Outfitting Your Hockey Player
By Michele Blandino
Ice hockey has enjoyed a surge in popularity during recent years. As indoor hockey rinks begin to pop up towns all across the country, the number of kids involved in leagues is steadily increasing.
Unlike many other popular youth sports such as soccer and baseball, outfitting a hockey player is an expensive proposition; parents with kids starting out in youth leagues can expect to spend between $300 and $400 to just properly outfit their child for the first practice.
The Required Equipment
While specific requirements will vary depending on the league, at minimum you can count on having to purchase skates, a helmet with face guard, shoulder, elbow and skin pads, pants and gloves.
When trying on skates, you should take care to ensure they fit your child comfortably and snugly. While it is tempting to buy the skates a little bigger to allow for growth, doing so can cause blisters and other discomforts.
Helmets should fit snugly and not wobble when strapped into place. Most youth leagues require helmets that offer ear protection, a chin cup and full face guard. Be sure to find out what is required by your child’s league before you purchase anything.
The type of protective padding your child will require depends largely on the position they will play; defensive players require thicker, fuller padding than forwards and goaltenders will require a completely different array of padding.
In general, shoulder pads should be sized so that the cup of the pad fits squarely over the shoulder with the pad extending all the way to the neck. Likewise, elbow pads should fit on the point of the elbow and fit snugly, but not tightly. Finally, the shin guards should fit the center of the kneecap and extend to the top of the skate.
As you shop for gloves, look for those that offer strong support as that is the area of the hand that is most prone to injury. And, the pants you choose should offer ample protection to the hips, thighs and tailbone.
Finally, your hockey player will need a stick. While sticks with aluminum shafts are likely to last longer than their wooden counterparts, they are more expensive and not necessary for the beginner.
Other Necessities
This is where you need to find out what your registration fee gets you. In some leagues, the registration fee covers ice rental, insurance and other types of operational costs while in others it will also include a team jersey and socks. If the jersey and socks are not included, you will need to purchase these as well. Finally, your hockey player will need a large bag to carry all their gear.
Where to Shop
The Internet is full of online hockey equipment retailers and there are also plenty of national and regional retailers who carry a full line of equipment for players of all levels. We’ve listed a few of them at the end of this article.
Before you buy, be aware that prices vary widely among retailers, so taking the time to make comparisons can save you an appreciable amount of money. For example, we found a $35 difference in the price of a specific helmet between two online retailers.
You can also save a few dollars by buying “last years” models. Many of the leading manufacturers of hockey equipment release new models each year and while the differences from one year’s model to the next may be largely undetectable, there can be a $20 price difference.
Finally, if your child is stepping onto the ice for the first time, don’t buy the top of the line equipment; if their interest wanes, you will be left with an expensive pile of things. Instead, look for moderately priced equipment – chances are, your child will outgrow it after a year or so anyway. If, at that time, they are still enthusiastic about the game, you can always trade up.
