Out on Long Island, NY, my cousin played a pickup game with a retired Sergei Zubov. Zubov was barely playing at 20%, but was just dumbying everyone, and would fire 80MPH wristers from the point like it was nothing. Pros are just a different breed.
I have a weekly rec league with a group of very experienced player between 25 and 65 years old. We've a guy who played 1-2 NHL exhibition games 20 years ago, and he stands out like he's skating with little girls. Even reaching the plateau of pro hockey puts you at a level that beer leaguers will never come close to.
On a decent beer league team (at least one former European pro on the team) there was a recent AHL guy who subbed in for a game. He was bored by the second period with 4 goals already. We had the best goalie in the league... didn't matter apparently. Playing against, I tried really hard to annoy him when he had the puck but he didn't even look in my direction and countered anything I tried. The skill difference was wild. So much fun to experience that.
I played inline with a guy who was a high level player and who's brother was in the NHL. The skill gap with all us normies was ridiculous, he didn't even really try that hard. Super nice guy though, and worked at making sure everyone felt included!
@@timmie2k3I played roller hockey hard core in the 2000s in michigan and during the nhl lockout in like 03 the hatcher bros were in our league... they played extremely chill tho and barely tried... it was awesome
We have a former European Defenseman marginal pro on our ball hockey team, He decided he would only play goalie for us… I guess because he was too ridiculously outstanding and dominating on the court
Eddie Belfour used to play beer league in Dallas every so often. He actually didn't play in goal, but skated out. That guy was one of the most intense people I have ever seen in my life. He was playing defense, and one of our skaters made a nice move that moved the goalie to the side of the crease, and passed it across. In the time that it took the puck to get there (and everyone else was just watching) Eddie had taken 3 quick strides and FLEW accross the crease and made an old school goalie pad stack save on the guy waiting for the pass. He did this with no goalie gear, and even the goalie was laying there watching him completely astounded at what had just taken place. Absolutely unbelievable. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it. I STILL have a bump on my arm where he slashed me (it was an effin Tomahawk) when I tried to skate the puck around him. I did get around him, but he left me a nice bump on my arm for the rest of my life to remember him by. Also, I think the 16U AAA team would kill you guys. No disrespect but those AAA players in this video were playing at half speed. You guys are pretty good for a beer league team though!
There are some very good beer league players and teams north of the border. Even growing up, the 2 guys on my team that made it and had full NHL careers, weren't even the best players on our team.
Similar story about a friend of mine who played in tournament where retired Oilers/Leafs forward Glenn Anderson (Fastest skater winner/6 time Stanley Cup champion/4 time All star) was on one of the teams. Most of the time these retired pros or even ex college guys are pretty chill when playing post career, and I guess he was a total dick the entire tournament acting like he was playing for another Stanely cup. I guess some of these guys only have 1 speed.
Absolutely true. I WAS a good player when I was younger. Not NHL, but good enough to be a weak player in the lower tier "pro" leagues. Now my Beer League team gets absolutely embarrassed when a couple of Jr A kids show up with their endless stamina.
When i lived in Toronto, from time to time there a kid showed up that just got selected to the OHL. He was about 16 i guess, and he made us all look like fools. I forgot his name, but our group was solid, many players having played on at least some level, but he drove circles around everyone. He was just way more mobile and got more power out of his stride + better hands etc.
Had three guys, played Mn HS together 10 years previous, come out to our beer league game. They claimed none of them had gone on beyond a little D3 college (for one of them only) and they were waaaaaaaay, waaaaaaay better than anything I've seen either here or anywhere except pro vids. They could do stuff I haven't even see many pro do. Like take a bullet two-zone breakout pass, on the fly at full speed and one-time it to their buddy on the tape as a zone entry. Seriously, I assumed they'd all gone some pro level but they claimed not. Most of us div3-4 league players, some ex-Juniors and just made to look like we weren't there. They tic-tac pass-scored on us more times than I can remember. I can't remember anyone even touching the puck when they had it. I think they scored solidly 50% of their possessions. It was brutal and eye-opening
The NHL needs to start showing go pro footage during games. It’s enjoyable enough watching a beer league, imagine watching from the perspective of someone like Connor McDavid or Nikita Kucherov.
I remember watching Coach Jeremy when I first started playing ice hockey in 7th grade (around 2011). Joined the military after graduation and just started playing in a local men's league. Now I have a gut and Coach Jeremy is getting some gray hairs but we're both still at it! Loved this video.
In the place I live we get a lot of former hockey players that were good players, but didn't quite make it to pro, or are finished their careers. They come to work on the oil refineries which there are a lot of in my area. I used to play shinny hockey as a goalie and used to chat with the guys on the bench when it wasn't my turn to be in net and a lot of them were former junior players, or guys that played in college and we had a couple former NHLers. They were all nice guys, they always used to tell me I was doing really good when I wasn't. I was a 5'6" 100lbs female goalie who had no business playing against guys of their caliber. Sometimes they would make a bunch of flashy moves and instead of taking an easy goal, they would just give me the puck and try to make it seem like I made a big save off of them. I knew what they were doing, but I appreciated the sentiment of it.
Fun video. Love the uniforms. I always imagined this myself for our shinny games until one game where an ex-OHLer (who hadn't played for years due to injury) came for one game and schooled us good.
A few years back I had the pleasure of skating the Steve Shutt from the Montreal Canadians in Pensacola (think he was staying in the area for a bit), has a few Stanley Cup rings to boot. Granted he was probably 60ish yrs old but damn he was so good. Two strides and he was passed everyone in our rec league, and his stick handling was so smooth and on point. A whole different level. Super nice and very humble guy.
