US20020119845A1

US20020119845A1 - Hockey training apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20020119845A1
Application number: US10/133,661
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert O'Farrell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-04-28
Filing date: 2002-04-29
Publication date: 2002-08-29

Abstract

A hockey training arrangement comprises a hockey practice puck, having a configuration and density substantially equivalent to a conventional puck, with an array of relatively small glide shoes on the lower face of the puck, such as steel bearings partly recessed into the lower face of the puck, in association with a low-friction practice pad. The glide shoes elevate the puck above a play surface, to substantially reduce the coefficient of friction of the puck on the surface, permitting emulation of a puck gliding on an ice surface. The arrangement permits a player to hone his hockey skills in his home or any other location where a hockey rink is not available. Alternatively, a ringette ring incorporating similar glides shoes may be used in association with the pad.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/556,015 filed Apr. 20, 2000. The invention relates to an article for training for an athletic activity, namely hockey and related games. In particular, the invention relates to a hockey puck and associated practice pad for permitting an athlete to emulate various stick handling hockey maneuvers within a home setting or other confined space. The invention further relates to training for the game of ringette.[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The game of hockey requires the player to exhibit a high level of skill and precision at maneuvering a hockey puck with the player's stick, for example when the player is moving the puck along the ice while maintaining the puck in close proximity to his stick. This type of play requires manipulating the puck in a rapid, highly controlled side-to-side movement with skilled stick handling. Since the large majority of recreational hockey players have no ready and immediate access to ice for practicing hockey maneuvers, it is a frequent complaint amongst recreational-level players that they are unable to practice stick handling maneuvers on a regular basis, except during their hockey games. It is desirable to provide for hockey players a means whereby they may hone their stick handling hockey skills, at home or within any other confined setting. For example, an arrangement whereby a player could practice in his own basement would provide the dedicated player with a means to practice his skills on a daily, year-round basis.

Recreational hockey players sometimes resort to practice within their homes, by spreading on their floor a relatively smooth, reduced friction pad, and practicing stick handling maneuvers with a hockey stick and a plastic puck. The lightweight, plastic puck slides across the pad with a relatively low friction coefficient. As well, players often resort to street practice, using either a light plastic ball or the lightweight plastic puck. Neither of these arrangements is entirely satisfactory. The lightweight puck or ball does not resemble a puck in terms of mass or its response to the stick. Similarly, the different mass and responsiveness of the practice puck or ball does not provide a realistic “feel” to the player seeking to hone his skills. Thus, skills acquired by this means would have limited application to real game-playing hockey skills.

It has also been proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,111,419 (Pellegrino) to provide a practice hockey puck, consisting of a generally conventional hard rubber puck having an array of headed pins fastened into the puck body.

It has also been proposed to provide an indoor hockey training system for practicing of hitting shots into a hockey goal. An example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,652 to Woronets, disclosing a lengthy pad or surface, having a goal at one end.

Practice of stick handling skills requires a device having several features absent in the prior art. These features include, but are not limited to, a close emulation of actual on-ice feel i.e. a low coefficient of friction between the puck and surface. Further, the pad should be small, both to encourage rapid side-to-side movement of the puck and also to provide convenience for the home user. Further, it is desirable to provide a modular system for linking together multiple pads in various configurations to facilitate the practice of different types of movements and single player or multiple player situations.

It is desirable to provide an arrangement for practicing of hockey skills, that provides to the user a realistic simulation of an actual hockey-playing situation. Specifically, it is desirable to provide an arrangement and associated method of honing hockey skills whereby an improved hockey puck having about the size and weight of an actual ice hockey puck, may be used within an indoor practice arrangement that closely simulates or emulates on-ice play. This has not previously been accomplished within any prior art practice system or arrangement known to the inventor.

The game of ringette, which is similar to hockey, imposes similar requirements on players for off-ice practice to hone their skills.

