A free hockey game for kids and schools: what Brudvig Hockey has and doesn't
Parents and teachers often ask whether a free online game is okay for kids. That's a fair question, and the honest answer is "here's exactly what it is, so you can decide". This page lays out what Brudvig Hockey has, what it doesn't, and what to think about, without sales talk. We make the game, so we've tried hard to be plain about its limits as well as its good points.
What Brudvig Hockey is
Brudvig Hockey 2027 is a free 3-on-3 arcade hockey game that runs in a web browser. Each team has three skaters and a goalie, and you control one skater at a time. You can play against the computer, or play one friend online by sending a link. A game is three two-minute periods, about seven minutes. It works on phones, tablets, laptops and Chromebooks, with nothing to install.
What it doesn't have
For many parents, this is the most important list:
- No accounts or sign-up. Kids don't enter a name, email, age or password.
- No chat. There's no text or voice chat in the game.
- No strangers. There's no matchmaking with random players. Online games only happen with someone you sent a link to, or who sent one to you.
- No purchases. Nothing to buy, no in-game currency, no loot boxes.
- No ads in the game.
- No download. Nothing gets installed on the device.
The game does remember a few display settings (camera zoom and view, and whether button labels show) in the browser's own storage on that device. They stay on the device.
What kids will see and hear
This is arcade hockey, so it's physical. Honest details:
- Body checks are a big part of the game. There are no penalties, so players hit each other often. Big hits send players flying, sometimes in slow motion, and can crack or shatter the glass around the rink.
- No fighting and no blood. The game has no fights, and hits don't show injuries. Players get knocked down and get back up.
- A loud arena. A crowd that cheers, a goal horn and an arena organ. The sound can be muted.
- Nothing to read beyond the basics. Button labels, the score and short on-screen calls like "GOAL".
Whether cartoonish hitting suits your child is your call. Many families are fine with it, the same way they're fine with hitting in real youth hockey at the right age, and some aren't. Play a game yourself first; it only takes seven minutes.
Online play, explained for parents
Online games work by link. One player taps Challenge a friend and gets a link, then sends it through whatever messaging app they use. Whoever opens the link joins that match. That means:
- A child only plays people they (or you) sent a link to, or who sent one to them.
- Anyone who has a link could join that match, so the usual advice applies: share links with friends, not in public places.
- There's no way to message the other player inside the game.
For schools
Devices
Brudvig Hockey runs in modern browsers, including on Chromebooks. It needs a device that can run 3D graphics in the browser (WebGL), which most devices from recent years can. Very old or low-powered devices may run slowly.
Networks and filters
Whether it loads on a school network depends entirely on the school's filters. We don't offer ways around them and won't: if a school blocks the site, that's the school's decision. If you're a teacher or IT admin who wants to allow it, the site is brudvighockey.com, and online play uses a secure WebSocket connection to the same site.
In class?
Brudvig Hockey is a game, not an educational product. It has no lesson plans, teacher dashboard or classroom controls. That said, teachers sometimes use short games as rewards or for brain breaks, and a seven-minute game fits that well. If you want something with learning value, the hockey articles on this site, like hockey rules explained and hockey positions, are written in plain language for any age.
Physical education connections
Some PE teachers use hockey video games to introduce ideas before a floor hockey unit: positions, passing to space, staying between the puck and the net. The game simplifies all of these, so treat it as a conversation starter, not instruction.
Age and skill
We don't set an official age rating. The controls are simple (a stick and four buttons), and the main skill is timing, so younger kids can play, though they may find the computer opponent tough at first. Older kids and adults find plenty to master. Playing alongside a parent or sibling is a nice way to learn.
New players should start with hockey game tips for beginners.
Screen time
Short games help. A game ends in about seven minutes, which makes "one game, then dinner" an easy rule to keep. Games against the computer can be paused with Esc on a keyboard; online games against a friend keep running, so finish before stepping away.
Accessibility
The honest version: Brudvig Hockey is a fast action game and isn't accessible to everyone. It needs quick reactions and fine control, and it relies on visuals. What it does offer: play on touch, keyboard, mouse or game controller; adjustable camera zoom and view; button labels that can be shown or hidden; and the option to mute sound. The pages around the game, like this one, are built to work with screen readers and keyboards.
What it costs, and why it's free
Brudvig Hockey is free to play, with no ads in the game and no purchases. It's an independent game made as the free, browser alternative to the yearly licensed console hockey game. If that ever changes, we'll say so clearly on the site.
Quick checklist for parents
- Play one game yourself to see the hitting and noise level.
- Agree on who it's okay to send links to.
- Decide on a game limit; at seven minutes per game, a number is easy.
- Show them the mute button if they play in shared spaces.
Questions
Does it collect personal information?
The game doesn't ask for any: no name, email, age or account. Like any website, the server sees basic technical information needed to deliver the page and run online matches.
Is it connected to a hockey league?
No. It's an original game with its own teams, arena and players, not affiliated with any league, team or player.
Can two kids play on one device?
Two-player games are online, one device each. Two phones or tablets side by side work well.
Talking with kids about the game
Games are a natural way into conversations about sportsmanship. A few questions that work with any age after a game: Did you play fair with your friend? How did it feel to lose that one? What would you try differently? Arcade hockey has no penalties, which can lead to a good chat about why real hockey has them: to keep players safe.
Real hockey connections
If your child likes the game, it can be a door into the real sport. Many communities have learn-to-skate programs and beginner hockey that starts with no body checking. Real youth hockey is played with full equipment and, at younger ages, without hitting. It's worth explaining that the big hits in an arcade game aren't how real kids' hockey is played.
What we'd tell a friend
If a friend asked us whether their kid should play, we'd say: it's a free, short, ad-free arcade game with no chat and no strangers, and with lots of cartoon hitting. Watch one game together, set a game limit, and decide from there.
Try it
Play Brudvig Hockey yourself first, then decide. More: about Brudvig Hockey, hockey games on your phone and how to play.