Tell me where to play

December 19th, 2011 Leave a comment Go to comments

I’m searching for games to play in the states and provinces colored red below.  Do you know of any sort of hockey I could play in those places as a goalie?  Drop-in, shinny, league subs, practices — it would all be great.  Bonus points for especially unusual or unique situations!

(To get a general idea of when I’ll be in each state, check out the route map.)

So, do you know of any, or might you know somebody who knows?  Yes? Then let me know by adding a comment to this page or emailing me at jeff.keacher@gmail.com .  Thanks!

UPDATE: I’m at the end of the trip now, but thanks to everybody who helped me find hockey along the way!  Even if I couldn’t take you up on your offers, I am indebted to your generosity.

  1. Matt B
    September 22nd, 2011 at 20:20 | #1

    Jeff,

    I know you’re traveling through my home province of Ontario soon and I wondered if you might be interested in playing a league game?

    We play in a university intramural league and have games on Tue Sep 27, Fri Sep 30, Sat Oct 1, and Wed Oct 12.

    Let me know if you’re interested in any of those dates and I can work on getting things setup.

    -Matt

  2. Matt B
    September 22nd, 2011 at 20:21 | #2

    @Matt B

    I forgot to tell you where I live. I’m in Waterloo Ontario about an hour west of Toronto. E-mail me if you’re interested.

  3. Jeff
    September 23rd, 2011 at 10:19 | #3

    @Matt B Cool! I’m definitely interested. I’ll follow up with you via email. Thanks!

  4. Tom Lucia
    September 29th, 2011 at 11:00 | #4

    Hello, Jeff. We read about your trip and grew jealous. If you don’t have any place to be play in New York, we’d LOVE having you join us here in Buffalo, NY. Why?
    – Buffalo’s hockey crazed
    – It’s close to Canada (convenient) and, of course, Niagara Falls (a must-see)
    – As you report others have said we also love goalies
    – And it (probably) won’t start snowing here for a few more weeks (jokes, jokes)

    Myself and a bunch of colleagues who teach at a local school play on Friday nights. Upcoming skates include: 10/14, 10/28, 11/11 and 11/25. Doubtless, you’ll get a ton of other offers, but it’d be a special evening for myself and our group if you’d join us. Let me know if you’re interested.

    Best of luck!

  5. Dan Fagan
    September 29th, 2011 at 11:58 | #5

    Why Ann Arbor in Michigan. Come to Plymouth. (About 10 miles east) I can get you set up with a number of games/practices/dropins. One group I play in plays at 6:00 AM on Wednesday mornings. A quick in and out of the state for you.

  6. Don Ferlazzo
    September 29th, 2011 at 11:58 | #6

    Hey Jeff – When you come to New York you can sub for me in my league game in Clifton Park (we play on Sunday nights). If not, there is plenty of open hockey in the Albany area, which I can help you locate. Stay away from New York City – there’s not a lot of ice available in that part of the state.

  7. Dan Fagan
    September 29th, 2011 at 11:59 | #7

    Sorry… meant to say Wednesdays and Fridays at 6:00 AM.

  8. Nick
    September 29th, 2011 at 12:19 | #8

    I got you covered in Texas if you want to play in the DFW area. My league games are on Saturday nights and Thursday nights, but we can find you some Stick N Puck or Drop In times depending on when you will be driving through.

  9. Brandon
    September 29th, 2011 at 12:43 | #9

    When you come to Pennyslvania we would love to have you come play an league game with us. We are 30 miles east of Pittsburgh and right off of teh turnpike. Rink is Center Ice Arena in Delmont, PA. Let me know if you want to hook up when you hit PA.

  10. Rich
    September 29th, 2011 at 12:48 | #10

    Hey Jeff, I don’t know what Don is talking about, but I play ice hockey in NYC all year round. I highly recommend you come during the winter and skate at Lasker rink. This is a pool in Central Park that is turned into an ice rink come winter. Some NHL teams even come practice at this rink. It’s a great experience and while I don’t get to skate there often, I highly recommend you come that way when you get to the east coast.

    There are plenty of other rinks in the City as well, including rinks in Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn.

  11. Mark Saleh
    September 29th, 2011 at 12:52 | #11

    Hey Jeff,

    When you roll into Michigan let me know so you could sub for our goalie. My team and I play at the Onyx Ice Arena in Rochester Hills, MI. Email if you’re interested. Games are on Sunday nights.