In accordance with the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a means to emulate aspects of an on-ice hockey playing situation, for use within a confined space. It is a further object to provide a means to hone ringette skills by providing a similar means to emulate aspects of an on-ice ringette game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the above objects, the present invention comprises in one aspect a hockey practice puck, having embedded therein an array of three or more glide shoes or slideable support means for supporting the puck on a play surface. The shoes are shaped to contact a smooth play surface with minimal contact area and a minimal friction coefficient between the play surface and the contact members, in comparison with a conventional puck. In a preferred version, a triangular array of three or more bearings, which conveniently comprise steel or plastic bearings, is partially embedded within a flat face of a puck to support the puck on a surface, whereby the exposed portion of the bearings provide a contact surface. The bearings are fixed in the puck body for non-rolling contact with a smooth play surface.

The ground contact area of the contact members is minimal compared with the surface area of the lower face of puck. This permits a significant reduction in the coefficient of friction of the puck, when the same glides across a suitable smooth surface.

The invention further comprises in this aspect, the combination of a puck as characterized above, with a low-friction pad formed from a material such as high density polyethylene. The pad may comprise a composite structure, having a low-friction surface such as polyethylene, laminated to a rigid material such as styrene. A convenient dimension for the pad is approximately 48×15 inches, with a thickness of about ⅛ of an inch. Conveniently, the puck has received into one of its flat sides three ⅛ inch steel bearings, recessed by about {fraction (1/16)} of an inch, in a triangular configuration. The pad is selected to achieve a coefficient of friction between the puck and play surface which approaches that of a conventional hockey puck on an ice surface at a conventional rink temperature range.

In another aspect, the invention comprises a ringette practice ring, having embedded in a lower face at least three low-friction contact members in a similar fashion to the above-described hockey puck. The ringette ring has about the same size, shape and weight as a conventional ringette ring. In a still further aspect, the invention comprises the combination of a ringette ring of this type, with a low-friction pad as characterized above.

In a still further aspect, the invention comprises a method for practicing hockey puck-handling skills, comprising the steps of:

providing a hockey puck having embedded in one of the flat faces thereof at least three low-friction glide shoes such as steel or plastic bearings, spaced apart to support the puck on a surface; a flat pad having a low-friction upper surface; and a hockey stick;

supporting said puck on said glide shoes, on said pad;

manipulating the puck with said stick in a manner which emulates on-ice hockey play, by contacting the puck with the stick with about the same force as would be required for on-ice play, thereby imparting to the puck substantially the same responsive movement as would be imparted during on-ice play, while generally maintaining said puck within the confines of said pad.

The above method may also be adapted for practicing of ringette skills.

In a further aspect, the invention consists of a hockey puck for use on a smooth non-ice surface, with an array of apertures extending between the upper and lower faces and an array of glide shoes protruding from at least the lower face for supporting said puck on said non-ice surface. Each of the glide shoes comprises an elongate pin extending through said aperture.

Preferably, the pins comprise a self-lubricating plastic, and protrude from both of the upper and lower faces by, for example, between {fraction (1/32)} and ¼ inch.

A further aspect, the invention consists of a puck as defined above, in combination with a portable, stowable pad for practicing of hockey stick handling, said pad comprising a smooth and slippery material wherein the coefficient of friction between said puck and said pad is less than or approximately equal to the coefficient of friction between a conventional hockey puck and a smooth ice surface at a temperature range of between about 10° C. and 5° C.

A further aspect consists of a system comprising a hockey puck having substantially flat upper and lower faces, with an array of glide shoes on at least one of said upper and lower faces for elevating said face above a play surface and substantially reducing the coefficient of friction of said puck on a surface; a portable, stowable pad having a smooth and low friction upper surface, and user instructions in the form of written or graphic instructions, a video or computer-readable information. The instructions describe a procedure in which the pad is positioned on flat surface, the puck is positioned on said pad with said glide shoes resting on said pad, and the puck is manipulated by a player in a rapid side-to-side movement with a hockey stick in a manner emulating the side-to-side stick handling procedures generally employed in a game of ice hockey.

