veteran ice goalie contemplating roller

[blackman34]

Ok, so here's the backstory. I've played ice for about 15 years and absolutely loved every minute of it. I was a longtime member of this board until about 2 years ago when I moved from NJ (6 local rinks!) to Savannah, GA. The nearest ice rink is now 2.5 hours away. But- there is a roller hockey arena in my town.

I've never enjoyed playing roller, mostly because the lack of lateral movement. But now it's my only option. I REALLY miss playing. Not just the exercise and the stress relief but the comraderie of the team. So I'm thinking about giving it a shot.

I'm wondering what I need to know? I'll obviously need a pair of in-line goalie skates, but how will my equipment hold up? I've got a 2-season old pair of Vortek pads and gloves (love 'em! but haven't touched them in 2 years!) and I'm afraid about destroying them on a sport-court tile floor. They're pro quality but obviously made for ice. Will the tile eat them up?

Also, I'm a bit curious if any of you guys have made the switch and how the transition was? All I know is that I'll be a lot hotter, I won't be able to slide as easily and my GAA will be A LOT higher than it was on ice. Other than that, I'm a bit clueless

Any advice? All suggestion would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

[Lord of the Cage]

I started playing goal in inline before ice hockey at the age of 14. I currently play both, and have played at high levels.

I have found that they both have helped one another.

You will enjoy inline just as much as ice hockey. Yes you get hotter, yes their are more goals scored(on average) yes lateral movement is tougher but all in all you still need to play the game the same way.

You still have to play your angles, watch the play unfold, react to the unexpected, and know certain players habits. You will have to learn that their is a totally different mindset in inline. It is control of the puck and patience to out wait your opponent. This means to a goalie that you have to notice what the other team is trying to set up and communicate with your team is essential especially when you can have a guy in the offensive zone or floating extremely high. You will have to play the puck more as well so if you are weak at that work on it and it'll help yourself and your team out tremendously. Lateral movements you have to side step and hop when it is needed. In some cases a larger jump if you will comes in very handy. You can still play a strict butterfly game but you will find that sometimes you will definately be stretching far to make a save and scambling as well.

As for your gear. Don't worry about it at all. Yes, more cordura or nylon would be the best especially to reduce friction, but it won't help you that much. I have Vaughn gear, Velocity pads, blocker and a Vision trapper and they have been through two years of varsity college ice, one year of booze barn hockey and three years of NARCh, Pro, and Semi Pro inline use. They are still in playable shape, other than delamination of the synthetic and fraying on the gloves. I need new gear but would continue to use my current stuff for inline without a problem. As for the skates, for your first go round and just to try it out, get an inexpensive player skate with a flat chassis setup, meaning not rockered or in a traditional slated profile.

If anything is unclear, I'll try to help out.

Lord of the Cage

[Fish]

I grew up playing ice. From about 7 years old up till I was 21 or so. When the roller boom came about in the early 90's I switched over. I found that I actually liked roller as much or more than ice. I went back to ice for 4 or 5 years when I moved here to L.A. but have since gone back again to roller. So, don't worry about wether or not you will have fun playing roller. It is just as fun. At least to me it is.

The one main thing I can recommend is that you take extra time to stretch before games. The lack of sliding can be really hard on your knees and hips. You are going to be stretching your legs far more to make saves. It can be rough on your body.

The heat and extra effort to make saves should improve your overall fitness level though.


I have never understood why most hockey players look down on roller hockey. The game is different but equaly fun and challenging. Fun really is the most important reason to play anyway isn't it? I think so.



Oh and sice you are Savannah check out Seppuku Tattoo. 2213A Rowland Ave ( http://www.seppukutattoo.com/ ). Go shake hands with Johnny Thief and tell him Mike "MaximumFluoride" Fisher sent you. He is a very good friend of mine and probably the most fun human being on the planet to hang out with.

[fatjason]

For protecting your equipment against sport-court, I got custom made pad/blocker covers. They take all the beating against the friction. Made from condura 1000.




Between roller and ice, I find I am much more fatigued at the end of roller just because the heat takes a toll. Also with roller, you can get away with lighter gear because the puck is not as heavy.

[blackman34]

I forgot how much I miss this board!

I suppose my biggest concerns are my equipment and my knees. I've definitely lost some of my athleticism over the last 2 years (about 10 pounds and haven't stretched in a looong time) but I'm not worried about getting that back. I'm pretty disciplined when it comes to training.

I've got an old pair of in-line trick skates when I tried to take it up a while back (didn't last!). They're basically a ski boot with wheels. I was going to try them out but the boot is rock-solid and I don't know that they'd work. I'll probably check it out before I invest in anything but I'm forseeing some issues. I'm expecting a MAJOR learning curve here.

I think the pad covers are a great idea. My vortek pads are practically brand new and I'd hate to wear them out. I don't plan on staying in Savannah forever and I have every intention of one day hitting the ice again

As for looking down on roller- it's not that I consider it lower than ice, it's just that the restricted lateral movement bothered me and I just wasn't interested in trying it. Now that it's my only option, it's starting to look really good!

[soulpatch]

Few things. You will be on sport court so the wear to your gear will not be that bad. Pad covers are the war to go but otherwise you should not notice too much extra wear and tear.

As for sliding. Should you go the pad cover rate get ballistic nylon. It slides farily easily and you can retain a lot of your ice movement in roller. I have no issues sliding with my pads and in fact shock just about every new shooter I see since they dont expect it. You will however have to build up your legs a lot more for roller.

