How to Set Up a Pickup Hockey Game: A Step-by-Step Guide

Organizing a pickup hockey game sounds simple. In reality, it involves a surprising number of moving parts: booking ice time, filling spots, collecting payments, managing communications, and dealing with drops.

This guide breaks it down step by step, from concept to puck drop. Learn how Hockey Finder’s pickup platform can take most of the friction off your plate.

Step 1: Find and Book Ice Time

Ice time is the foundation and often the biggest hurdle. Arenas book up fast, especially for prime evening slots.

Book Directly with the Arena

Contact your local arena’s ice scheduler and ask about open ice rental availability. Arenas rent ice for private use by the hour.

What to Ask:

What times are available for private ice rental? Do you want to book the same time weekly?
What is the hourly rate, and is there a minimum booking time?
Is there a deposit or advance payment required?

Step 2: Decide the Details of Your Pickup Game

Once you have ice locked in, get clear on the format. Pickup hockey is not one-size-fits-all, and the decisions you make here will shape everything else.

Key Questions to Answer:

How many skaters do you want? A typical 5-on-5 game requires at least 10 skaters and a goalie per team. A 3-on-3 format works well with 10–14 players. Know your format before you start recruiting players.
Do you want goalies, or will you use open nets? Goalies add a lot to the game, but they might be harder spots to fill.
What skill level are you targeting? Mixed skill levels are fine for casual games, but if you are organizing for a specific group, set expectations early. Check out Hockey Finder Skill Level Definitions.

Step 3: Figure Out the Money

Money is where a lot of casual pickup games fall apart. If you are fronting the ice rental cost and hoping to collect afterward, you are setting yourself up for stress.

The Two Most Common Models:

Pay-per-skater upfront: Set a per-head cost, collect payment before or at the door, and do not start until you are covered.
Organizer absorbs cost, charges back: You pay the ice rental, then collect from skaters. This only works if your group is reliable and you are not left chasing people down.

Practical Tips:

Set a per-head cost, collect payment when players sign up or at the door.
Use a payment platform that makes collection easy. You can collect payment directly through Venmo, Zelle, etc., or through the Hockey Finder platform.
Set a clear cancellation policy. No refunds after 48 hours is a reasonable standard. Communicate it before anyone commits.
Consider charging slightly more than cost so you have a buffer for low-turnout games.

Step 4: List Your Game on Hockey Finder

With your ice booked and details set, Hockey Finder is the most efficient way to get your game in front of adult players who are actively looking for pickup hockey. Here is how to get it listed.

Become an Organizer

First, you will need organizer access on your account. It is a one-time setup:

Email [email protected] and request access to the pickup game/organizer tools.
Once you’ve been granted access to the Organizer dashboard, you can also follow the steps to set up a Stripe account to collect fees.

Access Your Organizer Dashboard

Your Organizer Dashboard shows all the skate times you have added, lets you add new games, and lets you edit existing ones. To access it:

Log in to your account.
Click the button in the upper right-hand corner labeled with your name.
Click “Organizer Dashboard” in the dropdown menu.

List Your Pickup Game

From the dashboard, here is how to post your game:

Click the Add Individual Game link in the left navigation pane.
Complete the Skate Time form with your game’s date, time, location, type, skill level, total skaters and goalies, game length, payment type, and cost. Hover over the field labels for guidance on each field.
Click “Add Skate Time” to publish your listing.

Payment Options

When setting up your game, choose one of three payment types:

Online Payments: Players pay immediately when they sign up. Hockey Finder charges a small transaction fee to cover credit card processing. This is the lowest-friction option for organizers.
Free: No payment required. Useful for closed groups where costs are handled separately.
Pay at Door: Payment is collected at the rink. Good for established groups with reliable attendance.

Private Games and Recurring Games

Recurring games: If your game runs weekly, use the Repeat Game section to configure it once and automatically schedule it for upcoming weeks. Choose the number of weeks from the “Repeat for additional” dropdown and check the Repeat Game box.

Private games: Make your game private so only players you share the link with can see it. Games set to Private won’t show up in the Hockey Finder pickup game directory.

Step 5: Promote Your Hockey Finder Listing to Your Network

Once your game is live on Hockey Finder, share the link. Unless you make your game private, your listing is publicly visible to Hockey Finder’s player network, but your own outreach will fill spots faster. This is especially true for your first few games.

Start with Players You Know

Text or message people you know. Send them the direct link to your Hockey Finder listing so they can sign up and pay in one place. Your first 10-12 committed players are the foundation. Everything else fills around them.