One thing you’ll notice right away are the passes that are right on the money, especially the long ones . I got the chance to play in a charity game with the elder Pittsburgh Penguins ( Kehoe , Craig Patrick , Giles Meloche ) years ago and I don’t think they put out %100 . What an experience to play with stars you idolized growing up and they still have the talent just not the speed .
In our top Canlan league, college ACHA D1 or AAA kids come out and make teams all the time. Our team’s average age is about 40+ and we crush them. Individually, they’re all great players, but I always feel like kids have something to prove… they’re 18-24 and nobody knows “how good” they are. Two good passes will always get them scrambled and it’s something I look forward to every summer. Watching these kids in warm-ups blazing full speed, bringing their girlfriends on the stands, celebrating after their first early goal… only to lose 8-2. As we take off all of the compression braces we all wear in the locker room, beer never tasted so good.
This is actually what we need more of in society it's good for the kids to be humbled. It's not even in a mean way it's just makes them better people and hockey players. Shows the value of life experience and not being cocky showboats and instead putting the team first.
@@TyCuda I quit beer league because of too many idiots, was sick of getting slashed, cross checked, etc, but I was on a team my first 2 years out of junior (filled with mostly ex-AAA/junior guys), and we’d always get smoked by the older guys. They had all probably played a high level in the past, but they were way slower, worse hands, all that. They’d still dust us. I swear none of them would ever reach full speed but somehow it was always a couple quick passes, 2-1, then they’d score. The hockey IQ was unbelievable lol.
Jeremy, can you please set up a game with a NHL player vs 4 beer league guys? A ton of guys I play hockey with would love to have this debate settled on who would win...
With the Pros, it is evident how many steps in advance they're working mentally. And among mortals, they're not fighting any of the things we don't consider in the moment: our cardio, our nagging this or that, all the little bodily compensations. They have next to zero wasted movement, zero wasted energy, it's a beautiful thing to witness at the ice level, even if you're getting lit up like I was lucky enough to be a few times in SoCal during some offseason ice sessions with Travel Team buds and the random pros who would want to hop on the ice or come in a lil group and ball us up lol.
Yeah AAA is weird because U16 and below all the top talent hasn't gone on to Juniors, whether that's CHL/USHL/NAHL etc. U18AAA is often weaker in my eyes even though the players are more physically developed because of the Juniors talent exodus.
I thought after the first shift you guys were in real trouble but you kept at it! In our 25+ league there can be a huge difference between a 25yo vs a 40yo. After a year or two they settle in and slow down with adult life stuff. I would love to see more of youe beer league games because I only get to play once a week right now.
Awesome game, loved the footage. I cant play it anymore but remembering just how fast and intense ice hockey is gets my blood pumping. I also remember being on MANY teams that didn't have full rosters and I love seeing the benches in your video with just three guys sitting there. And I think that's where your question of could you beat a current AAA team? I don't know brother. If the other team has enough players for short shifts while you guys are out there for twice as long? That's a lot of hustle to keep up with. Loved that chirp from the other team and that one team's sweater that read: "STAY HUNGRY."
Hey CJ. I just played in the OSGA +55 in Orillia last eeek in the Hockey Tourney. We assembled a solid team from our league and went up. We ended up getting schooled by a bunch wan same age +55 and these guys all must have player high level and together for years. Sick breakouts, they knew where each guy was and we played like it was outdoor shinny. True skill and being coached makes a huge difference. But we still had fun! But you realize how many amazing players are out there. Makes you appreciate what it must take to make pro and to be elite.
I'm from Montreal. Larry Robinson used to show up at our rink and play with us. There were quite a few NHL players that played at our park. Lots of fun.
Some thing I had instilled in me playing hockey with friends and family. My dad played hockey on a team. He taught us to help take pressure off the goalie. Use exemptional defense. Stick kinda close to them don't give them much breathing room. I never played on a team just my dad and older brothers did. We played hockey when we go to my grandparents house especially during holiday get together. Also anytime we went to my grandparents house. 🙂❤️
Yeah, mostly the speed. I was a well conditioned athelte back when I played, just not that fast and it became more and more of a liability as I moved up the ranks.
We are all dads in our late 40s playing pickup. One dad brought his u16 aaa son out and he was not even in the same universe as us... Way better probably one if the best players ive been on the ice with other than the canucks alumni...and we all played minor i was house but a bunch played rep...this kid skates circles around us. Its fun to see how incredibly talented these young lads are
I have played vs Christian Due-Boje, Olympics gold winner 1994 and SHL player. I played in a team in Swedish Division 2 (Fourth division). He played in the opposing team, just casually with his friends. They were down 0-3 and he came on and scored 3 goals in 10 minutes, he sat down and chilled almost the remainder of the game and eventually they won 7-5 and he scored 5 goals and assisted 2... The very best are scary good, and he wasn't the very best.
I had a chance to see Jiri Hudler when he was in Calgary back in 2015 score 7 against a rec team. Watching him skate against those decent players was insane difference.
About 20 years ago when I was a beer league rookie we had Andre Dore on our team in Milford CT. Former Ranger for those that don’t know. He completely destroyed everyone on the ice, could score anytime he wanted to. We lost Andre when he beat the hell outta of an entire team I’m talking 12 guys he smoked them all! Our jaws were on the ice haha. Nobody could stop him and he was subsequently thrown outta the league but it was awesome playing a couple games with him. Also the captain from Slapshot played on our team he was a cool guy.
