Equipment Requirements (Kingston Area Minor Hockey Association)

Equipment Tips for First Time Players & Their Parents

Hockey is a fantastic sport but in order to play it safely and enjoy the experience you should have good equipment that fits properly to protect your body yet still allows you a proper range of motion to perform the required physical skill.  We have included some information to help and you should also check out Hockey Canada's Equipment Tips

Skates

Skating is the most important yet the most difficult skill to master in hockey. If possible, try to buy a new pair of good quality skates. It will make a whole world of difference in your child's hockey development and skating performance. If unable to, try to purchase the best quality used skates you can find that fit properly and still have stiff ankle support and good blade life.

Skates must fit snugly but not cramp your toes and have good upright ankle support  - one pair of thin 100% cotton socks is all you should wear not 2 or 3 pair. 

Skates are usually 1 size smaller than street/running shoes to provide a glove like fit.

LACING - The criss-cross or "X" method is considered the most comfortable

1. The bottom 3 eyelets should be semi- tight to allow blood to circulate to the toes
2. The middle 3 eyelets should be semi- tight to allow an up and down movement of the top part of the foot when starting and stopping.
3. The top 3 eyelets should be tight to keep the ankle in an upright position and prevent the child from bending inside or outside over his/her ankles. There are no weak ankles!
4. Do not wrap the laces around the ankle to tie then as this hinders the forward flex of the foot and ankle and will impair your child's skating speed and turns. Just tie them in a bow knot at the front of the skate like you tie shoes. If the laces are too long get shorter ones.

 

BLADES - The skate blades must be sharp, but not razor sharp, in order for you to stop, start and turn without falling.

1. If they are dull, your child will slip and slide all over the ice and have a hard time standing up.
2. If they are too sharp, they will dig into the ice and prevent smooth stops and create a stutter when stopping and possibly cause him/her to fall.

 

If you get a deep nick or burr on the bottom edge of your blade you will fall. It should be sharpened as soon as possible by an experienced skate sharpening professional.

A good skate sharpening can mean all the difference between a great game or a poor performance.

 

SHARPENING - You should not need your skates sharpened every game, but 4 to 6 times a season is average unless you are playing in a AAA league that practices and plays 4 to 6 times a week, or you get a nick or burr on the blades edge.

1. A good skate sharpener will cut a hollow ground U shape in the bottom of the blade
2. This provides 2 edges, an inside edge and an outside edge, both used at different times for stops, starts , turns, 180 degree pivots, crossovers etc.
3. The depth of the cut should be based on your child's height and weight
4. A medium sharpening, not razor sharp is all you require. It will keep you in a stable upright position and allow you to just bite into the ice, to push and glide without falling.

 

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Sticks

Skates must fit snugly but not cramp your toes and have good upright ankle support  - one pair of thin 100% cotton socks is all you should wear not 2 or 3 pair. 

Skates are usually 1 size smaller than street/running shoes to provide a glove like fit.

LACING - The criss-cross or "X" method is considered the most comfortable

1. The bottom 3 eyelets should be semi- tight to allow blood to circulate to the toes
2. The middle 3 eyelets should be semi- tight to allow an up and down movement of the top part of the foot when starting and stopping.
3. The top 3 eyelets should be tight to keep the ankle in an upright position and prevent the child from bending inside or outside over his/her ankles. There are no weak ankles!
4. Do not wrap the laces around the ankle to tie then as this hinders the forward flex of the foot and ankle and will impair your child's skating speed and turns. Just tie them in a bow knot at the front of the skate like you tie shoes. If the laces are too long get shorter ones.

 

BLADES - The skate blades must be sharp, but not razor sharp, in order for you to stop, start and turn without falling.

1. If they are dull, your child will slip and slide all over the ice and have a hard time standing up.
2. If they are too sharp, they will dig into the ice and prevent smooth stops and create a stutter when stopping and possibly cause him/her to fall.

 

If you get a deep nick or burr on the bottom edge of your blade you will fall. It should be sharpened as soon as possible by an experienced skate sharpening professional.

A good skate sharpening can mean all the difference between a great game or a poor performance.

 

SHARPENING - You should not need your skates sharpened every game, but 4 to 6 times a season is average unless you are playing in a AAA league that practices and plays 4 to 6 times a week, or you get a nick or burr on the blades edge.

1. A good skate sharpener will cut a hollow ground U shape in the bottom of the blade
2. This provides 2 edges, an inside edge and an outside edge, both used at different times for stops, starts , turns, 180 degree pivots, crossovers etc.
3. The depth of the cut should be based on your child's height and weight
4. A medium sharpening, not razor sharp is all you require. It will keep you in a stable upright position and allow you to just bite into the ice, to push and glide without falling.