Novice (Levels 1-3)
Players at this level are within the first five years of their adult hockey experience. This level also may be appropriate for players who have been playing longer as adults but had never played at all until they were adults. It’s a great launching pad for players who have not played hockey since childhood.
A level 1 player is someone who is on the ice playing organized hockey for the first time. A level 2 player would typically be someone who played as a child but not in high school and has been off the ice for a good amount of time. A level 3 player is typically someone who has 2+ years of adult experience.
The commonality is that players at the novice level are typically working on at least two to four of the following hockey fundamentals: shooting, passing, skating and body control.
Intermediate (Levels 4-6)
Players at this skill level typically have played high school hockey, or embody the equivalent experience due to age, athleticism, or thorough experience as an adult. A level 5 player is typically someone in their 30's with high school experience, where level 4 would be someone older, and level 5 someone who's younger. Players at this level make good passes, shoot reasonably well, have solid puck control, and maintain good body control.
This level generally excludes anyone who has experience beyond organized high school hockey, although age or other life factors may qualify them.
Lower Intermediate (Levels 3 and 4)
This is a transitional skill level, bridging the gap between the novice and intermediate skill levels. It is not a mix of intermediate (covering levels 4, 5, and 6) and novice (covering levels 1, 2, and 3) players, but rather a combination of high novice (level 3) and low intermediate (level 4) players. It provides a proper environment so that high novice (level 3) players can play with the level 4 players on the lower side of the intermediate level, without being exposed to level 5 and 6 players that would create a stark contrast, or for level 4 players to distance themselves from higher level intermediate players.
This can be a skill level for players who played high school hockey but have had a significant amount of time off the ice, or older players with the same experience looking to slow down their game. It can also include players who started playing hockey as adults and have a good amount of experience. Players at the lower intermediate level are typically working on at least one of the following hockey fundamentals: shooting, passing, skating and body control.
This is typically not an appropriate level for those under 50 who have had high school hockey experience OR have not spent a significant amount of time off the ice since playing in high school.
Upper Intermediate (Levels 6-7)
This skill level is a mix of mid to high intermediate (level 6) and/or lower to mid advanced (level 7) players. It is not a mix of all intermediate (levels 4-6) and advanced (levels 7-9) players.
Players at this level can move the puck well, make solid passes, shoot accurately, have a good hockey sense, and are comfortable with a fast moving game. It is usually the best fit for younger players who have had solid high school experience, as well as any player who has played club-level hockey in college, or has the equivalent experience.
This level generally excludes anyone who has experience beyond the college club level, although age or other life factors may qualify them.
Mixed Lower Level (Levels 2-4)
This is a broad range, mixed level, offered so that players of slightly different ability levels have the opportunity to skate together when they normally their levels would not overlap.
Novice players are typically within the first five years of their adult hockey experience. This level also may be appropriate for players who have been playing longer as adults but had never played at all until they were adults. The commonality is that players at the novice level are typically working on at least two to four of the following hockey fundamentals: shooting, passing, skating and body control.
Lower Intermediate is a combination of high novice (level 3) and low intermediate (level 4) players. This can be a skill level for players who played high school hockey but have had a significant amount of time off the ice, or older players with the same experience looking to slow down their game. It can also include players who started playing hockey as adults and have a good amount of experience. Players at the lower intermediate level are typically working on at least one of the following hockey fundamentals: shooting, passing, skating and body control.
Mixed Mid Level (Levels 3-6)
This is a broad range, mixed level, offered so that players of slightly different ability levels have the opportunity to skate together when they normally their levels would not overlap.
Intermediate players typically have some high school hockey experience. They make good passes, shoot reasonably well, have solid puck control, and maintain good body control.
Lower Intermediate can be a skill level for players who played high school hockey but have had a significant amount of time off the ice, or older players with the same experience looking to slow down their game. It can also include players who started playing hockey as adults and have a good amount of experience. Players at the lower intermediate level are typically working on at least one of the following hockey fundamentals: shooting, passing, skating and body control.
Mixed Upper Level (Levels 6-9)
This is a broad range, mixed level, offered so that players of slightly different ability levels have the opportunity to skate together when they normally their levels would not overlap.
Intermediate players eligible at the mixed uppper level are those on the high side (level 6), who are generally your players how have recent solid high school experience.
Advanced (7-9) level players range from those who are younger with solid high school hockey and club hockey experience through those with collegiate experience, or the equivalent. A level 8 player is typically someone in their 30’s with college experience, where level 7 would be someone older, and level 9 someone who’s younger.
Mixed Open Level (All Levels Welcome)
This is a broad range, mixed level, offered so that players of any ability level have the opportunity to skate together when they normally their levels would not overlap.
Advanced (Levels 7-9)
Advanced level players range from those who are younger with solid high school hockey and club hockey experience through those with collegiate experience, or the equivalent. A level 8 player is typically someone in their 30’s with college experience, where level 7 would be someone older, and level 9 someone who’s younger. This is a fast game for advanced hockey players only.
This level generally excludes anyone who has D1 collegiate experience, although age or other life factors may qualify them.
Expert (Levels 9+)
Players at this level have typically played D1 college hockey and may have had professional hockey experience. Players at this level MUST have at least high level collegiate experience. If they have college experience other than D1, they typically have consistently played hockey since college and are still under the age of 30.
Skills Clinics (Recommended for Levels 1-4)
The skills level is an instructional level geared to helping hockey players develop the fundamentals of the game. It is intended for players getting back into the game or just learning to play hockey. The skills level is also great for players at the novice and lower intermediate levels looking to move to the next skill level. Our low player to instructor ratio allows us to customize the instructional programming to each participant's meeds.
StinkySocks Hockey Standard Game
Standard Games are typically offered on the same weekly schedule and are limited to 20 skaters and 2 goalies per game to make sure that you're getting the most ice time. All games have a referee for game structure and players who are there for the right reasons. With designated levels, you'll be playing with players who are in your same ability range.
