I was at a stick and puck recently, and someone brought 2 of these DIY hockey stick training aids. I thought they were a lot of fun stickhandling around and shooting the puck, especially trying some quick-release snapshots after the dangle through the training aid.
This made me decide I needed to make one of these. I have 3 broken hockey sticks sitting in storage and I finally could make use of them.
You can use this stickhandling training aid at home on some plexiglass, or take it to the rink and get some real on-ice training.
Let’s look at what materials are needed then I will explain each step in my video or read the steps below.
Materials Needed:
- Hacksaw
- An old, broken hockey stick (or buy a cheap wooden one)
- Four hockey pucks minimum
- 3-inch screws with washers (2.5-inch to 2.75-inch screws would be ideal)
- Cutting box/miter box to ensure straight cuts (optional)
- Drill and bits
How to Make a Hockey Stickhandling Training Aid (Step-by-Step Guide)
1. Preparation
Start by gathering all your materials. Lay them out making sure you have everything you need.
2. Determine Where You Will Cut the Stick
Decide the length of your training aid, this is measured by how long you cut the stick. For my guide, I use 22 inches, but this is customizable based on personal preferences. I wanted to show the hockey stick brand logo “TRUE” as it looked nice.
I just grabbed a measuring tape and marked it 22 inches in length.
3. Cutting the Stick
Place your hockey stick in the plastic miter box cutting tool, if you have one. This tool will hold the stick firmly in place, ensuring a straight cut.
You can just hold the stick off a ledge, stair, or anything you can to easily cut it.
I used my hacksaw and carefully cut the stick at the marked point.
4. Preparing the Base
To create a sturdy base for the stick, use the four hockey pucks. The reason we need to use 2 pucks for each side is so a hockey puck can fit under the stick when you are stickhandling.
I used tape to temporarily hold the pucks together using shin pad tape. Stack them together. This ensures they remain in the right position for drilling and screwing. (Note: Gluing is an option, it’s unnecessary since screws will ultimately hold the pucks together.)
5. Drilling and Screwing
First, we need to pre-drill a hole into the stick and pucks. Make sure the drill bit you use is slightly smaller than the screw you have.
My drill bit size was 9/16″.
Hold the stick in the center of the pucks, and apply some weight so it doesn’t move when you start drilling into the stick and more importantly, the pucks.
After drilling the hole, you can blow the dust away, then get your screw to drill in. I added 2 small washers and then 4 larger washers as a spacer so my screw wouldn’t go through both pucks. 2 pucks and a hockey stick is about 3 inches, so a smaller screw is fine without any washers.
Add a screw to both ends of the stick down through each puck.
Thats it! Your stickhandling training aid is ready to go.
Final Thoughts – It’s That Easy!
There you have it! A super simple DIY hockey stickhandling training aid that is super affordable and wont break the bank. You get to use old broken hockey sticks that are pretty much useless, you save them from going to the dump.
You can customize this project too by keeping the stick longer, then adding more pucks in the middle if you want a longer training aid that you can stickhandle back and fourth through.
I created my single-sized one specifically for quick dekes then a quick-release snap shot.
Enjoy practicing regularly with your new tool! Soon you will start to see you hockey game change as your puck control skills progress. Happy practicing and enjoy your DIY project!
Jamie is the founder of Hockey Response and he is the chief writer/ lead editor. Jamie has been playing hockey for over 20 years. He was the defenseman of the year in NL and has played Jr A level hockey. Jamie has coached several kids hockey camps and he was the assistant coach of the Western Kings.