Evan Gubernick - The hockey addicts guide, New York City: where to eat, drink & play the only game that matters

NY Rangers goalie John Davidson during a break in the action of a game against the Montreal Canadians in 1977, photographed by Denis Brodeur, whose son Martin went on to play a few games in the NHL. Copyright 2018 by Evan Gubernick All rights reserved For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to Permissions, The Countryman Press, 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110 For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact W. W. Norton Special Sales at specialsales@wwnorton.com or 800-233-4830 Cover photographs Evan Gubernick The Countryman Press
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Hourly, even. An obvious symptom: Your life becomes a diversion from hockey, not the other way around. While (relatively) manageable at home, should you venture out of town, youre lost and you know it. Your radar is jammed. Our solution: One city at a time, were creating a series of guides with recommendations made by those who share your passion for the only sport that mattersincluding food, drink, lodging, and, of course, where to skate. The guides are a product of local hockey communities, curated, written, and photographed by your fellow puck heads, from fans to beer leaguers, with tips from a few pros sprinkled in.

Hockey, at its core, is tribal, connecting us to our cities and to each other, so trust your tribe when you leave your home ice. HOW THE GUIDE IS ORGANIZED Like the game itself, think of this guide as organized chaos. A few set plays off the faceoff, a general gameplan, and then its on. Weve divided the city into Hubs, must-see places for the hockey-afflicted, and listed additional spots to check out nearby. Think of these recommendations as mini walking toursand by walking we sometimes mean taking the subway or grabbing a Lyft. Your choice.

And lastly, we give you a little local hockey history, so if you wind up talking to a local, maybe youll have a clue. This isnt a typical guidebook. Weve avoided the usual ratings, prices, and comparisons. (See Yelp for that.) If its in here, we like it. We have one map: its crude, butlike a coachs scribblingsit does its job (sorry, not sorry). Do we miss some obvious hot spots? Probably.

Do we lead you down some strange alleys? For sure. But this is a conversation, and were the only ones talking. If you know of a spot we missed, tell us. Listen, this guide wont solve all your problems. Youre still going to have that nightmare where youre sitting on the bench with bare feet. THE HOCKEY ADDICTS GUIDE TO NEW YORK CITY Some things you should know: 1) Everything in this city is a 50/50 puckchanging lanes, crossing streets, ordering a beer, reaching for the subway door. THE HOCKEY ADDICTS GUIDE TO NEW YORK CITY Some things you should know: 1) Everything in this city is a 50/50 puckchanging lanes, crossing streets, ordering a beer, reaching for the subway door.

And getting ice time. Were here to help. 2) The city is a Rangers city. Every spring, the Blueshirts crest blooms everywhere, like dandelions. How long they last into the coming heat is a testament to the endless well of hope that only sports can inspire. 3) As Brooklyn solidifies its Left Bank cred, so does the possibility that the Islandersshould they pick a home and grow rootsmight one day prove a legit rival if only as the alt choice.

We took a leap and included Islanders legends in the Barclays Hub section because, for now, we can. 4) The Devils? They do have their charm, which comes with their having won more recent Cups than any other local team. 5) As vibrant as the pro scene is, both beer and youth leagues are alive and well, though theres never enough ice in a city of 8.5 million. 6) A few housekeeping notes: In the info we give, the abbreviation NY means Manhattan, BKLYN means Brooklyn, Queens goes by neighborhoods (like the suburb it is). The Bronx gets a mention, and we devote a few pages to Staten Island. nyc hub

Eventually youll hear the rink before you see it. And even when you do see it, youll still have to figure out how to reach it, taking a series of awkward paths, until finally, youre there. Two rinks, both undersized, and a building which reeks of... authenticity. Home to every age of player and wannabe player, various tournaments, school teams, and charity groups, Lasker, at least while its cold enough, is very much the hub of outdoor hockey in New York. Constructed in 1966 (making it the oldest hockey facility in the city), the rink is transformed into a swimming pool during the summer, with ice available from late October through March. ADULT LEAGUES YOUTH LEAGUES LOCKER FACILITIES PRIVATE LESSONS FOOD COURT PLAY PAUL L.

McDERMOTT RINK 96TH ST. & 1ST AVE., NY A new subway line opens up only about once a century, so when the Q line extended service up 2nd Avenue, among the many happy people was the Manhattan Roller League crowd that plays on 1st Avenue and 96th Street, about a five-minute walk from the new stop. EAT / DRINK BLONDIES 212 W. 79TH ST., NY 212.362.4360 If your crew is looking to catch a game and keep the college vibe alive on the UWS, here it is. A throwback sports dive with wall-to-wall screens and no hint of artisanal cocktails, craft beer, or kale chipsjust standard pitchers and what some call the best wings around. 110TH ST., NY
212.222.0683