The system may further comprise additional components, which are optionally attached to the pad to add challenging elements to the player's practice routine. Such components include an upstanding pylon, or, as described below, a bumper for returning the puck to the player.

The instructions may further describe a multi-player game, in which two or more players either pass a puck between themselves on a co-operative basis emulating a situation in which all of said players are on the same team, or a game in which a first player attempts to steal the puck from a second player emulating a situation in which players are on opposing teams.

Preferably in this invention, the pad or the glide shoes, or most preferably both, comprise a self-lubricating plastic for reducing the coefficient of friction between said glide shoes and said pad to less than or generally equal to the coefficient of friction of a conventional hockey puck on a smooth ice surface at a temperature range between 10° C. and −5° C.

In a further aspect there is provided at least two pads each having a flat and smooth upper surface, and at least one fastening clip for joining the pads together in a tight side-by-side array. The clip has a plate-like base having at least two pegs protruding therefrom, said pegs for friction fitting within apertures within the pads.

A further aspect relates to a removable bumper along one side of the pad for reflecting a hockey puck, said bumper comprising a resilient, elastomeric material.

The bumper may be substantially straight, or alternatively it may be curved, e.g. semi-circular, hyperbolic or parabolic.

Directional references herein are for convenience of description. The terms “upper” and “lower” herein refer to the puck or pad of this invention when positioned horizontally.

