Adult League Hockey Chill Spectrum - Hockey Players Club Blog

Adult league hockey is incredibly unique. Some leagues and teams have ex-professionals while others consist of middle aged newbies, still gathering confidence on their skates. Skill and experience discrepancy aside our mutual passion leads us to the rink, often at the most inconvenient times.

To some it’s nothing more than time spent with other hockey fanatics, preferably with a beer. To a small group of adult leaguers it’s much more than a recreational hockey game. But, to most of us it’s a great opportunity to exercise and add a little friendly competition with some of our best friends.

There’s no right or wrong approach necessarily, but a vast majority of players will find themselves in the middle of the ADULT LEAGUE CHILL SPECTRUM, in what statisticians call the 95% confidence interval… but I won’t bore you with academic jargon. Those residing on the extreme ends of the spectrum are few and far between, but we’re confident you’d recognize their characteristics around the rink.

TOO CHILL

Tonight’s game is viewed as a social gathering rather than a semi-competitive hockey game.

Most likely to be buzzed or flat out drunk before the game starts
Excessive socializing in the locker room often leads to little to no warm-up
Definitely no cage or half-shield. League permitting they rock the Craig McTavish look
Zero chance they’ve applied a fresh tape job. If they did, there’s a strong chance they used someone else’s tape (tape mooch)
Their number of strides in a shift can be counted on one hand
As a forward: zero backchecking. As a d-man: never crossing the red line to avoid any sudden need for retreat
The game is completely inconsequential. Win or lose, they booze
They live for the storytelling and relentless chirping that only exists in a hockey locker room
Tells their significant other they play on another team as an excuse for more weeknight beers
You wouldn’t want a team full of these guys, but a few are necessary for optimal team chemistry

CHILL

Winning is preferable but playing the greatest game on earth with some of our favorite people is what it’s all about.

Traffic and commitments pending, they’re Punctual Pierre or Last Second Larry
Wears a cage or shield. Adult league isn’t worth the hospital bill of an errant stick or puck
The selfless teammate who brings the water bottles and beer
Brief warm up as a reminder of how to skate and pass
Gladly plays forward or defense, whatever the team needs tonight
Matching the intensity of their opponent and linemates, they’re working out there but don’t want to blow their load in the first
Losses are far from embraced while victories are rarely celebrated
Enjoys the postgame locker room to laugh at their teammate’s drunken antics from the previous weekend
Nonchalantly chirps the TOO CHILL and NO CHILL teammates, often going unnoticed by those being chirped
Simply appreciating time with friends in a rink. Few things are better

NO CHILL

Nothing is as important as tonight’s game, impacting their mood the rest of the week.

Performing calisthenics and stretching in the room before anyone else arrives
They go HAM in warm ups
Only teammate inviting their significant other and family to watch games
Game time is all business. Emphatically backchecks and displays perfect defensive positioning
Constant end-to-end rushes or the hardest stretch passes imaginable when the squad falls behind
The first to get chippy and try to start a fight
Even at the age of 38 they’re still concerned with personal stats
After a loss: either sitting lifelessly, fully-dressed in the locker room or rapidly undressing and leaving without showering
After a victory: loud, celebrating like they just won something beyond a midnight adult league game
Most likely to play on numerous teams in multiple leagues. Adult league is life

Where do you and your teammates live on the adult league chill spectrum?

———

Looking for a top-of-the-line hockey stick without spending $300? Look no further!

Thanks to cutting-edge materials, a state-of-the-art construction process, and high-tech performance features, the new Hockey Players Club X1X hockey stick is one of the strongest and lightest hockey sticks ever made.

Designed to optimize feel, pop, and durability, the HPC X1X hockey stick is perfectly balanced and incredibly responsive. And weighing just 375 grams, it’s 15 grams lighter than a Vapor FlyLite but $100 cheaper!

The Hockey Players Club X1X hockey stick is one of the strongest and lightest hockey sticks ever made but is a lot less expensive that comparable name brands.