Hockey Training Aids

Hockey Training Aids: frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a weighted training puck and a regular puck?

Hockey Canada's playing rules (Rule 3.8) set a game puck at 1 inch thick and 3 inches across, weighing 156–170 g (5.5–6 oz) and black in colour; U9 and below may use a lighter, clearly identified puck of the same size, no less than 113.4 g (4 oz). Orange weighted pucks, such as the 10 oz ShinyRelief sets and the Winnwell 6-pack, keep the 3 × 1 inch size but add weight for practice only. The A&R Sports junior puck is smaller again (60 × 20 mm, 90 g).

Should my child start with a standard or an elevated stickhandling trainer?

A standard trainer sits low to the floor, so the player pulls the puck through and around the sections while learning to cup it and keep their head up. Elevated versions, like the ACE Hockey Elevated Snake 5 with its 3.1-inch raised bar or the GIRISHIP elevated 7-section, make the player lift the puck over the bar. Length matters too: 5-section snakes are compact for a basement, while 7-section models give room for wider dekes.

Can you skate on synthetic ice tiles at home?

Most interlocking tiles in this range are made for stickhandling, passing and shooting in shoes, giving a smoother glide than concrete or carpet. Only tiles the maker describes as skateable, such as the Potent skateable panels, are intended for skates, and even then expect more drag than real ice. Lay tiles on a flat, hard, dry floor, check the square footage of each pack against your space, and sweep them often so grit does not scratch the surface.

Sources: cdn.hockeycanada.ca