“CAR!”
If you grew up playing street hockey, that line probably brings back a host of memories: taped-up hockey sticks, beat-up tennis balls, makeshift goals and rules that were your own.
The DIY, free-flowing nature that made street hockey a childhood favorite for many still remains.
But the launch of NHL Street and the recent acquisition of RCX Sports (which operates NHL Street) by Eli Manning’s Brand Velocity Group has transformed street hockey into a game that is growing well beyond the streets.
How Street Hockey Has Evolved From the Streets
When you hear the term “street hockey”, did images of these guys pop into your mind?
(See the full clip here. It’s worth a watch if you haven’t seen it in a while.)
Although not quite as dramaticized as Wayne and Garth portrayed it to be in the 1992 classic Wayne’s World (and minus the Jason Vorhees-style mask Garth was wearing), the car-dodging, anything-goes nature of street hockey is one of the main reasons why kids from that era get so nostalgic at the mention of “street hockey”.
However, due to three major advancements, the sport has shifted from an unstructured game you played with your best friends to one with actual leagues and international competitions with governing bodies.
Those major advancements include:
1. A hockey “roller” puck with little plastic ball bearings was introduced in the 1970s. Before this, kids used to rely on tennis balls, pinky balls or basically anything that could almost pass as a “puck”.
2. Roller blades (in-line skates) came about in the 1980s, bringing with them the game of “roller hockey”. Before that (and still today), kids played in running shoes, Keds, Converse or whatever sneakers you had lying around.
3. Full containment systems (or street hockey rinks), which have been a more recent phenomenon. This took a game that was mostly uncontained to one where there were boards with smooth corners and puck/ball retention nets to better replicate ice hockey.
A YardRink street hockey containment system.
The sport has grown to the point where companies now make advanced, high-quality products specifically for street hockey (which is known around the world by various names, including ball hockey, dek hockey, road hockey or floor hockey).
The advances in equipment – which we will touch on in more detail later – have made the game more structured. What’s really put street hockey into the spotlight, though, is the mainstream attention it's garnered.
Street Hockey Goes Mainstream
NHL Street, a North America-wide youth street hockey league, was created in 2023 with the partnership between the NHL and RCX Sports, a leader in organized youth sports.
The goal of NHL Street is to bring “new style, energy and gameplay to the sport of hockey. We’re creating an affordable, neighborhood-based model that gives kids everywhere an opportunity to learn and play,” according to their website.
Photo courtesy of NHL Street.
The momentum behind NHL Street (which already had more than 150 league operators as of 2024) picked up even more recently with the acquisition of RCX Sports by Brand Velocity Group, a private equity firm where former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Eli Manning is a partner.
While the NHL has only recently sought to propel the sport through its NHL Street initiative (YardRink has partnered with six NHL teams to provide street hockey rinks to assist with the initiative), street hockey has been globally prominent for decades.
The International Street and Ball Hockey Federation (ISBHF) has been around for over 30 years and is the global governing body of street and ball hockey.
They help support and unite worldwide national associations under unified rules, and organize international competitions, including the World Ball Hockey Championship, where the U.S. men's and women’s teams were gold medalists in 2026.
The ISBHF also recognize state-level street/ball hockey associations, like the Canadian Ball Hockey Association (CBHA).
In addition, regional leagues, like the National Ball Hockey League (NBHL), are beginning to rise in prominence, creating local fandom integral to the game’s expansion.
While the ethos of street hockey remains true to its origins, it has transcended beyond car dodging and Wayne’s World to become a legitimately structured, competitive sport that’s beginning to seep into the mainstream.
The Gateway for Ice Hockey & Skating
In many ways, street hockey is to pro hockey as flag football is to the NFL.
It’s a gateway to the NHL/skating, and because it’s played off the ice, it can be an avenue to introduce kids to hockey, even in warm-weather areas in the scorching mid-summer heat.
While there are exceptions, ice hockey in North America, especially at the youth level, is concentrated in certain regions of the U.S. (namely the Upper Midwest and New England) and Canada.
Backyard ice rinks are common investments for families in colder regions, but the main drawback to outdoor rinks is that the weather dictates whether you can even own one.
YardRink backyard ice rink.
If you live in a region that doesn’t receive consistent freezing temperatures, owning a backyard ice rink is essentially a pipe dream.
That’s where the appeal of street hockey comes in. It’s accessible anywhere you live, 365 days a year, to all ages and skill levels.
You can find local leagues or pickup games at various places, including outdoor basketball or tennis courts, youth centers, school playgrounds or your local YMCA or Boys & Girls Club (among other places).
A YardRink street hockey containment system set up on a basketball court.
The other accessible aspect of street hockey is that it requires less equipment than ice hockey.
