skip navigation

Equipment

Hockey 101: Getting Dressed

In order of how to put on the equipment.

 

Protective Cup (boys)/Pelvic Protector (girls) - Can be separate or in the form of shorts which include Velcro used to keep hockey socks up and secured.


Shin Guards - Most shin guards have a left and a right.  Secure with Velcro straps if possible.  If no Velcro straps, pull hockey socks on over shin guards, and secure with hockey tape to ensure shin guards stay in place.  The last thing any player wants for their gear to move out of the way when they need it most!


Hockey Pants - Pull pants on over shin guards so that the top of the pants are protecting your waist and below your rib cage.  They should be long enough to overlap the top of the kneecap on the shin protector.  Tighten with laces/belt.


Shoulder Pads - All shoulder pads Velcro to the front.  Secure comfortably.  To ensure proper sizing, check for gapping around shoulders and neck area.


Elbow Pads - Like shin guards, most have a left and a right, but also a top and a bottom.  The bottom generally wraps around the outside of the forearm slightly.


Jersey - Pull the jersey over the shoulder pads and elbow pads.  Helpful tip: Pull the jersey over the head first, then one arm at a time.


Skates - Tie as tightly as possible starting with the laces near the toe, very rarely will skates be too tight - but you can always loosen them.  Loose skates are generally more difficult for new skaters to skate on because they have less stability.  Make sure laces won't be tripped over or skated on.


Mouth guard – Most mouth guards are moldable but in a pinch can be worn as is.


Helmet w/Facemask - Helmets are required to have 3 straps w/snap closures: 2 for the facemask and 1 for the helmet (chin strap).


Gloves - Correct fit is with no more than 1/4in from the fingertips to the end of the glove.


Stick - The stick should come up to the player's nose without skates, and to their chin with skates.