Learn To Play
General Info
Schedule & Cost
Gear
Free Session
Learn To Play Ice Hockey in Canterbury
Welcome to the exciting game of ice hockey! We invite players of all ages to give it a go, and we're here to help you get started.
Learn to Play (LTP) sessions for children under 18 years of age are held all year round during school terms. Through fun, engaging, and active games and exercises, we teach fundamentals such as skating, controlling a puck, passing, and shooting. All sessions are held at the Alpine Ice Sports Centre and we use a concession card payment system so players can enjoy learning on a schedule and budget that's right for them.
If your child is new to hockey, try it for free! We offer a free LTP session, basic gear included, so you can see if hockey might be right for your child. We also offer most gear for hire for a modest fee per term, enabling your child to continue playing without investing in gear yourself.
Are you an adult wanting to learn ice hockey? Contact Us and we'll help get you started.
If you or your child are new to ice skating and would like to develop skating skills before giving ice hockey a go (or doing both at the same time), Alpine Ice Sports Centre offers a popular Learn To Skate program with skilled instructors that will help you advance more quickly.
Click the icons above for Schedule & Cost, information about Gear, or get started with your Free Session.
2024 Schedule
Learn to Play (LTP) sessions are offered all year round for children during school terms. See "Player Info" for printable schedules.
Term | Dates | Days and Times |
|---|---|---|
Term 1 | Feb 8 - Apr 11 | Thursday 5.30-6.30p *Saturday 12.30-1.30p |
Term 2 | Apr 30 - Jul 4 | *Tuesday 6.15-7.15p Thursday 5.30-6.30p |
Term 3 | Jul 23 - Sep 26 | *Tuesday 6.15-7.15p Thursday 5.30-6.30p |
Term 4 | Oct 17 - Dec 14 | Thursday 5.30-6.30p *Saturday 12.30-1.30p (No Sat Session Oct 19, 26 and Nov 16) |
*Adults are welcome to Learn to Play on Saturdays in Terms 1 and 4 and on Tuesdays in Terms 2-3. There are no sessions on holiday weekends. Schedule is subject to change.
Contact Us for more Adult LTP information.
Youth Learn To Play Cost
Children new to ice hockey are welcome to come try a free session, basic gear included. Just click on the "Free Session" icon and complete the form to get started. Fees after the Free Session are shown below.
One-hour Learn To Play Session Fees
A 10-use concession card costing just $179 is usable by Learn To Play participants of all ages. Concession cards can be purchased from CIHA online, and our CIHA representatives at the rink can provide instructions on how to register and purchase your card. Additional cards can be purchased from CIHA representatives at the rink as needed.
Gear Hire: $39 per term
Should your child need ice hockey gear, we offer hire gear for $39 for children in our Learn To Play and Under-12 programs and $59 for older children in other programs. We have a very limited supply of gear for older children (15+) and do not offer hire gear to adults. For more information on gear, please click the "Gear" icon. Note: gear hire requires a $50 refundable bond.
Adult Learn To Play Cost
Our Adult Learn to Play programs vary depending on the season. For more information, Contact Us.
Gear Information
Player safety comes first, and it's important that players have the appropriate protective gear. We can provide basic gear for free for the first Learn To Play session.
Can I Hire Gear from CIHA?
Yes, we offer hire gear for $39 for children in our Learn To Play and Under-12 Super League programs and $59 for children in other programs. We have a very limited supply of gear for older children (15+) and do not offer hire gear to adults. Note: gear hire requires a $50 refundable bond.
Where Can I Purchase Gear?
CIHA does not sell gear. We recommend you look into the following:
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Alpine Ice Sports Centre Pro Shop carries a range of gear and can provide friendly, hands-on assistance.
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Centre Ice is a long-established Auckland-based provider of gear and offers good service and economical shipping.
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Overseas sellers, such as Hockey Monkey, are an excellent resource for sizing guides and understanding the range of products. Shipping costs can be prohibitive or unavailable, however.
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Used gear available locally can be found on the Canterbury Ice Hockey Gear Buy Sell & Exchange Facebook group.
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Used gear can also be found online through sites like TradeMe and other Facebook groups such as CIHA Seniors, CIHA Youth, or NZ Ice/Inline Gear.
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Finally, chat with other parents or players! Someone might be willing to part with some gear their child has outgrown.
How Do I Care for My Gear?
Ice hockey is an active sport, and the equipment naturally captures some of that activity in the form of perspiration. Fortunately, hockey gear is durable and easy to care for: everything but your helmet and skates can be machine washed or soaked in a tub with warm water and laundry detergent then air dried. Numerous tips and guides can be found online.
Gear Checklist
Ensure your child has all the necessary gear! We would be happy to help you with gear hire or direct you to sizing information and purchase options.
Give It a Go!
Learn to Play (LTP) sessions for children under 18 years of age are held each week all year round during school terms. All sessions are held at the Alpine Ice Sports Center at 495 Brougham Street in Christchurch.
If your child is new to hockey, try it for free! We offer a free LTP session, basic gear included, so you can see if hockey might be right for your child.
Just complete the "Book Your Free Session" form to get started.
Book Your Session (Free for Children)
Simply complete this form and someone will be in touch with you to arrange your free youth Learn To Play session.
Thanks we will be in touch!