Red Circle Hockey Club

All players must be fully equipped to play or practice hockey with CSA approved hockey equipment.

Helmet

Your helmet should fit snug on all areas of your head. The helmet not should move around on your head - this will reduce protection and increase the risk of a concussion. The chinstrap should be adjusted so that it gently contacts your chin with your mouth closed.

You will need to adjust the helmet so that it is snug without pinching. Depending on the shape and size of your head, some helmets will just feel better than others. The helmet should fit flat on the head about 1/2 inch above the eyebrows without tilting forward or back. Make sure the helmet does not shift around on your head.

HECC certification date and CSA approved helmets must have all straps fastened (i.e. 1 for helmet under chin and 2 for face mask left and right side at all times). Failure to do this will result in a minor penalty.

Useful Helmet Links

• CSA Tips on Hockey helmets

 

 

Mouth Guard

There are three types of mouthguards:

• ready-made, or stock, mouthguard
• mouth-formed "boil-and-bite" mouthguard
• custom-made mouthguard made by a dentist

Mouth Guards are highly recommended for all players.

 

 

 

Neck Protector

BNQ approved neck protectors must be worn. Goalie neck protectors will also include a 'bib' in the front.

 

 

 

Shoulder Pads

Shoulder pads are designed to protect the upper body including the upper arm, shoulder, collarbone, back, chest and ribs. You should choose a shoulder pad that offers the most padding in the chest area without inhibiting movement. To determine the size of shoulder pad to order, you will need to measure the circumference of the chest by placing a tape measure around the chest just under the armpits. This will give you a measurement that will help to determine the proper shoulder pad size.

 

 

 

Elbow Pads

Your elbow pads protect your arm from the bicep extension of your shoulder pads to the cuff of your gloves leaving no part of your arm exposed. Your elbow should fit comfortably into the elbow pad cup and the elbow pad should fit securely without twisting or sliding on your arm.

 

 

 

Gloves

Your elbow pads and gloves should provide continuous protection from above the elbow to the tips of your fingers. The cuff of the glove should extend to the bottom of your elbow pads leaving no part of your lower arm exposed. To protect your fingertips, your fingers should not go all the way to the end of the glove. Put on your elbow pads. Hold your arm and hand outstretched. Measure the distance between the tips of your fingers and the bottom of your elbow pad. If you prefer a shorter cuff, you may consider wearing protective wrist guards in the uncovered area.

 

 

 

Pants

Your hockey pants protect your midsection to the top of your shin pads. Above the waist, the pants should extend up to the lower rib cage and the bottom of your shoulder pads. At the knee, the pants should overlap the top of your shin pads by one or two inches to provide coverage even when you bend your knee. Your pants should fit loosely enough to allow a full range of motion in your waist and hips, but not so loose that they shift out of position. Most pants include a belt so that you can secure the pants firmly at your waist. For most players, your waist size can be used to select hockey pants.

 

 

 

Athletic Cup

There are a couple of different styles of Athletic cups. Both are equally popular but the trend is leaning towards the shorts style aspictures to the right. The other syle is a strap and cup style (not shown).

If you get the shorts style they usually come with velcro on the bottom of the legs which will save on tape or garders needed to hold the socks up plus they are very comfortable to wear. No matter what style you choose, make sure the fit is comfortable and not too small. If it is too big it will unecessarily inhibit the ability of your player to skake well.

 

 

 

Shin Guards

Shinguards are designed to protect the shins and knees from impacts that might occur from sticks, pucks, or other players. To determine the size of shinguard to order, you will need to measure the length of the shin. To do this you will need to bend the leg at a 90 degree angle. Then, measure from the center of the kneecap to the top of the boot of the skate. Make sure to measure all the way to the top of the boot, and not to the top of the tongue of the skate. This will give you a measurement that will help to determine the proper shinguard size.

 

 

 

Skates

Bauer, CCM and Easton skates normally fit 1 to 1 ½ sizes smaller than your shoe size. Mission skates fit ½ size smaller to about the same as your shoe size. Put on the socks you plan to skate with, put on the skate and push your toes all the way to the front of the skate. With a properly fitted skate, you should be able to slide one finger behind your heel. Next, sit down and kick your heel firmly into the back of the boot. Tighten the laces firmly through the first 2-3 eyelets so that the skate is snug near the toe. Lace the next 3-4 eyelets a little looser to give your arch room to flex. Tighten the laces firmly through the remaining eyelets to give strong support to your ankle. The eyelets should be 1 1/2 to 2 inches apart; if not, consider a narrower or wider skate, as appropriate.

For children, you can get 1/2 size bigger to accommodate growing feet - but, any bigger can cause blisters on feet and a breakdown of the sides of the boot.

To help break in your new skates, put them on and wear them around the house (with skate guards, of course!) for a few hours. This will help break them in and cause you less discomfort when you first use them. As an added benefit this will help strengthen your ankles which will help you skate better.

 

 

 

Stick

There must be a butt end on the stick large enough to prevent the stick from entering the face shields. To determine proper stick length

• Stand in your skates
• Put the toe of the stick on the ground
• The stick should reach somewhere between your chin and the tip of your nose

 

 

 

Socks

These will be needed for practice and possibly some games. Team socks are usually supplied with team shirts, but not always.

 

 

 

Practice Jersey

You'll want your own practice jersey. This should be loose fitting and comfortable. Prectice Jersey's do not have to be blank with nothing on it. Team Jerseys will be distributed to everyone and in most divisions must be returned at the end of the season.

 

 

 

Bag

You will want to get a bag big enough and durable enough to hold all equipment excluding the stick. Some bags will hold that for you too. A suggestion is to look for a bag with wheels to make it easier for your child, or you, to cart to and from your car.

 

 

 

Tape

You'll need a couple different kinds of hockey tape. You'll want to get stick tape and clear equipment tape. Stick tape comes in a variety of colors. A lot of players use the clear tape to wrap around their uppder thigh and around their calves to help hold the socks up

 

 

 

All equipment must at all times be worn properly from the time the player leaves the dressing room to enter ice until the player returns to the dressing room. The player and the coach can be given a one (1) game suspension. Any player intentionally removing their equipment can be given a one (1) game suspension in addition to any other suspensions that may result.