How do I start playing ice hockey?
Well, it mostly comes down to how old you are. Your age group will determine which variants of the game you can play.
5-13
Lucky you! You’re in the best age group to become really good when you’re older.
Option 1: Join a hockey club
Most large public ice hockey clubs (the ones you buy tickets to see) run ‘Learn to play’ sessions and most run development teams you can join. You’ll be grouped with other players your age (U9, U12, U15 and U18).
Option 2: Join stick and puck sessions
Stick & puck sessions are basically just time allocated for hockey players to practice skills. All players must wear kit which means you can safely hit pucks about without having to worry about injuring public skaters.
Some stick and puck sessions are age-restricted, so it’s best you double-check with the organiser first. Our Rink Finder will help you locate a Stick & Puck session near you. Unfortunately, we don’t have very many in the UK!
14-17
Unfortunately, getting into ice hockey at this age is quite difficult. You’re too old to join most hockey development clubs, but you’re not old enough to play rec hockey yet. This is exactly the position I was in, but don’t lose hope!
Option 1: Try to join a hockey club
This option doesn’t work for most people as the majority of U18 ice hockey teams stop taking new members once they’re 13, but some still do and it’s worth a try if you find one that does. Contact them, explain your passion for the game and see if they’ll let you train with them!
The EIHA (English Ice Hockey Association) actually permits recreational teams to take players between 16-17, but only a minority do because there are special rules they will have to follow, and they are required to have a registered coach. You can try contacting your local rec team (use our team finder!) but unfortunately, most will say no.
Option 2: Join stick and puck sessions
Stick & puck sessions are basically just time allocated for hockey players to practice skills. All players must wear kit which means you can safely hit pucks about without having to worry about injuring public skaters.
Some stick and puck sessions are age-restricted, so it’s best you double-check first. Our Rink Finder will help you locate a Stick & Puck session near you. Unfortunately, the UK doesn’t have very many!
Option 3: Train yourself!
If none of those options work for you, you might be out of luck for a while. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get a head start! Believe it or not, much of what you’ll practice at training can be done at home even if you don’t have ice!
Skills like stick handling and shooting can be practised at home. Read our page on off-ice training for more information. You can continue to develop your skills until you reach an age where a rec team will take you. Of course, nothing will beat training on the ice, but you can get a head start!
18+
As an adult, you have a lot more choice over where to play. No longer are you bound by silly age restrictions!
Use our Rec Team Finder and take a look at your nearest teams. Focus on where they play, but also take a look at their social media channels to get a feel of what kind of team they are. If you’re happy, go ahead and contact the team’s manager.
Only limitation is that if you’re over 70, EIHA insurance no longer covers you. Sorry!