Listed below is a full equipment list for a young player.

Equipment List

• Jill
• Shin pads
• Socks
• Sock tape
• Hockey pants
• Shoulder pads
• Elbow pads
• Neck guard
• Mouth guard (optional)
• Jersey
• Skates
• Gloves
• Hockey stick
• Stick tape

Getting Dressed

To start dressing, your child should only have a shirt (sleeves will become their personal preference), briefs and socks on. Their socks should not be too bulky as that can create friction inside the skate that will lead to blisters. Jills, which provide groin protection, get put on first. Shin pads get strapped on next followed by which ever socks you are going to need. The clear white sock tape wrapped around the outside of the sock and around their calf will help keep everything snug.

The hockey pants go on next. Pull the waste band snug. If your child finds the pants a bit too loose you can purchase suspenders. The shoulder pad, elbow pads, neck guard and jersey can all now be put on in that order.

The trick to putting on skates is to loosen the laces well and start tightening from the tip of the skate to the top of the skate. It is not recommended to wrap the excess length of laces around the ankles as they limit flexibility. Some players like to have the shin pad and sock pulled over the tongue of the skate and laces. If you find the wax laces hard to work with you can purchase a lace puller or switch to non-waxed laces but those will need replacing more often.

The mouth guard, helmet and gloves are the last to be put on and your little player is set!

Maintenance

Skates need to be sharpened regularly. The length of time between sharpening is personal preference, but a parent can tell if a skate is dull by scraping the top of their fingernail over an edge. If the blade does not scrape the nail it is definitely time for sharpening. Most arenas and local hockey shops have skate sharpening services for a nominal fee.

There are some items that are not necessary equipment but are handy to have in the hockey bag. A rag to dry your skates will help prevent rust and skate guards will protect the blades and your other equipment. A helmet fix-it kit is a good emergency precaution, as helmet screws and straps do go missing and your child will not be able to take to the ice without the repairs.

Videos

Introduction to equipment fitting


How to lace skates


How to tape a stick


Skate care


Fitting hockey pants