Do hockey players wear pads? What kind of hockey pads do players wear?

When picturing a hockey player on the ice, one of the first things that come to mind is the protective equipment. So, do hockey players wear pads? Perhaps, this is a common question that many people asked!

Don’t worry, Adam Matter will take a closer look at this question and explore what kind of hockey pads do players wear they might choose to use while playing on the ice. Now, let’s get started!

What kind of hockey pads do players wear?

Hockey is a harsh, physical game. Maintaining your health and safety is essential at any level. Hockey players must use protective gear to avoid or reduce injuries. Therefore, here are  the types of pads that hockey players wear:

Shoulder pads

These provide extra protection for your shoulders and upper body from high-impact collisions. Hockey shoulder pads have an adjustable torso strap, sternum guard, spine protector, and elbow caps.

Elbow pads

Elbow pads are essential as they protect your elbow and forearm from slashes, scrapes, body checks, and other contacts. They come with an adjustable strap around the triceps area and a neoprene sleeve to help keep them in place.

Shin guards and hockey pants

Shin guards or leg pads are essential to protect against bruises. They are the pads to protect their knees and other body parts from injuries. They are often made of hard plastic material with foam or another soft protective padding to absorb shocks or impacts.

Hockey pants protect the front and back of the thighs and hips, as well as the lower part of the abdomen. Most hockey pants also come with adjustable straps for a comfortable fit.

Hockey gloves

Hockey gloves protect your hands and wrists from impacts, cuts, and abrasions. They are made of thick padded material that provides good durability and mobility. They also come with adjustable Velcro straps to help keep them in place during the game.

Helmet pads

Helmet pads are key to keeping your head safe and comfortable. They come with thick foam padding and adjustable straps to help keep the helmet in place.

Most hockey helmets have padding that helps absorb shock from hits, and special vents and air channels let air in and keep heat from building up.

Other equipment

Hockey equipment is unique because it focuses on protection for the athlete while providing maximum mobility. Players need skates, mouthguards, neck protectors, athletic supports, cups, and goalie pads.

Thus, shoulder pads/chest protectors, elbow pads, mouth guards, protective gloves, heavily padded shorts, a ‘jock’ athletic protector, shin pads and a neck guard help to keep hockey players safe and free from significant injuries.

Mouth guards range from 1$-$50 and can be bought in bulk, making them an easy item to resupply annually. Custom fit mouth guards using molds of the teeth also are ideal to provide the best fit, but can be more expensive than the boil and bite mouth guards.

Source: https://ksi.uconn.edu/

Do hockey players wear pads?

Yes, hockey players at all levels wear shoulder pads as part of their gear. Shoulder pads for hockey are made to protect players from hits and make sure they can move freely during the game.

They are all hockey-specific. Soccer or lacrosse equipment will not provide adequate protection. Lower leg (knee and shin) pads should be hard plastic on the outside and reach all the way to the top of your skates. Hockey players also wear gloves, helmets, pants, and sometimes abdominal protectors.

All these are made to give you the protection you need while letting you move around freely on the ice.

Greatest reasons why hockey players wear so much equipment

Hockey players wear a lot of protective gear for a variety of reasons. The primary purpose is to protect players from injury, but it also allows them to play and move freely. Hockey pads are essential pieces of player safety equipment that can help shield the body from harm during gameplay.  You can understand how to put on hockey elbow pads in our previous blog post. Helmets, shoulder pads, and pants are also common pieces of hockey protective gear players use to protect their head, shoulders, and lower body from potential injuries. These pieces of gear include protective skates, shin guards, elbow pads, shoulder pads, hockey pants, and a chest protector.

Another reason is that because skates are made of hard materials and have thick padding, they keep your feet and ankles from getting hurt.

Finally, wearing safety gear while playing hockey helps players perform better. The padding and protection give athletes the confidence to play aggressively and be more agile on the ice. It also helps a player keep their balance by giving them more support when they turn or stop quickly.

Things about hockey pads and protective gear

What is the price of hockey equipment?

Your level of experience will determine the cost of your hockey equipment. Starter kits can provide a full set of gear for as little as $200, while advanced players may spend several hundred dollars on their gear.

What is the weight of hockey equipment?

Hockey equipment can range from being relatively lightweight to quite bulky. Specifically, as follows:

• Leg Pads: approximately 5 kg
• Skates: around 2.5 kg
• Glove: around 2 kg
• Stick: around 1 kilogram

How to properly care for and store hockey gear?

The equipment does not have a particularly foul odor, thus it should be hung up to dry shortly after use. If used apparel remains in the hockey bag until the next practice, bacteria may begin to grow.

Instead of hanging your equipment up to dry after training, you can put it in an airtight plastic box after it has dried. This will keep it from getting smelly.

What factors should you consider before purchasing hockey shoulder pads?

Are you wondering if you should buy used shoulder pads and what considerations when buying them? To get the proper size and fit for shoulder pads, measure the circumference of the chest. Defensemen prefer a thicker model to stop shots, while forwards choose a lighter one. You should also ensure that the shoulder pads are adjustable, breathable, and comfortable.

Also, look for safety features like extra padding over the sternum or clavicle, bicep extensions that can be taken off, and rib protection.

Helpful tips for safe hockey play

Players should do the following while playing games:

• Take all safety precautions while practicing.
• Understand and adhere to the game’s rules.
• Respect the referees and do not dispute their decisions.
• If an opponent player appears to be intentionally injuring them, remain calm. Inform their coach and the referee, and let them handle the matter.

However, it is important for hockey players to make sure their equipment fits properly – too tight or too loose can both be dangerous.

FAQs: Do hockey players wear pads?

Do professional ice hockey players wear helmets?

A helmet, shoulder pads/chest protector, elbow pads, mouth guard, protective gloves, extensively padded shorts, a ‘jock’ athletic protector, shin pads, and a neck guard are frequently included. Goaltenders use masks and heavier, specialized equipment to protect themselves from many direct pucks hits.

What do hockey players do with their gloves in between periods?

Gloves are placed on the machine while a blower fan dries them up so that they are ready to use when the next phase begins. Some players even switch gloves during games to keep their hands fresh and dry.

Why do hockey players remove their gloves prior to a fight?

According to these regulations, both players must drop their sticks at the start of a fight in order to avoid using them as a weapon. To fight bare-knuckled, players must also “drop” or shake off their protective gloves, as the thick leather and plastic of hockey gloves would magnify the impact of landed punches.

Why do hockey players just use one glove?

You wear the glove on the left side since this is the hand on top of your stick and the first to hit the ground.

Conclusion

By taking the time to read our blog about” Do hockey players wear pads”, you can be sure that you have the protection necessary for safety during gameplay. Do you have any questions about what kind of helmet or other protective gear is used in hockey? Hockeyheriatge.org invites you to reach out with any questions you might have!