HELMET and FACE MASK
This is the most important piece of safety equipment. Purchase a hockey helmet that fits Properly (tightly). The protection built into the helmet won't work with a helmet that does not fit as intended by the manufacturer

Face protection varies. A full metal cage provides maximum protection. Some players find it difficult to play with the cross hatching of a cage in front of their eyes, and prefer a clear Plexiglas shield. Plexiglas shields work well but they do have a tendency to scratch.  A Plexiglas facemask also has a tendency to fog up when the humidity is high at the rink.

Half shields are also available. A half shield covers the top half of the face only. Many leagues prohibit the use of half shields. Half shields provide maximum visibility.  However, they do not permit the use of a chin cup and chin and the mouth are vulnerable to injury. Many injuries occur when a player has accidentally gotten a stick up and under the half shield and causes injuries to the chin.  In most cases a full shield is the best choice. 

To fit properly:
1. Place a tape measure 1” (2.54 cm) above the eyebrows and measure the distance around the head.

2. Open your helmet to its largest setting. Position the helmet on the head so the rim is one finger width above the eyebrow. Gradually begin to downsize the helmet (if necessary) until a comfortable snug fit is achieved. Tighten and secure the helmet adjustment. The helmet must be snug enough to prevent rotation with the adjustment secure and the chin strap securely fastened at all times. An oversized helmet can lead to unnecessary injuries.

Face mask should match helmet model and size. Hockey faceguards must meet CSA or ASTM Standards, and must be approved for use with the helmets to which they are attached.

Skates
Quality of one’s skates, is the one piece of equipment, which can enhance any player’s performance. Don't accept the assumption that some players are intrinsically better skaters and you will never skate as well as they do. This is a wrong assumption! If two players have the same quality skates that could he true. However, there is a huge difference in a player’s ability to skate and to improve their skating if they purchase the best quality skates that they can afford. The ankle and arch support in the highest quality skates provide an incredible advantage in assisting your ability to skate. There is no such thing as "weak ankles". This is an old hockey tale. It is also not necessary to purchase "ankle guards." Modern skates provide adequate protection from shots on both the toe, side of the foot and ankle.

Your Feet

Evaluate your foot’s arch through a physician or chiropractor. If you have "flat feet” or arch support is recommended.  A boot supply store has several choices available for someone who needs minimal support.

If a player needs arch supports, even an inexpensive boot support can make a tremendous difference in the skater’s ability to push off, turn and maintain balance.

Keep Skates Sharp

Nothing affects your ability more than having dull skates.  Every year parents spend hundreds of dollars on getting the best equipment and lessons. Then waste it to save a few dollars on sharpening.  Skates need to be sharpened weekly.  If skates are kept sharp very little of the wear service is removed.  You will out grow the skates before the blade is worn away from sharpening

Size
When buying skates remember that hockey skates usually are about a half to a full size smaller than shoe size. Wear a pair of athletic socks. The heel of the foot should be kicked snug against the back of the skate. The big toe should just touch the inside end of the skate. The skate is too small if the toes are pushed up against the end of the skate. They are a good fit if the big toe just touches the inside front of the skate. Walk around the store with the skates completely laced. The heel should feel secure with little movement. Skates now come with various levers of "stiffness." Most beginning or intermediate players will want to get skates with minimal stiffness.

The following are guidelines only and do not constitute a guarantee of fit. Please remember that everyone's feet are different and that everyone likes his or her skates to fit differently.

PANTS or BREEZERS
Next to skates, breezers are the most expensive piece of hockey equipment. They are important to the protection of the groin, thighs, waist and buttocks and, surprisingly, the tailbone. There is nothing more painful than a bent or broken tailbone. This injury can easily occur through contact with the ice, boards or a goal post. A good quality pair of breezers with adequate padding in all of these areas is critical. A good quality pair of breezers should last for years.

