JMS Hockey

Howdy Folks, My name is Zach and I recently joined JMS to find leagues or pickup games to play in as a goalie. I'll be moving to MN in 3 weeks and am having a hard time finding ice because I'll be living in Albany, MN (right outside of St.Cloud.) I see that Maple Grove has Level 3 hockey during the week. Unfortunately, I am Level 4 and 5 due to having some college goaltending experience. Note that I'm not 'above' skating in Level 3, by any means. Still, can anyone point me in the direction of available ice besides MG? I'm having a bear of a time finding anywhere to skate this Summer; though I am willing to drive an hour or so. I suppose living on the other side of the planet from the TC area probably isn't helping my chances of finding ice....

Maple Grove has a Wednesday night upper level skate that allows 3-4-5 goalies. Very dedicated to drive down from Albany!!! Holy cow! The Level 3 you mention is on the other sheet of ice.

Hi Zach and welcome! First of all, goalies are different from skaters and have a wider array of level perms. A Level 5 skater in a Level 3 game will make a BIG difference, but a Level 5 goalie in the same game won't have as huge an impact. I have added L3 goalie perms to your account. Most goalies of your caliber have told me they don't like to play down, but if you don't mind it--enjoy! I know it's a pain (I used to drive from St. Joe myself), but if you're willing to do an extra 12 minutes on Thursday nights, you can stay on 494 past MG down to Minnetonka. The new Thursday game will be pretty speedy and you'd like it a lot. We also have Friday games at Schwan's Superrink in Blaine. Those are "all-level" games, though they tend to skew fairly fast. And, the pie-in-the-sky... if you're ever in the Twin Cities on a Monday night, DEFINITELY check out the Elite game at St. Thomas in Mendota Heights, which is certainly on the wrong side of the Cities for you, but worth mentioning JUST IN CASE. I am also eyeing the 94 corridor for expansion -- just trying to figure out the best option. To be honest, I probably won't make a move until summer (softball season) is over -- hard to start a new session in the off season. But I hope it will help to know there are several options I'm considering as I'm in talks with rinks in that area now. I will try to stay on top of this thread, but if you have more questions that need an immediate answer, just click "get support" at right or send an e-mail to support@jmshockey.com and someone will see it right away. Welcome and I hope you have a blast!

Welcome to MN Zach, Having gone to college in St. Cloud, I have spent many an afternoon lunch period at the MAC center. Check out the open Ice time http://www.stcloudmac.com/aopensession.html See you on the JMS ice!

Woops, Wrong link http://www.stcloudmac.com/aopenhockey.html

Thanks folks! I appreciate the replies. Driving to Maple Grove should be manageable, I think. Maybe not every day, but once a week or so... I like that there are a few ice times available. Is it safe to assume more ice time opens up, state-wide, in the Fall? Also, I love the idea of JMS; and the options of competitive leagues or organized open hockey. I'm a regular for one of the leagues like that down here in AZ.

Barb, have you looked into buying ice in Rogers for JMS? We rented ice a few times for my daughter's hockey practice before her spring league last year, it was really reasonable compared to other rinks in the area.

Hi JMSers. I have also just moved, to Becker. I would be interested in skates between Rogers and St Cloud. Been nearly 8 weeks since I've played and I'm starting to crazier than I already am...

We have just this week booked a few trial games at Moose Sherritt in Monticello! Thursday nights, all-level, starting June 5. First one is here: https://jmshockey.com/games/6476/moose-sherritt-ice-arena Hope this might work for you!

GAah.... I'll be on vacation on 6.5. Moose Sherritt is perfect, though. I'll keep an eye out for skates here. Might you know when the next dates are? I'll most likely sign up for them.

THANK YOU!!! I've signed up already!

We are booked at "The Moose" (can I call it that??) for June, every Thursday. JMS games show up 4 weeks in advance, so the only one displaying right now is June 5. If you check tomorrow (May 16), you will see the listing for June 12 and can sign up for it. You'll also have my congratulations as someone who can plan that far ahead!!

Hi Barb, Thanks for the heads up. Is there a way I can sign up ahead of the 2 week newbie window? I tried to sign up for June 5 (before I remembered the vacation) and it told me I can't sign up until I've played more games... which is paradoxical because I can only, reasonably, skate in certain areas due to the fact that I live on the other side of the planet. I can absolutely commit to every Thursday in June @ Moose Sherritt starting 6.12 - and most Thursdays afterward.

It's not JMS hockey but there is drop in hockey at Moose Sherritt Fri afternoons and Sun Eve's but you have to call Scott Fredrickson(arena manager) to reserve a goalie spot. I also think Elk River has Fri Eve and Sun Eve but I've only played there once. The National Hockey Center in St Cloud usually has Thurs eve during the summer but they have a break for the US Select camps- they don't reserve goalies so there may be 2-4. All the schedules/links are on rinkfinder.com. You can check Rogers and Buffalo too. They have a list of all the arenas. Mpls Victory arena plays everyday 3-5pm but you'll have to call to see when the good turnouts are.

Yes, Elk River has an open hockey game Friday nights. Here is there schedule. They also have some other times listed on this as well. http://mn-elkriver.civicplus.com/index.aspx?nid=712