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Equipment Sizing - How to fit your Hockey Gear Properly Skates It is important when trying on skates to bring along a pair of socks that are approximately the same thickness as the ones you will skate in. When trying on the skate there are 2 things to check for 1. When your toes are against the front
of the boot you should be able to place 1 finger between your heel and
the back of the skate. Remember that skates, like shoes, come in different widths as well as lengths. So instead of buying bigger skates if the ones you try on are too tight you may wish to consider getting wider ones. You can also get skates widened if they are just that little bit narrow. When walking or skating around your foot should not move in the skate. The skates shouldn't be over tightened. They should fit snugly but not cut out the circulation in your feet. Shin Pads When trying on shin pads it is essential to ensure that your knee cap sits in the middle of the knee cup of the shin pads. It is also important to ensure that the shin pads are not too long otherwise if the pads ride up it can lead to injury. If it is at all possible bring along a pair of skates or try one that the store is selling when you try the shin pads on. This will ensure that you know exactly how the shin guards will fit and will help you decide whether you are choosing the correct pads. Once the shin pads are damaged, once they get a crack in it, they should be replaced immediately as they are no longer structurally sound. A good way to measure the exact size of the shin pads is to put on a skate and sit on a chair with your knee bent to 90 degrees. Measure from the top eyelet to the middle of the knee. This should give you a good indication about the size you will require. You may still want to bring in a skate to ensure that the sizing is perfect for you. Shoulder Pads When trying on a pair of shoulder pads you should ensure that your shoulders fit properly into the cups. Ensure also that you have relatively good movement within theses pads and that they feel comfortable. The shoulder pads should offer protection for the collarbone, chest, ribs, back and upper arms. Different shoulder pads will have different lengths: some will overlap with your padded pants while some will be cut higher. Elbow Pads When trying on elbow pads you will need to ensure that your elbow fits well in the cup provided. A good elbow guard should cover you from the bottom of the Shoulder Pads to the top of the glove giving you some added slashing protection. Hockey Pants There are a couple of important measurements to consider when trying on Padded Pants: 1. The measurement of the waist and It is essential that the pants overlap the shin pad's knee cap by 1 or 2 inches so that you always have adequate protection even when you are kneeling. If you are tall then you may wish to try on pants that are too large around the waist so that you have adequate protection. It is absolutely essential that your hockey pants are tied around the waist so that they protect your tail bone yet still overlay the knee pad. Helmets All helmets worn for Ice Hockey must be CSA and HECC certified. All CSA and HECC certified helmets will have stickers on the helmet informing you of this. There cannot be any other stickers placed on the helmets as the glue from this may affect the structural integrity of the helmet. When you try on a helmet it is important to consider the adjustment room that is available, for example if the helmet is adjusted to be as big as it can and it only just fits you then you might want to consider a larger helmet. The helmet must be comfortable. If it leaves a red mark on your forehead after wearing it to try it on then this is a pretty good indicator that it may be too tight. If, when you move your head, the helmet flops around then you may wish to get a smaller helmet. Face Cages If you are born after December 31, 1974 and are under
21 then you must wear a full face cage. When trying on face cages it is essential that you try it on with a helmet that is similar or the same as yours. A properly fitting Face cage should fit your chin firmly in the cup and the top of the cage should sit in the clasps on either side of the helmet. If the top of the face cage doesn't sit in there then you could run the increased risk of injury. If a player is hit in the jaw and they have an incorrectly fitting face cage they can very likely cause some serious damage to their jaw. Gloves There are a couple of important things to consider. One of the important things to consider when trying on gloves is to ensure that the gap between your elbow pads and your gloves is kept to a minimum. This is so as to protect the arm from slashes as much as possible. The other main consideration when trying on gloves is to ensure that your fingers do not go to the end of the glove. If they do then you risk being injured by a slash from your opponent's stick. Stick Length A good way to measure your stick is to stand, without
skates in your stocking feet, on a flat surface. Place the toe of your
stick on the ground between your feet. Lean the stick straight up-and-down
so the han-dle of the stick touches the tip of your nose. (See Illustration)
A general rule is to mark and cut the handle of your stick where it
touches the tip of your nose. Then when standing on your skates, the
stick should come up to your chin or just below it. (See Illustration)
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