Hockey Skateboards: The Rawest Side of Modern Skateboarding

In the skateboarding scene, there are brands that follow current trends and brands that help create them. Hockey Skateboards undoubtedly belongs to the latter category. Founded in 2015 from the vision of Jason Dill and Anthony Van Engelen, Hockey is one of the most influential and recognizable names in contemporary skateboarding.

To truly understand what Hockey is all about, you have to look beyond the skateboards and graphics. Hockey emerged at a time when much of the skate industry was becoming increasingly predictable and standardized. While many brands were trying to broaden their audience, Hockey chose the opposite path: to build a strong, independent identity deeply rooted in skate culture.

From day one, the brand has stood out for its communication style, unlike anything else on the market. Its images, videos, and graphics depict a universe of analog photography, underground cinema, American culture, urban architecture, and references that often escape a superficial reading. It is precisely this ability to construct a coherent visual universe that has transformed Hockey from a simple skate company into a true cult brand.

From the ideas of Jason Dill and Anthony Van Engelen

The birth of Hockey is closely tied to the journeys of Jason Dill and Anthony Van Engelen. Both have helped shape entire generations of skateboarders through their video parts, their style, and their ability to influence skate culture far beyond the confines of competitions.

After their time with Alien Workshop and the growth of Fucking Awesome, the two decided to develop a side project that would represent an even more direct and uncompromising vision of skateboarding. Hockey thus became the ideal platform for riders, artists, and creatives united by the same philosophy: skating without following pre-established formulas.

Over the years, the brand has built an identity so strong that it’s instantly recognizable even to those glancing at a board from a distance. This is a rare achievement in an industry where products often tend to look more and more alike.

Hockey Skateboards

Hockey skateboards have carved out a unique position in the market thanks to a combination of aesthetic personality and technical innovation. The graphics are one of the brand’s most recognizable elements. Disturbing photographs, vintage images, cinematic references, collages, and deliberately unconventional compositions have helped create a style immediately associated with the brand.

But Hockey isn’t limited to its visual appeal. Many riders appreciate its boards for their distinctive shapes that deviate from the most common standards. Specific wheelbases, proportions developed in collaboration with the team riders, and details that tangibly influence the board’s feel are all part of the brand’s philosophy.

The result is a range of skateboards that manages to maintain a strong identity without sacrificing the performance demanded by the most discerning skaters.

A Team That Has Shaped the Modern Skate Scene

Much of Hockey’s prestige stems from the caliber of its team. Riders such as Ben Kadow, Andrew Allen, John Fitzgerald, Diego Todd, Kevin Rodrigues, Nik Stain, and Donovon Piscopo have helped build one of the most respected teams in contemporary skateboarding.

Each of them interprets skateboarding in their own way, but they all share the same spontaneous and creative approach that defines the brand. This authenticity is one of the main reasons Hockey continues to attract new generations of riders around the world.

Hockey Videos and the Building of a Cult Brand

If there’s one element that has definitively cemented Hockey’s reputation, it’s its videos.

Productions such as Hockey, Hockey II, Hockey III, Hockey IV, Hockey X, Dancing On Thin Ice, and 420 E 9th Street are considered by many skaters to be among the most influential releases of the past decade. These aren’t simply collections of tricks, but true cultural documents that convey a specific vision of skateboarding.

Rough spots, forgotten architecture, speed, creativity, and a distinctive visual style have helped transform Hockey into one of the most respected brands in the entire international scene.

Hockey Skateboards at Pleasures Milano

At Pleasures Milano, we’ve been following the evolution of brands that have left a real mark on skate culture for years. Hockey Skateboards perfectly embodies this philosophy. It’s not just a skateboard manufacturer, but a brand that has helped redefine the way a new generation experiences and interprets skateboarding.

If you’re looking for skateboards with a strong identity, instantly recognizable graphics, and an authentic connection to contemporary skate culture, Hockey Skateboards is one of the most interesting and influential brands you can find on the market today.