The Beer Leaguer

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. 

Links

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

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

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.

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

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

Links

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

Links

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

Music by RomaRecord1973 via Pixabay

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.” 

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

Music by RomaRecord...

 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. 

Links

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

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. 

Links

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

Text the show

Support the show Duration: 00:23:21

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.

Text the show

Support the show

...

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.

Text the show

Support the show

...

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.

Links

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

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. 

Links

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

Music by RomaRecord1973 via Pixabay

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. 

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

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. 

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

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.

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

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. 

Links

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? C...

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. 

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

Music by RomaRecord1973 via Pixabay

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. 

Links

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

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.

Links

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

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.

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

Music by RomaRecord1973 via Pixabay

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. 

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

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:

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Che...

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:

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

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

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

Music by RomaRecord1973 via Pixabay

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

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

Music by RomaRecord1973 via Pixabay

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.

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? C...

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

Text the show

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

Music by RomaRecord1973 via Pixabay

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. 

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

Music by RomaRecord1973 via Pixabay

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

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

Music by RomaRecord1973 via Pixabay

In this shorts episode we cover: 

 Social Media Account to Follow:  

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

Music by RomaRecord1973 via Pixabay

On this episode I look back on some things I wish I could tell myself as I started in beer league hockey.

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

Music by RomaRecord1973 via Pixabay

Audio-only review of the Bauer Pro 360 Cut Resistant Tall Socks.
The full YouTube video is here: (https://youtu.be/CI-h3tZ_dXE)

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

Music by RomaRecord1973 via Pixabay

If you’re going to practice shooting pucks at home there are a lot of ways to do it. You can get super fancy, and pricey, go really minimal, or get creative and land somewhere in-between. We go from the bare minimum to the fanciest at home set-ups and along the way explain the good vs the bad.
Then I walk you through my shooting setup, some of the cheap things I wish I spent more money on, not so cheap things I wish I didn’t spend money on, and some out of the box ideas that work...

This episode of The Beer Leaguer podcast is something a little different. This is the audio portion of a video review for the Warroad undershirt.
The full video is available on The Beer Leaguer YouTube channel and at TheBeerLeaguer.com
If you want to see any of the visuals I'm mentioning, go check out the video. 

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

It’s summer here in North America and that means, it’s hot and kids are out school, but more importantly that means a lot less hockey going on. Lots of rinks close and melt their ice temporarily, some trade in ice hockey for roller, and in many places there isn’t any hockey to be found. So what can a beer leaguer do in the summer to scratch that hockey itch?

Links:

Previous Episodes

In this shorts episode we cover:

Social Media Account to Follow: 

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

Music by RomaRecord1973 via Pixabay

This year I finally upgraded my hockey transportation. In doing so I looked at a lot of factors, asked lots of questions, and thought about a lot things. Let’s talk about that stuff and get some ideas on what makes ‘the perfect hockey vehicle’.

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

Music by RomaRecord1973 via Pixaba

In this shorts episode we cover:

Social Media Account to Follow: 

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

Music by RomaRecord1973 via Pixabay

In this episode Mason joins the show again to talk about hockey-related vacation ideas for the summer. 

Links:

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

Music by RomaRecord1973 via Pixabay

This episode is all about what to do with your gear between games (Hint: it's not keeping in the back of your car all summer).

Links:

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

Music by...

In this shorts episode we cover:

Social Media Account to Follow: 

 The Hockey Shop

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

Music by RomaRecord1973 via Pixabay

Mason joins the podcast and we talk about our recent tournament experiences. We also discuss how we plan for tournaments, pick where we stay, and who joins us, plus tips and insights into making it the experience you want it to be.

Links:
BLPA Bash Tournaments

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

...

In this episode of The Beer Leaguer podcast we start our off-season series by talking about going over your gear and making sure you're ready for next season. There is a checklist of everything to go over to make sure you know where all of your equipment stands, what to look for, and how to fix some of it yourself.

