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Shopping for a hockey player is harder than it looks. The big-ticket items, like skates, sticks, helmets, and gloves, depend on exact sizing, stick flex, curve, and personal preference, and players tend to be particular about all of it. Guess wrong and the gift goes back. So this guide focuses on the gear that's hard to get wrong: things every player goes through constantly, things that make the game easier to practice, and a few picks for the fans in your life.
Stocking Stuffers Every Player Actually Uses
Riedell Lacing Hook — our founder's pick. Getting skates laced tight enough, especially through the upper eyelets, is hard on the fingers. A lacing hook grabs the lace so you can pull it snug without wrecking your hands. This one comes from our founder's own bag: he's gone through other skate hooks that bent under pressure, and this is the one that hasn't. Riedell sells it for figure skates, but it works on any lace-up skate, hockey skates included. It has a molded handle with a metal hook, and it's sold individually. See it on Amazon →
Howies Cloth Hockey Tape. Stick tape wears out fast, and nobody ever has enough. Howies is a favorite at rinks everywhere and is made in the USA. This five-pack of 1-inch cloth tape (20 yards per roll) makes an easy stocking stuffer. See it on Amazon → Shopping for a goalie? Goalies often prefer wider tape for their sticks, and Howies makes a 1.5-inch version. See the 1.5-inch tape →
Howies Stick Wax. This one surprises non-players. Rubbing wax over a fresh tape job helps keep ice and snow from building up on the blade, helps the tape last longer, and adds a little grip for puck control. It comes in a 2.8-ounce tin that won't rub off on the rest of the gear in the bag. Pair it with the tape above and you've got a complete stocking. See it on Amazon →
Elite Hockey Prolace Waxed Skate Laces. Waxed laces hold their tension better than plain cotton laces, so skates stay tight through a whole game instead of loosening as they go. These are consistently among Amazon's best sellers in hockey skate accessories. Lace length depends on skate size, so check the size chart on the listing, or look at the length printed on the player's current laces. See it on Amazon →
Guardog Skate Guards. Walking on skates without guards dulls and chips the blades, and a pair of guards gets lost or cracked eventually. Guardog's Top Notch guards are hard, spring-loaded, and can be cut to fit blades from 6 to 12.5 inches long, so one pair works for most skaters. They come in a range of colors, including scented and color-changing designs that kids love. See it on Amazon →
Off-Ice Training
Green Biscuit Original + Snipe Combo. A real puck won't slide on a driveway, and a ball bounces too much to feel like the real thing. The Green Biscuit solves that: it's built with a split, shock-absorbing design that stays flat and glides on asphalt, concrete, and sport courts, at standard puck dimensions (3 inches wide, 1 inch thick). This combo includes both versions: the Original for stickhandling and passing, and the Snipe, built to take shooting practice. One tip: don't shoot the Original, since it isn't designed for it. See it on Amazon → For a fan of a particular team, Green Biscuit also makes versions with NHL team logos. See the NHL team versions →
For Kids Just Getting Into the Game
Franklin Sports NHL Mini Knee Hockey Set. Knee hockey is how a lot of kids fall in love with the game long before their first skate, played in basements and living rooms with mini sticks and a soft ball. This officially licensed NHL set includes two mini goals, two knee hockey sticks, and a foam ball, which is everything two kids need for a game. See it on Amazon → If a child is ready for real gear, skates and a helmet need to be fit in person. A gift card or a trip to a local pro shop is a better gift than guessing at sizes.
For the Hockey Fan and History Buff
The Game by Ken Dryden (30th Anniversary Edition). Dryden won six Stanley Cups in eight seasons in goal for the Montreal Canadiens. The Game, his account of one week during his final season, is widely considered one of the best hockey books ever written. This anniversary edition adds a foreword by Bill Simmons and a new chapter. If you enjoyed our posts on the Original Six and Stanley Cup history, this is the book to read next. See it on Amazon →
Howies Hockey Candle. A gift for hockey parents, or for anyone who played for years and misses it. It's a 4-ounce soy candle made in the USA, with the same scent as Howies' stick wax. Anyone who's spent time in a locker room will recognize it immediately. See it on Amazon →
For the Ugly Sweater Party
NHL Team Ugly Sweaters by FOCO. Every December brings at least one ugly sweater party, and a hockey fan should show up in team colors. FOCO makes officially licensed NHL ugly sweaters in several styles, from classic knit patterns to completely over-the-top designs. Styles and sizes vary by team, so search for your team and check the size chart before ordering. Shop NHL team ugly sweaters →
The Light-Up Version. For maximum ugly, FOCO's light-up sweater has color-changing lights above and below the team name, and the batteries are included. It's hard to lose an ugly sweater contest when you're glowing. Shop light-up NHL sweaters →
The 3D Version. FOCO's 3D ugly sweater comes with plush stockings and candles that attach with Velcro, so you can rearrange (or remove) the decorations. Shop 3D NHL ugly sweaters →
For Fans Without a Team. There's no shortage of general hockey ugly sweaters, like Santa on skates, reindeer with sticks, and plenty of puck puns. Quality varies a lot among these designs, so check the material and size chart before you buy. Shop hockey ugly Christmas sweaters →
One tip: ugly sweaters in popular sizes sell out as December gets closer, so order these early.
What About Skates, Sticks, and Helmets?
The big-ticket gear makes a great gift, but only if it fits. Skates need to match foot length and width. Sticks need the right length, flex, curve, and handedness. Helmets need to fit snugly and carry current safety certification. Unless you know the player's exact specs, a gift card and a promise of a shopping trip will go over better than a surprise that has to be returned. If you do know their sizes, our Pro Shop has categories for every major piece of equipment.
Whatever you pick, order early. Holiday shipping backs up every December, and a stocking stuffer that arrives on December 27th is a New Year's gift.