| As any dyed-in-the-wool hockey player knows, off | | | | light weight protective padding offered by either high |
| season is merely a "break between seasons". Yes, it's | | | | density foam or air-cell materials. This is just what you'll |
| true that players "indulge" in summer diversions like | | | | want to reduce risk of injury to your hands, wrist and |
| roller blading, hiking, swimming, biking or even pounding | | | | forearms. |
| some weights to build some extra muscle for | | | | Protecting Your Thumbs. Face it. Going 20 mph |
| increased strength and hits. But the hard-core hockey | | | | full-bore into another player or the boards is a sure-fire |
| aficionados know that these "recreational pursuits" are | | | | strategy for attracting serious game-ending injuries to |
| stop-gaps, and that the real focus is all about the next | | | | your hands. Thumbs are especially vulnerable to |
| season on the ice. | | | | compression injuries. Players realize that hand injuries |
| Getting your gear checked out, replacing old tired or | | | | "come with the game", however equipment choices |
| damaged gear means a bottom up review of skates, | | | | can lower the hand injury risks. Most of the |
| pads, jerseys, stick and certainly your hockey gloves. | | | | performance gear designers have tinkered with |
| The good news for your hands is that hockey gloves | | | | hockey glove designs that permit more-or-less un |
| continue to exploit some of the coolest technologies | | | | restricted movement, yet offer an anatomically-shaped |
| and new materials. And what do the players get? | | | | thumb lock on gloves in order to reduce the chance of |
| Better "touch", a sure grip on the stick plus increased | | | | hyper-extension thumb and ligament injuries. |
| protection from hand injuries...unless you "drop your | | | | Goalie Catch Gloves. There's a world of designs, sizes |
| gloves" for some more friendly 1-on-1 dialogue. | | | | and fitments for goalie catch gloves. And, yes, price |
| Fast Hands & Quick Control. Hand-eye-stick-puck | | | | does track quality, so be prepared to get the quality |
| speed defines the games. The winners dominate in | | | | goalie catch glove that matches your game level and |
| some or all of the speed measures. No small part of | | | | expectations. Anatomically shaped gloves are the key |
| hand speed is driven by the hockey glove design itself. | | | | overall design feature. Next, consider a deep well |
| Players need to identify a hockey glove that is both | | | | formed pocket...the "catch zone"... A contoured wrist |
| light and offers as complete side-to-side-and | | | | shape allows your goalie's hand to articulate |
| front-to-back motion as possible. Grip on your stick | | | | back-and-forth with the least restriction. Look also for |
| should be "light" and natural, rather than forced. Getting | | | | specially shaped knuckle pads that are not overly |
| the right "touch" and stick control can come down to | | | | restrictive in terms of movement. |
| hockey glove choice. Wrong glove spells disaster. The | | | | 21st Century Materials. Here's the action details you |
| right glove might be the game-winning edge you're | | | | have to keep in mind when buying hockey gloves. |
| looking for. | | | | Sweat and moisture. Water is everywhere so you'll |
| Padding Protection From Slashers. Puck-hungry | | | | want to look at the performance synthetic leathers |
| opponents might be tempted to high stick you, or slash | | | | and nylon grade materials that are abrasion resistant, |
| at your stick. Brutish in delivery, the slash typically ends | | | | yet absorb little water. GoreTex is the top-shelf |
| up crashing onto a player's hands. What do you need? | | | | material-of-choice option for managing heat and |
| Serious protection from bone breaks, bruises or cuts. | | | | moisture. |
| Best quality performance hockey gloves exploit the | | | | |