  12. Wes
    September 29th, 2011 at 13:04 | #12

    If you need a place in Maryland, I play in a pickup game every Sunday Night in Baltimore City and also always games or pickup at http://www.iceworld.com in Abingdon, Md just north of Baltimore City.

    Great idea and I hope you can complete it!

  13. Brian
    September 29th, 2011 at 13:49 | #13

    Hey Jeff,

    First id like to say that this idea is incredible. When you come down to Florida I know where I live in Fort Myers we play pickup friday mornings at 9am or friday nights at 930pm at the Fort Myers Skatium. Or if you want to fill in for me on a sunday afternoon we play at the Germain Arena (Home of the Florida Everblades of the ECHL). Hope everything goes well.

  14. Scott
    September 29th, 2011 at 14:25 | #14

    If you get near the Bradenton/Sarasota area of Florida, they’ve some good adult leagues at the rink in Ellenton. See their website to get an idea of leagues, pick-up, etc.: http://ellentonice.com/

    Enjoyed your site. Good luck with the rest of your trip.

    Scott Pryde – goalie in Anchorage, AK

  15. Steve Y.
    September 29th, 2011 at 15:36 | #15

    Awesome idea!
    We need a couple of guys tomorrow night in Troy, MI.

    Steve Y.

  16. HannyNYR
    September 29th, 2011 at 15:38 | #16

    Jeff… awesome idea! If you find yourself in the NYC area on a Friday, a bunch of us play pickup hockey in Mount Vernon (basically the Bronx/Westchester border). We play a good 2 or 3 hours every Friday night, and you’re sure to get a ton of saves! Best thing is, not only are goalies welcome for free, but we give them free beer, too!

  17. Matt Katlen
    September 29th, 2011 at 16:00 | #17

    Love this idea, being a goalie it is so cool. I saw for NC you appear to be doing Charlotte. Not to knock Charlotte but you need to come to Raleigh instead. There are several rinks including where the Canes practice, plus then you can catch a game in the loudest house in the NHL and experience tailgaiting before a hockey game. I came here from the DC area and it is the coolest think. It is like a college football atomosphere for a hockey game especially the Friday and Saturday night games!

  18. Lee J
    September 29th, 2011 at 16:52 | #18

    I live in Ashburn, Virginia about 30 miles west of DC. Our rink has pickup friday and Saturday nights that might work out for you. Also close to Maryland and West Virginia so might be easy travel.

    http://ashburnice.com/pages.php?name=pickup

    I play goal in the mens league there, would gladly let you sub a period for the cause.
    Good Luck, Lee

  19. September 29th, 2011 at 16:53 | #19

    Hi!

    Just stumbled on your site from a Puck Daddy link. I play pick up games in Montreal on Saturday mornings. It’s women, but our goalies are always men. Free to play, 9am to 10:30am.

    Starts with drills, then a scrimmage.

  20. Jeff
    September 29th, 2011 at 20:39 | #20

    Wow, I’m amazed by the response — this is great! I’ll get in touch with you individually (via the email address you left in your comment) as I get closer to your respective locations.

    Thanks a bunch!

  21. Nick
    September 29th, 2011 at 22:17 | #21

    Hey i also read your story on puck daddy, i love this. you are the man. id love to share ice with you if you come to new jersey, theres rinks all over by me. my friends and i would be honored

  22. Peter
    September 30th, 2011 at 14:30 | #22

    Austin Texas!!! Got a great beer league here and a ton of drop ins. Might be able to schedule one just for you. Two sheets of ice we have are closing at the end of November, but there will still be at least 2 more availble. Let me know when you come through, would love to be a part of your quest!!!

  23. Bill
    September 30th, 2011 at 16:04 | #23

    I used to go to school at the University of Maryland in College Park. I lived at a firehouse not far from there. We had a firehouse team and played in a couple charity things a year, Most of the guys are still in the area and play regularly, although I moved home. Anyway there’s a great rink in Rockville. I could make a call to some of my boys if your in a pinch. They might even be willing to put you up in the firehouse, maybe. Rules and Regs have changed a bit, so I dunno.

  24. Julian
    September 30th, 2011 at 16:19 | #24

    Hey, great story! I see you’re coming through Toronto soon, if you need a place to crash, my girlfriend and I have a couch you can use in our apartment. I can help you find some hockey too if you need to, though it’s really not hard to find shinny or stick and puck times here in Toronto. Email me if you’re interested….