When I was 18, I started to play summer league in net for my Dad's buddies team. Old long haired dudes, beer chugging and smoking in the dressing room. Anyways, they started us off in A division to see where we would get moved to. We never got sent down. The best, was all of my teammates and buddies growing up, had a team too and we never lost to them. Everybody was home from Junior and university. They were stacked. I always take great pride knowing the other goalie, a former NYR draft pick , never beat me as a kid or adult.
Every year the various coaches in our organization puts a team together and plays the junior B team. I had the chance to play a few years ago and it was AWESOME! Fun high scoring affair. I think it ended like 12-7 or something like that but we got the W! Plus I had one of my best games ever and [picked up 5 pts with my kids, wife and the grandparents watching. The young guys didn't quite know what to do because we played non-bodychecking rules, so dad strength ended up winning the day along the boards.
No word of a lie, back in around 1996 I lived very close to an outdoor rink in northern Ontario. A buddy down the street and I would be out there playing every night. Cars would pull in, we'd do 2 on 2, 4 on 4 - you get the idea. One desolate night the captain and assistant of the local team show up (at the time Huntsville Hawks). It wasn't AAA but it wasn't far off, it was the town hockey team. Anyways we went 2 on 2 and me and my buddy destroyed them so bad the captain says "wanna switch up and see what happens" so we did and things were more equal. They pulled out of the outdoor rink in one of their parents Lincoln or whatever and we just laughed to ourselves. If you play a lot you might surprise yourself one day
I watched Bill Fairbairn play in a seniors tournament about 1984. His team won the final 17-2. He scored 15 goals. His skill set was far above the rest of the guys on the ice. Our rec team played against a team made up of guys that all played Junior A, after the game they came and told us that it was the closest game they had. They beat us 10-4, and had 4 skaters (for the entire game) and no goalie...
We had a really good AAA player in our men’s league team for years and he just danced everybody like they were standing still. I played against him at scrimmages from time to time and once I stole the puck off of him. So he politely looked behind him and took it back lol.
played in a pick up beer league for a couple of seasons with Manny Fernandez, former Minnesota NHL goaltender. He was playing center, and was destroying everyone.
Love the beer leagues, I travel hockey with club. 40 years young and still ripping. I will say, I love how you use the boards to your advantage. quite a bit. you made a couple of mistakes but you know what, so did they. Also, I have not attempted a slapper in years. To this day my wrister is faster and more accurate so for me, I say use the tools that I have. Now you did put that top corner cheesey, but what a save by the tendy. Nice work on the vid. Quick question, is your head down or was the GP mounted and angled down?
Nice Win.! My daughter played boys double AA in Ottawa for 4 years until she was 15, we had her and a few of her teammates come out and play against out beer league team and they kicked our asses! Their superior cardio and hands were way too much. My daughter scored twice on my super competive goalie friend lol. All my buddies were blown way how good my daughter was. She also made the boyz High School Varsity team when she was in grade 10 so she was a amazing player. I miss watching her play. Take care.
5 years is a long time for terrible habits and laziness to take effect. I know because I saw it happen with my men's league team that was full of AAA and a few AA players before aging up to mens leagues.
I played AAA from when I turned 8 until I was drafted at 16. I don't see any skaters on that rink that would come anywhere close to making a AAA team that i've played on or against.
This is fun. As a former scrub level player I would expect that a noticeable difference is with goaltending. It seems that most goalies that played even mid-level competition are very good with positioning and are hard to beat one on one, you usually rely on re-directions and quick cross-ice relays.
Good luck. I played a AAA U16 team for fun about 5 yrs ago and they smoked us. It's incredible how far hockey development has come. Great to see the talent of the youth coming up
From my experience playing against a Jr.C team in ball hockey with a group of dads. The stamina they have is absolutely crazy in comparison and just run/skate circles around you lol
As a former AAA player, emphasis on former, I can admit playing beer league is kind of an eye opener. The play is so random, you think systems and positioning will work, you learn quickly none of that stuff exists anymore! You are used to getting into position on the ice, read and reacting to plays that now no longer happen. Have to adjust to the beer league system!
A few years ago my son played beer league with a lot of his buddy's he played AAA with. His first year of beer league I asked him why he only scored 2 goals and he says "Oh dad, the old guys take game way too serious". BTW Coach, my kids use to love watching your hockey videos back in the day!
I remember my first beer league games after playing Jr. Me and my friend moved the puck around, got tons of good looks and I'm guessing a bunch of goals. One of the beer league guys, I guess got frustrated and slashed me across the wrist. I thought he had broken my wrist but adrenaline kicked in and I started swinging. He turtled. Next game we played them, he took off his cage so he could fight me. I quit beer league for about 10 yrs after that. Not worth it. There is some big idiots (or at least used to be) in beer league.
Once played in a men's league game against a team with a former NHL player on the roster. I forget his name, but he was literally wearing his Coyotes pants in the game. He wasn't an NHL regular, but still played in the show. Dude was big and had to put zero effort into the game. To his and the other teams credit he stayed back on defense and didn't really even shoot on net. He was just gliding around everyone and passing the puck.
My son's beer league team is all very high level AA players that played some type of college hockey. They are pretty good and would give the local AAA players a very good game.
during early covid, when the university went remote, a lot of Uni players came home to our small town and joined our mens league. They were so good haha One kid was playing for University of Ottawa, and he felt like playing against a pro
This looked like C+ division beer league to me. I gravitated up to B (which was faster and more skilled) but I was still skating with them and scoring. Up until I popped my right kneecap for the second time. With the heavy-duty Bregg knee brace, I never skated the same, and dropped back to C+. Never played A, but there were a lot of guys who played NCAA and even a few who played a few years in the ECHL until they blew out a knee or shoulder, or what have you-but never made it for long as a professional hockey player, so they work as plumbers, electricians, cops, teachers, accountants, and even an ER doctor on one-by day, and play in A division by night. I guess these distinctions are different in Canada. I’m not sure what AAA is supposed to look like.
