Install
Gear checklist
A printable checklist by age and level, so nobody arrives at the rink without a neck guard.
Youth skater (under 18)
Certification rules are strictest here, and this is the list an association will expect at the first practice.
- Certified helmet requiredHECC (USA Hockey) or CSA (Hockey Canada) certified, undamaged, chin strap fastened. HECC certification expires 6.5 years after manufacture; CSA has no expiry. Stickers and alterations can void it.
- Certified full facemask requiredRequired for every youth age group. Must be unaltered and correctly attached.
- Neck protector requiredRequired for youth, girls' and junior players in USA Hockey; BNQ-certified guards are compulsory in Canadian minor and female hockey.
- Mouthguard requiredRequired in USA Hockey from 12U through 18U and for Girls' 19U — a coloured, non-clear internal guard.
- Skates, properly fittedSnug, heel locked, no more than a half size of growing room.
- Shoulder padsSized by chest measurement.
- Elbow padsThe cap should stay on the point of the elbow.
- GlovesShould meet the elbow pads with no bare forearm.
- Hockey pantsShould reach the top of the kneecap.
- Shin guardsCap centred on the kneecap.
- Jock or jill (pelvic protector) requiredRequired.
- Hockey socks and jerseyPractice kit is usually on you; game kit is usually the team's.
- Stick, cut to lengthChin to nose in skates; cutting it down makes it stiffer.
- Water bottle, tape, spare lacesThe things that ruin a morning when they are missing.
- Bag — and somewhere to dry it allGear that dries after every session lasts longer and smells far less.
"Required" reflects USA Hockey and Hockey Canada rules as of September 2026 for the relevant age group — your league or association may require more. Certification marks must be intact and unaltered.
Adult recreational skater
Adults have more latitude on facial protection — and more reason to use it anyway.
- Helmet requiredUSA Hockey allows adults to wear a non-HECC-certified helmet; certified is still the sensible choice, and a damaged one is never worth keeping.
- Facial protection requiredA full cage, or a half-shield where your league allows it (in USA Hockey adults sign a waiver for a half-shield). Check your league.
- MouthguardNot mandatory for adults in USA Hockey, but it is the cheapest dental insurance there is.
- Neck protectorNot mandatory for adults but strongly recommended by USA Hockey — as are cut-resistant socks and sleeves.
- Skates, properly fittedNot your shoe size. Worth a proper fitting even if everything else is second-hand.
- Shoulder padsLighter non-checking models are common in adult leagues.
- Elbow pads · Gloves · Pants · Shin guardsThe basics. Used is fine for all of these.
- Jock (pelvic protector) requiredYes, really.
- StickSofter flex than the old "half your body weight" rule suggests, for most people.
- Two jerseys — light and darkMost drop-in and beer leagues ask for both.
- Tape, spare laces, water bottle
- Drying rack or a hook in the garage
"Required" reflects USA Hockey and Hockey Canada rules as of September 2026 for the relevant age group — your league or association may require more. Certification marks must be intact and unaltered.
Goaltender
On top of the basics: the position has its own kit, and most of it is not optional.
- Goalie mask or certified helmet + goalie cage requiredA goalie cage is not a skater's cage. Youth goalies generally also need a hanging throat protector — check your league.
- Throat protector (dangler) requiredRequired for youth goalies in most leagues.
- Chest and arm protector requiredThe most important single piece for a new goalie.
- Leg padsSized from ankle-to-knee and knee-to-thigh measurements plus skate size — get measured.
- Catcher (glove) and blockerHandedness is named for the blocker hand — ask before ordering.
- Goalie pantsBulkier than a skater's, with more hip and thigh protection.
- Jock or jill (goalie cut) requiredNon-negotiable.
- Goalie skatesLower profile, flatter blade, protective cowling.
- Goalie stickSized by paddle height to your stance.
- Knee pads / thigh guardsProtects the gap the pads leave when you go down.
- Neck protector requiredSame rules as skaters — required in youth and Canadian minor/female hockey.
- Spare everythingStraps and laces break at the worst possible time.
"Required" reflects USA Hockey and Hockey Canada rules as of September 2026 for the relevant age group — your league or association may require more. Certification marks must be intact and unaltered.
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