Having thus generally characterized the invention, further aspects of the invention will be made apparent by virtue of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of hockey puck according to the present invention. [0031]
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a puck, along line II-II of FIG. 1, showing the same resting on a practice pad. [0032]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a practice pad according to the present invention, with a puck resting thereon. [0033]
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the invention. [0034]
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a ringette ring according to the present invention. [0035]
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a puck according to a still further embodiment of the invention. [0036]
FIG. 7 is a plan view of a puck according to the embodiment of FIG. 6. [0037]
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the pad portion of the invention according to a further embodiment. [0038]
FIGS. 9A, 9B and [0039] 9C are plan views of a multiple of pads of the embodiment of FIG. 8, linked together in various configurations.
FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a linking pin for joining multiple pads. [0040]
FIG. 11 is a plan view of a first type of linking pin, with four projections. [0041]
FIG. 12 illustrates a second type of linking pin, with two projections. [0042]
FIG. 13([0043] a) is a plan view of a pad and pylon combination.
FIG. 13([0044] b) is a sectional view of the combination shown in FIG. 13(a).
FIG. 14 is a plan view of a pad and bumper combination. [0045]
FIGS. 15A, B and C illustrate different embodiments of pad and bumper combinations.[0046]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. [0047] 1-4, one aspect of the present invention comprises a puck body 10, which generally resembles a conventional and traditional hockey puck, having a generally cylindrical configuration with knurled region 12 extending around the sidewall 14, and fabricated from a dense, slightly resilient material such as hard rubber. It is important that the puck 10 have about the same size, weight and resiliency as a conventional hockey puck. Conveniently, a commercially-available conventional puck may be simply modified in the manner described below. The puck is characterized by opposed substantially flat upper and lower faces 16 and 18 (all directional references herein are with reference to the puck in the normal “play” position). The puck is supported by an array of glide shoes as described below.
An array of conventional ⅛″ [0048] steel bearings 20 is partly recessed into the lower face 18 of the puck. The array comprises three bearings, arranged in a triangular configuration. To maximize stability for the puck, the array covers substantially the entire lower face of the puck, with the bearings being inwardly displaced from the sidewalls by an amount sufficiently to prevent failure of the puck body. The bearings are each enclosed within a corresponding recess 22 within the puck body 10, opening to the lower face of the puck. Conveniently, the bearings are glued or otherwise fastened in place within the recess, by any suitable glue or the like. The recess is about {fraction (1/16)} inch deep, permitting the bearings to extend downwardly from the puck body by about {fraction (1/16)} inch, thus elevating the puck body 10 by this distance when the puck rests on a flat surface.
The bearings may comprise a material other than steel, such as another metal or a hard plastic. The bearings may range in size from, for example, {fraction (1/16)} inch to ⅜ inch, and be recessed within the puck to a range of depths which permit the puck body to be elevated off a flat surface by between about {fraction (1/32)} of an inch and ¼ inch. The array may comprise any convenient number of bearings with a minimum of three. For example, an array of four bearings may be provided. The bearings should be positioned reasonably close to the periphery of the puck to maximize stability. [0049]
The bearings are arranged such that when the [0050] puck body 10 is positioned on a surface 30, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, with the puck supported on the bearings 20, the puck body is elevated slightly above the surface. Thus, the puck is supported on the surface solely via the bearings. It will be appreciated that this results in a significant reduction of friction when a velocity is imparted to the puck relative to the surface, in comparison with a conventional puck gliding on such a surface. This is particularly apparent when the surface comprises a smooth, low friction surface such as a synthetic flat pad of the type which will be described in detail below.
An alternative arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 4. In this example, the bearings are replaced by an array of [0051] small pads 40 fastened to the lower surface 18 of the puck body 10. For example, a triangular array comprised of three small pads formed from a synthetic material such as polyethylene, which is characterized by a low coefficient of friction, may be glued or otherwise fastened to the lower surface of the hockey puck to form this embodiment.