EQUIPMENT
· Protective equipment is highly recommended and is enforced in all competitive situations.
§ Helmet combo – composed of a helmet with strap, and optionally a face cage or visor, and mouth guard is required.
§ Neck guard– helps prevent injury from skates, sticks and pucks to the neck and throat. It is usually optional as it restricts neck movement.
§ Shoulder pads– also includes torso and spine protection from flying pucks and most collisions.
§ Elbow pads– provides forearm and triceps protection against pucks in addition to a reinforced elbow cup.
§ Hockey gloves– protects the hands; player's gloves are constructed with a very thin palm and fingers.
§ Hockey pants - Shorts which incorporate the thigh, pelvic, hip and tailbone pads. They are usually held up by a belt or suspenders.
§ Garter – Garter belts are often used by players to hold up hockey socks.
§ Mouth guard– most hockey players wear mouth guards to protect their oral cavity.
§ Ice skates– incorporate a rigid shell, often reinforced with metal mesh to prevent a skate blade cutting through.
§ Hockey sticks– The best ice hockey sticks are made from graphite and are manufactured with precise flex patterns that allows for more accuracy and power when hitting the puck. The two disadvantages of graphite sticks are cost and lack of durability.
