Why I Started Pylon Hockey (And What I've Learned So Far)

To be honest I dont know where to start, same thing on the ice too-go figure :(

If you’ve ever felt like a traffic cone on the ice, welcome home. That’s exactly how I felt my first few beer league games. I didn’t grow up skating-since Feb. '24 and didnt attend or know anything about hockey until Nov. '23 , I don’t have good edges, and half the time I’m just trying not to crash into the boards—or my teammates. But that’s exactly why I started Pylon Hockey: a place to share honest, practical tips for adult beginners who still feel like pylons out there.

I’ve learned a lot from being the slow guy skating backward and can barely transition, the goalie who gets tired after one RVH, and the player who inevitably wanders out of position. Here are five lessons I’ve picked up so far:

    1.    Stopping is harder than it looks. Outside edge, inside edge, two-foot, one-foot… I still confuse them all. But practicing just a few minutes every session makes a noticeable difference. Honestly I can only stop on my right and hockey stop is still a goal for me.

    2.    Goalies are secretly heroes. Even when your defense is a little… creative, your goalie is the one keeping the scoreboard sane. Respect.

    3.    Skating backward is terrifying. But forward-to-backward transitions at speed are game-changers, even if you wobble like a pylon at first.

    4.    Everyone is willing to help you out, I have learned things from everyone, from the first day skater to an experienced Pro! ASK QUESTIONS!

    5.    Don’t take yourself too seriously. Mistakes happen. Laugh. Learn. Move on. That’s the essence of beer league hockey/Skating. At the end of the day remember why you started on this journey in the first place and HAVE FUN (Unless you started to fight people, then dont do that-seriously-its beer league- no scouts out here)

This site is for people like me: adult players and goalies learning in public, figuring things out, and hoping to improve one small shift at a time. My goal is to share what tips I found useful in skating and in hockey to be a bit better and maybe make you laugh along the way.

Hopefully we can work to become at least a pylon that gets in the way.

LETS GO