Whether you are looking to add a bit of fun and interest to your youth hockey team's home games, are planning a tournament and want to add some entertainment value and make the participants feel like they are in the "big leagues", or you want to go out and make your home rink feel like a hostile environment for the visiting team—we have some great ideas, along with everything you need to execute them in your rink.

Idea #1 - Basic Fog Machine With Strobe Lights

Rent a basic fog machine (such as the ADJ VF1100 fog machine) and add a couple strobe lights. For the best effect, try to have the house lights turned down as low as possible during your team's entrance.

This effect is simple, easy to create, and relatively cost effective - but is very visually impressive. Add a black light to make the overall effect even more visually appealing!

Idea #2 - Vertical Fog Jets with Strobing LEDs

Vertical fog jets are exactly what they sound like - specialized fog machines that are pointed either straight up or at a slight angle and create a billowing column of fog. They are usually triggered in a pair as players pass through them onto the ice - and are especially impressive when they have onboard RGB LED lights that can light up or strobe the fog jet in any color of your choosing, including UV (black light)!

The Antari Z-1520 Vertical Fog Jet is perfect for this application, easy to control with the wireless remote (or via DMX if that is what you are looking for).

Idea #3 - CO₂ Cryojets

CO₂ cryo jets are similar to vertical fog jets, but much more powerful, and very loud! When combined with specialized uplights, the effect is loud, aggressive and very impressive.

Vertical fog jets are created by fog machines and fog fluid, whereas CO₂ cryojets create a similar but much bigger column of pure white fog using liquid CO₂ (carbon dioxide). The effect is instant, loud, and extremely fast dissipating as the effect you actually see is just water vapour.

Idea #4 - Flame Machines

Note that we do not suggest the use of flame machines in proximity to any youth participants. A pyro-technician from our team is required to setup and operate this equipment, and consent/waivers may be required depending on the nature of the event.

Flame machines are the ultimate excitement generators, huge fireballs or tall columns of fire assault the senses visually followed by a wave of heat that gets peoples attention.

Idea #5 - Low Lying Fog

Rent a regular fog machine and add a strobe light.