By: Elizabeth Rakow
Published On: 12/19/2025
WE TRIED IT:
Ice Hockey
Skating, scrimmaging, and taking our best shot.
As the holidays approach, and cold weather takes its hold, AND the 2026 Winter Olympics grow near, we couldn’t think of a more appropriate (or exciting) winter sport to try than ice hockey.
Originating in parts of Canada in the early 19th century, ice hockey started with a simple game of hitting a ball with a stick. With the better known version of the game developing in Montreal in the mid 1870s, ice hockey officially migrated south to the US in the 1890s and has since become a stronghold in both countries.
Bringing with it a rich history and distinct seasonal feel, ice hockey felt like the perfect way to close out the year. Join us as we lace up our skates, don some of our favorite (and warmest) FP Movement outerwear styles, and learn the basics from some of the best!
Originating in parts of Canada in the early 19th century, ice hockey started with a simple game of hitting a ball with a stick. With the better known version of the game developing in Montreal in the mid 1870s, ice hockey officially migrated south to the US in the 1890s and has since become a stronghold in both countries.
Bringing with it a rich history and distinct seasonal feel, ice hockey felt like the perfect way to close out the year. Join us as we lace up our skates, don some of our favorite (and warmest) FP Movement outerwear styles, and learn the basics from some of the best!
WHERE WE WENT
We took to the rink at IceWorks in Aston, PA. A state-of-the-art, four-rink complex, IceWorks has been providing space for hockey, figure skating, and curling since 1997. Having hosted events like the USA Curling Nationals and the US Speed Skating Nationals, their coaching staff includes legends like Jim Watson, Flyers Hall of Famer, and Stephane Charbonneau, a Canadian retired professional ice hockey right winger who we actually got to skate alongside.
WHAT WE DID
After lacing up our skates and selecting sticks based on height and handedness (we had a few lefties in the group!), we began an informal warm up by taking some laps around the rink. Though ice skating ability was a prerequisite for this We Tried It, many of us hadn’t been on skates in quite some time and appreciated the practice run before adding the pucks into play.
“I think the last time I was on skates had to be at least 5 years ago! This is a blast”
“I used to do pond skating growing up. Ice skating feels like a must in the winter!”
“Not sure how a puck is going to factor in, but for now I’m keeping my balance!”
Once we found our stride, our instructors for the day, Stephane and Tim, gave us a few drills to start with. We skated up and down the rink, raced side by side with pucks in tow, and did a few passing drills before moving on to learning how to shoot. Want to learn a little more about the basics? Check out our simple guides below!
“I think the last time I was on skates had to be at least 5 years ago! This is a blast”
“I used to do pond skating growing up. Ice skating feels like a must in the winter!”
“Not sure how a puck is going to factor in, but for now I’m keeping my balance!”
Once we found our stride, our instructors for the day, Stephane and Tim, gave us a few drills to start with. We skated up and down the rink, raced side by side with pucks in tow, and did a few passing drills before moving on to learning how to shoot. Want to learn a little more about the basics? Check out our simple guides below!
STICKHANDLING
One of the more difficult skills to master, stickhandling is all about control. Our instructors showed us how to properly grip our sticks for a firm yet flexible hold. “Keep your top hand firm and bottom hand loose. Use your wrist to control the direction of the stick and the movement of the puck,” we were told. While we weren’t the best at keeping our heads up while transporting the pucks, we managed to steer clear of any head-on collisions. We’re calling that a win.
PASSING
Stephane and Tim had us run a few passing drills by selecting a partner and moving far across the rink from one another. We were told to use a soft touch and let the ice take the puck where it needed to go. Aim was the key focus here. As a large group of inexperienced players, we tried our best to keep our pucks from crossing paths with another pair (but of course there were a few stragglers).
One of the more difficult skills to master, stickhandling is all about control. Our instructors showed us how to properly grip our sticks for a firm yet flexible hold. “Keep your top hand firm and bottom hand loose. Use your wrist to control the direction of the stick and the movement of the puck,” we were told. While we weren’t the best at keeping our heads up while transporting the pucks, we managed to steer clear of any head-on collisions. We’re calling that a win.
PASSING
Stephane and Tim had us run a few passing drills by selecting a partner and moving far across the rink from one another. We were told to use a soft touch and let the ice take the puck where it needed to go. Aim was the key focus here. As a large group of inexperienced players, we tried our best to keep our pucks from crossing paths with another pair (but of course there were a few stragglers).
SHOOTING
We got to learn two types of shots on goal during our ice hockey lesson: wrist shots and slapshots.
Wrist Shots are quick, accurate, and primarily depend on wrist and forearm power. You snap the stick forward with a flick of the wrist, rather than winding up for a stronger shot. Ideal for close-range shots on goal, this style involves transferring your weight, accurately moving your stick, and following through with precision. In short: the wrist shot is more about accuracy than power.
Slap Shots are all about going hard and fast. Tim walked us through the exact 4-step process of executing a slap shot. It starts with a big windup in which you hold your stick high in the air behind your back. Next, you swing and make sure to hit the ice before the puck so the stick flexes. In that same motion, you transfer your body weight forward and follow through with your stick once it hits the puck to generate more speed and power. While the slap shot isn’t always as accurate, it’s made for powerful swings and creating a long, hard shot that can travel farther distances.
We got to learn two types of shots on goal during our ice hockey lesson: wrist shots and slapshots.
Wrist Shots are quick, accurate, and primarily depend on wrist and forearm power. You snap the stick forward with a flick of the wrist, rather than winding up for a stronger shot. Ideal for close-range shots on goal, this style involves transferring your weight, accurately moving your stick, and following through with precision. In short: the wrist shot is more about accuracy than power.
