What Equipment Is Needed for Ice Hockey?

Hockey is a game that is dependent on skating ability, athleticism and great passing and shooting skills. Because of the speed of the game, hockey players have to wear protective equipment from top to bottom. While hockey players are in jeopardy every time they take the ice, they must have confidence in their equipment or they will not be able to play this game of speed and power effectively.

  1. Hockey skates

    • Every player needs to wear hockey skates that allow them to reach top speed in just a few strides. Hockey skates are built for speed and agility, and players must be able to skate forward and backward and do it with ease or they will have little opportunity to enjoy their sport. Goaltenders must wear skates that have long, flat blades and protect their feet from the hard shots that come their way.

    Hockey sticks

    • The hockey stick allows players to carry, pass and shoot the puck. The player holds his dominant hand low on the stick with the weaker hand sitting at the top of the shaft. A player must be able to accomplish a shot or a pass without looking at the puck on his stick. He has to have the "feel" of the puck on his blade because his head has to stay up so he can look for open teammates or onrushing opponents. A goaltender's stick is thicker and longer than a skater's stick because it must block opposing shots.

    Helmet

    • Every hockey player must wear a protective plastic helmet. This became a requirement in professional hockey in the early 1970s after Bill Masterton, a player for the Minnesota North Stars in the 1960s, hit his head on the ice in a 1968 game against the Oakland Seals and died from his injuries. Players at all amateur levels must wear face masks in addition to helmets.

    Goaltender's masks

    • It may seem hard to believe, but goaltenders did not start wearing masks until the late 1950s and early 1960s. The advent of the slap shot hastened the advancement of the goalie mask, but it did not come easily. Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jacques Plante is credited with the invention of the mask. After taking a shot in the face that left him bloody and injured, Plante swore he would not come back on the ice without protection in the form of a mask. He put on a crude, plastic device that came between his face and the puck, but offered minimal protection. Over the years, goaltenders' masks have become functional works of art as many goaltenders have classic hockey scenes or mythic beasts painted on their goalie masts.

    Padding

    • Underneath their hockey uniforms, players wear hip pads, leg pads and chest protectors. The hockey puck is made of a hard substance called vulcanized rubber, and it can be shot at speeds over 100 miles per hour. Getting hit with a puck can be incredibly painful even while wearing these pads, and getting hit without them will almost certainly result in an injury.