Sense Arena and NHLPA Bring Real NHL Players to Virtual Hockey Training

• NHL Sense Arena ’26 introduces virtual training with NHL stars and full-season gameplay using Meta Quest headsets.
• Over 450,000 users across 40 countries have completed nearly 9 million drills on the platform, now used by NHL teams, NCAA programs, and pro athletes.

Sense Arena, a VR and mixed reality hockey training app, has partnered with the NHL Players’ Association to feature real NHL players in its platform. The collaboration debuts with NHL Sense Arena ’26, introducing new virtual training experiences that let users interact with current NHL players in realistic game scenarios. Designed for off-ice use, Sense Arena allows athletes to train in small or unconventional spaces, like basements, garages, or hotel rooms, bringing pro-level hockey development into everyday environments.

Available on Meta Quest 2, 3, and 3S, the experience combines training drills with interactive gameplay through full 82-game seasons, 3-on-3 matchups, and skill challenges. Users can now skate alongside NHL stars like Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and Matthew Tkachuk, or try to score on goalies such as Andrei Vasilevskiy, Connor Hellebuyck, and Joey Daccord.

“This partnership with Sense Arena is an exciting opportunity to bring fans closer to the incredible talent of NHL players,” said NHLPA Chief Commercial Officer, Steve Scebelo, in an official news release. “By stepping into the virtual world, fans everywhere can experience the speed and skill of NHL players up close. This is truly a dynamic new platform that will showcase the talents of the players and bring fans closer to the action in a way they have never experienced before.”

DanglePro is a new mixed reality module in NHL Sense Arena that uses a player’s own stick and an off-ice puck to train quick hands, eyes-up awareness, and reaction timing. Available only on Meta Quest 3 and 3S, it overlays moving obstacles and gameplay cues into the real world, creating a hands-on stickhandling experience. Users can adjust the difficulty, earn leaderboard scores, and improve transferable skills like read-and-react timing and full-body coordination.

Since debuting in 2018, Sense Arena has offered a virtual hockey training system designed for off-ice use in small or unconventional spaces. The platform is used by five NHL teams and numerous pro athletes, including Seattle’s Joey Daccord and top PWHL draft pick Taylor Heise. It also serves as the official VR training partner of USA Hockey and is active across 17 NCAA Division I programs. Globally, over 450,000 users in 40 countries have completed nearly 9 million drills through the platform.

🌀 Tom’s Take:

Sense Arena shows how simulation can democratize access to elite hockey, and by adding recognizable NHL players, it's making that experience more immersive and real than ever.

Source: NHLPA