Playing hockey is without a doubt a really fun sport that encourages team play and fair sportsmanship, however anyone who plays knows that wearing the proper protective gear is vital to protect against injury. There are a number of different ways in which hockey players can be injured during training and matches, including stick impact, puck impact, falling and body protection, so wearing protective gear helps to minimise the risk of injuries such as cuts, bruises, fractures, and more severe injuries like concussions.
Hockey face masks
Hockey face masks serve to protect the face, mouth, chin and upper head area from injuries. There are a range of different styles and types including short corner face masks, wire grilled options and ones with clear sections to aid visibility.
All hockey players should wear a good quality, robust hockey mask, regardless of playing position. Essentials to look for include high impact shell, adjustable straps and dual density padding.
Mouthguards
A hockey mouthguard is specifically designed to protect the mouth and teeth from injuries. It can be worn alongside a mask. Depending on the brand chosen, hockey mouthguards come in sizes for both junior and senior players.
Essential elements to look for in a decent quality mouthguard include gel windows, anatomically positioned fins for each tooth to give a bespoke fit, enhanced cushioning properties and antimicrobial protection.
Shin guards
Hockey shin guards give protection to the shins and lower legs/ankles. All players should wear shin guards as the chance of leg injuries from stick impact and pucks is very high. It is possible to buy shin guards in junior and senior sizes.
Anyone looking to buy a good pair of hockey shin guards should look for breathable options to reduce sweating and soreness, flexibility around the ankle to maximise player performance, a strong outer shell and a washable interior lining.
Hockey Gloves
Hockey gloves give extra protection to the hands and wrists, so it is important that any gloves in use have wrist straps with padding and adjustable straps. Some designs have an open palm to aid contact with the stick, others have silicone palms.
When buying hockey gloves, it is essential to look for designs with breathable material, plastic inserts for extra protection, foam padding and sections where high impact is most likely, and thermal properties.
Body and Abdo guards
It is possible to buy both full bodyguards and specific abdo guards, to protect these areas of the body.
- Body guards – also known as “body armour”, these work to protect everywhere from the neck and shoulders down to the lower body. They also offer arm protection.
- Abdo guards - these protect not only the abdomen but also the pelvic areas.
If you are looking to buy a new body guard or abdo guard, be sure to look for options with adjustable straps, breathable materials, as much padding as possible and the correct sizing for a junior or senior player.
Throat guards
A throat guard or protector is designed for this specific area of the body. Throat injuries are not as common as leg or head injuries but wearing this item of hockey protection serves to add extra protection, just in case.
Most throat protectors are adjustable and come made from breathable materials.
Knee guards
Hockey knee guards are essential for those playing defense, and as such must be adequately padded whilst remaining lightweight and flexible so as to not detract from performance.
Key elements to look for in knee guards include foam construction, lightweight construction, robust and durable outer shell and flexibility.
Kinesiology tape
Kinesiology tape is a therapeutic tape that provides support to different joints and areas such as the muscles and tissues. It aims to reduce swelling and inflammation from stress and injuries by increasing blood flow.
We stock a wide range of hockey player protection equipment including the products as mentioned in this article, from a range of brands. Please see our Hockey Player Protection section for more information.