For casual play, all you need is a street hockey stick, a ball and nets/designated scoring areas, and you’re ready to go.
The accessibility and inclusivity of street hockey offer the opportunity to grow an already burgeoning game (hockey received a five-year high in search interest due to the 2026 Winter Olympics, according to Google Trends) beyond the regions where it’s already entrenched.
A Year-Round Solution for Skill Development
The potential of street hockey for skill development can be summed up best by hockey GOAT, Wayne Gretzky, on In Depth with Graham Bensinger:
“When I was 4 and 5 and 6, {my father} used to have me do these stickhandling drills and in and out of pylons and all that kind of stuff. But he had me doing it for hours on hours with tennis balls, and his theory was that the tennis ball would bounce a little bit more than the puck, so if you could control the tennis ball, you were going to be so much more comfortable and so much more at ease stickhandling and carrying a puck.”
While practicing street hockey won’t automatically make you like Gretzky, the skill development potential is proven and directly transferable to ice hockey.
Beginners and youth players benefit from simplified rules and smaller playing areas that make it easier to learn basic hockey skills.
Serious ice hockey players use street hockey to sharpen their puck control, decision-making and conditioning in tight spaces, which is essential since 80% of puck time happens within three feet of the wall.
For those seeking competitive runs in the off-season, street hockey allows for live reps when ice time might be more scarce.
“These Kids Can’t Get Enough of This Street Hockey”
When a YardRink Street rink made its way to the Joseph N. Hermann Youth Center in North Andover, Massachusetts, the kids’ excitement ricocheted like a puck off the boards.
“Street hockey has quickly become one of the most popular sports at the Center. “The ball doesn’t leave the rink now. To say the new rink is popular is an understatement. All I know is that these kids can’t get enough of this street hockey,” said Rick Gorman, longtime Executive Director of the North Andover Youth Center.
A YardRink Street containment system at the North Andover Youth Center in Massachusetts.
There’s a communal aspect to street hockey that goes beyond the playing elements of the sport.
The collaboration among teammates, the fostering of unstructured play and the thrill of fun, active play are all on display with street hockey. Even more, though, is the lifelong memories you make along the way.
“One core memory we’ve already made was right after the Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl. The kids were so excited that they ran outside to play hockey in the rink – and fireworks lit up the sky in the background. It was an unforgettable moment,” said Dominic Paoletti, a YardRink Street owner since 2024.
The Next Step In Street Hockey’s Evolution
An area actively evolving in street hockey is the innovation of advanced equipment designed to professionalize the grassroots-based game.
This includes YardRink’s pro-style street hockey systems, with features like rounded, 18” boards and durable panels that can be assembled in minutes.
“The YardRink ball hockey system has been a true game changer for us. It allows us to bring structured, high-quality street hockey to schools and community centers that otherwise would not have the space or resources. Because it is portable, durable, and easy to set up, we are able to introduce the sport to more kids in more neighborhoods and continue expanding access to hockey across our community.” - Andrew Bloom, Seattle Kraken & One Roof Foundation.
Another semi-mind-blowing example is TRUE Hockey’s innovation of a tech-enabled road hockey ball wired to trick navigation apps into thinking a street is heavily trafficked so it reroutes commuter traffic to provide a car-free environment for street hockey players.
Photo courtesy of TRUE Hockey.
These types of advances in equipment will only legitimize the sport even further, and enable kids around the world to pick up a street hockey stick.
As more local and regional street hockey leagues are created, providing equipment conducive to competitive play will be essential to growing the sport.
“I wanted to offer athletes a place where they could play authentic street hockey. A fast and stress-free set-up, breakdown, and storage is vital to the success of a street hockey program – and that’s why I believe YardRink is the best fit for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northern Rhode Island.” – Brian Andrade, Boys and Girls Clubs of Northern Rhode Island's Athletic Director
Looking to Bring Street Hockey to Your Area?
Over the last two years, YardRink has partnered with six NHL teams to help give kids the opportunity to explore street hockey further.
This includes providing equipment to local events, like the 4 Nations Face Off and the Utah Mammoth inaugural Street Hockey Tournament (both pictured below), where kids can participate in both recreational and competitive play.
YardRink Street at the NHL 4 Nations Fan Village in Boston.
We are actively looking for partners who share our passion and enthusiasm for hockey, youth sports and childhood play to continue growing the game of street hockey.
YardRink’s Street Rinks at the inaugural Utah Mammoth’s Street Hockey Tournament. There were over a thousand participants, playing across multiple age divisions on 12 YardRink Street rinks. It was viewed as a massive success that kicked off a statewide mobile tour to spread the word of hockey across Utah.
Reach out if you’re interested in becoming a partner, and we’ll get your organization set up within a week.
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