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Stupid question about stick time

TickleMeYandle

Not so fast,
Dec 19, 2011
1,297
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Do you bring your own puck(s)? Or do they have a bucket of pucks for people to use? If you bring your own, do you mark them so you can make sure to get them back? Or do people just take home the same number they bring with them, since pucks are pretty much interchangeable?

I've never done stick time before, just my hockey 101 class. So I don't really know what to expect. Is there any other etiquette I should know about? I know to stay away from the net when not shooting, but any other important stuff?
 
frackiewicz said:
Do you bring your own puck(s)? Or do they have a bucket of pucks for people to use? If you bring your own, do you mark them so you can make sure to get them back? Or do people just take home the same number they bring with them, since pucks are pretty much interchangeable?

I've never done stick time before, just my hockey 101 class. So I don't really know what to expect. Is there any other etiquette I should know about? I know to stay away from the net when not shooting, but any other important stuff?
Click to expand...

Sometimes they provide pucks, sometimes they don't. I usually bring a couple. Sometimes I grab the same number I came with, sometimes I forget. Since they're only a buck 25 I'm usually not devastated if I forget about them.

The etiquette is really just the obvious: don't get in the way of other people shooting, don't shoot when other people are retrieving pucks from the net, and don't be a jerk (i.e. don't skate in the middle of people who are passing to each other). Other than that there's not a whole lot to it.
 
Thanks! I have a couple of pucks here at home but they are special ones (tossed to me from Adrian Aucoin and Marc-Antoine Pouliot) so they aren't going with me to the rink. I'll grab a couple of boring ones since I'll be at the skate store anyway and then not be concerned about which ones they are.
 
They should have them, if not ask rink staff. DO NOT bring any 'special' pucks from home. (read: The Sandlot)
 
Always have a couple pucks in the bag when you go to the rink. If they don't have any for whatever situation, you can't do anything but skate. And skating sucks :D

Usually common sense works well. Since you're a beginner, full equipment is a good idea. I personally skate stick and puck with volleyball knee and elbow pads and a spare helmet with no cage and my gloves. Might pick up a roller girdle too for a little extra hip protection, but usually when I'm doing stick and puck (or playing outside in the winter) I'm not pushing myself so hard I fall.
 
Seconded on wearing full gear as a beginner. I tend to wear full gear cause pick up games frequently break out and sometimes it gets a bit intense. I've taken a couple slashes on exposed shins by people taking it way seriously. Wearing the gear will allow you to not be scared to fall. Your always gonna hold back a bit if you're not wearing your full gear.

As far as etiquette goes. Basically it boils down to, don't be a dick.
 
I wear a helmet and gloves, and I've never had a problem. That said, when games DO break out on half the ice (everywhere I've been it isn't allowed, but not enforced) I don't join in. If you think you might, full gear is probably a good idea. If not, the chances of you getting hurt are slim, unless someone hits you with a wayward slapper.
 
I've been doing public sessions with full gear, I just figure if I'm going to work on my skating I may as well do it the way I'd be doing it in a game (minus the stick). It took a little bit to get used to wearing very little padding to a bunch of padding, so I'm fine with practicing the way I'd play. I'd like to be able to practice with the stick, and my rink has TONS more stick time scheduled than they do public sessions, so I guess I'll be trying it out next week!

I picked up a couple of pucks so I'm ready just in case.
 
frackiewicz said:
I've been doing public sessions with full gear, I just figure if I'm going to work on my skating I may as well do it the way I'd be doing it in a game (minus the stick). It took a little bit to get used to wearing very little padding to a bunch of padding, so I'm fine with practicing the way I'd play. I'd like to be able to practice with the stick, and my rink has TONS more stick time scheduled than they do public sessions, so I guess I'll be trying it out next week!

I picked up a couple of pucks so I'm ready just in case.
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Bring a few normal ones and check out the scene before bringing them out. Some places do and some don't and nothing like showing out without a puck. When I first started, I would only bring out one puck at a time because some people are lazy and manage to snag one. If I lost a puck out of the rink (deflecting off of the crossbar or whatever), I'd grab a new one.

As an earlier poster said, I would leave with what I came with.

I have seen some people mark their pucks with a silver sharpie which helps as other may be less inclined to leave with that puck or pucks.
 
First and foremost there are no stupid questions; everyone had to start from the beginning.

I would check with your rink to see if they provide pucks or not. I like to keep a couple of pucks in the bag; as well as a weighted puck. If they do not provide pucks, just pick up as many pucks that you brought at the end of the stick/puck session. Generally, it works on the honor system, but there may be some that take home pucks that are not theirs.

I would also check with the rink in regards to what equipment is necessary/required for stick/puck. In my area, full pads, gloves, helmet are required; no exceptions.

As far as etiquette goes; just use your common sense. If someone is getting pucks out of the net, don't take a shot on net. Keep your head up while shooting and skating; some stick/puck sessions get somewhat crowded. I like to get to the rink early enough to get dressed so that I can maximize the entire stick/puck session.

Have fun at stick and puck!
 
What i find interesting is that from what i've read on here it seems most places offer stick and puck for everyone. Here where i am, in southern Ontario stick and puck is looked on as something for kids only and scheduled as such. The only adults that go are the parents with their kids.

I went to one session, a short drive outside of my city to see, and there were some adults there, after a few weeks of going the rink manager noticed we were out there with smaller kids and separated us, so we could have our own time and ice, which is great.
 
I would say definitely bring your own pucks, which you're planning on doing anyway. I know my rink doesn't give out pucks to people (because we know we won't get them back). I know I know, my family is cheap! hahaha.

And don't stress over etiquette.. just don't be a butt-head and you'll be fine. Don't stress over which pucks you bring home because chances are nobody else cares if you interchange yours with theirs.
 
If it's all new to you, I definitely recommend wearing all the gear you have. You can expect to fall and the gear takes some getting used to. You should always have a puck or two in your bag. When I'm not using mine, I put it next to my water bottle so it doesn't get poached.

Be very careful around the nets!! Keep your eyes on the the players throwing bombs from the blue line. Better to be safe than sorry.

The neutral zone is a safe place to work on the basics. There is always a patch of ice that you can use to work on something. Most places will have some cones to work with if it's not too crowded.

Almost all places I've played eventually turn into a half ice pickup game which is great if you want to play or it opens up a lot of ice for you to practice in if you don't. I see it as working out for both sides.

But like most have said, just try to be considerate of what someone else is working on and eventually you will get a feel for how to fit in to a routine that works for you.
 
Keep a couple pucks in your bag in general. If you are playing men's league and the guy supposed to bring the puck bucket forgets then you have backups.
 
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