Goalie Hockey Equipment

By Kent Pinkerton

Ice hockey is a very physical sport. Unlike soccer, basketball, or baseball, ice hockey is the only sport where fighting is a commonplace event in the game. Aside from the painful body checks, blocking high speed, hard pucks to prevent a goal is also part of the physical pains of the game. These pucks are heavy and hard objects that is why it is very important for the goaltender or the goalie to wear proper equipment.

What should the goaltender wear in order to prevent injuries happening? Here is a list of the items essential to a ice hockey goalie.

The Mask

A hockey goaltender needs a mask to protect his head from the puck. Early goaltender masks were made of fiber glass with holes for the eye, nose and mouth. This mask was made popular by the machete wielding madman, Jason, in the old Friday the 13th movies. Today, masks are not only made of fiber glass but also of Kevlar, carbon fiber, and other durable metals. The masks now have large cut outs on the eyes and nose and are covered by a steel or titanium cage.

The Skates

The skates of a goaltender are different from those of the other players. The blades are longer and wider allowing better mobility for the goaltender. The blade is shorter vertically so that the goaltender is closer to the ice. This type of skates is more durable than the conventional skates to prevent damage from direct hits from the hockey puck.

The Stick

Goaltenders also use a different kind of hockey stick. These sticks are wider than the usual in order to block pucks more effectively. The blade is around 8.9 cm wide and is commonly referred to as the paddle. These sticks were traditionally made out of wood, but due to technology, these stick are now made of composite materials which make them more durable.

The Blocker

The blocker is a piece of padding attached to the backhand side of the hand which holds the stick. It is also called the waffle because old models used to look like one. A goaltender is allowed to wear only one blocker.

Leg Padding

Goaltenders should also wear special leg padding. This padding resembles those that are usually worn in cricket and are ten to twelve inches wide and extend four to eight inches above the knee.

The Trapper

The trapper, catch glove, or catcher is worn on the free hand of the goaltender. It looks like your average baseball mitt but has a deeper pocket and is much more protective.

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