Transitioning from roller to ice

[scopedin 1]

I'm thinking of trying ice hockey, but seeing as I've only played inline, what are the pieces of gear that I would need to pick up before starting?

Obviously the pants are different, as well as socks, skates, and the addition of shoulder pads, but besides that, what am I forgetting?

[althoma1 575]

As a roller player you may be more comfortable in an ice hockey girdle and shell as opposed to traditional ice hockey pants. I like the Warrior Projekt girdle I'm using, but other companies like Bauer, CCM, Tackla, Easton and more make ice girdles as well.

You need something to hold up your socks - either a traditional garter or a baselayer (long or short) with built in velcro to hold the socks up. I use an older version of these: http://www.thehockeyshop.com/under-armour-2417-grippy-compression-senior-jock-pants.html

You can likely reuse your shin pads, elbows, jock, helmet and gloves. If you're playing adult hockey you don't have to worry about a neck guard, but if you're playing minor hockey then some leagues require neck guards and some also require a mouth guard. For adult leagues those are generally not required.

Oh, and I'd stay away from a deep hollow if you're used to roller - perhaps start with a 5/8" traditional hollow or 90/75 Flat Bottom V and go from there - your weight will also play a factor here, but those will be good general starting points. You can then adjust from there (either go shallower or deeper). I just wouldn't start with a house 1/2" or deeper unless you're a featherweight.

[scopedin 1]

I AM a featherweight actually haha, but I already have had skates for a few years (Mission 120 AGs picked up on clearance), just never played hockey with them. I have no clue what the hollow on my skates are, I'll ask next time I'm at the shop to get them sharpened.

I currently wear a mission CSX girdle, if that makes any difference.

Thank you for the help though!

[althoma1 575]

Don't wear the roller girdle for ice as it isn't protective enough, but an ice girdle should feel familiar (just a bit heavier and bulkier than a roller girdle) as opposed to traditional ice pants which would feel big, bulky and loose.

[scopedin 1]

Ah, of course, I def wouldn't wear a roller girdle on ice. It's barely enough for inline as it is. Any suggestions for socks and garters that are better than most? or are most of similar build and durability?

[t6lock 24]

i would say garters/jocks and socks are pretty close on an even playing field

lots of jock/garter combos that include velcro to hold up your socks. if u already have a jock u could look into just buying a garter belt for socks. i personally like the compression fit shorts with the jock+velcro

the traditional cotton socks will probably hold up better and are cheaper than the polyester rbk edge socks and those are pretty much the only 2 available. if u want to try a cheaper polyester sock try hockeytron.

besides that, i never leave any stick without wax :)

[althoma1 575]

I personally prefer long pants with grip on the shins and velcro tabs for the bottom baselayer.

This is what I wear: http://www.prohockey...-legging-p-6457

These look like they'd also work well:

http://www.hockeygia...584bcpntsr.html

http://www.hockeymon...jock-pants.html

http://www.hockeymon...legging-sr.html

http://www.hockeymon...on-pant-sr.html

I don't put the jock in the pants. I put the jock in the Warrior Projekt girdle I use and find that much more comfortable.

Compression shorts with velcro tabs would also work (I prefer the longer pants), there are also loose jock shorts or a traditional garter belt. I used a traditional garter belt growing up and find I prefer the velcro tabs. A lot of people, including pros, still use garter belts or jock/garter combos. I just find it's easier just to stick the socks to the velcro tabs without having to worry about another belt and more straps. This works well with socks with velcro tabs (RBK Edge retail, Easton EQ1, hockeytron ect.) or traditional knit socks, but I'm not sure how well it would work with pro stock Edge socks that don't have the velcro tabs.

I prefer the newer style socks to the traditional knit socks. I find the durability is similar, but the newer dry fit style socks are lighter, more breathable and retain far less moisture. I can't see ever going back to traditional knit socks.

T6lock mentioned the hockeytron socks already. I like the Hockey Tron Dry fit socks: http://www.hockeytro...skdryfitho.html

They're made of a similar material to the RBK Edge style socks, but are much cheaper. I also like the fact that you can get them in many different sizes. I believe I have the 28" size which is tight enough on my shins that I don't need to use tape or any additional straps beyond those built into my shin guards.I find the 30" Edge socks that I have (and comparable Easton EQ1s) to be much looser than the tron socks.

[evh5150 0]

Depending on what you have, you might want to check into new shinguards. I've been using my old roller shinguards, and they seem a little underbuilt for ice hockey. The puck is a lot heavier and HARDER than a roller hockey puck, and I definitely feel pain when I take a shot off the shin, even a light shot.

Looking at modern ice hockey shinguards, I see much more protection than what I'm using now. More coverage on the calves too. Probably going to invest in some new ones myself.

[andyolly 0]

Personally I'm not a fan of the Tron socks, so I wouldn't recommend them. Not sure if it was just me, but they ran kinda small. A friend of mine (goalie) used tron socks under his pads and after one game they were ripping pretty badly.

Also, this is the jock w/velcro that myself and many players I know wear:

http://www.hockeymonkey.com/bauer-hockey-ug-core-compression-jock-short-sr.html

There's also a pant version which I see people using a lot. It's comfortable and durable. I have two that I've used for a couple years and neither shows much wear. I highly recommend them.

Also, if you're going for the girdle/shell route, I use a Bauer TotalOne girdle, which is amazing. Lets you adjust the legs, waist, and parts in between. I pair it with a Bauer shell but the shell is nothing special. I thought about going with the Projekt, but just from pictures it didn't look like it had as much padding. Here's the Bauer:

http://www.hockeymonkey.com/bauer-hockey-pants-supreme-totalone-adaptable-core-sr.html

Hope this helped!

