a Kelowna Rockets fan!

Regarding equipment, most rinks carry loads of old gear you can probably borrow once you tell them your story. Especially if you are planning on participating in any of their programs.

Hopefully you will get hooked up with someone who knows the PG area who can hook you up. Good luck.

 

[jnk96]

I gotta ask, how did you become a Kelowna Rockets fan!

Regarding equipment, most rinks carry loads of old gear you can probably borrow once you tell them your story. Especially if you are planning on participating in any of their programs.

Hopefully you will get hooked up with someone who knows the PG area who can hook you up. Good luck.

Well, a friend made an exchange year when I started following the Canadian junior leagues. She stayed at Kelowna and talked a LOT about the rockets. I just started watching some of their games and somehow started liking them. And since I only knew the top prospects of the other teams back then, they were the first team I really knew.

What you say about equipment, that's exactly what I hoped for! And I just hope that this whole hockey in Canada thing will work out for me!

 

[Oh_so_saad]

about 62

 

[TatarTangle]

Hockey and Golf are two games you are never too old to learn. Both are very, very rewarding.

 

[CanucksSayEh]

I picked up skating when I was 20, 22 now and I own all my buddies that started in peewee. Much bragging rights to be had, gitRdun!

 

[Green Blob*]

around 21 I'd think.

 

[boo10]

I got a message today that I'll most likely live in Prince George, BC. Any information on outdoor rinks, minor league teams or suggestions where to start?

Why don't you contact the Prince George Minor Hockey Association and tell them your story. I'm sure they could provide all the info you need. You never know, they might even do something special for you since you're an exchange student looking to learn "The Canadian Game".

http://www.pgmha.com/default.aspx?p=contact

 

[Toonces]

Never.

22? You're still a kid, go play.

 

[scryan]

Im 28, roller bladed as a kid and ice skated a couple of times...

Decided I wanted to play goalie, so I went on craigslist (local online classifieds) and bought everything.
While I was piecing everything together I went to public skate sessions 7-8 times to get to the point where I could pretend to ice skate.

Got everything, and went to stick time (open practice, free skate with pads pucks and nets) and jumped in front of a net. Honestly, first time out I could barely stop in my crease without the net but people love having any goalie to shoot on.

I guess it depends on where you are. So far one stick time I went to was BIG, too many people on ice and would suck to be a first timer. The other hand full have been like 5 guys at an ice rink. Definitely have had guys there who were falling down regular skating, but with the pads you can be confident in pushing your skating abilities a little harder...

I'd say buy stuff play hockey...That easy. Start off with stick times, there should be something like that around... I live in california, and there are tons of people at the lower levels in the same place as you. Don't go to semi pro try outs, do go to random open to all levels stuff and just go for it... Outside of league play I don't think the expectations are very high... Competitive nature takes over at times, but do realize in adult hockey pretty much no one is thinking about going pro (except me, cause Fasth did it at 30 and I still got a year to practice...) so its just guys who love the sport enough to get out there and play it for the love of it. As long as your finding stuff aimed at your level most are just going to be happy more people are into it.

 

[jnk96]

Why don't you contact the Prince George Minor Hockey Association and tell them your story. I'm sure they could provide all the info you need. You never know, they might even do something special for you since you're an exchange student looking to learn "The Canadian Game".

http://www.pgmha.com/default.aspx?p=contact

Thanks for posting that link! It's not completely safe yet so I might end up in any other region. But when I know it, I'll contact them. Thank you!