8 Hockey Training Aids to Level Up Your Game at Home

By Coach Lance Pitlick | Former NHL Defenseman

You don’t need endless ice time to build pro-level hands, a dangerous shot, and explosive skating power. With the right hockey training aids at home, you can turn your garage or basement into a high-performance training zone.

But be careful—there are a lot of "toys" out there that don't actually help you get better.

Below are 8 of the most effective tools used by pros and elite youth players to improve stickhandling, shooting, and speed. Each one fits perfectly with the drills we use in our Online Hockey Training programs.

What do I need for elite stickhandling?

1. Synthetic Ice Tiles

For serious off-ice training, the floor matters. Synthetic ice tiles create a smooth, slippery surface that feels much closer to real ice than carpet or concrete.

2. Stickhandling "Danglers"

Stickhandling isn’t just about moving the puck—it’s about moving it around obstacles. Danglers act like enemy sticks or skates in your lane.

• The Goal: It forces you to lift your blade and "cup" the puck to protect it.
• Coach's Tip: Don't look down! Try to dangle through the obstacle while looking at the wall.

3. Balance Boards

Hockey is played on a slippery surface where you are constantly off-balance. A balance board trains your Core and Ankles to stabilize you while your hands do the work.

This trains your brain to track two things at once: your body position and the puck.

What tools help me score more goals?

4. Shooter Tutor (Goalie Target)

If you want to score more, stop shooting at the middle of the net! A shooter tutor is a heavy-duty tarp with holes in the corners and 5-hole.

• Visual Training: It teaches you to look for "open ice" rather than just looking at the goalie.
• Instant Feedback: You either hit the corner, or you don't.

5. The "Sauce" Kit

The "Saucer Pass" (lobbing the puck over a stick) is a crucial skill for older age groups. A Sauce Kit uses mini nets to turn this hard skill into a fun game.

It teaches "Touch"—learning how to feather a pass softly instead of just slapping it hard.

6. The Rebounder (Passer)

This is the teammate that never gets tired. A rebounder is a rubber band device that fires the puck back to you.

• One-Timers: Set it up near the net to practice catching a pass and shooting instantly.
• Soft Hands: It forces you to "catch" a hard pass without the puck bouncing away.

How do I get faster off the ice?

7. Agility Ladders

Speed is about Quick Feet. An agility ladder lays on the ground and forces you to place your feet perfectly while moving fast.

Great for improving your "starts and stops" and crossovers.

8. Plyo Boxes (Jump Boxes)

To skate fast, you need Explosive Power. Box jumps teach your legs to generate force quickly, just like a skating stride.

Safety Note: You don't need a huge box! Start small (12-18 inches) and focus on landing softly.

Turn your garage into a skills lab

Having the gear is step one. Knowing how to use it is step two.

The real magic happens when you combine these tools with structured drills. That’s exactly what we do inside our training program.

Ready to start training like a pro?
Check out our Elite-Weekly Online Hockey Training Drills and plug these tools into a system that builds confidence and game-ready skills.