Articles · Gear guides
What hockey gear does a new player need?
By Mary Jane Howie · Published 2026-10-23
A new hockey player needs about a dozen pieces of gear. The list stays close to the same at every age. The sizes change.
Here is the full list, from the head down:
- A helmet with a full face cage
- A neck guard
- A mouthguard, if your league asks for one
- Shoulder pads
- Elbow pads
- Gloves
- Hockey pants
- A jock or jill
- Shin guards
- Hockey socks
- Skates
- A stick
Add a team jersey, a roll of tape, and a bag big enough to hold it all.
The gear, piece by piece
Helmet and cage
The helmet protects the head. The cage attaches to the front and covers the face. A helmet that fits has no pressure points. It stays in place when the player shakes their head (How To Hockey).
Neck guard
A neck guard wraps around the throat. It protects the neck from cuts by skate blades. Youth players in Canada and the US have to wear one. The rules are below.
Mouthguard
A mouthguard protects the teeth and jaw. Some associations require one, so ask before the first practice.
Shoulder pads
Shoulder pads cover the shoulders, the chest, and the upper back.
Elbow pads
Elbow pads protect the elbows when a player falls or hits the boards. The cup of the pad sits on the point of the elbow.
Gloves
Gloves protect the hands, wrists, and fingers. They also help the player grip the stick (Hockey Canada fitting guide).
Hockey pants
Hockey pants are padded shorts that protect the hips, the thighs, and the lower back (NHL Learn to Play). They fit by waist size. The bottom of the pants should overlap the top of the shin guards a little (Hockey Calgary).
Jock or jill
A jock holds a protective cup. A jill is a flatter pelvic protector. Look for jock or jill shorts. They have the protection built in, plus Velcro tabs on the legs that hold up the hockey socks (Hockey Canada fitting guide).
Shin guards
Shin guards protect the knees and shins. The round cap at the top sits in the middle of the kneecap (fit guide).
Hockey socks
Hockey socks are long and open at both ends. They go over the shin guards and attach to the Velcro tabs on the jock or jill shorts (Hockey Canada fitting guide).
Skates
Hockey skates do not fit like street shoes. Do not buy them by shoe size alone. In a skate that fits, the heel stays put and the toes brush the end (How To Hockey).
Stick
A common starting point for stick length: without skates, the top of the stick reaches about the nose. With skates on, it reaches about the chin (SportsEngine Play). Some players like theirs a little shorter or longer.
What the rules say
Rules depend on the country and the league. Here are the big ones.
In Canada. Hockey Canada requires every player, goalies included, to wear a CSA-certified helmet with a CSA-certified face protector attached. Any change to either one cancels the certification (Hockey Canada). Hockey Canada also requires a BNQ-certified neck guard for players in minor and female hockey (Hockey Eastern Ontario).
In the US. USA Hockey uses HECC certification for helmets (Hockey Canada). Since August 1, 2024, USA Hockey has required neck laceration protectors in every game and practice for players in youth, girls, high school, and junior hockey (USA Hockey).
Your association may add its own rules, like a required mouthguard. Ask before you buy.
Buying used gear
Used gear can save money on pieces a child will outgrow. Check helmets with extra care. Look for the certification sticker and for cracks. A helmet loses its CSA certification if it is painted or the sticker comes off (Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario). Taking off the ear guards cancels it too (equipment guide).
The small things in the bag
- Stick tape, and clear tape for the socks
- Skate guards for the walk to the ice
- A water bottle with the player’s name on it
- A towel
- A light base layer to wear under the gear
Under Hockey Canada’s dressing room policy, the base layer is the least a player wears in the dressing room (Hockey Canada fitting guide).