To fit properly:

1. Measure the player’s waist.

2. Select the hockey pants with the corresponding size for that model.

Pants should reach the top of the player knee and extend up to cover the kidney and lower ribs. The molded polyethylene hip, kidney and tailbone pads and foam padding should cover critical areas. Pants should not be larger than required for unrestricted movement.

Groin Protection
An athletic supporter and a cup are a necessity for male players. A cup designed for hockey is larger and provides more protection. A special, larger protector is made for goalies.

A pelvic protector is available for women. Some women do not feel that it is necessary for players except goaltenders. It is an individual choice.

Shoulder Pads
Many ask why are shoulder pads necessary in a no-checking league?  The football style shoulder pads may not be necessary in a no checking league. However, they provide maximum protection and can be invaluable protection for the beginning skater who is struggling with stopping on their skates. They run the risk of collision with the boards, the goal or other players. Shoulder pads do provide stability and protection for the shoulder blades and the muscles of the shoulders. Shoulder pads can also provide some chest protection that can be useful if you play defense and block shots

To fit properly:
1. Measure the player’s chest just below the armpits.

2. Match the player’s chest size to the shoulder pad that corresponds.

3. Determine the level of play.

Shoulder pads should fit snugly while the vital tips of the shoulder must be properly under the shoulder caps. The biceps pads should not interfere with the player’s elbow pads.

Gloves
Bigger is better than smaller for hockey gloves. Gloves not only provide protection from sticks, boards or pucks, but they are helpful in absorbing the shock of your stick when you shoot a slap shot. Small fitting gloves look silly and provide less protection to your forearms. Part of the safety features of hockey gloves is the thumb protection. The thumb area is armored and fixed in position that helps protect it from sprains and breakage. Most hockey gloves are essentially the same in construction and function. One significant difference between gloves is the length of the cuff that extends from the wrist. Forwards sometimes prefer a shorter cuff, which gives them greater flexibility in wrist movement. Defensive players prefer a longer cuff that provides maximum protection, especially when blocking shots. Keep your gloves and other equipment in good repair. Hockey gloves tend to wear out more than other equipment. Wear will occur in the palm and finger areas.

To fit properly:
1. With the player’s forearm bent, measure the distance between the fingertips and the elbow pad.

2. The glove’s palm should be reasonably thin and pliable. The polyethylene thumb must be protective and flexible. The glove’s foam padding must be dense.

Shin Pads
Shin pads are another critical piece of safety equipment. Don't skimp here. Some players (especially the better players) believe that lighter equipment gives them an advantage. Lighter equipment gives you an advantage to some degree, but in the long run the player is going to have less injury, more confidence and greater enjoyment if the best safety equipment available is purchased regardless of its weight. The heavier and sturdier shin pad with the higher quality interior padding is the best choice.

A slap shot on the knee or shin, even if it does not directly cause the pad to physically contact the leg, has a tremendous shock impact. Huge and painful bruises from front full impact slap shots are not unusual. Again - the proper size equipment is crucial. If the shin pads are too long they will hinder your ankle flexibility and skating. A shin pad that is too short provides inadequate protection.

Some players chose to keep their pads in place under their hockey socks by using hockey straps  around the pad and leg. Others prefer to use hockey tape or the hockey straps to their socks or Cooper all pants. They now sell a hockey “boot” that is elastic and slips over the shin pad to keep it in place. It is a personal choice.

To fit properly:
1. Shinguards are measured best while the player is sitting. Measure from the center of the kneecap to the top of the skate boot.

2. Match the player’s shin size to the inches of shin guard. Or, use the guide below to match the player's height to the size of the shinguard.  Shinguards,which are either too long or too short, will result in the knee or instep being exposed and unprotected. Shinguards should be secured with shinguard straps or tape, never tight hockey stockings

Elbow Pads
Next to the helmet, this is one piece of safety equipment you cannot do without. The banging that your elbows take when you fall and hit the ice, collide with other players or the boards cannot be understated. A split elbow is prone to infection and is difficult to heal and it is prone to re-injury.

