I want to play hockey. Is it too late?

Question

I am 15 years old, and I live in Northeastern Ohio, just outside of Mentor and Cleveland, places that I know have hockey teams with kids about my age. I never played ice hockey, and I want to. Unfortunately there aren't any leagues for kids my age, other than competitive and high-school leagues. My school doesn't have a team, and I know I won't be good enough to play at a competitive level, probably even at the lowest level.

Other than spending thousands on private coaches to learn the sport, is there any way I could get into it? I can skate fairly well, backwards pretty fast (I don't know how to do the sideways stop yet :[ ), and I have a stick and can control balls and inline hockey pucks alright, as well as shoot with speed and fair accuracy. Still, I know I'm not up to the level of other kids who've been playing for years. All I've wanted to do for about a year is play hockey.

If you live in the area and can help, please do, and if you don't live around here please try to :]

Answer 1

IT is not too late at all. Just you may want to start off slow with a learn to skate class now to work on your skating. Then  move on to a beginner team . House league. I am very sure there are some near you. when you take the skating lessons your coach will be able to evaluate you and put you where he or she thinks is best for you. Go to http://www.usahockey.com/ and go to the find hockey tab. Then click on your region. It will give you all the contact number you need and you will be set. Good luck with that. .EDIT ask the rink. I am sure they can fit you in somewhere. Most are very accommodating about new players and people that want to learn. Just ask.

Answer 2

call your local rink and ask about their "inhouse" program most rinks have these and they are leagues for kids that want to begin playing hockey

Answer 3

i am good at street hockey and can skate pretty good. but ice hockey is actually really hard. i ***** even lift the puck for the longest time. hockey is so fun tho and is the hardest sport i think. maybe you can just play with a bunch of people from ur school.

Answer 4

You're not too far from Buffalo or Fort Erie Ontario. I know we used to visit an aunt and uncle in Astabula when I was a kid (before paved roads).

Contact a summer hockey school in that area. Let them know your problem and I am sure that they would be willing to help. Google Hockey Schools - Fort Erie.

Also try some other towns in that area, such as St. Catherines and Welland.

Enjoy and good luck.

Answer 5

Isn't their "pick-up/drop-in" hockey at that rink?

Otherwise keep playing roller hockey and work on your skating at public sessions until you turn 18, which sucks I know but it's the way it is sometimes. I remember being a 16 year old hockey fanatic in California, before the Sharks made hockey popular there and I had to travel 2 hours to play ice hockey against adults, one of whom played on Mike Modano's junior team in Saskatchewan.

Bottom line well at least you are being realistic, I think you can become a good player if you stick with it. Rink mgt easily could have turned me away but my play convinced them to let me stay on the ice.

Answer 6

I think you could bro.....work on improving your skating number 1 and puckhandling number 2. You won't be a superstar, but could play at a somewhat competitive level, depending on how much effort you're willing to put in. Go for it man and best of luck!!!!!

Answer 7

keith tkachuck put on his first pair of skates at 13 so you never know

Answer 8

For the NHL yes, to play with your friends in a somewhat competitive league h**l no.  You're in plenty of time to experience the best sport in the world, but i highly doubt you'll make the NHL.

Answer 9

If you're serious you better get your @ss in gear. Most kids start playing hockey when they're four or five. So kids your age playing now have a ten year headstart on you.

Answer 10

Probobaly, but you never know

Answer 11

the only hockey ive ever played is roller hockey, and then like urself ive wanted to play ice hockey. you can always look for beginner leauges, i live around delaware and there are a lot of "d-leauge teams" that accepet everyone and the coaches help people out alot. my guess is there may be ssomething like that around you

Answer 12

It's NEVER too late to play hockey.

Answer 13

dude, its never too late to start hockey.

i've played hockey ever since i was 5 and i have seen more and more new people join every season.

and in no time you will probably be one of the bests on your team.. and then soon you'll be on travel teams and USA teams, shoot maybe i'll be seeing ya around ;] lol

i wouldnt worry about the other kids, cause probably alotta of them have just recently started the sport too,

just go to your local skating rink and ask for information for hockey and skating lessons

hope i helped ya darlin' :D

Answer 14

It sounds like you have had a ball or puck on your stick at least a little bit. Do you have pads?? I live in Minnesota, and there are always people joining in at later ages. There are even some adults who are just learning the game! It is definately not too late. You just have to look around, go to your local rink and see if there are any Bantam (or U15 if you are a girl) teams there, and ask when the tryouts are, and sign up. As for right now, try to get into some summer clinics or camps to work on your skills until the season starts. If you do this, you should be fine, and able to play hockey on a team. It's good that you are starting hockey. good luck

Answer 15

I live in Northeast Ohio as well, in Twinsburg. There are several rinks around your area, some are kind of further away though. Did you try and see if the Gilmore Rink out near Pepper Pike has any courses or competitive courses for beginners? I don't know what kind of programs they have since I am not there often because I don't play anymore, but they have the some of the best Hockey Training in the area, but the place is pretty pricey as well from what I hear.

What I would do is check at the Mentor Rink first for any programs there.

I do know some rinks here offer Midget Hockey, the rink I played at in Cleveland Heights did, but stopped a few years back, they might have re-added it since. I'd try and get some contact info with the local rinks, call them up or email them, and ask.

Answer 16

its never too late to start, just getting to the competetive level can be tough.  things you can do to help you become a competetive player- watch hockey, being smart is something that cant be taught, but you can learn, and it is probably the most dangerous weapon.  fitness- being big, fast, and/or strong is a huge help and can be easily worked on.  stickhandle golf balls on spare time, helps ur stickhandling.  shoot against a wall or anything. hope this helps, its pretty basic

Answer 17

if i were you, i would look around other rinks that aren't to far away and that your parents are willing to drive. Other then that wait for the clinics to come to your hometown rink and just go to those as often as you can

Answer 18

I bet your local arena has some sort of stick and puck thing a couple times a week, just doing that over time will definitely improve your skills

Answer 19

I play and I started at age 4. But an old hockey coach started when he was 20ish. I would recommend buying some books on the rules, get gear and see if the arena has something like puck time (we have that) or something where you can skate shoot and stuff. If it doesn't start roller hockey. That's what I would do anyway.