I once played a drop in against a former (and old) player from the Czech Elite League. Holy smokes. The dude could cover the whole rink in what seemed like 3 strides. And this was not even a star-caliber player by the Czech league standards. Also, I love their jerseys.
@CoachJeremy hey coach, my shot is weird, off ice i can do high intensity, shoot of pass ect and with accuracy(literally sniping) but when I get on ice my shot sucks, the puck goes slow and wobbles in the air as I score a field goal from the top of the circle. I am 14 Defenseman ( my slap shot is fire though).
Depends on your conditioning level (and age). Obviously these guys are in their early 20s, huge advantage. I found a big difference when I was 45+ and playing guys 2 yrs removed from Jr.
I started bring my son who was Pee Wee AAA to my Army team shinny. At first they thought he would get hurt. It didn’t take my buddies long to learn that he was as good as most and faster than all.
I played in a hockey tournament that ranged from level A players which where ex nhlers and d 1 college to level c3 which was no college player supposed to be beer league. We played in the c3 division and proceeded to get absolutely destroyed losing every game by at least 10. No fun
This basically happened to us (here in Colorado) with a short bench once. Saw a guy with distinct socks. Ask between periods, "are those Florida Everblades socks?" He replies, "yeah, I played with them for a couple seasons after I got traded from the (Colorado) Eagles." Come to find out, most of these dudes played a season or two with the Eagles (Avalanche feeder team) or the 'Blades (Panthers feeder team). We got curbed stomped. It wasn't even fun.
Hey coach Jeremy, im a Toronto fan, and I was wondering what your thoughts are on grip tape because I’m gonna try it out so I wanna know your thoughts and great videos by the way man
Best player I ever played against in beer league was Eric Daze. He was 38 (I think), I was 42. Guy was unbelievable and his reach.. WOW!! I've played against many exNHLers (& a bunch of pros) but Daze was easily the best.
Depends on different factors how good is the AAA team and how good is the men’s league team also what level men’s league are you talking my adult league has former pro players from Europe and other leagues at the top level so if they play a low level AAA team they would blow them out of the rink but some of the D level teams would get destroyed so it really just depends on numerous factors
Out on Long Island, NY, my cousin played a pickup game with a retired Sergei Zubov. Zubov was barely playing at 20%, but was just dumbying everyone, and would fire 80MPH wristers from the point like it was nothing. Pros are just a different breed.
I have a weekly rec league with a group of very experienced player between 25 and 65 years old. We've a guy who played 1-2 NHL exhibition games 20 years ago, and he stands out like he's skating with little girls.
Even reaching the plateau of pro hockey puts you at a level that beer leaguers will never come close to.
On a decent beer league team (at least one former European pro on the team) there was a recent AHL guy who subbed in for a game. He was bored by the second period with 4 goals already. We had the best goalie in the league... didn't matter apparently. Playing against, I tried really hard to annoy him when he had the puck but he didn't even look in my direction and countered anything I tried. The skill difference was wild. So much fun to experience that.
I played inline with a guy who was a high level player and who's brother was in the NHL. The skill gap with all us normies was ridiculous, he didn't even really try that hard. Super nice guy though, and worked at making sure everyone felt included!
@@timmie2k3I played roller hockey hard core in the 2000s in michigan and during the nhl lockout in like 03 the hatcher bros were in our league... they played extremely chill tho and barely tried... it was awesome
We have a former European Defenseman marginal pro on our ball hockey team, He decided he would only play goalie for us… I guess because he was too ridiculously outstanding and dominating on the court
I play hockey in Holland and we just got a AAA goalie for a few weeks and he is just so good
The difference between Holland and AAA is just insane
I played in the Dutch EIite for Den Haag many moons ago..
Eddie Belfour used to play beer league in Dallas every so often. He actually didn't play in goal, but skated out. That guy was one of the most intense people I have ever seen in my life. He was playing defense, and one of our skaters made a nice move that moved the goalie to the side of the crease, and passed it across. In the time that it took the puck to get there (and everyone else was just watching) Eddie had taken 3 quick strides and FLEW accross the crease and made an old school goalie pad stack save on the guy waiting for the pass. He did this with no goalie gear, and even the goalie was laying there watching him completely astounded at what had just taken place. Absolutely unbelievable. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it. I STILL have a bump on my arm where he slashed me (it was an effin Tomahawk) when I tried to skate the puck around him. I did get around him, but he left me a nice bump on my arm for the rest of my life to remember him by. Also, I think the 16U AAA team would kill you guys. No disrespect but those AAA players in this video were playing at half speed. You guys are pretty good for a beer league team though!
There are some very good beer league players and teams north of the border. Even growing up, the 2 guys on my team that made it and had full NHL careers, weren't even the best players on our team.
Similar story about a friend of mine who played in tournament where retired Oilers/Leafs forward Glenn Anderson (Fastest skater winner/6 time Stanley Cup champion/4 time All star) was on one of the teams. Most of the time these retired pros or even ex college guys are pretty chill when playing post career, and I guess he was a total dick the entire tournament acting like he was playing for another Stanely cup. I guess some of these guys only have 1 speed.
Any top 50 AAA 15u team would absolutely smash both of these teams..
