The goalie in ice hockey has the most dangerous job —to stop the puck (sometimes zooming in at 160 km/h) from entering the goal-net. This task is fraught with injuries and so a goalie’s equipment is crafted to provide more protection than that of the other players.
The goalie chest protector is a safety vest made of molded plastic with specialized elbow pads, bicep and forearm protection. The chest protector is surprisingly lightweight to allow the goalie’s unrestricted movement. Chest protectors may cost from $100 to $200, depending on quality.
There are many helmet designs for ice hockey goalies. It must be lightweight and shock-resistant and have a foam cushion lining for comfort. Ideally helmets will feature built-in sweat absorption bands. The wire-net for the face must be made of specialized unbreakable chrome steel. Helmets, which cost about $150 to $250 must be thoroughly checked for comfort and safety before purchase.
Ice hockey goalies use catch gloves to stop the puck. The glove must be tough while providing complete freedom for wrist movement and have wristbands for protection. A single glove would cost about $125. The goalie also uses a goal blocker for his other hand to block the puck from entering the net. Again it should be tough enough; a good goal blocker costs around $45.
Ice hockey goalies have leg pads that are heavily padded for complete calf and shin protection. In addition they contain kneepads and ankle pads. Most leg pads are closed at the feet to provide protection for toes and soles. They are made of reinforced plastic with nylon linings for comfort. Pads should contour the feet for a good fit. Leg pads are expensive, at around $300 to $350 a pair.
Goalies are also provided with a throat protector to guard against direct shots, as well as lacerations and abrasions from his helmet. Throat protectors vary in cost, from $20 to $75, depending on the degree of protection they provide.
Skates used by ice hockey goalies differ from those of other players. These skates are faster moving and provide movement not only forward and backward, but also sideways. Goalie skates may cost up to $350. Goalie sticks are similar to those of other ice hockey players, with hardwood shafts covered in fiberglass and broad blades and cost about $50 to $70.
Goalie equipment is expensive. Buying it online will save a few dollars. But if a goalie wishes to buy online, the size should be carefully considered for maximum efficiency and protection.
Hockey Equipment provides detailed information about hockey equipment, field hockey equipment and more. Hockey Equipment is affiliated with Plastic Basketballs.
Ice hockey skates are a very important piece of ice hockey gear, which is why it is very important that you take care of them properly and store them in the correct way. In the short video below the correct way to care for ice hockey skates is explained.
Ice hockey is usually played in a 200 foot by 85 foot rink, using various pieces of ice hockey gear, such asice an hockey stick, ice hockey skate and various items of ice hockey protective gear. To mark the various separate zones lines are drawn on the ice. So for example, the red line in the center of the rink marks the middle of the ice telling the hockey players how far to shoot, while blue lines are used to mark three important zones namely, the attacking zone, the defending zone, and the neutral zone.
In the center of each end of the rink is a goal composed of a set of goal posts set six feet apart covered by a net and in between the goal posts is a red line called the goal line. The object of the game of hockey is to score goals by sending the ice hockey puck into the net using an ice hockey stick. A goal is scored by a team when the puck crosses the goal line and goes into the net. there os also an area of the ice marked in blue in front of the goal, which is called the crease. This is a place reserved only and if a player enter the crease while trying to score they get a penalty.
Six ice hockey players per team are normally on the ice at the same time time. The team’s offense is generally made up of three players that line up at the front of the ice and are commonly called forwards, though depending on their placement they can also be referred to as the right wing, the center and the left wing. Two defense players are placed behind the forwards on the right and on the left, and the last, sixth player is the goaltender. The goalie normally stays in the crease and protects the goal aided by the defense. Forwards and defensemen usually play both offense and defense depending on the circumstances of the match. The ice hockey game ends after three twenty-minute period and is won by the ice hockey team with the highest score, while tied games go into a five-minute overtime.
Here is a great article describing what to consider when buying a pair of ice skates. The author lists six important factors that you should consider when you are out buying this particular piece of ice hockey gear, and it aimed both at beginners as well as parents shopping for ice hockey gear and ice hockey skates for their children.
Six Factors to Consider While Buying Hockey Skates
Six Factors to Consider While Buying Hockey Skates
If you are a beginner planning to buy yourself a new pair of skates then here are some basic tips to get you started:
1.) Sizing Factor
Hockey skates should be a size or two smaller than your regular shoes. Buying hockey skates that are the same size as your running or athletic shoes may result to injury such as blisters and sprains. Too much space for your foot to move about in a loose hockey skate means that there are more possibilities of a blister forming or inaccurate movements during games or practice sessions. This possibility of inaccurate movement can affect the game and the way that you play.
