How to Tie Goalie Pads to Skates

For hockey goalies, the name of the game is stopping pucks. It takes a certain type of person, and no uncertain financial investment, to willingly stand in place while hard rubber pucks are fired at their heads. In the old days, goalie gear was often cumbersome and did very little to protect the wearer, not to mention performance. Luckily, the modern gear available today offers exceeds in both areas, as long as it's worn properly. The standard now is for leg pads to rotate around the goalie's legs, allowing for more secure ice contact as well as adding a degree of knee protection, but getting the pad to rotate properly requires some setup know-how.

Things You'll Need

  • Skates
  • Goalie pads
  • Skate laces (optional)
  • Super glue (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure roughly 1 inch down from the part of the pad where the toe laces attach (the toe bridge) and tie a knot in the laces. Apply a drop of super glue to the knot for additional strength if desired.

    • 2

      Kneeling on one knee with your skates and goal pants on, lay a leg pad face down in front of your skate. Thread the right and left lace through the opening underneath your skate, behind your blade, to form an "X."

    • 3

      Pull the skate lace toward you, stopping when the knot is snug with the front blade. Then wrap the remaining lace around your blade in the "X" pattern, leaving about 6 inches of lace loose to tie another knot on top of your skate.

    • 4

      Thread the bottom strap of the pad through the opening under the ball of your foot and fasten two to three holes looser than you normally would with a traditional pad. If your pad has all nylon straps vs. leather with holes, use the plastic sliders to adjust accordingly. Continue fastening the remaining straps slightly tighter than the first one, leaving the top two straps undone.

    • 5

      Fasten the last two straps very loosely, more so than the first strap. Repeat for the other leg pad. Once done, your pads should feel very loose. Drop into a butterfly save and notice how your pads rotate. You want the pad to lie perfectly horizontal with the floor and your knee to land perfectly in the middle of the landing gear. If not, slightly tighten all straps but the top one and repeat until you've attained the proper fit and the pad rotates.