Absolutely true. I WAS a good player when I was younger. Not NHL, but good enough to be a weak player in the lower tier "pro" leagues. Now my Beer League team gets absolutely embarrassed when a couple of Jr A kids show up with their endless stamina.
yeah I remember going out with bear league guys when I was 17 and blasting around..... now I get blasted around at 35 lol@@ericwebber7924
@@ericwebber7924nah you probably WERENT a good hockey player if you have to let people know you were a “good hockey player”
When i lived in Toronto, from time to time there a kid showed up that just got selected to the OHL. He was about 16 i guess, and he made us all look like fools. I forgot his name, but our group was solid, many players having played on at least some level, but he drove circles around everyone.
He was just way more mobile and got more power out of his stride + better hands etc.
@@devonshepherd176that doesn't make any sense. Are we supposed to know what skill level he was at without him telling us?
Wow, this is the most gentleman game I've seen in beer league hockey. no slashing, hooking or just being idiots.
Hockey played the right way!
Because they are actually good lol
maybe you should pick up tennis then if you're scared of contact
@@Cbagadagait’s beer league not aaa
they need to make a flag hockey for you guys so you don't get hurt. @@shanemcadams5790
Because they aren't C league benders
Had three guys, played Mn HS together 10 years previous, come out to our beer league game. They claimed none of them had gone on beyond a little D3 college (for one of them only) and they were waaaaaaaay, waaaaaaay better than anything I've seen either here or anywhere except pro vids. They could do stuff I haven't even see many pro do. Like take a bullet two-zone breakout pass, on the fly at full speed and one-time it to their buddy on the tape as a zone entry. Seriously, I assumed they'd all gone some pro level but they claimed not. Most of us div3-4 league players, some ex-Juniors and just made to look like we weren't there. They tic-tac pass-scored on us more times than I can remember. I can't remember anyone even touching the puck when they had it. I think they scored solidly 50% of their possessions. It was brutal and eye-opening
MN HS teams would dust AAA teams anyday of the week. MN HS hockey is a different breed.
The NHL needs to start showing go pro footage during games. It’s enjoyable enough watching a beer league, imagine watching from the perspective of someone like Connor McDavid or Nikita Kucherov.
I remember watching Coach Jeremy when I first started playing ice hockey in 7th grade (around 2011). Joined the military after graduation and just started playing in a local men's league. Now I have a gut and Coach Jeremy is getting some gray hairs but we're both still at it! Loved this video.
BTW the AAA team they played on was the North Central Predators U18 AAA. Zac Bell was on that squad (alwayshockey)
I didn't know Bell was in AAA. That's so cool
Ok see I thought it was Jr Preds because I saw the logo but thanks for the info
That's the weakest AAA team I've ever seen. So..... AA here is better than AAA there for sure.
@@668771 lol half a aaa team, that wasn't putting any effort in, no hitting either.. 5 years after the fact too...
It's basically juvenile hockey. At 18 they should all be in junior @@OGT4204
In the place I live we get a lot of former hockey players that were good players, but didn't quite make it to pro, or are finished their careers. They come to work on the oil refineries which there are a lot of in my area. I used to play shinny hockey as a goalie and used to chat with the guys on the bench when it wasn't my turn to be in net and a lot of them were former junior players, or guys that played in college and we had a couple former NHLers. They were all nice guys, they always used to tell me I was doing really good when I wasn't. I was a 5'6" 100lbs female goalie who had no business playing against guys of their caliber. Sometimes they would make a bunch of flashy moves and instead of taking an easy goal, they would just give me the puck and try to make it seem like I made a big save off of them. I knew what they were doing, but I appreciated the sentiment of it.
I'm just impressed that each team has matching jerseys
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Fun video. Love the uniforms. I always imagined this myself for our shinny games until one game where an ex-OHLer (who hadn't played for years due to injury) came for one game and schooled us good.
A few years back I had the pleasure of skating the Steve Shutt from the Montreal Canadians in Pensacola (think he was staying in the area for a bit), has a few Stanley Cup rings to boot. Granted he was probably 60ish yrs old but damn he was so good. Two strides and he was passed everyone in our rec league, and his stick handling was so smooth and on point. A whole different level. Super nice and very humble guy.
One thing you’ll notice right away are the passes that are right on the money, especially the long ones . I got the chance to play in a charity game with the elder Pittsburgh Penguins ( Kehoe , Craig Patrick , Giles Meloche ) years ago and I don’t think they put out %100 . What an experience to play with stars you idolized growing up and they still have the talent just not the speed .
In our top Canlan league, college ACHA D1 or AAA kids come out and make teams all the time. Our team’s average age is about 40+ and we crush them. Individually, they’re all great players, but I always feel like kids have something to prove… they’re 18-24 and nobody knows “how good” they are. Two good passes will always get them scrambled and it’s something I look forward to every summer. Watching these kids in warm-ups blazing full speed, bringing their girlfriends on the stands, celebrating after their first early goal… only to lose 8-2. As we take off all of the compression braces we all wear in the locker room, beer never tasted so good.
what Canlan league do you play out of? and what division?
@@casualgamer1991 LOL dude as soon a he said Canlan you know its house level. A.
This is actually what we need more of in society it's good for the kids to be humbled. It's not even in a mean way it's just makes them better people and hockey players. Shows the value of life experience and not being cocky showboats and instead putting the team first.
@@TyCuda I quit beer league because of too many idiots, was sick of getting slashed, cross checked, etc, but I was on a team my first 2 years out of junior (filled with mostly ex-AAA/junior guys), and we’d always get smoked by the older guys. They had all probably played a high level in the past, but they were way slower, worse hands, all that. They’d still dust us. I swear none of them would ever reach full speed but somehow it was always a couple quick passes, 2-1, then they’d score. The hockey IQ was unbelievable lol.
