Recently moved here, been trying to find a hockey group to play with. Grew up playing hockey so I’m ok with the basics. Really cant seem to find anything online. Does anyone here have any good recommendations?
Not looking for anythin super serious, but I wouldnt be opposed to small tournaments and such.
Posted Nov 26, 2019, 6:28 PM UTC
I moved here in July 2018 and had the same issue. As mentioned in an another comment, Sun Prairie has a good weekly open. Unfortunately since youth hockey has start back the start times have been really late.
I did the C league at SP as well and it was a good time, but too much of a mixed bag skill wise as I would have liked and I wasn’t big on playing Friday nights. Now doing the B league and it’s the most fun I’ve had in a league.
Madison Ice also has a Tuesday 3 on 3 league that is a blast. I was randomly placed on a team at first and that’s how I met my group of friends here.
There aren’t many open hockeys I have seen beyond Sun Prairie though which is disappointing. Waunakee will have them sometimes but it’s mostly just been high school kids that pass to eachother. Winter is where it’s at though with the ODRs. I had several good nights playing pickup at Westmorland Park last winter. Feel free to DM if you have any specific questions
I've played open hockey at the Sun Prairie Ice Arena. The group that plays there is great. Lots of good people. Also look into the Sun Prairie Ice Arena's C-League and D-League. Those leagues are also filled with wonderful people to play with.
Waunakee is probably best bang for your buck. I play in the “beginner” league and can keep up with c-league regulars in sun prairie. There’s unfortunately not a lot of hockey to be played if you are over the age of 18 and are not an A level player. Sunday skates at the shell are alright but it’s the same people every week so if you aren’t friends with them you usually don’t get to play. Never played in the sun prairie leagues only because it isn’t worth the high fee and over an hour of driving from Verona. We could probably get a decent Madison reddit hockey league together for adults who want to play semi casually on an organized team.
i play in a couple of groups in the area, most everyone has played competitively growing up, we're not ex-pros or anything, but we're on the higher-end of skill level, so if you grew up playing that sounds like a better fit than some of the beginner groups people are posting...DM me and i can give you more info
There are a few nice ice rinks in town (a simple google search works) they probably can give you good info on it.
Unfortunately if you aren’t a top level skater or a kid, you aren’t able to play at most rinks in Madison.
This area is kind of weird in that there's not a whole lot of open/drop-in hockey compared to how many rinks and hockey players there are in such a small area. As mentioned, Sun Prairie has regular sessions, and the other regular game I know of is at the Shell (Camp Randall Sports Center) at UW. Unless something has changed recently, you don't have to be a student to use the rink - just show up and pay the fee ($6 for non-members) as you would at a normal rink.
I haven't played pick-up there in about five years, as I've been playing with the Sunday night group in McFarland (Mad City Hockey League - I can give you more info about that if you're curious), so it may have changed in the last few years. However, I remember it being a pretty high pace on average, and generally quite full to start with, with people gradually leaving after the first hour or so.
There's also the BoMarli hockey group, which plays in Oregon is open to whomever, but hard to find. They do have a web page for their skills & drills sessions with an email address you can contact to ask more. They play 2 pickup games per week (separate from the aforementioned skills session), an early "beginner-friendly" game (adjust accordingly if you're higher-level) and a faster game following that. It costs $10. The tricky thing is that it's all done through SignupGenius links (this week's link - once you sign up, you'll be on their mailing list and get the updates each week.
Those pick-up options (and when the weather gets right, pond hockey!) could tide you over while you look for spring/summer registration to open up in the various adult leagues, if that's what you're looking for. I'm not too familiar with everything around town, so it may be worth it to reach out to the point of contact at the area rinks to find information about adult hockey and if they take "free agents." (For instance, Verona Ice Arena's website has adult hockey information, but what's visible is information for entire teams to sign up.) Madison Ice Inc owns both Madison Ice Arena (west) and Hartmeyer Ice Arena (east), and [there is definitely adult hockey...but not a lot of information right on the page, but I know a guy who was able to enter the 3-on-3 league (at Madison Ice Arena's studio rink) as an individual.
Edit: For reference in your searching, the indoor public ice facilities in the area are: Madison Ice Arena, Hartmeyer Ice Arena, Capitol Ice Arena (Middleton), The Shell/CRSC (UW), Ice Pond at Waunakee, Verona Ice Arena, Oregon Ice Arena, Sun Prairie Ice Arena, McFarland Community Ice Arena, Mandt Community Center (Stoughton; this one I've never set foot in)
Anyone posting here play in the sp C or D divisions? What’s the pace like?
I've had friends of all persuasions play https://www.madisongayhockey.org/
Yup. This is the it scene for amateur adult hockey in Madison. Don't let the "gay" part trip you up, it's open to anyone who isn't a bigot.
How amateur are we talking? I can hold my own in pickup hockey but I'm usually one of the worst 3 out there.
The MGHA accepts players with no hockey (or even skating) experience at all, so you definitely won't be the least skilled person on the ice. This year, we split into two leagues--a more-skilled competitive league and a lower-level developmental league. Depending on how well you can skate, you might be able to play in the upper-level competitive league.
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i've heard nothing but good things....unless you are a decently-skilled player, then that league is probably beneath you as i had a friend that skates with us a lot (who is below-average for our group) tell me that he went and skated with the MGHA, and while everyone was super nice and welcoming, he skated circles around everyone and decided it was best to not go back
Yes! The MGHA is an awesome bunch. I had never played hockey before I started with them and it's really changed my life.