38 replies to this topic

[jamielov]

Agree about the skill level. The few I've played against are just there for fun, and are running at about 20%, but even so, can pass, stickhandle, and skate circles around me with no effort at all. Its really amazing to see how talented these guys are. Thats one of the coolest things about ice hockey. These guys, no matter how old, still want to just have fun and play, not show up and prove to a bunch of 35 year old men how great they are. On the ice, they are just one of us. A hell of a lot better, but still, one of us. Its not like at 35 you can head to the local football field and play against an NFL'er, or a baseball diamond and bat against an MLB caliber pitcher.

[Scoff]

10 years ago in the summer I used to go out on Friday afternoons at the RA center in Ottawa with a bunch of OHL, NHL, ECHL and CHL guys that were in town for the summer. It was a fun skate. It was great to keep in condition with the talent that was there. I also liked that no one was trying to prove anything. Fast skating great puck movement and actually having great flow.

My first year out of junior hockey, I played in an Ottawa men's league. I took more sticks to the face and blindsided hits in half a season, then 4 season of junior hockey. It would be great to find a good group of guys to skate with. Opposed to guys that really don’t know what they are doing and play at 300%

[CrazyDanny]

I once drew a roughing penalty on Bob Halkidis (former Leaf and Wing) in a men's league game here in Greensboro. May possibly be the high-light of my "illustrious" career.

[craig8392]

I've played with Chris Bala.

[Hockeyman90]

While I've not played with them... I Played in an over 40 tourney (I'm in my early 30's, but the rink needed a fill in team and we were all they could put together on short notice) against a team from Los Angeles put together by Jamie Kompon. I believe the team was made of mostly ex pros and minor leaguers... Great guy, and an incredible player... Red Berrenson is a regular at this tourney as well.

[Mapleleafs-13]

i'm on the ice with myself all the time. 

[hockeymutt]

During the 2004 NHL lock out got invited to practice with the devils during one of the players practices. Got to go one on one with marty a few times. All super down to earth guys. Now i occasionally will run into a few pro's from the ECHL at open hockeys. Also had a guy that playing in i think the WPHL play on a tournament team with me, guy was like 40 years old and all he wore were sweat pants, gloves and elbow pads. Great times.

[crabby]

Played against Kopitar, Grabner and Raffl in juniors...

[greghughes]

skated with a few pro's over summer, Jonathan Blum came out to a pickup once, guy was incredible.  Skated with Mitch Callahan and Matt White at a different skate, both guys in the ahl and pretty sick too, but Blum was insane.  Played against a few pro's a couple summers back playing pro roller hockey, and a couple D1 NCAA guys. The skill level is ridiculous, so fun passing and playing with them

[twistoffate19]

A buddy of mine took me to an open skate at the Joe. Datsyuk, Abby, Kronwall, Smith, Tatar, and Nyquist were all out there when we got there.  Datsyuk came up to me and asked if I could get the puck from him....yeah, that didn't even come close to happening, though I think I did way better than that one Fox news guy.

 

Brett Bellemore of the Hurricanes was my defense partner in AAA.

[Sort of Irish]

Phil Kessel, Connor Allen, Al Montoya, and Tommy Wingels.

[Obscene19]

Pat Kane.

[craig8392]

Eric knodel playing for the marlies, know his gf first kids huge gonna be big in the nhl

[shoeshine boy]

one of the guys who skated out on my rec league team was a goalie for the Portland Winterhawks. he was so good as a skater that I can't even imagine how good of a goalie he was. after juniors he went to medical school and is now a plastic surgeon.

[greghughes]

Pat Kane.

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[ChrisMolnar]

There's a summer league in Buffalo called the FHL that a lot of hometown guys play in. A lot of NHL, AHL, Major Junior, USHL, and NCAA players play every year. Guys like Patrick Kane, the Conachers, Tim Kennedy, and a ton more that all come back for the summer are usually on rosters. Super fun league to play in with incredible talent.

[- M]

I've skated with Darcy Rota a few times (best known for his time with the Blackhawks and Canucks in the 70s/80s) when he was still President of the Coquitlam Express last season.  For someone who doesn't play much anymore (except for the occasional charity or alumni games) he's still got the hands.  He'd tell me to skate hard out of the zone and out of nowhere he'd throw saucer passes and hit tape to tape consistently.  Hands down one of the nicest guys I've met.

[kazin]

Same minor association as Colton Gillies and Colten Teubert. Played a bit of spring 3v3 with/against them...boy were they above everybody else.

[NovaHands]

There's a summer league in Buffalo called the FHL that a lot of hometown guys play in. A lot of NHL, AHL, Major Junior, USHL, and NCAA players play every year. Guys like Patrick Kane, the Conachers, Tim Kennedy, and a ton more that all come back for the summer are usually on rosters. Super fun league to play in with incredible talent.

 

I think my buddy Dan plays in that league.  Lives in Chili, NY.  He played goalie a few years back for American International College.