Once you get into hockey as an adult beginner you’ll quickly realize how special it is to be on the ice in full equipment in a practice situation. And of course I was reminded of this last night at the first night of the City of Ottawa adult beginners courses.
This time last year, I was put on my equipment for the first time for the Level 1 courses. This year, it’s the level 2 courses I am taking. So in some ways it was like marking an anniversary for me. Since starting last October, the longest I have gone without being on the ice is 14 days. 14 days! That’s pretty crazy, isn’t it?
Anyways, last night was mostly review of basic skating and skills stuff. But it was the first time I had been on the ice with a stick and puck since I had received the excellent Sean Skinner DVDs on stick handling. To be able to actually be handling a puck along the ice as opposed to a weighted ball on my basement floor was both terrifically enjoyable — but very also sobering!
The bottom line is that no matter how much doing drills with a weighted ball on a hard surface can improve your coordination, quickness, and strength, it is simply not the same as a puck on the ice. And let me say this too: sure, it is only a small rubber disc, but to stand and go through some basic handling drills is pretty damn tiring! Certainly more tiring than standing in my basement.
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