Alright, let me tell you about this adult ice hockey camp thing I did. I’ve been playing in my local league for ages, mostly just for fun, you know? But lately, felt like I wasn’t getting any better. Same old habits, same weak backhand.
So, I started poking around, looking for something. Found these weekend camps specifically for adults. Wasn’t sure at first. Like, am I too old for camp? Is it gonna be full of guys trying to relive their glory days? Decided to just bite the bullet and sign up for one not too far away. What’s the worst that could happen, right?
Getting Ready
First thing, had to find all my gear. Dug the bag out of the garage. Phew. Let’s just say it needed airing out. Big time. Cleaned everything up, felt a bit like preparing for battle. Got my skates sharpened too – haven’t done that in a while, usually just wait till I can barely stand.
Packed my stuff the night before. Honestly, felt a little nervous. Haven’t done structured hockey training since I was a kid. Mostly just show up, play the game, have a beer.
Hitting the Ice
Showed up at the rink on Friday evening. Whole bunch of guys there, all different ages, shapes, sizes. Some looked pretty slick, others looked like me – just happy to be there. The coaches introduced themselves, seemed like good folks, knew their stuff but weren’t drill sergeants, which was a relief.
We got split into groups based on skill level, which worked out well. Didn’t want to be skating circles around beginners, but definitely didn’t want to be embarrassed by the hotshots either.
The Actual Work
- Skating Drills: Man, oh man. Edge work, crossovers, stopping, starting. Stuff you think you know. But doing it over and over, focusing on technique? Different story. My legs were burning pretty quick.
- Puck Skills: Stickhandling, passing, shooting. Lots of repetition. They gave little tips, like weight transfer on shots, keeping your head up. Simple things, but easy to forget in a game.
- Game Concepts: We did some basic positional stuff, breakouts, power play setups. Nothing too crazy, but good reminders.
The Vibe and The Grind
It was tiring, no doubt about it. Three days of being on the ice way more than usual. Woke up sore on Saturday and Sunday. But honestly? It felt good. Felt productive.
The best part, maybe, was just hanging out with the other guys. Everyone was there for the same reason – just love the game. Lots of chatting in the locker room, sharing stories. Good bunch of people. No egos, just guys wanting to play better hockey.
We finished each day with a scrimmage. It was fun to try and use the things we’d worked on. Still a bit chaotic, ’cause hey, it’s beer league mentality at heart, but you could see people trying.
So, Was It Worth It?
Yeah, definitely. Look, it wasn’t magic. I didn’t suddenly turn into an NHL pro overnight. But I absolutely felt sharper by the end of it. Felt more confident on my skates, my shot felt a little harder, my passes a bit crisper. Little things.
It basically forced me to practice the fundamentals, stuff I usually blow off. Plus, meeting other players and just immersing yourself in hockey for a weekend was great. Felt like I reset a bit.
Thinking I might do another one next year. It’s a good kick in the pants to actually work on your game instead of just showing up and hoping for the best.
