Creative Prompt

The on-ice games that were most recently introduced to the Chicago Syndicate was a couple of slightly modified versions of hacky sack that also inspired a new game of itself. The first of which involves them just trying to play the game of hockey while using a hacky sack instead of a puck and trying to keep it airborne while passing it between each other. Whether that has actually led to any tangible increase to in game skill or not is to be determined, however the fact it forces the team to work cohesively to keep their opportunities alive is undeniable.

The second variation involves the team being in a ring and having to play the hacky sack normally passing it around the ring. That one has a far more visible immediate impact as doing a few rounds clockwise and then counterclockwise forces each player to get used to balancing on one blade for a moment while doing something tricky with their other foot. Admittedly the greater challenge has proven to be quickly hitting it to the next player without having it get cut by the skate.

Those two in combination inspired a stickhandling game of trying to pass the puck in rotation across one line for as long as possible while preventing another line from successfully stealing it. Designed to force players to pay attention to passing lanes to prevent theft in that moment and to improve their maneuverability to avoid letting the puck be stolen directly from them. That said having a competition with a decisive number to target for each of the lines has led to it being a fun competition between the team.