Links:
Gear Checklist (Google Doc)
Wash Your Gear Video (https://youtu.be/R3nvcGnRh3M)
Fix your Pants Video

Text the show

Support the show

In this shorts episode we cover:

Social Media Account to Follow: 

Beginner Adult Hockey

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

Music by RomaRecord1973 via Pixabay

A big reason we pick-up or continue to play hockey well past our athletic primes isn’t just the hope to be a 40-year-old NHL rookie Disney story, it’s having a group to hang out with a common interest. This episode Mason joins us to talk about what makes a locker room a good one, signs to look for to avoid a bad one, and how to help foster a good hang.

Links:
Player Card Youtube
Don't Stink Episode

Text the show

Support the show

Want more...

 In this episode of the Beer Leaguer Podcast  we’re talking about those teammates that stink.
Literally.
Mason joins me to talk about how we keep our gear from stinking and why it's actually good for equipment longevity to put a little care into it.

[Note: We don't touch on the services for cleaning your gear, because while they are out there, they're not available near us. Thus we have not tried them.]

Episode Links:
DeadSpin article
Green Enzyme Cleaner
Staph and Your Gear
The Utty...

 In this short episode we cover: 

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

Music by RomaRecord1973 via Pixabay

This episode is all about recording yourself doing that hockey and watching it back. What can you get from doing that? What should you look for? Is there any reason to not watch yourself? 
All these questions answered, along with multiple ways to record and watch yourself, from super easy to my crazy set-up.

Episode Links:

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

In this short episode we cover: 

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

Music by RomaRecord1973 via Pixabay

In this short episode we cover:

Featured social media account: Hockey Reviews

TheBeerLeaguer.com

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

...

 In this episode, part 2 of a 2 episode series, I go more in-depth about what you need to keep a Sparx working, and what are some nice-to-haves to get a better sharpening. I discuss the issues I've had with my machine and how I've resolved and worked around them.  After that it's time for some Beer Leaguer math to help decide if you can break even sharpening your own skates. Then it's looking around at what issues other people have with their Sparx, and is there any way to fix them? Finally you get my thoughts on if owning a Sp...

In this episode, part 1 of a 2 episode series, I give a quick explainer of the Sparx. How I've been using it since I got one. What I will and won't do on my Sparx. Some of the things I don't love about it, and my take and experience on the big debate of Sparx vs a manual sharpening.

Sparx sharpeners

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

Have you ever wanted to play beer league outdoors? What about in an NHL arena? Or maybe a football stadium?
This episode we're talking about some cool places I've played and how I got into them. Then it's how were they found, and how can you find cool places to play.

Links:
Rent The Rink
BLPA
YouTube Reviews Playlist

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

In this episode we explore what artificial intelligence knows about hockey and if it can help you get better at it.
We ask popular AI chatbot ChatGPT a variety of questions to see what it knows about the beer leagues, and if it has the keys to unlock the secrets of improving.

Links
ChatGPT Transcript
ChatGPT

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

Playing beer league hockey is hard enough on it's own, why make it harder by not being able to see?
In this episode we talk about the different options for those of us that are optically challenged.

YouTube video reviewing goggles
OpticsOutfitter
SvenCanSee anti-fog spray
Bauer anti-fog gel
Diver's mask anti-fog

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

On this episode of The Beer Leaguer podcast we're joined by Mason.
We're talking about where we all started. 
How do you start playing hockey as an adult? 
What do you need to know?
What equipment do you need?
Where do you find adult hockey?
When are you ready for the big time that is beer league?

All expertly? answered this episode.

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

Don't know what hockey gift you can ask your non-hockey friends and family for? What's something different I can get for the beer leaguer in my life? Can't spend $300 on a stick, but want to buy yourself a nice gift and you're lost?
In this episode we talk about some unique hockey gifts that any beer league player would love to get.

Gifts mentioned:
Tape Tiger (hockey-specific tool for slicing tape off stick): 00:02:19
Hockey Tul (multi-tool for hockey): 00:03:15
Scissors (for cutting tape): 00:04:13
Stubby screwdriver (for helmet and gear repair): 00:05:06
Helmet repair...

Rob joins us this week to talk about the good, the bad, and the awkward of joining a new team. We also delve into how you can find new teams and when is the right time to look for one. 

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

Music by RomaRecord1973 via Pixabay

The  Beer Leaguer Podcast Trailer

Text the show

Support the show

Want more from The Beer Leaguer? Check out our socials

Music by RomaRecord1973 via Pixabay