ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT LIST For skaters

Stick – Most players want at least one stick made from durable material like carbon fiber composite. You will want your stick to be at your nose in shoes and at your chin in skates.

Skates – Quality skates are critical to staying agile on the ice. Look for skates that fit comfortably without being too tight or loose – you should be able to wiggle your toes inside them while standing up straight. 

Helmet – A helmet with a full cage or half shield are required and is one of the most important pieces of hockey equipment for protecting yourself from serious injury. Helmets should be securely fitted to your head so they don’t shift when you make abrupt movements. Make sure your helmet is approved by the Hockey Equipment Certification Council (HECC) for optimal safety.

Gloves – Gloves must fit snugly to protect your hands from falls and pucks flying at high speeds without restricting movement. Look for reinforced palms, as these areas bear the brunt of contact with surfaces like boards and rink walls during games. You want the padding to be ample along knuckles and fingers, where the impact could occur in gameplay. 

Shoulder pads – Shoulder pads are optional and help protect the upper body. Pads should fit comfortably without slipping or moving, even during fast-paced skating or when being checked. 

Elbow pads – Elbow pads provide additional cushioning to protect against impacts during falls onto hard surfaces or collisions into opponents during physical plays.

Mouthguard – Wearing a mouthguard helps reduce the risk of mouth and teeth injuries. A good mouthguard will have a shock-absorbent nature to disperse energy away from teeth upon contact.

Shin guards – Shin guards act as shields against puck strikes targeting lower leg areas close to ankles, which can cause severe bruises if unprotected. Make sure guards have a proper, snug fit, since models that are too big won’t offer adequate coverage even though they look comfortable visually.

Jock/Jill strap – Jock/Jill straps protect the groin area region from potential injuries caused by errant pucks, sticks, and collisions.

Practice jersey – Practice jerseys can help keep your game jerseys in great shape every time the puck drops.

Game jersey – You’ll want both home and away jerseys.

Hockey socks – Keep game socks (both home and away that match the jerseys) in your bag. You also might want to invest in socks that you only wear during practices.

Breezers (hockey pants) – Breezers are more than just pants – they’re actually protective, offering you a good range of motion while adding another layer to protect your trunk area.

Water bottle – Yep, you are going to get thirsty playing hockey. We recommend either a squirt bottle or one with a straw so you don't have to take your helmet off when you are on the bench.

Hockey bag – You are going to need something to carry all this gear in and out of the arena. Hockey bags come in different styles, standard, backpack, wheeled. Just make sure you buy a bag big enough to hold everything but yout stick.