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