about us

The Puck Tornado (“PT”) is an interactive hockey backboard that simulates shooting at a goalie blocking the net. PT comes in two sizes: the  “Original” for players 10 years or older; and the “Minnie” for players younger than 10. Players of all ages develop skills, like stickhandling and shooting precision, by aiming at the openings in PT, which returns their shot using nonelectric technology. PT is a fun way to practice on either ice or dryland; with friends or by oneself; competitively or collaboratively. All you need is a stick and a dryland hockey streetball. Although return devices exist for other sports, PT is a first-of-its-kind sporting return device for hockey. 

PT Inventor, Tony Quicksell (pictured left with his dog, Nellie), built the first Puck Tornado (“PT”) in a backyard in Saint Paul for his hockey-loving son. His son practiced, both by himself and with friends, nearly every day improving his skills and building life-long friendships. At get-togethers, PT became a favorite game among cousins, uncles, school friends, and neighbors kids to play and practice their shots. Eventually, family and friends said “I want one.” Now, that carpenter Dad is retired and makes PTs on a large scale for more families to love! 

It’s no coincidence PT was loved by Saint Paulites. Minnesota is a state in love with hockey, which makes the Twin Cities the ideal place to build and sell PTs. We flock to Wild games and public ice rinks in the winter. Indeed, in Minnesota, more than 58,000 people are involved in organized hockey – the most people in one state playing hockey. PT would be a valuable device for Minnesotans, and hockey-lovers further away, to practice their skills in their backyard, school, or at their local recreation center. Especially as we face impending climate change, rendering ice rinks less reliable, PT offers a way to practice hockey all year round no matter the weather.

Many sports return devices exist for other sports: basketball backboards and returns; golf return putting greens; and baseball pitching machines. However, no return device or backboard exists on the market for hockey yet. These other sports return devices are valuable tools for both fun and skill development, and all of them are popular, patented designs with widespread use by individuals, schools, and organized sports teams and centers. PT seeks to fill this niche and provide the first-ever hockey return device.

@pucktornado

We've been diligently been building for 14 months and are refining the process. The exciting news is that we've put in applications for the Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Cup, sponsored by the Carlson School of Business. Keep your fingers crossed for us.