Ice Rink and Hockey Gifts

Hockey is a tough sport, but finding the appropriate gift for a hockey fan doesn’t require the bumps, bruises and missing teeth often associated with this rough-and-tumble game. Because the sport is played during the winter months, most gift-giving occasions fall around Christmas, and can include a variety of items for the hockey fanatic on your list.

  1. Ice Rink Equipment

    • If you don’t want to bother heading to an area or public skating facility, try making your own rink in the backyard if you live in an area where the temperature dips below freezing. Most backyard rink packages sell for between below $350 as of 2010, and provide everything you need for an outdoor hockey or skating experience. A decent size is considered 20-feet wide by 40-feet long. A skilled outdoorsman can craft a homemade version, but beginners should use the starter kits. Don’t forget that shovels are needed to scrape off the snow as players skate.

    Playing Equipment

    • Hockey can be an expensive sport to play due to the amount of gear required. Skates are the main necessity, and can range in price from $60 to $400 in 2010. The weight is among the biggest indicators of price, with lighter skates costing more. Similarly, as of 2010, hockey sticks sell for as low as $15 to $20 for a wooden model to more than $200 for the lighter composite and graphite models. However, a good composite stick is usually available in the $60 to $100 category, unless the player competes at a very high level. Elbow pads, a helmet, shoulder pads, shin pads and gloves and padded hockey pants are all essential equipment for competitive ice hockey. Goaltenders wear the most gear, and their equipment costs the most money. A set of goalie pads alone can run more than $800 in 2010, so players often purchase this equipment second hand or through online retailers. Masks, catching and blocking gloves, and specialized sticks can put the cost thousands of dollars for a full set of goalie equipment.

    Apparel

    • If you want a hockey gift that doesn’t need to see the ice, hockey fans often love team jerseys. The authentic ones worn on the ice by professional players are expensive, costing hundreds of dollars. Most fans personalize these with a favorite player (past or present), and this customization usually costs an added fee. Team hats and other apparel are also available from most retailers.

    Game Access and Comfort

    • Buy your hockey lover an all-game pass to live matches on their TV. This allows a fan to follow his favorite team throughout the season. The entire season typically costs only a few hundred dollars.

      Alternately, if your hockey fan is an avid reader or wants to know more about the game, buy them a book that tells the history of the game or the inspiring story of one of hockey's dream teams. Canadian-based "The Hockey News" is considered the authority when it comes to all levels of hockey, and a one-year subscription costs less than a hundred dollars.

      Hockey has also hit the big screen a few times, with Paul Newman's 1977 comedy "Slap Shot", "Miracle", a Disney re-telling of the 1980 United States Olympic team's improbable gold medal win and "Mystery, Alaska", with Russell Crowe.

      Hockey is also a big sport for videogamers and provides annually updated games to engage fans.