Hockey is a popular sport all over the world, played by millions of people every day. Though not necessarily a team sport like soccer or football, it can still be considered a “team sport” because it requires players to work together to complete tasks. It is also relatively easy to play on your own, with no coaches required, making it ideal for anyone who wants to have some fun during the holidays.
If you’re a fan of the game, but lack the resources to actually build a rink, don’t worry, you can still have fun with the game! Minecraft is a video game that was initially designed for PC but has since branched out to other platforms (like mobile), allowing for more possibilities. It is a creative sandbox game where you get to explore a variety of different environments, often limited only by your imaginations, allowing for endless possibilities!
In this guide, we will teach you how to build a hockey rink in Minecraft using only minimum resources, allowing you to create something unique and special for the holidays! We will also list some helpful items and tips that will allow you to build the perfect rink, without all the extra tools and weapons that you may not have around.
Table of Contents
The Basics
While there are many different aspects that could be discussed when it comes to hockey (such as the rules, or how to score a goal), we will keep this basic guide simple and straightforward. The basics of hockey include, but are not limited to:
- A puck
- Skates
- A net
- Stick tips
- Pads
- A stick
- A helmet
- Shorts
- A sweater
- A mouth guard
- Shin guards
- Boots
- Gloves
- A ball
You will notice that not all of these items are created equal, and you will need some of them more than others. Pucks, for example, are basically just a big ball of plastic with a piece of wood stuck on it (hence the “rubber” part of a hockey puck). You will need a full set of equipment to play, and it is not unusual for children to get in serious accidents due to lack of proper protection.
The Tools You’ll Need
You don’t need a huge amount of tools to build a rink in Minecraft. In fact, the minimum to get started is:
- A hand drill
- A spade
- A pickaxe
- A diamond or similar tool (depending on the size of the rink you want to build)
- A bow (for fishing)
- A torch
- A flint and tinder (for starting a fire)
- A cooking pot
- A bucket
- Anvil
- Hammer
- Anvils
- A diamond or similar tool (for sharpening your tools)
- A sword (for cutting down trees)
- Shears
- Horse armor
- Bows
- A shield
- A megaphone
- A tarp
- A campfire
You will also need a few more items to make things easier. These include:
- A chest for storing your items (for those prone to losing items easily, this can be a dangerous place to leave your items if you don’t have protection).
- A diamond or similar tool (for cutting down trees and for drilling holes in the ice).
- A fishing rod (to fish for your food).
- An amplifier (for using a speaker to call the shots from the bench).
- A megaphone (for calling the shots from the bench).
- A tarp (for setting up your accommodation).
- A whistle (for calling the shots from the bench).
- A paddle (for controlling the ice flow).
- A saw (for cutting down trees).
- A bucket (for collecting water from wet surfaces such as ponds or lakes).
- A bottle (for storing water in between plays).
- A sun lamp (for keeping the ice at a suitable temperature for skating).
- A camp stove (for keeping food warm).
- A lantern (for keeping the dark at bay).
- A fire extinguisher (to put out any small blazes that may occur while playing).
For a more convenient start, you can pick up a full Starter Kit, which includes all of the above and more, for about €20 from most hardware stores and online retailers. You can place an order online or from a physical store, and have the kit delivered to your home. You don’t need a lot of tools to start with, and some of them you may not even use at all. The main thing is that you have the basics in your possession and know how to use them.
The Game
After you have collected all your tools, it’s time to build your hockey rink. From the above list, you will need a puck, a stick, a net, a helmet, pads, shorts, a sweater, a mouth guard, shin guards, and boots. You will also need to specify whether you want the ice to be frozen or not.
You have three main options when it comes to the surface you want to use for your hockey rink. You can either build on top of a flat surface like a concrete or asphalt driveway, or you can build on the side of a hill or mountain to get some bounce and speed for your throws and hits. The third and most preferred option is to build on top of a body of water, which not only provides additional surface area for the game, but also makes it easier for you to perform certain moves like spins and jumps on the ice.
If you decide to build on top of a surface like this, you will need to make sure that it is completely level before starting to lay down your plexiglass or acrylic sheets. This is especially important if you are planning on using the ice for hockey tricks and stunts like spinning and jumping. If you are planning on just using it for your standard game, it doesn’t matter as much because you can adjust and balance the sledges (the metal pieces that you push with your snowballs) to correct for any dips and bumps as you go.
The Layout
Now that you have your surface chosen and a general idea of how you want the rink to look, it’s time to start thinking about the actual layout. You will have at least four corners where you can put up your goal and two more where you can put up your seats. Depending on how many people you have playing, you can either make it a two- or three-player game or a one-player game. For a smaller group, you can have three spectators’ seats and a goalie’s spot on the opposite side of the rink.
To avoid any accidents or injuries, it is highly recommended that you build the sides of the rink at an angle. This allows for the natural rebound of the puck when it is shot or kicked towards the wall, making it harder for the player to direct it towards the goal. This is also how you should arrange the other pieces of equipment too, like the net and the stanchions holding up the netting (the poles that run along the front of the rink from corner to corner). The corners should be well-hidden so that players can’t stand or walk in them while the game is going on, and there should be no visible spaces where players could be sitting or lying down when the game is over, as this could cause accidents too if the floor is not clear when players are trying to leave the ice surface.