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a hockey practice puck of the types characterized above may be used by an athlete, in association with a [0052] flat pad 50 having a low coefficient of friction on the upper surface 30 thereof. Conveniently, the pad may have a suitable dimension such as 48×15 inches or more, and may be relatively thin, for example, ⅛ inch. Suitable dimensions for the practice pad cover a range, limited primarily by convenience of manufacturing, shipping and packaging, as well as the storage convenience of the user. By way of a non-limiting example, the pad may range in size from 2×1 foot up to about 3×6 feet, with a thickness ranging from ⅛ inch to ⅜ inches. Preferably the pad is sufficiently rigid that it will experience only minimal or no deflection during use. For example, the pad may be used on a soft surface such as carpet, and in use will experience both the weight of the puck bearing down on the pad, as well as downward pressure from the players stick. Normally, the player would not be expected to stand on the pad and thus the pad would not be required to resist a large amount of downward force. Thus, the pad may be made relatively thin, thus keeping costs and bulkiness and weight of the pad to a minimum. The pad may comprise a composite, formed from an upper layer bonded to a lower layer. The upper, low friction layer 52 may comprise a high density polyethylene material, laminated to a base 54 comprised of high density styrene, HDPE or like rigid and tough material. The upper surface 50 of the pad will form a smooth, flat surface, which emulates the ice surface of a hockey arena. A hockey practice puck as described above, will be able to glide across such a surface with a coefficient of friction which approaches or even may be less than that of a conventional hockey puck gliding on an ice surface, at a conventional rink temperature range (i.e. about −10° C. to −5° C.). Conveniently, the upper layer may comprise a material such as Proteus (™) high density polyethylene, manufactured by Polyhigh of Scranton, Pa. The manufacturer advises that this material has a density of 29.4-28.7 cubic inches/pound. The combination of puck and pad described herein permits play manipulation of the puck in an omni-direction movement on the pad with a drag co-efficient which approaches or is less than a conventional puck on an ice arena surface.
In a test, the practice puck according to the present invention, gliding on a synthetic surface as described, was compared to a conventional puck gliding on a rink ice surface. Both surfaces were horizontal. An essentially identical impact was applied to each puck, and the distance travelled by each was measured. In several test runs, the distance travelled was essentially the same, indicating a similar friction coefficient. [0053]
It will be seen that the hockey practice puck of the type described above, may be used in association in situations other than strictly practice. For example, the puck may be used on a smooth gymnasium floor, covered by a plastic layer as described above either for practicing of hockey maneuvers, or in the context of a conventional hockey game, played on a non-ice surface. [0054]
A further embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 5. In this version, the invention comprises a ringette puck [0055] 60, comprising an annular member which is somewhat larger in diameter than hockey puck. An array of ⅛″ steel bearings 62 is partly recessed into the lower face 64 of the ringette puck, in generally similar fashion to the hockey puck described above. Conveniently, three equally spaced bearings are recessed in a triangular configuration, although a greater number of bearings may be provided. Alternatively, small pads may be mounted to the lower face of the ringette puck. A practice pad as described above is provided for use in association with the ringette puck.
In a still further aspect, the invention comprises a method for off-ice honing of a player's hockey skills, which is especially convenient for carrying out in a player's home. The method comprises the steps of: [0056]
providing a hockey puck as described above, characterized by the lower face of the puck having an array of glide shoes such as bearings or pads to support the puck on a surface and elevate the puck body above the surface; a flat pad having a low friction upper surface; and a hockey stick; [0057]
supporting the puck on the surface, with the puck body being elevated above the surface by the glide shoes. [0058]
A player manipulates the puck with the hockey stick in a manner which emulates on-ice hockey play. For this purpose, the player contacts the puck with the stick, with about the same force as would be required for on-ice hockey play. Typically, this will involve fine manipulation of the hockey puck, for example as would be carried out when a player is seeking to keep the puck away from an opposing player. The player's contact of the puck with this stick, imparts to the puck about the same response of movement as would be imparted during on-ice play. At all times, the player seeks to maintain the puck within the confines of the pad. [0059]
Essentially the same method may be used to hone a player's ringette skills, with a ringette ring as described above and a ringette stick being provided in replacement of a hockey puck and stick. [0060]
A aspect of the invention comprises a kit consisting of one or more pads of the type described in this patent specification, one or more of the pucks described herein, optionally one or more linking pins (described below) for connecting together two or more pads and written instructions and/or a video, computer-readable disc or other means to convey information. The instructions describe a procedure in which the pad is positioned on a flat surface such as an indoor floor. Optionally, two or more pads may be arranged in side-by-side relationship and optionally joined together with one or more linking pins as described below. The puck is then placed on the pad. The user then manipulates the puck in a rapid side-to-side movement with his stick, in a manner intended to emulate the side-to-side stick handling procedures experienced in a game of hockey. The player may also be instructed to set out on the pad one or more temporary markers or small barriers, such as small pylons, blocks or the like, and attempt to manipulate the puck around or between the barriers. The instructions may further state that the practice system may be used by either a single player or alternatively two or more players simultaneously. In a multi player situation, a single puck may be passed between players on a co-operative basis intended to emulate a situation in which all players are on the same team. Alternatively, players may be on different teams, in which a first player tries to “steal” the puck from a second player. [0061]
