The Beer Leaguer

Getting ready for your first beer league hockey game? 

You’ve skated, you’ve practiced stops, you’ve shot pucks in the driveway… and now comes the part nobody really prepares you for: the actual game.

In this episode, we break down 10 things nobody tells you before your first beer league game (and a few bonus tips). You’ll some get real-world tips for on the ice, on the bench, and in the locker room, that make beer league what it’s supposed to be: fun.

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Hockey players at all levels, and particularly beer leaguers, and especially beginner to intermediate beer leaguers hit a plateau in the hockey development. It might be 6 months in, or 6 years in…. So how do you get through it and continue to improve? 

In this episode we talk through finding what actually is plateauing, how to identify different types of plateaus, and how to break through them.

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Another shorts episode rounding-up random bits of beer league goodness. This time around we look at how wrong the Olympic roster predictions were, catch-up on the gear debate that came out of episode 29, and more!

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Social Media Account to Follow

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If you’re playing beer league hockey or just starting out, you don’t need expensive pro-level gear — you need smart upgrades that can actually make you safer and help on the ice. In this episode, we break down where to spend your money, where you can save big, and everything in-between.

We also dig into used gear vs new gear, how to inspect before you buy and what actually is pro stock hockey gear. 

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I was up in the middle of the night messing around with what I think the US and Canada rosters will look like and decided to record it. 

Chapter markers have images of the rosters, or you can check out the video version here: https://youtube.com/live/Ho5atNBQnRQ?feature=share

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Beer league hockey is supposed to be fun… but the best teams also have something extra: communication, positivity, and real locker-room chemistry. In this episode of The Beer Leaguer Podcast, we sit down with longtime hockey friend Doug Carson—a former beer league ref and current beer league goalie.

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In this episode of the Beer Leaguer podcast, we run through the 2025 Beer Leaguer Holiday Gift Guide — a handpicked list of gifts beyond the obvious sticks, skates, and pads. If you’re a beer leaguer who’s tough to shop for (or you need ideas to send to your loved ones), this one’s for you. 

Shop.TheBeerLeaguer.com

https://thebeerleaguer.com/holiday/ (The complete list)

(some links are affiliate links)

Stocking Stuffers
Shoe Charms
Stick Holder
Howie’s ornaments
Lacrosse Ball/ Trigger Point Ball
Halo He...

A walk-through of the best black Friday deals to be found this year. 

https://thebeerleaguer.com/blackfriday

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This time around I cover the explosion in Sparx machines at retail locations, getting your show ideas actually through to the show, and more.

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Want the game to finally “slow down” for you? In this episode, we break down what hockey sense (a.k.a. hockey IQ) truly means—seeing the whole ice, understanding where teammates and opponents should be, and anticipating the next play. Then we share practical ways to build your hockey IQ on and off the ice. 

Links & Resources
• The Beer Leaguer Hub — https://thebeerleaguer.com
• Sense Arena (VR training) — https://www.sensearena.com
• USA Hockey Intelligym — https://www.usahockeyintelligym.com/
• Beers on Ice — https://www.youtube.com/@beersonice
• Hockey IQ Podcast — hockeysarsenal...

 If you don’t have wheels, you can still win shifts. In this episode, we break down 14 practical ways slower beer league players make a real impact—from smarter reads and sharper positioning to stick detail, net-front work, and being the bench “glue guy.” 

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 Here’s my full beer league hockey bag breakdown for Summer 2025—from the  goalie bag to the tiny bench bag. I cover get into my skates , protective gear, my new helmet, my lineup system, and why I always bring a small bench bag with me. 

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If you’ve ever wondered whether 3D printers can do more for hockey than crank out flexi-dragons, this episode is for you. We break down what not to print (pucks, targets, protective gear), and share practical beer-league-ready ideas: stickhandling aids, blade wraps, bottle carriers, gear organizers, SKÅDIS wall setups, and Sparx storage. There is even some cool uses for broken-sticks and a few just-for-fun prints that will look awesome in your hockey cave. 

Video Accompaniment 

Prints Mentioned (and a few bonus ones):

Mike Steiner of Beers on Ice stops by to share progress on "Road to the Pros" and some new things to keep an eye out for.  Before that, we get into skate sharpening, rink temperatures, beers in the locker room, behind the scenes of beer league social media, and a lot more, we even give our Stanley Cup picks. 

This episode had some technical difficulties during recording, which led to some "interesting" moments, some of which are at the end, so make sure you stick around. 

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You’re not too old, too slow, or too new to start playing hockey. In this episode of The Beer Leaguer, we’re diving into the exact steps adult beginners can take to get on the ice — even if they’ve never laced up skates before.

We’ll cover:

Beginner Playlist

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In this episode of the Beer Leaguer Podcast, we are joined by Ron Wilson, a beer league referee with a rich history in hockey. Ron discusses his journey from player to coach to admin to referee, the social dynamics of officiating, and the challenges faced on the ice. We then talk about the unique perspective of officiating, and the camaraderie found in beer league hockey. Finally, Ron shares insights on the role of respect in sports and the fun side of being a referee.

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In this episode of the Beer Leaguer Podcast, we really focus on the beginners looking to play in beer league hockey. The conversation covers physical and mental preparation, necessary gear, and game day tips to ensure a fun and enjoyable experience. With some listener questions we emphasize the importance of having a positive mindset, being open to feedback, and contributing to the team culture. This episode aims to demystify the process of starting hockey and encourage new players to join in the fun.

