| Americans love their street hockey-almost as | | | | hard and fast rules concerning the players' |
| much as Canadians. The appeal? The sport can | | | | clothing or safety gear. Boots or skates are |
| be played on any open street, field or even | | | | generally worn accordingly. Players wear |
| an alleyway with old equipment and | | | | jerseys with shorts or loose pants and socks. |
| custom-made rules. | | | | Elbow pads, kneepads and shin guards are worn |
| | | | for protection. Mouth guards, jock straps |
| The gear is similar to equipment used in | | | | gloves and wrist pads are recommended for |
| regulation hockey and is played according to | | | | safety. The goalie requires the most |
| weather conditions. On an icy surface, a | | | | protection. A helmet fitted with a mask cage, |
| puck, which is made of hard, vulcanized | | | | along with a chest protector with attached |
| rubber is used. On pavement, a ball made of | | | | shoulder guards. Elbow and wrist guards and |
| molded plastic is substituted. Either can be | | | | back guards, leg pads equipped with shin and |
| bought cheaply at local sporting goods | | | | calf guards and even ankle and heel |
| stores. The hockey stick, available for about | | | | protectors complete the uniform. Of course, |
| $30, is made of wood, covered with fiberglass | | | | street players may not use all of the |
| and has a flat base to maneuver the puck or | | | | recommended safety equipment-but then they're |
| the ball. Goal-nets used in street hockey are | | | | playing according to their own rules, which |
| made of steel frames and nylon nets and are | | | | are probably a lot more flexible in the |
| priced at around $300 and up. Since street | | | | neighborhood. |
| hockey is a neighborhood game, there are no | | | | |