Jeremy, can you please set up a game with a NHL player vs 4 beer league guys? A ton of guys I play hockey with would love to have this debate settled on who would win...
I will make this happen
@@CoachJeremy man of the people
That’s a tough one. Even an NHL player needs some help.
4 v 1? depends how long you’re playing…. no one has a bottomless gas tank so even 2 periods i’m going with beer league
Give the 1 nhl player a bit of a chance first goal wins . I think the pro could win that
With the Pros, it is evident how many steps in advance they're working mentally. And among mortals, they're not fighting any of the things we don't consider in the moment: our cardio, our nagging this or that, all the little bodily compensations. They have next to zero wasted movement, zero wasted energy, it's a beautiful thing to witness at the ice level, even if you're getting lit up like I was lucky enough to be a few times in SoCal during some offseason ice sessions with Travel Team buds and the random pros who would want to hop on the ice or come in a lil group and ball us up lol.
is it just the go pro effect or the ice is almost 3v3 size?
Go Pro, plus neither of the teams being that fast.
that was not a AAA team. Most of those playerrs looked like house leaguers at best.
Nah, our men’s league team is just elite like that
@@CoachJeremy💯
Literally showed the stats 🤡
@@HoesLoveCoCo Clearly you have never seen a AAA U16 team play.. Most these dudes never played A hockey.. This is dog water !
@@kylemacdonell1450 showed the stats 🤷🏻♂️
A current U16AAA may have some potential 1st rounders to the O. Might be hard to contain lol
Yeah AAA is weird because U16 and below all the top talent hasn't gone on to Juniors, whether that's CHL/USHL/NAHL etc. U18AAA is often weaker in my eyes even though the players are more physically developed because of the Juniors talent exodus.
i like how you showed stammers elite prospects page for the scouting report
He was out there didn’t you see
Dude the breakdown at 9:14 is hilarious hahaha
I thought after the first shift you guys were in real trouble but you kept at it! In our 25+ league there can be a huge difference between a 25yo vs a 40yo. After a year or two they settle in and slow down with adult life stuff. I would love to see more of youe beer league games because I only get to play once a week right now.
“We’re really good at playing to the level of who we’re playing against” 😂
these guys dont look AAA
Awesome game, loved the footage. I cant play it anymore but remembering just how fast and intense ice hockey is gets my blood pumping. I also remember being on MANY teams that didn't have full rosters and I love seeing the benches in your video with just three guys sitting there. And I think that's where your question of could you beat a current AAA team? I don't know brother. If the other team has enough players for short shifts while you guys are out there for twice as long? That's a lot of hustle to keep up with.
Loved that chirp from the other team and that one team's sweater that read: "STAY HUNGRY."
My beer league team in Toon town beat the blades summer team. We were no slouch though, all a mix of junior A and B players we had.
Hey CJ. I just played in the OSGA +55 in Orillia last eeek in the Hockey Tourney. We assembled a solid team from our league and went up. We ended up getting schooled by a bunch wan same age +55 and these guys all must have player high level and together for years. Sick breakouts, they knew where each guy was and we played like it was outdoor shinny. True skill and being coached makes a huge difference. But we still had fun! But you realize how many amazing players are out there. Makes you appreciate what it must take to make pro and to be elite.
I'm from Montreal. Larry Robinson used to show up at our rink and play with us. There were quite a few NHL players that played at our park. Lots of fun.
Some thing I had instilled in me playing hockey with friends and family. My dad played hockey on a team. He taught us to help take pressure off the goalie. Use exemptional defense. Stick kinda close to them don't give them much breathing room. I never played on a team just my dad and older brothers did. We played hockey when we go to my grandparents house especially during holiday get together. Also anytime we went to my grandparents house. 🙂❤️
My nephew's AAA from Sudbury would probably win.
The conditioning and constant speed would eventually over run a typical men's league.
Yeah, mostly the speed. I was a well conditioned athelte back when I played, just not that fast and it became more and more of a liability as I moved up the ranks.
"we're really good at playing to the level of who were playing against" is something you hear at every beer league
We are all dads in our late 40s playing pickup. One dad brought his u16 aaa son out and he was not even in the same universe as us... Way better probably one if the best players ive been on the ice with other than the canucks alumni...and we all played minor i was house but a bunch played rep...this kid skates circles around us. Its fun to see how incredibly talented these young lads are
NO WAY 9:54 wearing a colts jersey!! I love that, used to play AAA for barrie colts ♥♥
Ooo finaly a new video i was waiting for this since the last one
I manage my son's team, the U15 North Central Predators...up for a show down??
Let’s go!
Shoot me a DM on insta
Done @@CoachJeremy
U15 😂😂😂
@@Looolomfg you've obviously never seen a u15 aaa team play hockey....
I really need digestive help-actually a useful sponsor plug, appreciate it!
I have played vs Christian Due-Boje, Olympics gold winner 1994 and SHL player. I played in a team in Swedish Division 2 (Fourth division).
He played in the opposing team, just casually with his friends. They were down 0-3 and he came on and scored 3 goals in 10 minutes, he sat down and chilled almost the remainder of the game and eventually they won 7-5 and he scored 5 goals and assisted 2...
The very best are scary good, and he wasn't the very best.
The algorithm blesses me yet again with a local video. Crushed Innisfil at the Bradford blue and gold tourney years ago
I had a chance to see Jiri Hudler when he was in Calgary back in 2015 score 7 against a rec team. Watching him skate against those decent players was insane difference.
well done great passing in that game overall and nice slapper by you at the end there!
