Home Cost-Effective Equipment for Off-Ice Hockey Training
Cost-Effective Equipment for Off-Ice Hockey Training

Cost-Effective Equipment for Off-Ice Hockey Training

Lawrence Cutlip-Mason

I often get asked about the best tools for off-ice hockey training. With so many products available, it can be challenging to determine which ones are worth the investment. Ice time is expensive and sometimes difficult to access, making off-ice training essential for skill development and muscle memory. Below is a list of effective and budget-friendly training aids that can help players improve their game without overspending. 

Inexpensive Training Tools

Green Biscuit Training Puck

Designed for off-ice use, the Green Biscuit Training Puck mimics the feel of an on-ice puck, allowing players to practice stickhandling and passing on various surfaces. Its unique design ensures it stays flat, providing a realistic training experience. While it can be used for shooting, there is a high chance of it breaking. Alternatively, a shooting-specific version exists, but it is not as effective for stickhandling. The shooting version also doesn't explode into pieces when it repeatedly hits something hard like the green biscuit.

Where to get:

Swedish Stickhandling Ball

This light, 2-inch hardwood ball is ideal for developing quick hands. It's semi-durable and suitable for use on various surfaces, including wood, tile, or smooth concrete. Since it's made of wood, it doesn’t bounce like a golf ball. The best balls to use are made from hard maple, as they are the most resistant to water and wear and tear. Avoid using balls made from birch, as they are softer, lighter, and more prone to damage.

Where to get:

    • Coming soon woodtactics.com

Golf Ball

Golf balls are used to practice stickhandling just like a Swedish stickhandling ball. Due to their high bounce rate, they are hard to control, forcing players to develop "soft hands" to improve puck control.

Where to get:

Stickhandling Obstacles

These tools, such as low-profile cones, blocks of wood, bricks, books, hockey pucks or any item that can withstand contact, create obstacles for drills to enhance puck control and agility. The purpose is to arrange them and maneuver the puck around them in patterns. You can use just about anything, although heavier objects with a low profile (about the same as a hockey puck) are preferred.

Where to get:

    • Blocks/Objects: Your garage or basement (seriously it can be almost anything, including hockey pucks)
    • Low Profile cones: Any sport stores

Low-Profile Soft Cones & Chalk

Using low-profile soft cones or even sidewalk chalk to lay out patterns can help players practice skating drills while rollerblading. These tools allow for marked agility exercises, tight turns, and edge work, simulating on-ice movement in a controlled environment.

Where to get:

    • Low Profile cones: Any sport stores
    • Sidewalk Chalk: Craft Store, Office store

Stick Wraparound Protector

This device protects your regular stick blade during off-ice training on hard surfaces (e.g., concrete and asphalt), allowing you to practice shooting and stickhandling without damaging your normal stick.

Where to get (I've tried others this is the one that I like the most):

Regular Hockey Pucks

Standard ice hockey pucks are essential for practicing shooting accuracy and developing a feel for the puck's weight and movement on the ice. These can only be used effectively with a slick surface, such as a shooting pad.

Where to get:

More Expensive Training Tools

Shooting Pads

These pads provide a smooth surface that simulates on-ice conditions, allowing players to practice shooting and passing using regular pucks.

Where to get (There are more places than these out there):

Mini and Full-Size Nets

Mini nets are excellent for precision shooting and small-area games, while full-size nets provide realistic practice scenarios for shooting and goaltending.

Where to get (I've tried others this is the one that I like the most):

Roller Blades (Inline Skates) with Hard Wheels

Inline skates equipped with harder wheels offer better durability and speed on outdoor surfaces, making them ideal for off-ice training to improve skating skills. You can remove the brake pad for a more accurate skating feel, but stopping becomes much harder and is not recommended for beginners. Proper protective equipment should always be worn while inline skating.

Where to get (I absolutely recommend trying them on and not buying them blindly online):

Cheaper Alternative Training Solutions

Alternatives to Shooting Pads

If a commercial shooting pad is out of budget, there are several cost-effective alternatives that provide a smooth, low-friction surface for practicing shots and passes. They aren't as hardy or durable as the special made ones, but are very cheap in comparison.

    • Melamine Sheets – Available at most home improvement stores, melamine provides a slick surface similar to ice and is large enough for shooting practice.
    • Thin Dry-Erase Boards – These boards offer a smooth texture that allows pucks to glide easily, making them a great DIY substitute for traditional shooting pads.

Alternatives to Nets

If you don’t have access to a mini or full-size hockey net, you can use just about anything to still practice accuracy and shooting precision.

    • Buckets or Trashcans – Placing a bucket or trashcan in different locations challenges players to aim their shots with precision.
    • DIY PVC Pipe Nets – With some PVC piping and netting, you can create an affordable and lightweight goal for off-ice training.
    • Rings - You can use simple hoolahoops or small rings to create targets to shoot through.

Disclaimer: I am only affiliated with the Swedish Stickhandling Balls that I make, all of the other products or companies listed I get nothing from whatsoever. This list is based on my coaching experience and being asked about this topic a few dozen times per season.

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