What We Pack for a Family Hockey Weekend Trip.

Hi, I’m Natasha, and I’m lucky to have a wonderful family. I’m a mom to active and curious boys, a wife to an amazing husband, and a proud pet mom to our golden retriever Sune (@sune_baboon), our Scottish Fold Fujin (@supercoolscottishcat), and our tortoise Grinch.

Our boys play hockey, which means we often find ourselves on the road for youth hockey tournaments. Most of our trips are within about 4 hours of driving, but even short hockey road trips usually turn into multi-day stays with hotel reservations.

Over time, I’ve built a packing list that makes these trips much smoother.

What We Pack for the Kids (Hockey + Hotel Life)

Hockey trips aren’t just about the games. A lot of the fun (and chaos) happens at the hotel.

Most hotels don’t allow mini hockey in hallways, and we completely understand why. But during tournaments, we’ve been really lucky: many of the hotels we stay at let teams use conference or meeting rooms for the kids to play.

When that space is available, the kids end up playing for hours between games, so we always come prepared.

Here’s what we pack for the kids:

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• Mini sticks and a mini net set

  These are used almost every single trip. The kids end up playing for hours, especially when teams get access to larger hotel rooms or meeting spaces.

  👉 Our go-to mini hockey sets are Franklin Sports Mini Hockey Goal Set and Bauer Mini Hockey Set.

• Mystery mini stick packs

  Each pack comes with one mini stick, which makes it fun for the kids.There is always a bit of excitement not knowing which one they’ll get.

  👉 We’ve had great luck with these mystery mini sticks.

  
  

• Mini hockey balls

  We always bring a few extra because they somehow disappear during games. Having enough on hand keeps the mini hockey going without interruptions.

  👉 We usually pack a set like these.

• Scoreboard score flipper

  The kids love keeping track of their games, and this makes it feel a lot more official. It’s simple, easy to use, and adds an extra layer of fun to mini hockey sessions.

  👉 Check out this scoreboard score flipper

  
  

• Toys for younger kids

  These toys have been great for younger kids who are watching games or just need something to do between them. They are easy to pack, keep them engaged, and still keep everything hockey-themed.

  👉 Playmobil NHL Take Along Arena

  👉 Playmobil NHL Zamboni Machine

  👉 Soft Hockey Stick Set

  
  

• Wheeled hockey bags

  After trying a few different options, we’ve found that wheeled bags make a huge difference, especially when you’re going back and forth between the rink and hotel multiple times a day.

  👉 This is a popular Hockey Tower Bag

  
  

• Hockey stick bag

  This has been really helpful for keeping sticks together and protected during travel. It also makes it much easier to carry everything in and out of the rink instead of juggling loose sticks.

  👉 We’ve found this hockey stick bag really convenient for road trips

• Durable pants

  This one we learned the hard way. Between mini hockey and running around, knees don’t last long so we always pack strong, comfortable pants that can handle it.

  👉 We stock up on these.

  
  

• Water bottles

  We bring a few water bottles so drinks stay cold through long game days.

  👉 These water bottles are our favorite.

  
  

• Hockey name tags for bags

  With so many teams and identical gear, hockey name tags saved us more than once. We usually 3D print them.

  
  

• Healthy snacks

  We stock up on bananas and make peanut butter sandwiches a lot.

  👉 We sometimes pack snacks in containers like these.

  
  

Hockey Trip Essentials for Parents

• Insulated travel mug

  Having a hot drink at the rink makes a big difference, especially during early games or long days.

  👉 We always bring a reliable insulated travel mug like this one.

  
  

• Heated jacket

  These have been one of the biggest upgrades for cold rinks. Heated jackets, vests and accessories help stay warm without needing too many layers.

  👉 Ororo Heated Jacket for Women

  👉 Ororo Heated Jacket for Men

  👉 Ororo Lightweight Heated Vest for Women

  👉 Ororo Lightweight Heated Vest for Men

  👉 Ororo Heated Stadium Seat

  
  

• Warm blanket

  Rinks can get very cold, and having a blanket makes it much more comfortable to sit and watch the games.

  👉 We usually bring a compact blanket like this one.

  
  

• Gloves and beanies

  Simple but essential. Even indoors, it can get cold enough that you’ll want both.

  👉 A beanie like this and these gloves, or these work great.

  
  

• Large carry bag / tote

  We end up carrying a lot between the rink and hotel, so having one large, durable bag keeps everything organized.

  👉 I like using a large tote like this one for rink days.

  
  

• Warm footwear

  Standing around at cold rinks or walking in and out all day makes good footwear important.

  👉 Warm, comfortable boots like these and these socks have worked well for me.