About 20 years ago when I was a beer league rookie we had Andre Dore on our team in Milford CT. Former Ranger for those that don’t know. He completely destroyed everyone on the ice, could score anytime he wanted to. We lost Andre when he beat the hell outta of an entire team I’m talking 12 guys he smoked them all! Our jaws were on the ice haha. Nobody could stop him and he was subsequently thrown outta the league but it was awesome playing a couple games with him. Also the captain from Slapshot played on our team he was a cool guy.
Where’s Haden and why the jerseys different from the old paint cans
When I was 18, I started to play summer league in net for my Dad's buddies team. Old long haired dudes, beer chugging and smoking in the dressing room. Anyways, they started us off in A division to see where we would get moved to. We never got sent down. The best, was all of my teammates and buddies growing up, had a team too and we never lost to them. Everybody was home from Junior and university. They were stacked. I always take great pride knowing the other goalie, a former NYR draft pick , never beat me as a kid or adult.
Every year the various coaches in our organization puts a team together and plays the junior B team. I had the chance to play a few years ago and it was AWESOME! Fun high scoring affair. I think it ended like 12-7 or something like that but we got the W! Plus I had one of my best games ever and [picked up 5 pts with my kids, wife and the grandparents watching. The young guys didn't quite know what to do because we played non-bodychecking rules, so dad strength ended up winning the day along the boards.
No word of a lie, back in around 1996 I lived very close to an outdoor rink in northern Ontario. A buddy down the street and I would be out there playing every night. Cars would pull in, we'd do 2 on 2, 4 on 4 - you get the idea. One desolate night the captain and assistant of the local team show up (at the time Huntsville Hawks). It wasn't AAA but it wasn't far off, it was the town hockey team. Anyways we went 2 on 2 and me and my buddy destroyed them so bad the captain says "wanna switch up and see what happens" so we did and things were more equal. They pulled out of the outdoor rink in one of their parents Lincoln or whatever and we just laughed to ourselves. If you play a lot you might surprise yourself one day
the youth would say, no cap, but I call cap.
I watched Bill Fairbairn play in a seniors tournament about 1984. His team won the final 17-2. He scored 15 goals. His skill set was far above the rest of the guys on the ice.
Our rec team played against a team made up of guys that all played Junior A, after the game they came and told us that it was the closest game they had. They beat us 10-4, and had 4 skaters (for the entire game) and no goalie...
Played minor AAA and Jr.A in Detroit and since then lot's of men's leagues in different states. This is a GA AAA v upstate NY men's beer league.
I once played in a pickup game with Pokey Reddick. Pokey skated out while wearing his goalie skates. Phenomenal athlete.
We had a really good AAA player in our men’s league team for years and he just danced everybody like they were standing still. I played against him at scrimmages from time to time and once I stole the puck off of him. So he politely looked behind him and took it back lol.
played in a pick up beer league for a couple of seasons with Manny Fernandez, former Minnesota NHL goaltender. He was playing center, and was destroying everyone.
Been waiting for a new vid to drop brotha man!
Love the beer leagues, I travel hockey with club. 40 years young and still ripping. I will say, I love how you use the boards to your advantage. quite a bit. you made a couple of mistakes but you know what, so did they. Also, I have not attempted a slapper in years. To this day my wrister is faster and more accurate so for me, I say use the tools that I have. Now you did put that top corner cheesey, but what a save by the tendy. Nice work on the vid. Quick question, is your head down or was the GP mounted and angled down?
Saw you were playing in Innisfil... take the boys out to watch this years Barrie Colts U16AAA team play and let me know if you think you can win
Been there, done that, thought It was close for mayyyyybe the first 15 minutes, then it was the borderline heartattack feeling, lmao.
Nice Win.! My daughter played boys double AA in Ottawa for 4 years until she was 15, we had her and a few of her teammates come out and play against out beer league team and they kicked our asses! Their superior cardio and hands were way too much. My daughter scored twice on my super competive goalie friend lol. All my buddies were blown way how good my daughter was. She also made the boyz High School Varsity team when she was in grade 10 so she was a amazing player. I miss watching her play. Take care.
That was fun to watch Jeremy. Get the AAA kiddos and a defibrillator ready
5 years is a long time for terrible habits and laziness to take effect. I know because I saw it happen with my men's league team that was full of AAA and a few AA players before aging up to mens leagues.
I played AAA from when I turned 8 until I was drafted at 16. I don't see any skaters on that rink that would come anywhere close to making a AAA team that i've played on or against.
This is fun. As a former scrub level player I would expect that a noticeable difference is with goaltending. It seems that most goalies that played even mid-level competition are very good with positioning and are hard to beat one on one, you usually rely on re-directions and quick cross-ice relays.
Good luck. I played a AAA U16 team for fun about 5 yrs ago and they smoked us. It's incredible how far hockey development has come. Great to see the talent of the youth coming up
From my experience playing against a Jr.C team in ball hockey with a group of dads. The stamina they have is absolutely crazy in comparison and just run/skate circles around you lol
As a former AAA player, emphasis on former, I can admit playing beer league is kind of an eye opener. The play is so random, you think systems and positioning will work, you learn quickly none of that stuff exists anymore! You are used to getting into position on the ice, read and reacting to plays that now no longer happen. Have to adjust to the beer league system!
Very true. The beer league system is "go where your teammate isn't". Pure chaos.
A few years ago my son played beer league with a lot of his buddy's he played AAA with. His first year of beer league I asked him why he only scored 2 goals and he says "Oh dad, the old guys take game way too serious". BTW Coach, my kids use to love watching your hockey videos back in the day!
