What you need to play Hockey.

Ice hockey utilizes more equipment than most other sports. Trying to keep track of it all can be confusing. Here Slaps Shooter shows you the proper hockey equipment to wear.

*Source: Edgar Edger’s Complete Guide To Hockey Equipment Maintenance presented by BladeDoctor, ShockDoctor and Easton.

Don’t get caught with your pants down!

• Make sure you find the proper fit.

Sometimes choosing the correct size of hockey pants can get a little confusing because of the different sizing system. While the fit should be loose and comfortable, the pants should have the ability to be secured firmly by a belt around the waist.

About 90 percent of all players will be abler to use their waist size as a guide for choosing the correct size pants. Make sure you check the length of the pant legs to ensure a proper fit. The bottom of the pants needs to overlap the top of the shin pad kneecap by one or two inches. This will ensure proper protection, even in a kneeling position.

What is the proper fit for hockey gloves?

• A hands on way to avoid injury.

The main concern with the fit of a clove is the gap between the glove and the elbow pad is minimal. The hand and forearm are subject to slashes and therefore need to be protected. The tightness or looseness of a glove is an individual preference. However, if the glove is too loose it may turn on a player's hand and reduce the glove's protective ability. Also, it is important that the fingers of the glove are nit too short. The tips of the fingers should not go completely to the end of the glove. If they do, they may be exposed to injury by a slash from an opponent's stick.

Why wearing a mouthguard is important.

Did you know that a hockey puck can reach speeds of 50-90 miles per hour in recreational play? Contact with flying pucks or other players is inevitable and injuries sometimes occur, but the risk and occurrence of injuries can be dramatically reduced by wearing an athletic mouthguard.

An athletic mouthguard is an essential piece of safety equipment that should never be overlooked. It not only significantly reduces the incidence and severity of injury to the mouth and teeth, but acts as a shock absorber against more serious injuries like concussion and jaw fractures.

Guide provided by American Hockey Magazine, the official publication of
USA Hockey. USA Hockey non-members interested in subscribing to the magazine may contact TPG Sports at 1-800-597-5656.