Roller Goalie switching to Ice, tips?

[Spud387]

I am wanting to play pick-up Ice hockey with my friends during the winter. I am a strictly roller hockey goalie with 3 years under my belt.

I am am average ice skater. I have never played ice hockey before, never worn goalie blades/skates before.

What is some advice tips for me to do/work on before I start to play?

Also, what are some tips and advice for me once I start playing?

[greatsave31]

crease movements: you got the t-push thing down but work on shuffles, opposite leg recovery, and b-fly slides. that should help ya get in the right direction

[oogs]

get use to the frictionless surface... that's gonna be harder than the skating aspect i think

[kevinsane]

There are many threads pertaining to this topic. Try the "search" feature and you'll find plenty of info.

[Scipio]

Stretch well before you start. First time I went out I was in serious pain afterwards.

[Platinum Horse]

The lack of friction is exactly what you'll notice first. I'd never stepped on to ice when switching from Roller 9 months ago. And I remember the first time I went down into a b/fly, my legs just started sliding out, rather than staying together like I was used too! It'll work your abductors really well! I just remember thinking 'Woah, Ice is Slippery!' which is kinda dumb and obvious, but has served me well when getting used to the ice.

[elcamiino33]

Work on your t-pushes, shuffles, and especially stretch and work out your quads.

[EvilPepe]

Originally Posted by kevinsane

There are many threads pertaining to this topic. Try the "search" feature and you'll find plenty of info.

Indeed.

Roller->Ice conversion progress...

Been there.

[NoGoal9932]

If youve never been on goalie skates, Id definatly recomend you go to a public non-hockey skate and just get used to skating on them. Its a pretty fair difference.

[lbr119]

I made the switch for the first time tonight. I was a little nervous at first since I've never played goal on ice.

All I can say is....IT IS FREAKIN SWEET!!!! Being able to glide across make such a big difference. And being able to stay cool helps alot too.

When sliding across I can use my momentum to get back up quicker and Its ALOT easier on the knees.

Having said that roller hockey helped alot with my positioning and butterfly cuz that's what I relied on most.

As for roller hockey I'll probably play out next season just to stay in shape and work on my skating. It's just too hard on the knees as a goalie....for me anyways.

[rx7master]

just some things i had trouble with or eventually realized after making the switch:


the puck is heavier and will push its way through holes that would be a save in roller hockey.

the puck will find its way under you alot faster due to less friction on the puck/surface.

wax your tape on your blade, or it will get soaked.

sharp skates good-dull skates bad. (once you have mastered the mechanics of lateral shuffles)

[pchirichella]

I am currently switching over to Roller to Ice. I can't wait to play.

I can totally understand, my knees are taking a beating from Roller.

[Mitch92]

Buy ice skates. Wheels do not work very well on ice.

[Zay1993]

Originally Posted by greatsave31

crease movements: you got the t-push thing down but work on shuffles, opposite leg recovery, and b-fly slides. that should help ya get in the right direction

That is some of the most important stuff and pretty much everything has been said. Dont worry if you have a bad first game on ice, I sucked BIG TIME on my first game of ice, but you get used to it really fast and try to get goalie skates because there might not look like much difference but there is trust me. Player skates have a different blade than goalie skates that allow you to have a deeper stance without slipping and they have butterfly protection (guards on the front of the skate it hurts quite a bit getting shot there with player skates on) Just get a feel for the ice and ALWAYS stretch before playing even if you stretch for like 3 mins thats better than nothing. Skate around a bit before playing, practice dropping to the butterfly, practice your b-fly slides and practice your stance on the ice, just go into your stance and drop to the b-fly and getting up as fast as you can, just repeat this and get a feel for the ice, also practice pushing off with your legs and sliding this is really important. Hope that helps you I made the transiction from floor to ice and it was hard the first time but trust me ice hockey is alot of fun! Good luck!! (sorry for the length of the post)

[paulsmachetti]

Welcome to real hockey! You'll love it! Good luck!