How HeadsUp Hockey’s AI Stickhandling System Transforms Your Skills 🥅

Stickhandling isn’t just about what your hands can do — it’s about what your eyes are doing while your hands are working. Too many players stare at the puck, lose awareness, and miss open teammates or scoring chances.

I’m Lance Pitlick, former NHL defenseman and founder of Online Hockey Training, and I recently had the chance to test the HeadsUp Hockey AI stickhandling trainer created by Michael Fitzgerald. In this review, I’ll walk you through what it is, how it works, what’s included in the kit, and whether I recommend it for youth players and families.

If you’re looking for a way to make stickhandling more engaging, track progress, and keep your eyes up, this tool may be worth adding to your setup.

What Is the HeadsUp Hockey AI Stickhandling Trainer?

The HeadsUp Hockey system is an AI-powered training aid designed to help players work on stickhandling with their eyes up. It combines a physical setup with a companion app that tracks performance, timing, and accuracy through a series of guided challenges.

Instead of just telling players “keep your head up,” it builds that habit by giving them a target to focus on and clear feedback when they drift.

I spoke about this tool in Episode 137 of the Hockey Journey Podcast, where I shared why I think vision training and puck control need to be trained together — not separately.

What’s Included in the HeadsUp Hockey Kit?

One thing I like about this product is that it comes as a complete kit. You don’t have to hunt around your garage for random parts or DIY pieces.

Inside the box, you get:

• Stand
• Magnet
• Mirror
• Two pucks
• White tape
• QR code with easy app setup instructions

The design makes it simple to set up a “heads-up” focal point so players are looking forward instead of straight down — especially when they’re working on fakes, puck movement, and tight control.

Setup Time: From Box to Training in About 30 Minutes

Good news for parents and players: setup doesn’t take all day.

With the QR code and app instructions, you can typically go from unboxing to first training session in about 30 minutes. The calibration process is straightforward, and once you go through it once, you’re ready to start the built-in challenges.

The app plays a big role here. It guides you through:

• Basic setup and calibration
• Choosing difficulty or challenge type
• Tracking results and progress over time

For players who respond better to visual scores and data than verbal reminders, this is a huge plus. It turns training into something they can “beat” — like a video game, but with real on-ice benefits.

Six Built-In Challenges with Real Progress Tracking

The HeadsUp Hockey trainer includes six different challenges built into the app. Each challenge is designed to test a specific part of your game — quick hands, rhythm, coordination, or vision.

As you complete reps, the app tracks your performance so you can see:

• How your scores improve over time
• Which drills you struggle with most
• Where you’re most consistent — or inconsistent

This kind of feedback can be extremely motivating. Instead of guessing whether you’re improving, you can see actual numbers and try to beat your previous best.

Why Heads-Up Stickhandling Matters More Than Ever

Modern hockey is faster and more read-and-react than ever. If a player has to look down every time they handle the puck, they’re already a step behind.

Heads-up training helps players:

• Scan for open ice and passing options
• React to pressure faster
• Protect the puck without losing awareness
• Build true “hockey IQ” — not just flashy moves

The mirror component in the HeadsUp Hockey kit gives players a forward focal point, while the AI helps ensure they’re staying honest about where their eyes are actually going.

Who Is HeadsUp Hockey Best For?

In my opinion, this product is best suited for:

• Youth and teen players who already love working on their hands
• Players who tend to stare at the puck and struggle with scanning
• Families looking for an engaging, tech-powered way to make off-ice work more fun
• Competitors who are motivated by scores, levels, and measurable improvement

If your player is brand new to hockey, I’d start with simple, foundational stickhandling drills first. But for players who already have some basic control and want to add vision, quickness, and challenge to their training, this fits nicely into the mix.

My Take as a Coach: Do I Recommend It?

As a coach who’s obsessed with off-ice training, I like tools that:

• Reinforce good habits (like keeping your head up)
• Make training more engaging
• Provide real feedback, not just guesswork

The HeadsUp Hockey AI trainer checks those boxes. It’s not a magic wand — players still need reps, effort, and consistency — but as part of a complete off-ice system, it can absolutely help players build smarter hands and better awareness.

Special Offer: Save 15% with Code Fasthands

As a bonus, you can save 15% on your purchase by using coupon code Fasthands at checkout.

Visit HeadsUpHockey.ai and enter Fasthands when you order.

For even more structured off-ice work, pair this device with my full video-based training systems inside Online Hockey Training.

Click here to get instant access to 1,000+ off-ice stickhandling and shooting drills →