Magnetic-Based Table Hockey

Ah, table hockey. Once a popular past-time, it is now pretty much an extinct form of entertainment here in Canada - which may be shocking to many of you from abroad. Instead, the game is immensely popular in Sweden, where table hockey manufacturer STIGA can’t churn out tables fast enough.

So what happened in Canada? I think NHL video games overtook table hockey as the preferred means for fans to play the sport. Can’t say I blame them. I too jumped ship, opting to neglect my Wayne Gretzky Overtime Hockey table for some NHL Hockey on the Sega Genesis.

Let’s have a look at your typical table hockey game. Surprise surprise, a couple of Pepsi-swilling Swedes playing a Stiga table:

The one thing that always bugged me personally - those open grooves for the player movement. It breaks up the flat ‘ice’ surface, causing the puck to bounce. And because the grooves can span half the length of the surface, some tables will begin to warp after some wear and tear, causing noticeable puck-hopping.

I propose a flat, uninterrupted surface for hockey tables. This is accomplished by having the hockey players be magnetically connected to the rod controls underneath the playing surface. The rods would still have the restricted movement in their lanes - I initially wanted free-roaming players, but that would be too difficult to implement (Unless it was one player versus a goalie, breakaway-style game setup).

The magnets would be able to turn the hockey player a full 360 degrees. The player would be attached to a counterweight that sits on metallic ball bearings. These bearings would be encased in rubber to help with noise.

In table hockey, the hockey players can clash sticks with an opposing player, so the magnets will have to be strong enough to withstand the rough contact and/or push a puck around. This might entail powering the magnets with electricity to maintain their strength. Though it could add a fun aspect of players being body-checked to the ice…causing you to frantically return them upright.

Why stop there? I think a few bells and whistles would enhance the table hockey experience. LED goal lights, a digital score board, and crowd sound effects would add to the experience.