Nick and his brothers grew up playing pine room hockey in Rome, ... N.Y. ... not Italy. In Vermont Nick and Jingles tore down and rebuilt a 20x30 barn and lost a foot to rotted timbers (thus the official court dimensions 19x29). The faithful show up twice a week throughout the winter months. Jim Fenwick was a regular participant in the Vermont game and felt deprived after moving to Pennsylvania in 1991. The new facilities, the only known barn in PA built specifically for barn hockey was constructed in 1993. In Nov. 1993 the PA game was televised by the local NBC affiliate WGAL 8 in the Hostetller Sports Challenge. We play once a week and our season runs from the 1st Sunday in Oct. to the last Sunday in March. A minimum of four players are needed but ideally 6 or 7 show up to allow some rest between series. The first year there was some lean attendance at times but now beginning our 4th season we consistently have 6 or more players.
A 2 on 2 game typically a goalie and a forward but players can change position at any time. Goalies have no special equipment. A game is won by the first team to 7 goals, you don't have to win by 2. A series is best 2 out of 3 games. Teams change ends between games. At the end of a series fresh players challenge the winners or the teams are switched. The series starts with a neutral ball drop at center court. After a goal the forward on team that got scored on takes the ball out. A take out occurs with all 4 players on side and the forward has a choice. He can either pass the ball to himself off a forward wall or he can pass back to his goalie. Goals must be scored directly off the blade of the hockey stick or off the goalie. Bank shots, kicked in or gloved in shots do not count.
All players wear shin pads, gloves and a cup. Most players wear elbow pads and racquet ball glasses are recommended. The ball is a cold weather Mylec. We use plastic heads on wooden shafts. Duct tape is essential.
The court is 19x29 with a goal centered on each end. Goals are 30x40 and lined with corrugated metal to aid in goal detection. 8x8 posts are located at mid court against the outside walls. Nicknamed gee and ha they block many passes. A heated barn hockey lounge with a view of the court is needed for players resting between series.