Spread the Word Beyond Your Immediate Circle

Post the link in any hockey group chats, team channels, or social media groups you are part of (and have permission to post in).
Share it on your personal social media with details about the game — day, time, location, skill level, and cost.
For recurring games, the Hockey Finder player network will surface your listing to adult players in your area who are searching for pickup hockey near them.

Handle Goalies Separately

If you want goalies, recruit them intentionally and directly. Goalies often play for free or at a reduced cost in exchange for showing up reliably. Lock them in early — they are the first thing to confirm and the last thing to take for granted.

Manage Your Waitlist

For popular games, you will have more interest than spots. Your Hockey Finder listing automatically maintains a waitlist so you can fill cancellations quickly without scrambling through text threads.

Step 6: Use Your Hockey Finder Organizer Dashboard to Communicate with Players

Once your roster is filled, your Organizer Dashboard is where you manage everything leading up to game day. Skip the group chat — communicate directly through Hockey Finder.

Pre-game Communication Best Practices:

Send a confirmation 48–72 hours before the game. Include location (with address), start time, locker room access details, and a cost reminder.
Send a reminder the morning of. A quick heads-up with the time and door details goes a long way toward minimizing no-shows.
If spots open up due to cancellations, notify your waitlist directly from the dashboard. No scrambling through contacts.
Use the dashboard to monitor who has paid and who has not before the game. Following up early prevents awkward conversations at the door.

Game Check-in:

Designate someone to handle check-in at the door — confirming names against the roster and collecting any remaining payment. Your Hockey Finder roster is your source of truth.

Step 7: Run a Good Game

You have done the hard work. Here is how to make the game itself go smoothly.

Before the Game Starts:

Divide teams fairly. Do not let it become the two best players picking sides — you will end up with a blowout. Mix skill levels intentionally and rotate periodically if the game gets lopsided.
Set expectations upfront. Make it clear if your game is casual (no slap shots, no checking, keep it moving) or a more competitive format.
Clarify any house rules before puck drop. No slappers, no offsides, keep it moving — whatever applies to your game, say it out loud.

During the Game:

Keep substitutions flowing. Pickup games bog down when players stay on too long. Call lines if you need to, or remind players to tap out.
Manage conflicts calmly. Pickup is supposed to be fun. If tempers flare, address it immediately.
Watch the clock. Know how long you have the ice and get off as soon as your time ends.

After the Game:

Spend a few minutes off the ice. This is the part that keeps pickup groups together over the long term.
Ask for feedback if this was a first-time game. Would people come back? What would make it better?
Lock in the next game. If it went well, ride the momentum. Confirm the next date before everyone scatters.

Step 8: Build a Recurring Pickup Group

The best pickup games are not one-offs — they are recurring communities. Here is what separates a game people keep coming back to from one that fizzles after a few sessions:

Consistency: Same day, same time, same location. Routine is what builds habit. When people know that every other Thursday is their skate, they protect that slot.
Reliability: Show up, follow through on what you said you would do, and do not cancel unless absolutely necessary. Your reputation as an organizer is your most valuable asset.
A welcoming culture: Pickup groups that thrive are ones where players feel comfortable regardless of skill level. New skaters should feel welcomed, not intimidated.
A way to find new players: People move, get injured, get busy. You will always need fresh blood to keep a group healthy. Hockey Finder’s pickup platform is a built-in pipeline for exactly that.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pickup Hockey

How much does it typically cost to run a pickup hockey game?

It depends on your market and the arena. Ice rental rates can range from $175 to over $500 an hour. Using a pickup platform like Hockey Finder can help you reach the player count you need to keep per-head costs manageable.

Do I need to book the ice myself?

Yes. You will need to find ice and secure it directly with the arena. Hockey Finder helps you fill the game once you have the ice locked in.

How many skaters do I need for a good pickup game?

For 5-on-5 pickup, most games run well with 14–20 skaters. Below 12, the benches will be short, so players may tire more quickly. For 3-on-3 formats, 10–14 skaters is typically the sweet spot. Build in a buffer above your minimum when setting your target roster size.

What do I do if people cancel last minute?

Keep a short waitlist of 3–5 players and contact them immediately when a spot opens. Hockey Finder gives you a visible waitlist and messaging tools directly in the Organizer Dashboard, so you are not scrambling through text threads when someone drops out the morning of.

Do I need dedicated goalies, or can I run pickup with open nets?

Both formats work. Open-net games are common and easier to organize. If you want goalies, recruit them intentionally — goalies typically play for free or reduced cost in exchange for consistent availability. Lock them in early.

Can beginners play in pickup hockey games?

Yes! The key is setting expectations upfront. If you are organizing a mixed-skill game, communicate that beginners are welcome and adjust any house rules accordingly. Pickup is one of the best environments for newer players to improve in a low-pressure setting.