I remember my first beer league games after playing Jr. Me and my friend moved the puck around, got tons of good looks and I'm guessing a bunch of goals. One of the beer league guys, I guess got frustrated and slashed me across the wrist. I thought he had broken my wrist but adrenaline kicked in and I started swinging. He turtled. Next game we played them, he took off his cage so he could fight me. I quit beer league for about 10 yrs after that. Not worth it. There is some big idiots (or at least used to be) in beer league.
Ngl the slapper you had "labeled for top left" was def high and wide but i respect the confidence
Once played in a men's league game against a team with a former NHL player on the roster. I forget his name, but he was literally wearing his Coyotes pants in the game. He wasn't an NHL regular, but still played in the show. Dude was big and had to put zero effort into the game. To his and the other teams credit he stayed back on defense and didn't really even shoot on net. He was just gliding around everyone and passing the puck.
After a little research I want to say it was David Moss, but I can't confirm that.
My son's beer league team is all very high level AA players that played some type of college hockey. They are pretty good and would give the local AAA players a very good game.
You should 100% set it up but I'm taking the U16AAA team. 😂
during early covid, when the university went remote, a lot of Uni players came home to our small town and joined our mens league. They were so good haha One kid was playing for University of Ottawa, and he felt like playing against a pro
This looked like C+ division beer league to me. I gravitated up to B (which was faster and more skilled) but I was still skating with them and scoring. Up until I popped my right kneecap for the second time. With the heavy-duty Bregg knee brace, I never skated the same, and dropped back to C+.
Never played A, but there were a lot of guys who played NCAA and even a few who played a few years in the ECHL until they blew out a knee or shoulder, or what have you-but never made it for long as a professional hockey player, so they work as plumbers, electricians, cops, teachers, accountants, and even an ER doctor on one-by day, and play in A division by night. I guess these distinctions are different in Canada. I’m not sure what AAA is supposed to look like.
I once played a drop in against a former (and old) player from the Czech Elite League. Holy smokes. The dude could cover the whole rink in what seemed like 3 strides. And this was not even a star-caliber player by the Czech league standards. Also, I love their jerseys.
Now do a "beer leaguers vs beer leaguers with a AAA goalie" :D
I'm sad I never got the chance to learn hockey. I can't really watch the pros -- too fast!
But this is quite entertaining ! thabks
@CoachJeremy hey coach, my shot is weird, off ice i can do high intensity, shoot of pass ect and with accuracy(literally sniping) but when I get on ice my shot sucks, the puck goes slow and wobbles in the air as I score a field goal from the top of the circle. I am 14 Defenseman ( my slap shot is fire though).
the u15-u16 AAA teams are actually not that small and they would probably be a good game at least for the Ontario teams.
I was enjoying this video, until almost the end when I suddenly realized I was extremely motion sick. lol
Depends on your conditioning level (and age). Obviously these guys are in their early 20s, huge advantage. I found a big difference when I was 45+ and playing guys 2 yrs removed from Jr.
I started bring my son who was Pee Wee AAA to my Army team shinny. At first they thought he would get hurt. It didn’t take my buddies long to learn that he was as good as most and faster than all.
Yo Jeremy, Thats where I play! Struod Arena! And also I'm on the Winter Hawks The Logo In the Middle!
I played in a hockey tournament that ranged from level A players which where ex nhlers and d 1 college to level c3 which was no college player supposed to be beer league. We played in the c3 division and proceeded to get absolutely destroyed losing every game by at least 10. No fun
Uhh 3 AAA players isn’t a team. Their goalie is still beer league!
Great video Jeremy!
Man i wanna learn how to skate again!!! I started when i was young and stoped. But unfortunately now i cant even afford used decent skates
First time watching this channel... Mixing millimeters and inches? Didn't need the flags in the arena to know you're Canadian!
I read the title and went, "Let's go!" haha awesome
i wanna see you play against shoreseys cast
@CoachJermey, I also practice some of your shooting videos all the time too but something i'm doing isn't working to transfer on ice
I was at school but I'm here now
I'm guessing that's the old Stroud Arena, in Stroud, Ontario?
Awesome! Thanks for sharing.
when my kid played AAA, the dads beat them 2 years in a row in the parents vs the players game haha
This basically happened to us (here in Colorado) with a short bench once.
Saw a guy with distinct socks. Ask between periods, "are those Florida Everblades socks?"
He replies, "yeah, I played with them for a couple seasons after I got traded from the (Colorado) Eagles."
Come to find out, most of these dudes played a season or two with the Eagles (Avalanche feeder team) or the 'Blades (Panthers feeder team). We got curbed stomped. It wasn't even fun.
Hey coach Jeremy, im a Toronto fan, and I was wondering what your thoughts are on grip tape because I’m gonna try it out so I wanna know your thoughts and great videos by the way man
Hey that’s stroud arena!! Basically grew up in that barn!!
Love how you put Stamkos ep page up there lol
I would be too starstruck to play against Coach Jeremy! So much sty, Coach!
Best player I ever played against in beer league was Eric Daze. He was 38 (I think), I was 42. Guy was unbelievable and his reach.. WOW!! I've played against many exNHLers (& a bunch of pros) but Daze was easily the best.
Depends on different factors how good is the AAA team and how good is the men’s league team also what level men’s league are you talking my adult league has former pro players from Europe and other leagues at the top level so if they play a low level AAA team they would blow them out of the rink but some of the D level teams would get destroyed so it really just depends on numerous factors
Hey bud, what helmet camera setup do you have?
What size is that rink? Might be the GoPro settings but it looks smaller than a normal size surface. Fun video by the way