As for skates. While goalie skates are nice you can make due with player inlines. I have both and actually prefer my player skates. in fact my goal skates just sit there.....Aggressive inline skates that you have now should not be used due to the fact that they normally ride up your ankle and lock it into place and they are heavy as hell

Heat - Go to your local sports store and pick up under armour heat gear apparell for your whole body. It will make a huge difference. I also do not play with hockey socks or anything over my lower calves so as to reduce heat a little more. The less you wear the better you will feel in the game. You might also want to look the way of Maltese products. I have the gel interier for my mask as well as the GPS combo. It has helped a ton with the heat while at the same time furthering my protection.

I personally play on sport court and have for years. My equipment except for my leg pads and skates is all ice gear. I take care of my gear and have very little wear and tear. My gloves are 2 years old now and are just beginning to show and type of wear. When I say wear I mean the leather is rubbed and the color is faded slightly in a spot or two.

I have never played ice to tell you whether you will need to move more or less or how it will impact your body. I came to hockey after serious knee and ankle injuries in lacrosse. Towards the end of every season I am somwhat sore and banged up but I figure I would feel the same in ice as well.

Any other questions feel free to launch away.

[Fish]

UnderArmour will save your life. I played 3 straight games on sunday at an outdoor rink in 100+ degree weather. Without a lot of water and my underArmour I would have probably passed out.

[Timberwoof]

The last time I played roller hockey was when my knees were still in top shape. After just half an hour of playing, my knees hurt. Nowadays my knees ache from time to time, but not like that and not after a game. I didn't like that, so I never played roller again.

[soulpatch]

Stretching is key for roller. I have horrible knees from lacrosse. in fact I am fairly close to a fake knee in my right leg. My knees hurt a little but not bad at all. I do however have a lot of landing gear and I am extremely flexible in my legs.

[teamgoalie]

Originally Posted by Lord of the Cage

I started playing goal in inline before ice hockey at the age of 14. I currently play both, and have played at high levels.

I have found that they both have helped one another.

You will enjoy inline just as much as ice hockey. Yes you get hotter, yes their are more goals scored(on average) yes lateral movement is tougher but all in all you still need to play the game the same way.

You still have to play your angles, watch the play unfold, react to the unexpected, and know certain players habits. You will have to learn that their is a totally different mindset in inline. It is control of the puck and patience to out wait your opponent. This means to a goalie that you have to notice what the other team is trying to set up and communicate with your team is essential especially when you can have a guy in the offensive zone or floating extremely high. You will have to play the puck more as well so if you are weak at that work on it and it'll help yourself and your team out tremendously. Lateral movements you have to side step and hop when it is needed. In some cases a larger jump if you will comes in very handy. You can still play a strict butterfly game but you will find that sometimes you will definately be stretching far to make a save and scambling as well.

As for your gear. Don't worry about it at all. Yes, more cordura or nylon would be the best especially to reduce friction, but it won't help you that much. I have Vaughn gear, Velocity pads, blocker and a Vision trapper and they have been through two years of varsity college ice, one year of booze barn hockey and three years of NARCh, Pro, and Semi Pro inline use. They are still in playable shape, other than delamination of the synthetic and fraying on the gloves. I need new gear but would continue to use my current stuff for inline without a problem. As for the skates, for your first go round and just to try it out, get an inexpensive player skate with a flat chassis setup, meaning not rockered or in a traditional slated profile.

If anything is unclear, I'll try to help out.

Lord of the Cage

PRO???........WOW....congrats Roons.......where was it that you were playing Pro??


Jeff

[Lord of the Cage]

teamgoalie,

TORHS tournament series.

This winter in Italy, if nothing changes from now until Dec.

Lord of the Cage

[blackman34]

I really appreciate all the info, guys! It's great to see a lot of the old vets are still here. Lots of familiar names. I've missed you guys!

I'm going to pick up a pair of skates and give this a shot pretty soon. I've gots of conditioning to do to get back in shape and prepare my knees for the abuse.

I did a quick look online for pad covers and all I saw were the eagles that nobody here seemed to like. can anyone recommend a place to get them made? I'm thinking Miller or Battram?

thanks again!

[soulpatch]

Miller might make them. Not too sure about battram.

In all honesty make your own. It is not that hard to do. It is just basic sewing and cutting. Cut clots along the sides for your straps and put some elastic in them to hold them flush. I know people on here have done it so just look up some of the other threads.........

[Huntster]

Originally Posted by blackman34

I really appreciate all the info, guys! It's great to see a lot of the old vets are still here. Lots of familiar names. I've missed you guys!

I'm going to pick up a pair of skates and give this a shot pretty soon. I've gots of conditioning to do to get back in shape and prepare my knees for the abuse.

I did a quick look online for pad covers and all I saw were the eagles that nobody here seemed to like. can anyone recommend a place to get them made? I'm thinking Miller or Battram?

thanks again!

Here is a site for a local guy that has made covers for a few goalies in my league.

http://soargoaliegear.kicks-ass.net/sgg/index.html

[dreadlockgoalie]

After almost year of playing only roller, I'm convinced that sport/spider court actually does less damage to pads than ice does. I remember someone, possibly Oogs, talking about how they took their Mission pads with the Thermoweld on the inside of the leg out on the ice and had the plastic get all chewed up. Less friction on ice, but it's not exactly smooth, I think it tends to chew up materials faster than roller floors would. Just my two cents.