Hockey pucks serve a wide variety of purposes from serving in professional games to helping players refine their shooting abilities. Manufacturers have developed different shapes and sizes to suit players of varying ages. Consider buying more than just the standard black hockey puck.
A puck designed for ice hockey is typically manufactured from vulcanized rubber. The process of vulcanization ensures the puck will be durable and suitable for use in a hockey game. Manufacturers pack rubber into a mold and compress it firmly into a disc shape to create the puck.
Official pucks for professional sports like the National Hockey League (NHL) are colored a solid black. Most non-standard pucks have different colors added to them or their surface. For example, junior hockey pucks are often blue. Tiny grooves are carved into the edges of a puck to catch the edge of a hockey stick more readily.
The NHL sets the dimensions of official pucks most commonly used in the United States. A puck must be approximately 1 inch in height and 3 inches in diameter. An NHL-approved puck must be between 5.5 and 6 ounces in total weight.
A common alteration to hockey pucks is adjusting the weight. A light, 4 ounce hockey puck is used for young or beginning players who may not have the arm strength or stick control to shoot a heavier puck accurately. Hollow plastic pucks may also be used for very young players to prevent serious injury. The lack of weight allows players to practice proper stick and shooting technique more easily.
On the other end of the weight spectrum, adult players may practice with metal pucks weighing as much as 1 to 2 pounds. This will help to build arm and wrist strength when shooting or passing. These pucks should be used with caution because of the injuries they can cause to a goalie or bystanders.
For road or street hockey, some pucks have small ball bearings embedded within the surface. The ball bearings help the puck move across asphalt or concrete without the friction that a standard puck may cause. Some hollow pucks may be used in road or street hockey as well.
An ice hockey puck must be kept at a certain temperature during a game to lessen the chance of bounces off of the ice. When practicing, be careful when shooting or passing a puck around other people until it has had a chance to cool down.
An adult player can shoot a puck at speeds above 100 miles per hour. Pads and a helmet should always be worn when shooting a puck to prevent serious injury. A metal cage-style facemask or a full visor is an excellent choice of gear in case of a high or deflected puck.
Many adult players purchase more than one hockey puck to make practicing easier. They can shoot a few into a goal without having to fetch a puck between each shot. Teams may need a few dozen pucks to make practice easier.
When it comes time to replace a hockey puck, players should pick ones that best suit their needs. The traditional standard size is appropriate for people in leagues or team practices. A hockey puck with a weight difference can be extremely useful for training purposes or for teaching beginning players.
With a wide assortment of hockey pucks available, players should purchase more than simply the common rubber version. A different style of puck can help a hockey player train or simply provide a bit of fun in the rink. Huskyhockey.net can help a shopper find the right kind of hockey puck for any sporting occasion.