Hockey Equipment Overview

The selection of hockey equipment is a key issue for players, parents, and coaches. When purchasing and fitting hockey equipment, remember two important factors: 1) make certain the player is adequately protected and 2) be sure the fitting allows freedom of movement so the player can properly perform the necessary skills. By carefully considering these two factors, your child will be more comfortable and will have more fun playing hockey.

A complete set of hockey equipment can be purchased for a relatively reasonable cost. Shop around for the best values and remember that you need not buy the most expensive equipment. Inquire about local equipment swaps and team discounts, but keep in mind the equipment must fit properly to provide maximum protection.

Moisture wicking undergarments – Provides warmth and protection from the gear itself while wicking away perspiration during play. 

Supporter/Cup – Essential protective gear. Typically, these include a one piece short with built-in cup and Velcro tabs at thighs to hold up ice hockey socks.

Shin Guards - Should cover the knee and shin completely to protect from collisions, sticks and pucks.

Hockey socks – Part of the team uniform and should match the team colors; held in place with garter or Velcro tabs on jock short; pulled over and covers the shin guards. 

Breezers/Hockey pants – Protection for lower spine/tailbone, hips and thighs. The length should come to the top of shin pads.

Skates – Skates are an essential piece of equipment to play ice hockey. Players and parents should place an emphasis on proper fit as skates that are too large (too much room for growth) will hamper skating abilities and comfort.  Periodic quality sharpening’s are essential for the skater’s success.

Shoulder pads – These are designed to protect the chest, shoulders and top of arms. Players should try these on to determine best comfort and size for mobility and protection.

Elbow pads – Today's elbow pads are designed to protect the elbow from hard falls or collisions as well as protecting the forearms from sticks and pucks.  To be effective, these should fit well enough that they do not move when worn.

Hockey jersey – Part of the uniform and may be provided by the team or purchased separately. Jerseys should be tried on with shoulder pads to determine appropriate fit.  Generally, sleeves will come just below wrists to top of hand and length will cover to thighs.

Helmet with face mask – The head is the most important part of the body, and the helmet is designed to reduce chance of skull fractures.  No helmet prevents concussions, but they can reduce the risk depending on padding and design.  Construction and design must be approved by HECC which assures they have been tested and meet certain standards.  The face mask minimizes facial injury from sticks or flying pucks.

Mouth guard – Essential for teeth protection.

Gloves - Protects hands, fingers and wrists. It is important to have good finger and hand mobility when worn.

Stick – A straight wood stick is a good starter stick for first time players.  As players become more experienced, they can begin to make decisions on curve, lie and the use of composite sticks. Length of the stick should generally extend from the ice/floor to the player’s chin with skates on – an inch or two more of length is okay to allow for growth.  Equipment experts can provide recommendations for each player and will cut the stick to the proper size.

Skates – Purchase skates that will fit your child today with no more than ½” allowed for growth. Seek adequate protection in the ankle, toe, and instep areas, improperly fitted skates will hamper your child’s ability to skate.

 

Goalie Equipment Overview

Moisture Wicking Undergarments – Provides warmth and protection from the gear itself while wicking away perspiration during play. 

Goalie Supporter/Cup – Make sure to get a goalie version of the jock/jill supporter. Goalie versions have thicker foam padding which provide additional protection to players' midsection. 

Goalie Helmet - Arguably the most important piece of equipment, ensuring proper fit is extremely important for the helmet. Goalie helmets should be snug around all aspects of the goalie's head, allowing little-to-no wiggle room during movement. Goalie masks (and helmets) must be HECC approved to ensure the openings are small enough to ensure protection.

Goalie Chest Protector - Goalie chest protectors cover the player's entire midsection and arms. Covering that much area while maintaining mobility can make proper fit challenging. The bottom of the chest protector should be at the player's beltline, the arms should be long enough to cover the wrist bone and the top should cover the collarbone. 

Goalie Neck Guard - Many chest protectors leave extra room at the top to enable look down when necessary. Goalies are encouraged to wear a goalie neck guard underneath the chest protector to provide extra protection to the neck and collarbone. 

Hanging Throat Protector  - This piece of equipment, typically made of clear plastic, attaches to the goalie helmet and helps protect the neck and throat area from injury.

Goalie Breezers/Pants - Goalie pants have extra pads on the front of the hip, outer hip, inner thigh, outer thigh and all around the waist, but many players wear skater pants through the Peewee/12U level. The pants should be loose around the waist and come down to just above the knee cap when the player is in a partial squat.

Goalie Leg Pads - Goal pads are sized numerically rather than by standard “Small, Medium, Large, etc.”. This number is the measurement from the toe of the pads to the top of the thigh, in inches. The pads should come to mid-thigh or just above when standing with legs together.

Leg Protection - It is recommended that goalies wear some piece of garment or equipment on their legs underneath their pads to provide protection to the back side of their legs.

Goalie Thigh Guards/Knee Protectors - Protects the thigh and knee areas of a goalie and are especially helpful when utilizing the butterfly position.

Glove and Blocker - Each player should have a glove for their catching hand and a blocker for the other hand. Sizing can be determined based on player's ability to handle a stick (blocker) and effectively close the glove. 

Skates - Young players can use standard skates to play goalie, but as they get older, they should move into goalie skates, which will help them with their balance when in the goalie stance and provide additional additional protection.

Stick - One of the most commonly incorrectly sized pieces of equipment is the goal stick. When the goalie is in his/her stance, the blade of the stick should be evenly flat on the ice (or floor) and the hand holding the stick should be mid-thigh. 

Where to buy hockey equipment in Duluth:

Play It Again Sports

New and Used Equipment

Stewart's Bikes-Sports-Trophies

Located directly behind Heritage Arena.

Duluth Hockey Company

New Equipment and Hockey Apparel

Selecting Hockey Equipment


How to dress a hockey player


How to dress a goalie


how to tie hockey skates