  25. jacob
    September 30th, 2011 at 19:22 | #25

    any of thr dr pepper starscenters in dallas! check out dates for pick up at drpepperstarcenter.com!

  26. jacob
    September 30th, 2011 at 19:25 | #26

    oops my email is the gmail one!

  27. roman
    September 30th, 2011 at 23:31 | #27

    in new york come to nyc in Manhattan chelsea piers open hockey Monday-Friday at noon every day your guaranteed to get a chance to play

  28. Eric
    October 1st, 2011 at 08:28 | #28

    Hey Jeff – great idea. Let me know when you’ll be in the hockey hotbed of Delaware. We’ve got a great group of guys who skate every Tuesday and Friday morning in Newark DE (5 mins from I-95). I’m sure the boys would be happy to have you.

  29. Gus
    October 1st, 2011 at 17:24 | #29

    Amazing idea, good luck in your travels, when you make it to Massachusetts, I play with about 10-15 guys pick up hockey saturday nights we range from college level, to guys who always wanted to play and just picked up the sport! a great cross section of talent and people!

  30. Scot
    October 2nd, 2011 at 21:52 | #30

    If your travel has you in Massachusetts on a Monday night we have a good pickup hour about 25 miles north of Boston. Just let me know and we’ll fit you in. Best of luck and safe travels.

  31. Vimal P.
    October 5th, 2011 at 20:30 | #31

    Hey Jeff,

    When you hit Montreal there’s plenty of Hockey around the city from pickup to organized. There is also shinny Hockey around many arenas and shinny Hockey offered at my university, Concordia. The ones I usually attend are over here, http://www.sportplexe.ca/act_hl-eng.html . Just click on the shinny Hockey schedule for the time listings and there’s plenty of players for competitive games. Really fascinated by your story and adventure and it’s something I want to do across Canada as well haha! Anyways wherever you do decide to go , I hope you take my suggestions into consideration and let me know what you decide, really look forward to getting some pucks past you 😛 haha!
    Take Care, Have fun!
    Vimal

  32. Jeff
    October 14th, 2011 at 18:41 | #32

    @Vimal P. Thanks for the fun game in Montreal and for educating me about poutine!

  33. Matt B
    October 14th, 2011 at 21:50 | #33

    @Jeff I want to take some credit for my half assed attempt at explaining poutine.

  34. Jeff
    October 14th, 2011 at 21:56 | #34

    @Matt B Haha, fair enough, though I think the gist of your advice was, “try it in Montreal.” 🙂

  35. Brian oconnor
    October 14th, 2011 at 22:46 | #35

    Jeff,

    Love your trek! I live in Palm Beach Fl. Have a place for you to stay and a rink a mile away. Pick up or league night, am sure we can get you in. Email me if you think you will come this far down state.

  36. October 16th, 2011 at 12:51 | #36

    Come to Little Rock & play with the Rusty Blades or the other adult league!! I’ll get you in a game for sure!! We have league games Sundays, Wednesdays & Thursdays, and drop-in/pickup games Mondays & Tuesdays!!

  37. October 20th, 2011 at 18:44 | #37

    I schedule the goalies for hockey in Biloxi. If I can help let me know.

  38. Jeff
    October 26th, 2011 at 00:42 | #38

    Thanks again, everybody, for the tips! As I mentioned earlier, I’ll respond to you individually via email when I get close to your respective locations.

  39. Chris M
    October 26th, 2011 at 14:09 | #39

    Hey bud…saw your story on our MASS goalies Facebook. If you need a game tonight in Hudson, NH you can fill in for me. I’m at a business conference and can’t play. It’s a C/D league game, but it’s a game! Let me know and best of luck!

  40. Drew
    October 27th, 2011 at 10:36 | #40

    Jeff,

    Love reading your blog, and I hope I get to play with ya when you come down to central Florida. Particularly Sanford or Maitland, FL, 15-20 minutes north of Orlando. I haven’t been able to play as much as I would have liked due to picking up a full-time job, but I try to skate at least when I can.

  41. Tom Hunt
    October 31st, 2011 at 23:07 | #41

    Jeff,

    Hello, I’m a former Fridley resident and Medtronic employee. I moved out to Northern Virginia outside of D.C. and noticed you were looking to play some hockey. I help coach a bantam team and let me know if you are planning on making it to the area I can help set you up.

    Regards,

    Tom Hunt

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