|
By Bill Ruggiero
As you probably already know, ice hockey is an expensive sport. Not only is ice time expensive, hockey players wear more equipment than just about any sport your child could play. Here are some recommendations about buying proper ice hockey equipment.
Skates
Since the game of hockey is, first and foremost, about skating, your child's most important piece of equipment is clearly his skates. Good skates will help your child become a better skater.
The most important factor when purchasing new skates is to get the correct size.
Don't buy skates a size or more larger to allow your child to "grow" into them. For young kids whose feet are growing rapidly, this may mean buying a new pair of skates each year. The extra expense is well worth it to have properly fitting skates.
Skates need to fit snugly in order to give good support.
Shoe and skate size are not necessarily the same. Make sure your child tries them on, laces up both skates, and walks around. His toes should come right to the end of the skate, with no wrinkles from the instep back to the heel, over the anklebone.
When lacing the skates up, there should be a one to one and a half inch space over the instep when laced up tight.
Have your child try on skates with only one pair of socks. She does not need to wear two or three pairs of socks when playing hockey. One good pair of warm socks should do.
Skates cost between $75 and $450. Beginners can usually get a good pair of skates for about $125. More advanced players can spend upwards to $300, but probably need to spend at least $200.
Remember: many rinks offer skate exchanges, where you can trade in the skates your child have outgrown for a larger pair. For tips on skate care, click here.
Stick
If your child is just beginning to play hockey, you don't need to be too particular when choosing a stick. As your child becomes more experienced, however, selecting the proper stick becomes important. Here are some factors to consider when selecting a stick:
Lie
The lie of the stick is the angle between the blade and the shaft of the stick.
To check the lie, have your child stand normally on the ice with his stick out in front of him. If the toe of the blade of the stick is off the ice, he probably needs a lower numbered lie; if the heel is off the ice, he needs a higher numbered lie.
Another way to check the lie is by watching your child skate. If he skates low to the ice, select a stick with a lower numbered lie. If he skates more upright, select a stick with a higher numbered lie.
The height of a player can make a difference when choosing the lie. The average young player usually uses a stick with a number 5 or 6 lie.
Length
A good rule of thumb is to select a stick that comes up to your child's chin when she standing with her skates on.
Shorter players will probably need to cut off several inches from the end of the stick to allow for better stick control.
Comfort
Sticks come in different weights.
A normal stick purchased in a sporting goods store will be suitable for beginners.
Sticks come in left and right models (virtually no "neutral" sticks are made anymore). Left means the blade bends inward slightly, and right means just the opposite. Because a player usually has his or her strong or dominant hand at the top of the stick, most will pick the opposite model stick (in other words, a right handed player will usually use a Left stick and visa versa), but this is not always the case: my daughter, Angela, is right handed but uses a Right stick; my son is also a righty, but uses a Left stick. I am left-handed but use a Left stick.
Cost
Taping The Stick
The two places on your child's stick that are usually taped are the blade and the knob.
Here are four reasons you will want to tape the blade:
It helps control the puck better.
It helps prevent breaking, and wear and tear on the stick.
It cushions the puck when your child receives a pass.
By checking the wear on the tape, you can see if your child's stick has the proper lie.
Use black tape instead of white because the black puck on a black surface is hard for the goalie to see.
Start taping from the toe, moving toward the heel.
The reason you tape the knob is to prevent the stick from slipping through your child's hands. The size and shape of the knob will vary from player to player, but you want to tape a knob that your child can grip, and is comfortable in his palm.
Start by twisting black tape around the knob building it up until it fits your child's grip.
You might want to smooth it off with some white tape, to prevent wear and tear on your child's glove.
Other Equipment
align="justify"In order for your child to play safely, she should have a complete outfit of protective gear:
Padded gloves (costing between $35 and $140)
Shin guards (contoured and molded to protect the shin, knee and calf) (costing between $15 and $85)
Padded pants (costing between $50 and $160)
Protective cup (for boys)($15)
Pelvic protector (for girls)($15)
Elbow pads (molded pad that protects the elbow and elbow joint and provides forearm protection)($15 to $60)
Shoulder-chest pads (provides extra protection for critical points of the shoulder, biceps, sternum, shoulder blade and spine.)($25 to $125)
Mouth guard (between $5 and $15 for the "boil and bite" models; custom mouth guards made by a dentist run between $75 and $200);
Helmet with full face guard or mask. The helmet should be certified. The lower edge of the helmet should not be more than one finger-width above the eyebrows, and there should only be enough room between the strap and the chin to insert one finger. Girls must wear the full shield even in the Senior Age group, but boys may switch to the half shield once they are 18 years old. Cost: $40 to $100.
All protective equipment except gloves, helmets and goalkeepers'leg guards must be worn entirely underneath the uniform. Never allow your child to skate without a helmet, and be sure he fastens the chinstrap.
Goalie Equipment
Skates. A goalie wears a different type of skate than the rest of the players:
A goalie's skates have low, flat blades for better balance.
There is less of a gap between the blade and the boot to prevent pucks from slipping through.
The sides of the skate boot also have more padding, to protect the ankles from injury from hard shots.
The blades are flat on the ice, and not as sharp, in order to allow the goalie to quickly move from side to side.
Some players like to purchase goalie skates that are a half size larger, to prevent injuries to the toes when a shot hits the skates.
Goalie skates cost between $75 and $450.
Face Mask. A facemask is mandatory. Some goalies have specially molded masks made to fit their face exactly. The mask should fit snugly and securely, and must not hamper your child's vision. It should also protect the entire head. Facemasks run from $110 to $500 for specially molded masks.
Pads. Pads come in various sizes, and it's important to get pads that fit properly. Chest protectors, about a half-inch thick should always be worn. Most goalies wear regular goalie arm and shoulder pads, and some also wear elbow pads. Most goalies prefer old, broken in pads because they are more comfortable. It helps to break in pads in practice, before wearing them in a game. Goalie pads cost between $75 and $1,000 new.
Gloves. A goalie's catching glove (or trapper) looks similar to a baseball first baseman's mitt, but the lacing and webbing are kept to a minimum. A catching glove should also be broken in (catching baseballs with the glove in the off-season is a good way to do that). A goalie uses a glove called a "blocker" on the hand that holds the stick. The blocker has a large flat surface that is well padded. A set of goalie gloves runs between $125 and $500.
Stick
Goalie preference is the key consideration in selecting sticks.
The number lie for a goalie stick is usually between 11 and 15, but a lie of about 13 or 14 is recommended because it will allow your son or daughter to stand up straight.
The blade of the stick may not exceed 3 1/2 inches in width, except at the heel where it may be 4 1/2 inches.
The wide portion may not extend up the shaft more than 24 inches from the heel.
Sticks cost between $25 and $60.
Back to Top
|
