Youth hockey equipment checklist

Why hockey equipment matters

Hockey is a fast game played on hard ice with sticks, skates and a puck, so protective gear is not optional. The good news is that most of what a beginner needs is the same across leagues. Rules about required gear vary by league and age group, so always check your league's list before you buy.

Head and face

• Helmet: it should be hockey-specific, with a certification label that your league accepts (for example, HECC in the United States or CSA in Canada). It should sit level and snug without wobbling. Many helmets adjust. Replace one that is cracked, and follow the manufacturer's guidance about replacing one after a hard hit.
• Face protection: most youth leagues require a full cage or a visor with a chin strap, so ask which your league requires.
• Mouthguard: required in some leagues and a good idea everywhere. Some leagues require one that attaches in a certain way.
• Neck guard: many leagues require neck laceration protection for all players, and it is a good idea everywhere. Ask your league.

Upper and lower body

• Shoulder pads: cover the chest, shoulders and upper arms. They should not restrict arm motion.
• Elbow pads: should stay in place when the arm bends and protect the point of the elbow.
• Gloves: protect the hands and wrists while still letting a player grip the stick.
• Pelvic protector: a protective cup or pelvic protector, sometimes built into a base layer, goes under the pants.
• Hockey pants: padded pants that cover the hips, thighs and tailbone.
• Shin guards: should cover from the top of the skate to just below the knee, with the knee cap sitting in the guard.
• Socks: long hockey socks cover the shin guards and are usually held up with tape or a garter.

Skates, stick and goalie gear

Skates

Skates are the most important fit decision. A beginner needs a boot that supports the ankle, with a snug heel and room to wiggle the toes. If the foot slides or the ankle wobbles, skating becomes harder and more tiring. Skate sizing is not always the same as shoe sizing, so ask a trained fitter. Because kids grow quickly, many families buy used or borrow gear. If you do, check that everything is intact and still fits properly. Keep blades sharp enough for good control, and dry them after each session, since moisture dulls and rusts steel.

Stick

A stick should be matched to the player's height and which hand they shoot from (left or right). A rough fitting tip is that a stick standing upright on the floor should reach somewhere between the chin and nose with the player in regular shoes (a bit higher than chin height on skates), but ask a coach or fitter for specifics. Shorter sticks give beginners more control. Tape the blade and the knob at the top of the shaft for grip.

Goalie gear

Goalies use a different set of equipment: a goalie mask, leg pads, a blocker, a catching glove, a chest protector and goalie-specific pants and skates. Do not buy any of it until you ask the coach, since many leagues and clubs lend gear to new goalies.

Everything else

• A jersey, which the team normally provides.
• A large bag that lets gear air out. Wet gear packed away can smell, and bacteria can build up.
• A water bottle and a skate guard for walking off the ice.
• Tape for sticks and socks and a small tool for repairs.

Fit and dressing tips

Gear works best when every piece overlaps the next with no gaps, so a bare spot is not left between pads.

1. Try everything on together, wearing the other pieces, before leaving the shop.
2. Pads should fit snugly but not squeeze. Gear that is too big will slide and gaps become exposed.
3. Do not buy extra-large to "grow into." Loose gear protects less.
4. Help your child dress the same way every time so nothing gets missed.

When your child is dressed and ready, see how to prepare for hockey season, and read hockey rules for beginners to understand the game on the ice.