A further embodiment of a [0062] puck 10 for use in the present invention is shown at FIG. 6 and 7. In this version, the glide shoes 70 comprise elongate pins, each of which is tightly fitted within a corresponding aperture 72 within the puck extending between the upper and lower faces of the puck. The pins may be friction fitted within the apertures or, more preferably, glued in place. The upper and lower ends of the pins 74 protrude from the upper and lower puck surfaces and are rounded. The pins may be conveniently made from any of the materials described above in connection with the bearings. However, preferably the pins comprise a self-lubricating plastic such as Nylon(™) or other self lubricating material. The pins may also incorporate glass or carbon fibre as a reinforcement in order to reduce wear. Carbon fibre also serves to reduce drag when incorporate in the pin material; and thus further lower the co-efficient of friction between the puck and pad. As seen in FIG. 7, the pins 70 are positioned in a triangular array of three pins adjacent the periphery of the pad. As described above, the array may comprise more than three pins although it has been found that three pins arranged in a triangular array is suitable.
FIG. 8 illustrates a [0063] pad 80 according to a further embodiment. In this version, a rectangular pad is provided with apertures 82 adjacent each corner. Each aperture extends between the upper and lower surfaces of the pad. Additional apertures 84 are provided adjacent to each of the long sides of the pad, along the midline of the pad. The apertures permit several components to be joined to the pad. In one version, fastening clips 90 are fastened to the apertures to permit multiple pads to be joined together in an array. Examples of such arrays are shown at FIGS. 9A, B and C. These arrays are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as it will be seen that any number of pads may be joined together in a large number of configurations, depending on the floor space available. The fastening clips 90 are shown in greater detail at FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 The clips 90 each comprise a plate-like base 92, from protrudes upwardly either two or four pegs 94. The pegs each fit within an aperture. Dual clips 90(a) with two pegs 94 may be used for fastening pairs of adjoining pads together. Quadruple clips 90(b) with four pegs 94 may be used to join together the four corners of four adjacent pads. Preferably, the clips are installed from the underside of the pads, with the flat base 92 underneath the pads and the pegs protruding upwardly. The tops of the pegs are generally flush with the upper pad when installed surfaces and the bases are thin in order to maintain the pad surface reasonably flat. The protrusions may comprise any convenient shape such as round (as illustrated) or multi-sided.
The [0064] apertures 84 or similar apertures in the central region of the pad 10 may also be used to engage barriers or obstacles such as small pylons 98 to the pad, as seen in FIGS. 13(a) and (b). In this version, one or more upstanding pylons are provided, each having a downwardly-projecting pin 99 having a size and length suitable for friction fitting within a corresponding aperture 84. As described above, the pylons are used to provide a further type of practice situation.
FIG. 14 illustrates a still further component which may be releasably fastened to the [0065] pad 10, namely a bumper 100 which returns outwardly directed shots to the player. The bumper comprises an upstanding wall fashioned from a resilient, elastomeric material which returns a puck to the player with minimal loss of speed. The bumper 100 may be fastened to the pad 10 by pegs which engage apertures in a manner similar to the pylons 98. In one simple version shown in FIG. 14, the bumper comprises a straight wall extending substantially the length of one side of the pad. This is suitable for returning a puck back to the player, provided the strike angle is close to 90 degrees. However, in order to provide puck return from angles which depart substantially from 90 degrees, a curved bumper may be provided as shown in FIGS. 15A, B and C. 15A illustrates a semi-circular bumper 104. With this type of configuration, a puck which is hit from the point generally corresponding with the circle center, will return close to the point from which it is hit regardless where it strikes the bumper. For the convenience of the user, a marker 106 may be incorporated in the pad at the correct puck position. Another version shown at FIG. 15B provides a parabolic bumper 108. In this version, the puck will always be returned to the player on a path which is parallel to the outgoing path. This may provide practice to the player for rapidly moving his stick from one place to another to block a return puck, in a controlled fashion. FIG. 15C illustrates a bumper 110 having a hyperbolic curvature.
The height of the bumper should be sufficiently great to block a puck which has been elevated slightly off the playing surface. The bumper may range in height from 1 inch to 10 inches with a preferred range being 3 inches to 6 inches. [0066]
Having thus generally described the invention by way of preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which this invention relates, that numerous departures from and variations to the preferred embodiments may be made, without substantially departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described and claimed herein. [0067]

