| Looking at the rough nature of the game, ice | | | | seasons as they went to practice without putting |
| hockey equipment was devised and developed to | | | | on their shoulder pads. A slip disc isn't that far |
| assist players through the game. The equipment | | | | away if you forget to do so as well. |
| can be broadly classified into two categories, i.e. | | | | Hockey Gloves |
| protective gear as well as non-protective gear. | | | | Good quality hockey gloves are needed to |
| Besides sticks and skates (non-protective | | | | provide optimum protection to the hands. Most |
| equipment), players of this game are also | | | | gloves are constructed with thin palms as well as |
| equipped with safety gear to avert injuries. These | | | | fingers whereas more padding is provided to the |
| include, neck guards, shin pads, chest protectors, | | | | other side of the hands. Gloves provide extra |
| padded shorts, protective gloves, mouth guards, | | | | protection and support to the thumbs and inhibit it |
| elbow pads, shoulder pads and helmets etc. Let's | | | | from bending. |
| take a look at the equipment used by general | | | | Shin Guards |
| players: | | | | Shin guards are generally needed to provide |
| Helmet | | | | optimum protection to the shins and generally |
| With sticks flying all around in the air, speeding | | | | come along with a kneepad. They are mostly |
| pucks and players tumbling and falling all over, | | | | constructed to provide protection to the frontal |
| proper head protection while playing this game is a | | | | area with the help of a hard shell. The shin pads |
| must. Helmets are of two kinds, i.e. the ones used | | | | usually don't provide any protection to the calves. |
| by the players and the ones used by the goalie. | | | | Mouth Guards |
| Goalie helmets are generally heavier than the ones | | | | As the name suggests, mouth guards are needed |
| used by players. | | | | to protect the mouth. You'll come across a |
| Neck Guards | | | | number of variants in the market, a few of which |
| Neck guards are extremely necessary and it's | | | | will also enable you to speak from the mouth. |
| advised that players not enter the rink without | | | | Skates |
| wearing one. Why? They are the only thing that | | | | This by far, is the most important equipment for |
| will protect your neck during falls as well as from | | | | this game. You can't really play this game well |
| flying sticks and pucks. A neck guard may | | | | without a good pair to take you around. Ice |
| however restrict neck movement. In order to | | | | skates are usually constructed with a rigid metal |
| counter this, a number of hockey equipment | | | | shell and are often reinforced with a metal mesh |
| manufacturers have come up with neck guards | | | | in order to prevent the blades from cutting |
| that are slim, compact and flexible. | | | | through. Hockey skates are different from figure |
| Shoulder Pads | | | | skates in a way that they come without toe |
| Shoulder pads are needed to avoid injuries from | | | | heals. There is a lot more to hockey gear, both |
| pucks, sticks as well as falls. Are they necessary? | | | | protective and non-protective. Refer to online |
| Yes they are? A number of players have had to | | | | resources for more. |
| stay out of the game for more than a few | | | | |