Okay, so I wanted to talk about this thing I tried recently – playing hockey out on the river. Not some fancy league, just grabbing my skates and stick and finding a frozen stretch of water. It sounds kinda romantic, right? Like something from an old movie. Well, let me tell you how it actually went down.
Getting Started
First off, finding the right spot wasn’t easy. You can’t just stomp onto any old frozen river. That’s asking for trouble. I spent a good couple of days scouting around, looking for spots where the ice looked thick and solid, away from strong currents. Talked to a couple of old-timers I know who fish out there in the winter. They gave me some pointers, told me where folks sometimes skate.
Then, the gear. It’s not quite like heading to the local rink.
- Ice Check: Got myself a simple ice chisel. You gotta test the thickness. Seriously, don’t skip this. I was aiming for at least 4-5 inches of good, clear ice before I even thought about stepping on it. Drilled a few test holes near the edge first, then carefully worked my way out. Took ages, felt a bit silly, but better safe than wet and freezing.
- Shovel: Rivers don’t come with Zambonis. Found a decent patch, but it was covered in wind-blown snow. Had to bring a shovel and clear a space myself. That was a workout before I even put my skates on.
- Pucks: Brought extra pucks. Figured I’d lose a few in the snowbanks, and yup, I sure did. Black pucks on white snow aren’t too bad, but once they hit a drift, good luck.
Hitting the Ice (Sort Of)
So, I finally got my little makeshift rink cleared. Lacing up skates in the freezing cold with numb fingers is always fun. Stepping onto that river ice… it’s different. Really different. It’s not smooth like indoor ice. It’s got bumps, frozen ripples, sometimes little twigs or leaves stuck in it. You feel every imperfection under your blades.
The actual “hockey” part was pretty basic. I was mostly alone the first few times. Just stickhandling, taking shots towards a snowbank that acted as my ‘net’. The puck bounces weirdly on the natural ice. Sometimes it hits a bump and just stops dead, or takes off in a crazy direction. Forget about smooth passes if you’re with someone.
It was quiet out there, though. That was the best part. Just the sound of skates scraping, the puck hitting the stick, the wind. No buzzer, no crowds, no announcements. Just me and the ice. Pretty cool feeling, actually. You feel kind of small, but in a good way.
Did fall a couple of times. Not because of fancy moves, just because the ice was uneven. Landed on my backside more than once. Good thing I had plenty of padding on, just from wearing warm winter clothes.
What I Reckon Now
So, was it worth it? Yeah, I think so. It’s not gonna replace playing on a proper rink if you want a fast-paced game. The conditions are just too rough most of the time. It’s unpredictable.
But for just messing around, enjoying the outdoors, getting some exercise? It’s great. There’s something really fundamental about it. Strips hockey back to the basics. Skates, stick, puck, ice.
You gotta be careful, though. Seriously check that ice every single time. Don’t go alone if you can help it, especially the first few times. Let someone know where you’re going. Nature doesn’t care if you’re a good skater or not; thin ice is thin ice.
So yeah, that’s my little adventure with rivers hockey. A bit cold, a bit bumpy, needed some hard work, but definitely an experience. Might do it again next winter, if we get a good freeze. Just gotta remember to bring more pucks.
