| Ice hockey requires special equipment. The | | | | safety standards to protect eyes, nose and |
| basics being the stick and the puck.The ice | | | | teeth. Professional players may be excused |
| hockey stick is slightly less curved than the | | | | from wearing mouth guards, but young players |
| routine hockey stick and may be made of wood | | | | and collegiate-level players are obliged by |
| or a high-tech composite material. The | | | | law to wear them.Ice hockey players should |
| composite stick is sturdier, but also more | | | | wear shoulder pads, shin and elbow guards and |
| expensive. Instead of a ball, there is a | | | | knee guards. Ice hockey gloves are more |
| hard, vulcanized rubber disc called as the | | | | thickly padded than regular hockey gloves. |
| puck, which is supposed to be hit with the | | | | And jockstraps are mandatory. Both men and |
| stick towards the goal net. Ice hockey | | | | women must wear padded undergarments to |
| players use special skates, which have blade | | | | protect the upper torso and calves.Goalies |
| grips to facilitate contact with the ice. The | | | | require much more protection since they must |
| goal net, which is made of steel frames and | | | | physically stop the puck from entering the |
| synthetic nylon net, can be dismantled for | | | | goal-net. They are fortified with chest |
| storage.When the hockey stick is swung strong | | | | protectors, back protectors, neck guards and |
| enough, he puck moves at about 120-160 km/h, | | | | leg pads, as well as the standard |
| increasing chances of accidental injury. | | | | equipment.Ice hockey is a very demanding |
| Wearing safety gear is the law. A helmet with | | | | contact sport and the gear is designed with |
| a mouth guard is mandatory and must meet | | | | safety and comfort in mind. |