Hockey Gear Starter Guide
(Beginner to Travel)
Hockey can be overwhelming. Here's a guide with some recommendations and tips.
For beginner hockey players, focus on comfort and confidence over brand names or pro-level gear. Here's a recommended gear list: - Helmet: Bauer Prodigy - Skates: Bauer X Skate Youth - Gloves: CCM Youth Gloves - Shoulder Pads: CCM Tacks XF Pro
- Elbow Pads: CCM Tacks 9550
- Shin Guards: CCM Tacks XF Pro
-Neck Guard: Bauer Base Layer and Neck Guard - Hockey Pants: CCM Next - Stick: Bauer Vapor Composite
- Jock/Jill Shorts : Shock Doctor Compression Short - Hockey Socks and Jersey from your rink or beginner program **Small Essentials (always keep extras):** - Stick Tape - Sock Tape - Skate guards - Mouthguard - Hockey Wax - Extra Laces - Tape Tiger (for easy stick tape removal) **Fit Tips:** * Skates should feel snug, not loose. If skates wobble, skating collapses.
* Skates do NOT go by shoe size. If you can, go get sized. But if you can't a good rule of thumb: go down 1.1-5 smaller than shoe size.
* Youth sticks should be short enough to let them learn control, not power. They should come right underneath the chin with skates on. YOU WILL HAVE TO CUT THE STICK! Keep in mind, cutting the stick does increase the flex. Rule of thumb is that every inch cut adds about 2.5-3 in flex.
* Don't size up bigger than necessary. Oversized pads slow kids down.
**Money Saver:** For U8, most gear is safe to buy used except the helmet.
