In 2010 when the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup I promised myself that the next time they won I would learn to play hockey. I'm think I also promised myself a pair of in-line skates.So, in 2013 when the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Boston Bruins to win the Stanley Cup again I immediately said I would have to learn to play the game.
I'm here to tell you now that it is not a cheap game to play. With everything else going on in my life I just don't have the time or money to do this.
I started looking around to see how we could play hockey without actually learning to skate and all the other expense. I hit upon Knee Hockey, and I still want to set some things up so we can play that. It will be a good indoor activity in the winter.
In the meantime I came up with something based on some web searches I did. I took the lid of a cardboard box and a plastic coathanger. I marked lines on the lid, cut goal holes and cut down the hanger into sticks.
Using a quarter or nickel works great. We haven't decided which one we prefer.
We start by placing the coin in the center and tapping sticks three times. There are few rules:
- If a play knocks the coin out of play the other player gets a penalty shot from the redline (open goal).
- If a player plays the coin when it is behind the other player's blue line that player gets a penalty shot.
- No fingers
- Play nice.
It has been loads of fun. I think it is actually more fun than air hockey because there seems to be less random whacking at the puck, and the bluelines add more hockey-ness to it.
My only regret is that it is only for two players.
