Hockey Goalie Gear Essentials

The right equipment is essential for any sport, and having these hockey goalie gear essentials is a matter of both safety and better play. Hockey goalies need several pieces of specialty equipment, much different than that needed by forwards and defensemen in the sport.

1. Leg pads. Leg pads today are constructed of synthetic leather-like materials and foam. This essential piece of hockey goalie gear is much lighter than its early hockey predecessors, as well as less expensive and easier to break in. The most popular style is the "Box," which has squared edges and lends to a blocking style of play.
2. Goalie stick. A hockey goalie's stick features a wider shaft area for clocking as well as a wider blade. The length of the stick is important, because playing with an undersized or oversized stick makes playing this difficult position even more difficult.
3. Blocker and trapper gloves. The blocker is worn on the hand that hold the stick. It is a glove with a rectangular "blocker" attached to the backhand side; this glove is used to deflect shots. The trapper of catcher glove is worn on the opposite hand and is similar to a baseball player's glove. The catching or trapping pocket of the glove is deeper, and the glove itself is made for more protection than a baseball glove.
4. Chest protector. The chest protector is an essential piece of hockey goalie gear, as it protects the chest and heart areas from oncoming shots. Most chest protectors also protect the shoulders, clavicle, and upper arm areas.
5. Mask. The mask can be both a piece of protective equipment and a showcase of a goalie's personality, as witnessed in the variety of designs among National Hockey League goaltenders. The most common mask is made of fiberglass and other composite materials. Another type of protective hockey goalie headgear, the "birdcage" helmet and cage combination, is still used by some goalies; this helmet is most often associated with Czech hockey goalie Dominik Hasek.