Aug 24, 2026

Crossed Hockey Sticks and Puck Jack-O-Lantern

Two crossed hockey sticks with taped blades glow above a carved puck in this sports jack-o-lantern, an easy win for any hockey family's front porch. The sticks are long straight cuts, so score them against a ruler before sawing and leave the crossing point uncut where the shafts overlap; that bridge holds the whole design together. Etch the tape stripes shallow instead of cutting through for a two-tone glow. Light it with a cool white LED for an ice-rink feel.

This is an AI-generated concept image: a realistic, carvable design idea rather than a photo of a finished carve. AI concepts are always labeled and sit out the leaderboard and the contest.

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Medium Sports Classic Classic Cutout

hockey hockey-stick puck sport cutout team-spirit front-porch

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Want to try this?

Bring some rink pride to the porch with two crossed sticks and a glowing puck.

Some experience helps · Straight cutouts + shallow etching

Read our carving tips

Similar stencils

Browse hockey and other sports stencils for more team-spirit designs.

Tools for this approach

Our suggestions for trying a similar carve. Start with what you already have.

Elmchee Pumpkin Carving Kit
13-piece kit with carrying case
Saws for the larger cutouts, plus a scoop for hollowing. Covers both jobs in one kit.
View on Amazon
Speedball 4131 Lino Cutter Set
Handle + 5 interchangeable cutters
Interchangeable cutters for peeling and shading the face. Useful for the finer details.
View on Amazon

A little extra help

Our tips for carving a similar design

The core trick here is a pair of long straight cutouts crossed in an X, with the overlap left uncut so the shafts hold each other in place. You could carve the two stick shafts and blades as full cutouts for bright light, then etch the tape stripes shallow so they glow a softer orange. A single puck cutout sits below where the sticks meet, tying the whole scene together.

Written by PumpkinCarvingIdeas.com, inspired by the image above. These are our suggestions, not instructions from the uploader. This approach to the AI concept has not been tested on a real pumpkin.

From pumpkin to porch

Pick a smooth pumpkin and open the top
Choose a tall pumpkin with a flat, even face so the long straight lines stay clean. Cut a lid at an angle so it rests back in place, or open a hatch in the back for easier reach. Scoop the insides and thin the carving wall to about one inch so your blade passes through easily. A thinner wall also lets the etched tape stripes glow.
Transfer the crossed sticks and puck
Tape your stencil flat and poke the outlines with a pin, or draw the two shafts freehand against a ruler. Keep the crossing point marked clearly so you remember to leave it solid. Sketch both angled blades at the bottom and the oval puck between them. Step back and check that the X sits centered before you cut anything.
Etch the tape stripes first
Before any cutting, use a shallow scoop or lino tool to skin the tape bands on the shafts and the tops of the blades. Remove only the outer skin so the flesh underneath glows dim orange, and do not cut all the way through. Working these details first keeps the surface firm while it is still fully supported. Take your time here, since shallow marks are hard to fix once cut too deep.
Cut the stick shafts, but keep the bridge
With an adult handling the saw, cut along the scored shaft lines in slow straight passes. Stop short of the crossing point and leave that overlap section of skin uncut, since that little bridge holds both sticks together. Cut each shaft in short segments rather than one long stroke to avoid cracking. Push the loose pieces out gently from the inside.
Open the blades and puck last
Save the biggest openings for the end so the face stays strong while you work. Cut out the two angled blades, then the oval puck below the crossing point. Clean up the edges with a small detail knife so the lines stay crisp. Rounding the inside edges slightly with the tip of your knife helps the light spread.
Light it and shoot the photo
Drop in a cool white LED puck light for a bright, ice-rink feel rather than a warm candle glow. Set the pumpkin on a porch step and check that the etched tape stripes read as a softer tone against the full cutouts. Wipe the cut edges and rub a little petroleum jelly on them to slow drying. Take your photo at dusk when the glow shows best against the darker background.

Gather your supplies

Check things off as you get ready.

Work on a stable surface, keep your free hand out of the cutting path, and have an adult handle sharp tools.

Three levels of light

Leave intact
The pumpkin skin around the sticks and background stays untouched and dark.
Peel & shade
The tape stripes on the shafts and blade tops are skin-peeled for a dim orange glow.
Cut through
The stick shafts, angled blades, and the puck are cut through for the brightest light.

Learn the carving basics

Before you start cutting

Why should I leave the crossing point uncut?

That small patch of skin where the two shafts overlap is the bridge that holds the whole X together. If you cut straight through both sticks, the center loses support and the pieces can sag or snap. Leaving it solid keeps the design strong and still reads clearly as crossed sticks.

How do I keep the long shaft lines straight?

Score the lines against a ruler or straightedge before you saw, pressing lightly to mark the path. Then cut in short segments, following your scored line rather than freehanding one long stroke. Curved pumpkin walls make long cuts drift, so slow, segmented passes stay truer.

What if my etched tape stripes glow too faintly?

Etched areas only glow when the wall behind them is thin, so scrape the flesh down a little more from the inside in those spots. You can also deepen the etch slightly, but stop before you break through. A brighter LED will also help the two-tone effect show up.