I came across a video on TikTok the other day where a mother was getting her son dressed for hockey practice and didn’t know how. It inspired me to write an article for parents. If it’s your first time setting up your son or daughter for hockey, this article is for you.

First Things First: The Gear

Hockey is a dangerous sport and you need to have protective gear. Many Learn to Play programs actually provide protective gear for the kiddos! If not, or you just want to make sure you have everything, here’s a list of what you’ll need.

Under-Layers

• Base layer shirt: Long or short sleeve (i.e. Under Armour, Nike, Compression shirts of breathable materials)
  • Alternatively you can go with a combo shirt with built in Neck Guards like Aycane, Evermade or Warroad
• Jock or Jill (They come in either compression or loose. Make sure it has a Velcro patch on the thigh to attach to your socks) Brands like Shock Doctor, PVCK, and Bauer are pretty popular
• Socks for under skates (hockey specific brands like Bauer or CCM or you can even use dress socks)

Most of these can be purchased at your local shop.

Protective Gear

• Helmet with Cage (fit is most important. check out the Hockey Helmet Buying Guide for more info)
• Mouth Guard (Brands like CCM, SISU and Shock Doctor are excellent choices)
• Neck Guard: Mandatory for Youth Hockey (you can get a separate one or baselayer shirt with one built in. See more here)
• Shoulder Pads
• Elbow Pads
• Hockey Pants (aka, breezers or shorts)
• Shin Guards
• Hockey Gloves

Externals

• Hockey Skates: Must be hockey specific skates do not use rental skates (Check out Buying Your First Pair of Hockey Skates for more info)
• Sticks: Our specialty (Check out the Beginners Overview. Its always good to have a backup too)
• Jerseys (your team may provide jerseys but its always good to have a light/white and a dark jersey)
• Hockey Socks (not to be confused with the baselayer socks. these go over your shin pads. also may be provided by your team)

Accessories

Stuff to always keep handy and/or in your bag

• Stick Blade tape (Black or white tape)
• Stick Knob tape (Many people use the same hockey tape as the blade. Some might prefer a different texture such as Grip tape or a grip brand like Lizard Skins, Buttendz, Tacki-Macs, VukGripz and Stick Grips)
• Shin Pad Tape (usually clear but they do come in a variety of colors if you want to match your socks)
• Skate guards (Made of terry cloth, rubber or they even have one with wheels. Used to protect your blades from everything except ice)
• Water bottle with straw
• Scissors
• Puck (always good to have one in your bag)
• Optional: small towel to dry off
• Optional: Garter Belt (some jocks/jills may not come with velcro patches to attach your hockey socks. You may want to get a garter belt to hold up your socks. And some just like how it feels)
• Optional: Spare set of laces
• Optional: Lace tightening tool
• Optional: Helmet Repair kit
• Optional: Stick Wax

Goalie Gear

If your kid wants to be a goalie, I’m sorry on behalf of your wallet. They require special gear. The accessories will be the same.

Under-layers

• You’re going to want similar under-layers like base layers and base layer socks.
• Jock/Jills (goalies wear larger and bulkier jocks than players. however, you can double up and wear a player jock under the goalie jock for extra protection)
• Hockey Socks (the same socks players wear. You may want a smaller size as its not going over shin pads. They do make goalie knee pads which you may want under your socks)

Protective Gear

• Neck Guard (this is a must for goalies. They have goalie specific ones with a pad that slides under your chest protector. They are much sturdier than player ones. As they can be uncomfortable a player one or base layer combo can we worn)
• Leg Pads (its important to get the right size. your local hockey shop should help you get sized up)
• Chest Protector
• Glove
• Blocker
• Goalie Mask with approved cage
  • Optional: Dangler (the plastic clear curve that dangles under your goalie mask)
• Optional: Knee pads (you can buy goalie specific knee pads that help prevent injury when in the butterfly)

Externals

• Goalie Skates: Must be Goalie specific skates. (Goalie skates are built differently. They are stiffer and sturdier and are a different shape. For just trying it out kids should be okay with wearing player skates but definitely invest in goalie specific skates)
• Goalie Sticks: Goalie sticks are drastically different than player sticks. They are also made with different materials at different price points. Learn more here)
• Jerseys (Goalie jerseys are a special size as they are much larger. Your team may provide jerseys)

 

If you are unsure if your kid will stick with it or don’t want to lay out hundreds on gear there are companies like Rink Rat Rentals who loan out gear for a very reasonable price.

