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