Slap Shots are all about going hard and fast. Tim walked us through the exact 4-step process of executing a slap shot. It starts with a big windup in which you hold your stick high in the air behind your back. Next, you swing and make sure to hit the ice before the puck so the stick flexes. In that same motion, you transfer your body weight forward and follow through with your stick once it hits the puck to generate more speed and power. While the slap shot isn’t always as accurate, it’s made for powerful swings and creating a long, hard shot that can travel farther distances.
Once we learned the basics, it was time for a quick scrimmage.
We took it pretty easy (as all beginners should) with a little five on five to finish off our lesson and get a chance to try out our new skills. While most of us had never competed in a game of ice hockey before, one of our team members actually came with quite a bit of experience!
“Ice hockey was a huge part of my upbringing,” said Tara, our Studio Operations Coordinator. “I come from a family of three daughters, and my dad had all of us play—I was on skates before I could walk.”
Tara was quickly recruited by our instructors as a third assistant and given the nickname ‘Coach.’ Not only did her hockey skills hold up, we all got to reap the benefits of her expertise.
“I was nervous about getting back on the ice and wondered if I could still do what I once could, but it was like riding a bike—once you know it, you never forget. The movements came back naturally, and I was excited to share something so meaningful to me with my friends and teach them a few tips and tricks.”
“Ice hockey was a huge part of my upbringing,” said Tara, our Studio Operations Coordinator. “I come from a family of three daughters, and my dad had all of us play—I was on skates before I could walk.”
Tara was quickly recruited by our instructors as a third assistant and given the nickname ‘Coach.’ Not only did her hockey skills hold up, we all got to reap the benefits of her expertise.
“I was nervous about getting back on the ice and wondered if I could still do what I once could, but it was like riding a bike—once you know it, you never forget. The movements came back naturally, and I was excited to share something so meaningful to me with my friends and teach them a few tips and tricks.”
WHAT WE THOUGHT
Claire G., Assistant Copywriter: “It surprised me how much fun hockey was. It engages your whole body and requires quick thinking, reminding me of when I played soccer. Going in, it wasn’t a sport that I had thought much about, but now I definitely want to play again!"
Dani G., Merchandiser: “It was cool that all 4 limbs were doing something different-- had to connect mind to muscle in order to avoid falling! Was so fun to be really in tune with your body and feel confident on the ice.”
Tara W., Studio Operations Coordinator: “The overall experience was so fun. While others may have felt nervous, it felt lighthearted to me—I didn’t feel any pressure to play perfectly or impress coaches. It was simply about enjoying the sport, bonding with my coworkers, and getting girls out on the ice to have fun together.”
Sarah E., Assistant Copywriter: "I had such an amazing time even when I fell on my butt! The In the Wild pants kept me warm and cozy while I was skating on the ice. Had such a fun time!"
Liz H., Merchandiser: “Challenging but unexpectedly fun, when I was told "competent on skates" was the requirement, I thought no problem! But I was quickly humbled. After a few minutes of regaining confidence on the ice, it was so fun to learn ways to add onto that skill with hockey! My personal favorite part was the shooting drills”
Dani G., Merchandiser: “It was cool that all 4 limbs were doing something different-- had to connect mind to muscle in order to avoid falling! Was so fun to be really in tune with your body and feel confident on the ice.”
Tara W., Studio Operations Coordinator: “The overall experience was so fun. While others may have felt nervous, it felt lighthearted to me—I didn’t feel any pressure to play perfectly or impress coaches. It was simply about enjoying the sport, bonding with my coworkers, and getting girls out on the ice to have fun together.”
Sarah E., Assistant Copywriter: "I had such an amazing time even when I fell on my butt! The In the Wild pants kept me warm and cozy while I was skating on the ice. Had such a fun time!"
Liz H., Merchandiser: “Challenging but unexpectedly fun, when I was told "competent on skates" was the requirement, I thought no problem! But I was quickly humbled. After a few minutes of regaining confidence on the ice, it was so fun to learn ways to add onto that skill with hockey! My personal favorite part was the shooting drills”
WHAT WE WORE
Cold temps + ease of movement means we went for some of FP Movement’s warmest and most flexible pieces. We layered up with some base layers from our ski collection, as well as compressive and comfortable long sleeves. Of course, we had to top off every look with some extra warm outerwear and a beanie–it’s a winter sport after all!
Featuring:
Myoko Jacquard Base Layer
Coast To Coast Quarter-Zip Base Layer
In The Wild Fleece Pant
Sundown Fleece Pant
Retro Rider Pant
Mountain High Half-Zip Fleece
Hit The Slopes Printed Fleece Jacket
Lil Buti Beanie
Featuring:
Myoko Jacquard Base Layer
Coast To Coast Quarter-Zip Base Layer
In The Wild Fleece Pant
Sundown Fleece Pant
Retro Rider Pant
Mountain High Half-Zip Fleece
Hit The Slopes Printed Fleece Jacket
Lil Buti Beanie
HOW WE MOVED
Ice Hockey is most definitely a full-body workout. Working virtually every muscle group in the body, this sport involves engaging your legs for skating power, your core for stability and balance, and your upper body for stickhandling and shooting. If you’re looking for a fun way to engage your whole body and fine-tune your quick-thinking skills (decisions about when to pass or shoot have to be made pretty quickly), all while hanging with friends through a fast-paced activity, ice hockey might be worth a try!
SNOW DAY ESSENTIALS
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