Goalie Gear Guides
Proper fitting leg pads ensure offering the best amount of protection for a goalie. The correct sizing will allow for a goaltender to be able to have the best movement in a stance, slides and recoveries. Proper fitting leg pads make sure that a goaltender is centered and balanced in the pad’s landing gear and will keep their knee from sliding off of the block into the ice.
A goaltender’s glove should fit snug across the back of the hand, with the fingers reaching the end of the finger stalls allowing for the goalie to fully control the glove. There is preference to how tight the goalie should keep their glove across the back of the hand. To ensure proper fit, it is recommended to try the glove on with a chest protector to make sure there is full range of motion in the wrist.
The blocker is the most underrated piece of equipment a goalie can use. Most just say “a blocker is a blocker”, but the blocker controls a goalie stick placement, balance, movement in a stance and rebound control. As with the glove, the blocker should be snug against the fingers, back of the hand and at the wrist. The fingers should completely fill out the length of the finger stalls to allow for maximum grip and control. If possible, trying the blocker on with the chest protector and with a stick in the hand will allow for the perfect feel before purchased.
Skates should fit well to the foot and hug the foot on all 4 sides of the skate. A proper fitting skate will contour to every side of the foot and should not create any negative pressure points. Once the goalie begins to lace the skate, the tongue of the boot should fit flush between the eyelets and not puff up or move around. Also, the eyelets should not pull over top of the foot. A good starting point for size is going 1.5 sizes down from the goalies shoe size.
Goalie masks fit snug to the head and have no visible room between the foam and goalies head. The top opening should sit between ½”-3/4” above the goaltenders eyebrows with the sweat band positioned center across the forehead. The ears should sit flush in between the earhole vents on the side of the helmet. Lastly, the backplate will sit right at the back of the shell with a very underlap going under the shell. There should be almost no visible parts of the back of the head showing, to ensure total coverage. Also, the goalie’s upper lip should be visible with the chin cup resting lightly against the chin.
A goaltenders stick helps build the stance and movements. A proper sized stick should allow the goaltender to keep the blade of the stick flush on the ice centered between the toes of the pads, with the blocker resting slightly onto the outer edge of the pad. It also important to keep the elbow tucked in toward the body to close the 7th hole gap.
Goalie pants tend to be the only piece of equipment that might run larger in size. They should be snug in the body but still allow room for knee pads/thigh guards, goalie jock and chest protector if the goalie tucks. Pants should be worn with goalie skates, pads and knee pads to make sure that they function well with the pads.
Chest protectors are meant to fit snug to the body and give as much surface coverage as possible without restricting movement. When trying on a chest protector, it should fit 1.5” below the T shirt or collar line at the neck. The bottom of the belly should fit right at the waist line and the arms to end 1-1.5” from the wrists. Chest protectors should always be worn with goalie pants to ensure a spot on fit. If possible trying them on with a helmet be even better to allow greatest range of motion to know that the shoulder floaters do not interfere.
