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Hi, my name is Brian Mullen. I spent my whole life around the game of hockey.
Beginning with my roller hockey days in New York through my 11 seasons in the
National Hockey League. During this time I found that learning the fundamentals
of the game is essential to succeeding in this sport. And I would like to pass
along my knowledge to you. So lace up your skates,
grab your stick and learn the game of hockey online with me.
HOCKEY EQUIPMENT
Before we move into our discussion on equipment, I would like to take
a moment to thank my good friend, Bob Froese, for taking us through
the section on goaltending.
I really enjoyed the discussions, and hope you
did as well. If you did not get a chance to read through the four sessions,
I urge you to review them, especially if you earn your stripes between the pipes.
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When I first started playing hockey, the equipment was, to put it
simply, bad.
A piece of leather draped
over the shoulders was considered shoulder pads and shin pads were
nothing more than a thin
piece of plastic around each leg. And there was no
such thing as a helmet.
A lot has changed from those early days. Players today are covered from head to
toe in graphite and polypropylene foam. You don't need to know
what that means. All you need to know is the stuff keeps
us very well protected.
Hockey equipment is like a player's suit of armor. If it fits well you
have little to worry about. But there is a tendency today, especially for younger players,
to buy equipment that is a size big or borrow equipment
that is a bit too small. That means the
padding will not cover the areas it should,
heightening the chance of
injury. There are many second-hand
hockey equipment
shops that buy and sell used equipment. This is a better way
to go rather than
risk injury using non-fitting wares.
Another trend in hockey is using street hockey equipment on the ice.
If you are thinking
about doing this…stop! Street hockey equipment is not made to withstand
the force of a
vulcanized rubber hockey puck.
Yes, ice hockey equipment is expensive, but with the expense comes
durability.
Don't sacrifice
safety for a few extra dollars.
Now that I have sufficiently warned you of the "dont's" of
hockey equipment, let's
lace up our skates, strap on the shin pads and talk about the "do's."
We will begin
from the top and work our way down.
Helmet
By far the most important piece of equipment is a player's helmet.
It should fit snugly without causing discomfort to the head or
headaches. It also should not be so loose that
the shell slides down covering the player's field of vision.
The option of using a shield or a wire cage is up to the player.
Some players like the metal cages because of the fogging problem associated with
the shield. Many new shields, like the Bauer® FM1000 Visor, are
chemically treated to prevent fogging and scratching.
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Shoulder Pads
Shoulder pads are designed to protect a player during checking in the open ice, or along the boards. Since many leagues
do not allow hitting, manufacturers now make the shoulder pads to also
protect the chest and sternum area, as well as the back and spine. An added feature
of the new Supreme® SP5000 from Bauer®is that it includes a Coolmax liner to allow players
to stay cool.
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Elbow Pads
If you ever got hit on the "funny bone" you know it is not very funny.
The newly designed
elbow pads are made to not only protect the elbow but also the upper arm
or bicep and the
forearm. The new
Supreme® EP3000 is made with
Neoprene straps to prevent the pads from sliding down the arm, exposing
vulnerable body parts.
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Gloves
The one body part hit more than any other is the hands. The hockey gloves you purchase
must be able to withstand the force of a slash but also offer enough flexibility to aid in your
stickhandling abilities. You should be able to extend you fingers
fully inside the glove while still getting a good feel for the stick.
If sized properly, the elbow pad should rest underneath the top to the
gloves. The new BDP Glove from Bauer® offers a reinforced
palm to increase the life of your gloves.
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Pants
If there is one piece of equipment that you can buy big, its the pants. Every inch of the pants is covered in protective padding.
Hockey pants are designed to cover from the stomach and kidney region of a player's
body down to the lower thigh. The Bauer® Supreme® HP5000 offer the True-Fit Belt to limit the shifting of the pants
during play.
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Shin Guards
For years shin guards were designed to protect only what the name suggests.
Now manufacturers make them to safeguard the sides of the knees and the calves. The shin guards are secured to the leg by
non-slip velcro straps and covered with hockey socks for
added support.
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Skates
Hockey skates are like sneakers to a basketball player or cleats to
a baseball player; if they don't feel comfortable you will have a
hard time performing up to potential. Do not buy
skates that are a few sizes bigger with the intention of wearing
a couple pairs of socks. Your heel should fit securely in the cup of
the skate with no more than a quarter-inch (6 mm) space between the
tip of the skate and your toes. The laces of the boot should be tied tightly
but not too tight. If you find that your feet get cold during a game, chances
are your laces are too tight.
Sticks
A hockey player's stick is his/her magic wand. To perform miracles out on
the ice, your stick must be an extension of the rest of your body. The
size and weight of the stick is most important when
purchasing a new stick. The stick should rest just below your chin when
standing erect in your skates. This will ensure the entire stick blade will be
touching the ice when in the basic hockey stance. Young players should
not buy a stick they find too heavy, because passing and shooting
will become much more difficult.
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For parents or coaches of hockey players, you may want to show your players how to properly
put on their equipment. Some kids may be too embarrassed to ask how a piece of equipment
should fit. In some cases, a player, if unclear of the equipment's use, may opt to not wear this item.
As a parent or coach, check your players to ensure they are wearing
all the required equipment and that it has been applied properly. Hockey
can be a safe and fun sport with the proper teaching and supervision.
Next Class
I hope you enjoyed this session of "The Hockey Clinic with Brian Mullen."
The next time
we get together we will discuss equipment needs
for goaltenders.
"The Hockey Clinic with Brian Mullen" Archive
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