It is better to have snug fitting ice hockey sticks than loose ones. Bear in mind when fitting hockey skates that your toes need to be able to feel the front end of the skate while you are positive that your heel is backed up into the back part of the skate as well. It is important that you lace up the hockey skates before even trying to move about with them to see how they fit you. You should also try to stand with the hockey skates laced up and then try to bend your knees to a point where you are almost squatting. In this position, you can feel the toe area loosen up a bit. This may be the right skate size for you. The reason for this exercise is due to the fact that when one skates, the knees are usually bent hence the need to concentrate of this particular position to be comfortable.
A few tips to keep in mind:
a.) Never make the mistake of buying skates to grow into. This will put you in a risk of injury.
b.) To test the skates make sure your toes feel the front end of the skate while your heel is backed up into the back part of the skate
c.) Different brands have different sizing guidelines. So make sure to check them out before you go for the buy.
2.) Length and Width
Both the length and width of the hockey skate can affect its fit. Do not try to compensate the length for the width or vice versa. You should have the right length and the right width to have the right hockey skate size. Some people think that they can compensate a wider skate for feet that actually need a longer length. This will give you an inaccurate skate size and may cause serious injury.
3.) Radius of the Blade
Radius of the blade is the amount of blade that is in direct contact with the ice. If you are a beginner skater it is recommended that you go for a larger blade radius. A radius of 5 inches should be a good choice. A larger radius increases stability and aids easy maneuverability along the ice surface.
4.) Break-in period
Break-in period of a skate is the amount of time it takes for the padded lining of the skate to get molded and adjusted to the shape of your feet. How soon the break-in happens depends on a lot of factors like the quality of lining and body-weight of the player among others. A heavier person will generally have a faster break-in period than a light person. So if you have lighter body mass, try to go for skates with a softer lining.
5.) New or Used Skates?
Hockey skates are supposed to be stiff. This is something that you should be aware of before buying hockey skates. Some people might opt to buy the less expensive used hockey skates instead of the more expensive brand new ones. Bear in mind that used skates may have lost their stiffness factor which is essential for more powerful skating action and support for the legs, feet and ankles.
Some cheap hockey skates may be less stiff than the more expensive ones. Buying cheaper hockey skates is only beneficial for those who have not made up their minds regarding playing hockey or not or for children who outgrow a skate easily within a year.
6.) Your Budget
A good pair of skates would cost you anything around $100 to $650. It is recommended not to buy expensive skates for your first pair. Until you play in a league you won’t know what position you are playing or what kind of skate with best accommodate it. Consider the first pair of skates as skates used for practice and introduction to the sport.
Ice hockey is a popular sport in colder areas of the world and that alone calls for a vast array of ice hockey gear. Furthermore it is also quite a dangerous sport, what with the hardness of the ice, pucks flying at over 100 miles per hour and the rough way that the game is played, so there is also a vast array of safety ice hockey gear the players need to wear.
The main pieces of ice hockey gear are:
Ice Hockey Skates
The boots of which can either be nylon or leather, though professional players prefer leather as it is harder to maneuver in the nylon ones. The boots also have a protective function as they are meant to protect the players’ shins and ankles.
There is, of course, a blade used at the bottom of the boots just as with normal ice skates. In fact, ice hockey skates are almost identical to figure skates, with the main difference being that the blade on ice hockey skates is rounded blade to minimize injury if another player is hit with it.
Ice Hockey Sticks
Ice hockey sticks represent the main piece ofice hockey gearused. They are normally made of wood and are around 200 cm long ending with the blade, or flat extension at the bottom. The blade curves in the direction of the hockey player’s movement in order to assist in lifting and keeping the puck off of the ice. Both the blades and sticks vary in size according to the player who is using them, while many professional players have custom made sticks made only for them.
Ice Hockey Helmets
The third basic piece of ice hockey gear is hockey helmets, which must fit the player’s head very precisely. To achieve this, the circumference of each player’s head just above the eyebrows must be to ensure a perfect fit, which entails the ice hockey helmet fitting comfortably and not shifting around the head. Even the slightest rotation or looseness in a player’s helmet can greatly reduce the player’s field of vision and must therefore be prevented.
This very important item of ice hockey gear is made of a material called Vinyl nitrate, which is superb for absorbing the force of the impact from hits to the head from hockey sticks, pucks, or a direct contact with the ice.
To protect the players’ eyes, the helmets are sometimes fitted with visors. In some leagues and especially with younger players visors are mandatory. A mask made from metal or thick plastic and attached to the helmet to protect their face from injury is another mandatory piece of ice hockey gear for young players and those who playing ice hockey at a university.
In addition to the above basic items of ice hockey gear, there is also a vast array of safety gear worn by professional and amateur hockey player. Practically all of the safety ice hockey gear is mandatory and it includes:
Shoulder pads,
Elbow pads,
Mouth guards,
Gloves,
Padded shorts,
Breezers,
Shin guards,
And neck guards.
Goalies, of course, need to wear a few additional pieces of ice hockey gear such as better-reinforced masks and other extra padded gear, to keep them safe for the fast-flying pucks as they defending the goal.