Claims

I claim:

1. A hockey puck for use on a smooth non-ice surface, said puck having a generally cylindrical configuration with substantially flat upper and lower faces with an array of apertures extending between said faces and an array of glide shoes protruding from at least said lower face for supporting said puck on said non-ice surface, each of said glide shoes comprising an elongate pin extending through said aperture.

2. A hockey puck as defined in claim 1, wherein said pins comprise a self-lubricating plastic.

3. A puck as defined in claim 1, wherein said pins protrude from said upper and lower faces by between {fraction (1/32)} and ¼ inch.

4. A system comprising hockey puck as defined in claim 1, in combination with a portable, stowable pad for practicing of hockey stick handling, said pad comprising a smooth and slippery material wherein the coefficient of friction between said puck and said pad is less than or approximately equal to the coefficient of friction between a conventional hockey puck and a smooth ice surface at a temperature range of between about 10° C. and −5° C.

5. A system as defined in claim 4, wherein said pad comprises HDPE.

6. A system comprising a hockey puck having substantially flat upper and lower faces, with an array of glide shoes on at least one of said upper and lower faces for elevating said face above a play surface and substantially reducing the coefficient of friction of said puck on a surface; a portable, stowable pad having a smooth and low friction upper surface, and user instructions in the form of written or graphic instructions, a video or computer-readable information, said instructions describing a procedure in which said pad is positioned on a flat surface, said puck is positioned on said pad with said glide shoes resting on said pad, and said puck is manipulated by a player in a rapid side-to-side movement with a hockey stick in a manner emulating the side-to-side stick handling procedures generally employed in a game of ice hockey.

7. A system as defined in claim 6, further comprising at least one upstanding pylon, said instructions further describing a hockey practice method comprising placing said at least one pylon on said pad and manipulating said puck around said pylon.

8. A system as defined in claim 6, further describing a multi-player game, in which two or more players either pass a puck between themselves on a cooperative basis emulating a situation in which all of said players are on the same team, or a game in which a first player attempts to steal the puck from a second player emulating a situation in which players are on opposing teams.

9. A system comprising in combination a hockey puck having a generally cylindrical configuration with a substantially flat upper and lower faces, having on said lower face an array of glide shoes for supporting said puck on a surface, said glide shoes together having a ground contact area which is minimal compared with that of said lower face to substantially reduce the coefficient of friction of said puck when said puck is supported on said glide shoes on a smooth and flat play surface, and a pad having a flat, smooth upper surface, said pad being portable and stowable, at least one of said glide shoes or said pad comprising a self-lubricating plastic for reducing the coefficient of friction between said glide shoes and said pad to less than or generally equal to the coefficient of friction of a conventional hockey puck on a smooth ice surface at a temperature range of between 10° C. and −5° C.

10. A system as defined in claim 9 wherein both of said pad and said glide shoes comprise self-lubricating plastic.

11. A system as defined in claim 9, wherein said pad comprises HDPE.

12. A system as defined in claim 9, wherein said glide shoes comprise Nylon(™).

13. A system as defined in claim 9, wherein said glide shoes comprise an array of pins extending through said puck between said upper and lower faces and protruding from said upper and lower surfaces.

14. A portable and stowable hockey practice surface comprising at least two pads each having a flat and smooth upper surface, said pads each having apertures adjacent the peripheral sides thereof, and at least one fastening clip for joining said two or more pads together in a tight side-by-side array, said at least one clip comprising a plate-like base having at least two pegs protruding therefrom, said pegs for friction fitting within said apertures.

15. A surface as defined in claim 14, comprising at least one clip having only two pegs for fastening together two pads in side-by-side relation.

16. A surface as defined in claim 14, comprising at least one four peg clip having four pegs in a rectangular array for fastening together four pads in a side-by-side planar relation, said pads each having an aperture adjacent a corner thereof and said four peg clip being for friction fitting within four of said corner apertures.

17. A surface as defined in claim 14, wherein said pegs are generally flush with said surface when installed.

18. A surface defined in claim 14, further comprising at least one removable pylon having a peg protruding from the base thereof, said surface further including at least one aperture for friction fitting of said pylon peg, for engaging said pylon to said surface.

19. A portable and stowable hockey practice surface comprising a pad having a smooth and slippery upper surface, and a bumper along one side of said pad for reflecting a hockey puck, said bumper comprising a resilient, elastomeric material.

20. A surface as defined in claim 19, wherein said bumper is releasably joined to said surface.

21. A surface as defined in claim 19, wherein said bumper is substantially straight.

22. A surface as defined in claim 19, wherein said bumper is curved.

23. A surface as defined in claim 22, wherein the curvature of said bumper is essentially semi-circular.

24. A surface as defined in claim 22, wherein the curvature of said bumper is generally a hyperbola.

25. A surface as defined in claim 22, wherein the curvature of said bumper is generally a parabola.

26. A surface as defined in claim 22, further comprising a visible marker on said pad for indicating a position of said puck on said pad wherein shooting of said puck from said position against said bumper will return said puck to generally its starting position.