To fit properly:
1. Measure the length between the shoulder pad and the cuff of the glove.

2. Match the player’s measured size to the size of the elbow pads by inches.

3. When fastened securely, there should be no gap between the elbow pad and either the biceps extension of the shoulder pad or the cuff of the glove. Players who wear a short cuff style glove should choose the longer model of elbow pad

Mouth guards
Mouth Guards are also important to protect your head. They not only protect your teeth but shield you from a concussion. We recommend you get a custom mouth guard from your dentist as they will fit much better than those that are generic and low cost. Custom made guards also making speaking much easier and understandable to your team mates.

STICKS

The hockey stick is an extension of the hockey player's arm. This means the stick has to fit properly, and the length, curve and lie angle need to match both your size and body type as well as the type of game you play. Sticks are either made of wood or composite material.

Shaft Types
The shaft you choose is largely a matter of personal choice. Shafts come in many different materials for sticks with different weights and durabilities.

Wood sticks, Composites, Fiberglass, Aluminum, Graphite, Kevlar, Titanium

Blades
Blades are usually made of wood and attached to the composite stick with glue. Some blades have Kevlar wraps on them.

Hockey sticks are identified as "left," "right," or "straight." This refers to the curve of the blade.

You should buy a stick that has the blade angled so that the puck is on the forehand during shooting .A curved blade allows you to lift the puck and put spin on it but makes it more difficult to shoot or pass backhand. A blade with a smaller curve gives you lower shots and better control. Players just starting to learn the game should choose a blade with a lesser curve. A curved blade may inhibit backhand passing or shooting.

Stick Lie
The lie is the angle between the blade and the shaft and the lie number is printed on the front of the stick's shaft and and ranges from 4 to 8.
The higher the number, the narrower the angle between the blade and the shaft. The smaller the number, the wider the angle. For example, a lie 4 stick has a wide handle-to-blade angle, while a lie 8 has a smaller angle. As a rule, lower lie angle sticks are used for players who skate low to the ice and carry the puck out in front of them. Lies 7 and 8 are for players who skate upright and carry the puck close to their skates
One way to determine if you have the proper lie is to examine your old stick - If the blade is worn on the toe, you should try a higher lie, If your stick is worn on the heel, you should try a lower lie, If the blade wears evenly, you are using the correct lie

Shaft Stiffness
The stiffness, or flex, of a stick's shaft is important in determining control and performance. Most stick shafts come in flexes of medium (85 stiffness), stiff (100), or extra stiff (110.) Beginning players should look for a light stick with a medium stiffness rating. Bigger, stronger players should choose a stick with a stiffer flex which will increase the velocity of their shot. Defensemen should choose a stiffer, heavier stick, while forwards should choose a lighter, more flexible shaft.

STICKS --- Which one
There are three things a beginner should consider when choosing a hockey stick:
1. Which Size?
Hockey sticks come in adult and junior sizes. For very young skaters the shaft size of a junior stick is more proportional to their hand size. Do not buy an adult stick for a young player and cut it down. Sticks are available in all-wood or aluminum and composite shafts with replaceable wood blades. Beginners should keep it simple and choose a wooden stick.

2. Right Or Left?
It is not necessarily true that if a player is right-handed, he/she shoots right. Whichever feels natural is "correct." Pick up a stick and notice where the bottom hand is. If the bottom hand is the left hand, then you shoot left and need a left hand stick. If the bottom hand is right, then you shoot right.

3. Length?
A good rule of thumb to determine proper stick length is — with your skates on — to hold the stick straight up and down in front of you with the toe of the stick touching the ground. Mark the stick just below the chin and cut with a saw.

Other stick considerations as you become more experienced:
•Taping the blade helps control the puck. Players also tape the end of the shaft, creating a knob for a better grip and making it easier to pick up a dropped stick
•Generally speaking, the selection of junior size sticks is limited. As players move into adult sizes, choices in blade curves, or patterns, and lies (the angle between the blade and shaft) are greater.

Equipment Information

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