 

Dressing: On the side?

One of the biggest fears of parents is dressing their kids in hockey gear. It can be smelly, bulky and uncomfortable at first. Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it. Many parents elect to dress their kids at home where it’s more comfortable and you have more time. Make sure you have them wearing skate guards so they don’t ruin their skate blades or your hardwood floors. This part will be extremely controversial as the order in which you dress is a hotly contested topic. Here are a few popular options

All of these methods should happen after the base layers are on. So put on your shirt, jock/Jill and hockey socks first. Also a good time to go to the bathroom before putting on your gear as it can get in the way.

Skate Tucking

Before we get dressed there’s an option you have with your skates. You can either “tuck” the tongue under your shin pads or “flop” them over with the bottom of the shin pads resting on top of the tongue.

• The “Tuck” method allows for a cleaner look and smoother motion
• The “Flop” method is old-school style and said to give more ankle mobility.

The choice is up to you!

Bottoms Up Method

You dress from the bottom up. In this order:

1. Shin pads
2. Hockey Socks
3. Pants
4. Skates
5. Shoulder pads or elbow pads first
6. Gloves
7. Helmet

This is the method I personally use. I find this method to be the most comfortable, but can be a bit difficult if you use the shin pad tuck method.

If you tape your shin pads its best to do it either after step 2 or if you have trouble getting skates on with the shin pads taped you can do it after step 4. 

Pants Last Method

Some find it easier to tie skates without your pants on as they can be quite bulky. It’s very important to keep your skate guards on so you don’t rip the inside of your pants. This method is great for goalies as goalie pants are even bulkier than skater ones.

You dress in this order:

1. Shin Pads
2. Hockey Socks
3. Skates
4. Pants
5. Shoulder pads or elbow pads first
6. Gloves
7. Helmet

Since your skates are already on you can tape your shin pads after they go on before your pants go on

Shin Pad Last Method

I have seen lots of NHL players get dressed this way. Its the same concept as Pants Last where you want to be unobstructed but its good for players who tuck their tongues. I’ve also seen lots of players put on their elbow pads after step 3. I personally find it difficult to stretch the socks over your shin pads then attach it to the Velcro under your pants.

1. You dress in this order:
2. Hockey Socks
3. Pants
4. Skates
5. Shin Pads (Slide your hockey socks down over your skates to get out of the way then stretch them up and over your shin pads)
6. Shoulder pads or elbow pads first
7. Gloves
8. Helmet

Skates Last

Last but not least is the Skates Last method. This is especially great for dressing at home as you don’t have to worry about damaging your skates on unapproved surfaces. This method is also great for outdoor skates or places where you dress far from the rink. You can wear sneakers, slides or any other footwear until you’re ready to play. I would recommend the Bottoms Up method for this as its the easiest.

You dress in this order:

1. Shin pads
2. Hockey Socks
3. Pants
4. Shoulder pads or elbow pads first
5. Gloves
6. Helmet
7. Skates, you can put these on at the rink or right before you hit the ice.

There may be other ways but these seem the most popular.

Clean up

Hockey is scientifically one of the smelliest sports but there are ways to make it less gross. I would recommend removing all gear from your bag after you play and airing out and cleaning your gear before putting it back.

Drying

Water from the ice, sweat, and bacteria from your skin make a really nasty concoction. Drying it fast helps reduce the smell. There are many options you can buy or DIY it.

Some options you can buy include:

• Rocket Dryers
• Hockey specific “Drying Racks”
• Fabric wardrobes
• Metal storage racks
• DIY drying rack out of PVC pipes
• Hang dry in a closet.

Whatever option you choose make sure you have a fan blowing on the gear to quickly dry it out. I personally use an IKEA wardrobe, made custom hooks, and a fan outside.

Cleaning

One thing is for sure, the only way to get the smell out is to wash your gear periodically. You can make Hockey Soup or throw most of your gear in the washing machine. (I would avoid washing goalie gear in the washing machine). Wash all base layers after each game or practice whenever possible. It can be handy to have multiple sets of base layers. You can use special detergents like my personal favorite, Nikwax BaseWash to help keep your breathable materials breathable and prevent shrinking.

Learn more about drying racks and cleaning gear here

 

Now that your child is geared up, it’s time to hit the ice and have fun!