Can someone play like a pro if he/she starts playing Hockey in their early 20s?

Question

I have a buddy who just started playing Hockey yesterday and he's 23. He wants to be better than me someday, so my question is: Can he still play like a pro, if he just started skating now? Will his "muscle memory" be good enough at 23?

He just finished 6 hours of ice time today and will be back for more tomorrow and etc..

Answer 1

No possible way in hell will they ever be as good as a pro. Pros are the very tip of the bell curve of the hockey population.

The reason they start so early in life is to develop the proper muscle memory so they can perform all the neccessary actions without even thinking. It becomes much harder to "retrain" your brain later in life, hence it becomes much harder for all of the proper movements to be endcoded in your brain.

Not to mention that even had your friend been trained from an early age to play hockey, there's a good chance that he still wouldn't be at a pro level, at least part of your ability is attributed to genetics.

Answer 2

Probably not. I have many friends that didn't start playing hockey until their late teens or early twenties and no matter how much they play you can tell in the way they skate that they were late starters. I think it's like trying to learn a new language, the older you get the harder it becomes and no matter how much you try it will never be as good as if you started young. Don't get me wrong, he might get good, but not to a level one could mistake for pro.

Answer 3

If You Are Dedicated Enough And But Your Hardest Effort Anything Is Possible!! Good Luck To your Friend.

I Started Hockey Late But ive Got The Hang of it And Im As good Or better than my teamates !

Answer 4

I've seen the claim hundreds of times............all turned out to be false.

A player can certainly take up the game at any age, and demonstrate great ability. But professional abililty and instincts are learned over a great period of time.

the NHL's Central Scouting Division has a hockey history of everybody in their database (includes all players playing professionally in the world, all NHL alumni, and future players).

The number of players who picked up the game after the age of 12 is very small (I'm talking about 50 out of over 200,000 entries). None started after the age of 16.

So, in 90 years of NHL/minor league play EVERY player had picked up the game by the time they were 16

Answer 5

I doubt it. Pros start as kids. The muscle work is one thing. He may be an athlete but that doesn't account for years of Hockey knowledge and experience.

It's good to have another player and fan...

Answer 6

Absolutly not. For those who say yes, I ask have you ever played? Have you ever been on the ice with a pro? Not a good beer league player but a real pro.

Answer 7

I doubt it. Most of the NHLers that have been drafted in recent years have been playing hockey since they first started to walk. If anything, it sounds like he's just as fit as a pro, but skill-wise, it's highly unlikely that he's at their calibre.

Answer 8

They can play 'like' a pro, but they will never able to play as good as a pro, or compete at that level. Can he get better than you - depends on how good you are.

Answer 9

Define "like a pro." If you mean like a REAL pro, then no. It ain't happening. How long have YOU been playing? Are you in the AHL or NHL? Didn't think so.

Answer 10

yes 23 is still young! your body starts weakining only at age 35! so he has plenty of time to practice a lot and very hard and he can play like an average nhl player.... that is if he practices hard and is very very devoted to hockey.