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Mike Steiner of Beers on Ice once again joins the show. We catch up on his summer hockey, both ice and roller, including some tournaments he's playing in. Then we talk about what's coming up for the All Blacks Hockey Club, and his take on the position progression debate. Finally, he teases a new series that may be coming to Beers on Ice.

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Why do I review the stuff I do? Follow-up on some of the discussion from the positions episode, and the audio version of my Aycane sock review. 

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Maybe you're new to hockey and trying to figure out what position you want to play, or even what they all do, or you could be a seasoned vet who's wondering if switching things up could be beneficial. This episode of The Beer Leaguer podcast dives into that and more. 

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This time around we're wrapping up playing for multiple teams in a tournament in a different country! How does playing far away from home make some things easier, but also adds stress? What have I learned to help reduce that stress and just make it a fun getaway? How different is it playing for multiple teams when both teams play multiple times a day? All that and Uncrustables talk. 

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Once again Mason joins the podcast and we talk about locker room seating. It's not as half-hazard as it may sound at first. From superstitions, to the random folding chair, we even complain about broken hooks and wet floors before trying to break down the why's and the how's of this game day ritual.

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Fellow Beer League captain Anthony LoVullo joins the show this episode. We talk about his start in roller hockey and how that lead him to Beer League. Along the way we cover a variety of topics including his thoughts on: good locker room culture, sock-less feet in skates, and how small the big world of beer league is. 

Episode Quotes

Have you thought about running a beer league team? Ever wondered what it entails? In this episode we chat about all the various duties you might be asked to do, and the ones you should be doing without being asked. Then we touch on some common issues and how to handle them, and how to help out even if you aren't running the ship. Then finally you get some words of wisdom and helpful tips. 

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Beer League teaches us a lot of things, some of which you probably don't even realize. In this very special episode (in that after school special voice) we talk about things learned on the ice that are applicable to life off the ice. 

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Mason joins the show to talk about our experience traveling to the BLPA Bash in Columbus. We talk about the tournament on and off the ice. How it differed from previous years, what we liked and what we would change, and how it was taking our own team this year.

Plus, I think I learned the secret to doing well at these BLPA events. 

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We scoured the internet to see what people think Beer League Hockey is. All of that was then fed into AI and out popped a list of Beer League myths. In this episode we go through this list and either confirm or debunk these Beer League Myths.

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Beer League play-offs are close or just started for most people. These are some top of head thoughts on getting you and your team ready.

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Hockey equipment is expensive, and beer leaguers aren't getting free gear (or paid to play) so making that stuff last as long as possible is imperative. In the second part of this 2 part series we talk about repairing your equipment. What can you repair yourself? When is it time to hand it over to a professional? Or when is it time to buy something new? 

This episode is a piece-by-piece walk-through of my experience in keeping your equipment useful as long as possible. 

Links mentioned:

Hockey equipment is expensive, and beer leaguers aren't getting free gear (or paid to play) so making that stuff last as long as possible is imperative. In the first part of this 2 part series we talk about repairing your equipment. What can you repair yourself? When is it time to hand it over to a professional? Or when is it time to buy something new? 

This episode is a piece-by-piece walk-through of my experience in keeping your equipment useful as long as possible. 

Links mentioned:

At some point everyone is bound to go through it, you realize you don't like the people you play beer league hockey with. 

So what do you do?

In this episode I talk about evaluating what is keeping you from enjoying hockey on your current team and different ways to correct it. 

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This episode we're joined by Mike Steiner, the producer and co-star of Beers On Ice. 

Mike is a former professional hockey player who now plays high-level beer league with a bunch of his high school teammates who also have pro experience. We talk about his journey through hockey that brought him to beer league, the differences he sees between high and low level beer league, and a lot more! 

Check out Beers on Ice on:

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A review after half a season wearing Aycane's Blade Evo base layer and Blade Pro skate sock. 
How have the held up? Are they comfortable? What makes them different from other brands?

This episode if the audio companion to two video reviews:

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In the final episode of 2024: How do you wind down after late games?
What has and hasn't worked, along with a few recommendations and channel updates.

Warroad Review

Documentary from Reddit

Our Kids Play Hockey - Burnout

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Looking for some hockey gift ideas that aren't new sticks and skates?
Then this is the episode for you.
Gift List

2023 Holiday Gift Guide and List

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One of the hardest things in Beer League is knowing when you should jump ship to a different team. 
In this episode, Mason joins the show and we discuss a multitude of reasons for moving on to a new team. What are some ways to handle things with your old team, and do you even need to? We share stories of why we left teams and why we joined others and if they ended up working out in the end.

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Check out TheBeerLeaguer.com/BlackFriday for a finely curated and updated list of Black Friday/Cyber Monday hockey deals.

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http://thebeerleaguer.com
https://thebeerleaguer.buzzsprout.com
https://www.instagram.com/thebeerleaguer/
https://linktr.ee/beerleaguer

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Beer League burnout is a real thing. This episode is a talk on what it is, how to see it coming, and how to deal with it. 

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A quick overview of the full review video for Enzo Equipment Bath Bombs.
The full video can be found here: https://youtu.be/sehUklkuWjc
If you are interested in learning more about Enzo, click here

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In this shorts episode we cover: 

 Social Media Account to Follow:  

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