Lets play hockey!
No one is born a player, some start young, some much later, hockey is hockey that is why we love it.
I took the Discover Hockey program about two years ago, and have been a part of the same team since. I have nothing but gratitude for the opportunities the program has given me as an adult to fulfill my childhood dreams to one day learn and play the great sport of organized ice hockey.
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Step 1: Cast your fears and doubts aside
Yes you did not play hockey as a kid, so what? The program is designed for people exactly like you, everyone starts pretty much at the same level of zero experience. The first two ice sessions concentrate on skating, everyone will fall down when learning how to do a hockey stop at least once, that is part of learning! You are immersed in an embarrassment free environment. Typically in a given program we will get one girl for every four guys, so yes you can do it with the boyfriend/girlfriend or husband/wife.
Step 2: Get out on the ice
Just because the program does not start right away, it does not mean you can't prepare for it. The city has lots of public skating available, and the best place in Calgary to get out on skates is the Olympic Oval, admission is $6.50 just don't rent their skates (they are broken down and have no ankle support). Get your own pair, even if you don't end up taking the program you can still always go public skating, indoors or outdoors. You don't have to spend a lot of money on your first pair either, anything with good ankle support works.
The skate boot should be stiff for proper power transfer during skating. Helmets are mandatory at the Oval and other city rinks, it is a good idea to protect your head, because you will be falling down. If you are not, you are not learning. Of course if you know that you will be taking the program, buy some elbow pads and shin guards, it will save you many bruises when you do fall! When you feel like you are ready to test your mettle on the outdoor hockey rink with the neighbourhood kids, get some gloves and a hockey stick.
Step 3: Take the program
This is the best way to speed up your progress, each session is targeted at particular skill development and is run by qualified instructors. You will learn to skate better, stop better, what it means to tag up for an offside and general game theory. The best part, you are doing it with your friends and at the end of the program, you will play real hockey games, against other people taking the same program. At the end of all this you will be part of a team that will continue playing in a league and will give you a weekly chance to improve your newly acquired hockey abilities.
The beginner program was the perfect introduction for someone like me, with other guys like me. The program taught a lot, and we formed a team. Today I am still on the same team we formed out of the program, in fact the majority of the team is still the same core guys who took the beginner program, 5 years ago.