[althoma1 575]

Personally I'm not a fan of the Tron socks, so I wouldn't recommend them. Not sure if it was just me, but they ran kinda small. A friend of mine (goalie) used tron socks under his pads and after one game they were ripping pretty badly.

When the tron practice socks were first released, I believe they were only available in the 28" size which is smaller than most other companies socks (RBK Edge retail are 30"). I prefer the 28" size and the tighter fit as it keeps my shin pads locked in place without the use of tape. With 30" socks I need to use tape with most shin pads. If one prefers a fit that isn't so tight then the 30" size is now available.

I've used Reebok, Easton, Kamazu, and Tron socks made of similar materials and I haven't found any of them to be any more or less durable than others. The only socks that I've used that I think are a bit more durable are the Nike Swift socks, but those aren't easy to find. I've read in other threads that the pro stock reebok socks may be a little more durable than the retail versions, but I've never used those myself.

Also, this is the jock w/velcro that myself and many players I know wear:

http://www.hockeymon...k-short-sr.html

There's also a pant version which I see people using a lot. It's comfortable and durable. I have two that I've used for a couple years and neither shows much wear. I highly recommend them.

I picked up the pant version of that Bauer compression combo on clearance. They're well made and feel comfortable once the straps are cut out of them (the built in straps in the pants annoyed me), but I wish they had grip on the bottom part of the legs to better lock in shin pads. The pants themselves have been sitting in the closet as a backup pair until the ones I'm using wear out, but the cup that comes with them is great - it's more comforable than most other cups I've tried and I've been using that for a good 6 months now in my Warrior Projekt girdle. If you want to go the compression short route instead of full pants that's a great option, however; for pants I'd still lean toward ones with grip on the shins. I only picked up the long Bauers as a backup pair because they were such a good price and do seem to be well made overall.

[andyolly 0]

When the tron practice socks were first released, I believe they were only available in the 28" size which is smaller than most other companies socks (RBK Edge retail are 30"). I prefer the 28" size and the tighter fit as it keeps my shin pads locked in place without the use of tape. With 30" socks I need to use tape with most shin pads. If one prefers a fit that isn't so tight then the 30" size is now available.

...for pants I'd still lean toward ones with grip on the shins...

I love the tighter fit of the tron socks, but the length was a slight issue for me. I still use them from time to time, but I prefer the RBK edge socks over anything else (cost aside). Does the grip help a lot? What benefits do you get from it? I like the look of that UA one, but the price is a bit steep.

[althoma1 575]

I love the tighter fit of the tron socks, but the length was a slight issue for me. I still use them from time to time, but I prefer the RBK edge socks over anything else (cost aside). Does the grip help a lot? What benefits do you get from it? I like the look of that UA one, but the price is a bit steep.

The grip does help lock the gear in place - that in combination with tight socks allows me to forgo shin pad tape. All the grip does is help keep things from sliding around - if you're using a tonne of tape you won't really notice a big difference, but if you want to forgo tape or use less then grip helps. The performance material without grip can be quite slick.

I agree that the UA pants are pricey - I picked them up on sale, but even then they weren't cheap. The other pants I listed have grip and look like they'd be comparable - I'd just look for long compression pants with velcro tabs and grip that you can get for a good price and don't worry about the brand or aesthetics. The UA ones were the only ones locally available that had the velcro tabs and the grip (I believe that's still the case - I haven't seen the RBK, Graf, Shock Doctor or Easton pants I linked to in local area stores). If you're able to get them in store and try them on that's even better - I was able to try on the UA ones I picked up in a change room (over underwear) at a large sporting goods retailer so I could decide between a L and XL. The material is generally pretty similar, but the fit/sizing can vary from brand to brand (I have Nike SMU long pants with the grip without velcro tabs that I use for roller and use large in those, but use XL in the UA).

[Bengerm77 11]

Don't wear the roller girdle for ice as it isn't protective enough, but an ice girdle should feel familiar (just a bit heavier and bulkier than a roller girdle) as opposed to traditional ice pants which would feel big, bulky and loose.

I'm going onto ice for the first time saturday morning. But why shouldn't I wear a roller girdle with a shell over the top? I'm going to be playing a beginner pickup with no serious contact and probably at a slow speed. I wouldn't think that falling on ice would be any harder than falling on conrete.

[mhkehoe 1]

I'm going onto ice for the first time saturday morning. But why shouldn't I wear a roller girdle with a shell over the top? I'm going to be playing a beginner pickup with no serious contact and probably at a slow speed. I wouldn't think that falling on ice would be any harder than falling on conrete.

Two reasons come to mind for me.

1. The puck is heavier and the roller girdle doesn't have hard caps and offer less protection in some sports
   
2. When you fall on roller, you stop moving. On ice, you will keep sliding into the boards, net, whatever is ahead of you. I am playing on a team full of roller converts and if there is one thing I have observed, they can get up to speed but they have a ton of problems managing that speed. The roller girdle isn't going to give much protection to handle going into the board with speed. It is the same reason I always wear my shoulder pads.
   

[althoma1 575]

I'm going onto ice for the first time saturday morning. But why shouldn't I wear a roller girdle with a shell over the top? I'm going to be playing a beginner pickup with no serious contact and probably at a slow speed. I wouldn't think that falling on ice would be any harder than falling on conrete.

An ice puck is much harder and heavier than a roller puck. Sometimes begginners that can barely skate still have good shots because they're used to shooting when playing street/ball hockey or have practiced shooting with the puck of a board. You also get up to higher speeds in ice hockey so if you wipe out into the boards it's at a higher rate of speed. Generally there's also more contact in ice than roller even in non-contact games.

You may be OK with just the roller girdle for the beginner session (still taking a risk), but I'd definitely upgrade to an ice girdle as soon as you can if you're playing ice on a regular basis.