Protective Upgrades

[2nhockey 21]

When I first started the idea of playing hockey I was thinking occasionally skating with the kids - certainly not anything more than informal pond hockey. And my gear reflected that. I purchased based on price alone. My breezers are Easton Synergy 20's, and my shins are CCM U+ from the used bin at Play It Again. Then... I started playing beer league. 

I play most Sunday nights, and like other Mondays I'm feeling it this morning. Last night I blocked a handful of shots. Not necessarily because I feel a burning desire to block shots but because I am not a strong enough skater to get out of the way!

I took 1 shot to my thigh that missed all padding, and my inner calves on both legs are pretty bruised and the right side of my right calf has a wicked bruise on it from 'blocking' a pretty weak wrister.

I recognize some bumps and bruises will happen from just playing but I think I can prevent some of these owies by either not blocking shots (unlikely - just not a good enough skater yet), or having protective gear that may be a step up from the cheapest possible stuff. Am I wrong? Any recommendations for lower level beer league play for breezers and shins?

[JagrBombs 0]

I bought a set of Reebok shins probably 5 years ago on clearance in Pittsburgh. They were out of production when I bought them, so I can't give you an equivalent or anything, but I will say they were by far my best hockey gear purchase and have certainly saved me from injury. They are huge and the velcro strap design is terrible, but I use external straps over my socks in lieu of tape to keep them secure. I wear them over my skate tongues, so I bought them oversized on purpose, but the padding on them is ridiculous. The removable inner pad is at least 3/8" thick and wraps almost completely around my calves. The plastic is thick and tough. I'd previously broken two pairs of CCMs and these won't give up no matter what. I sent a guy into a rage one time after a check he didn't seem to enjoy, and he came at me with a two-hand lumberjack swing onto my pads. I'm quite confident the CCM guards and likely my leg would have been broken. There are some areas that are worth sacrificing safety for comfort. Shin guards are not one of those areas in my opinion.

Other than that, good elbow pads will be your friend as a newer player.

[puckpilot 312]

Better protection could/would help, but make sure it's fitted correctly. I suspect that could be part of the issue here. Another part, I'm wondering, is are you turning away from the shots? I mean if you're taking shots in the calves and where there's no padding, to me, it's an indication that maybe you're not square to the shot. Your front is where most of your protection is. With cheaper equipment, it might be your only protected area.

Now, this isn't to say you can't get hurt when you're square, but it reduces the chances of getting hit in an unprotected area. Any way, it's just a thought. 

As for buying better stuff, look for sales on past season's higher end stuff, and as I mentioned make sure it fits properly. There are different styles of fit designed for different body types and fit preferences. I find if you keep your eyes open, you can find some sweet deals, high end stuff for mid to low end prices. 

[flip12 729]

A lot of good advice, looking out for sales, but I’d add, there are great pieces available in the middle of the price range. Today’s top end stuff is full of feature creep bells and whistles, where the mid-range stuff that’s more modest and based on tried and true designs seem to be under appreciated.

[Vet88 674]

Hunt eBay, craigslist, play it again bins etc etc. Look for gear that was top or near top of the line from 2 - 4 years ago. You should find it at around 1/3 of the price which is equal to the just above bottom entry new gear. Take your time, you need to look every day, and you will be able to find most of it in new or near new condition. If it doesn't fit, sell it and try again. The good thing with top of the line gear in this range is that it is always easy to sell for around the same price you got it.

My advice to everyone who I coach and is starting, don't scrimp on your elbow and knee pads, learning to skate / play is when you fall the most and these parts take the most damage. Then your helmet, pants (ie tailbone), gloves, skates, shoulders, stick (in that order). As you get better your skates become your next important purchase. 

 

[Siponarius 17]

Sales is where it’s at, especially year end on line roll overs. 

Bruised my tailbone one year, upgraded pants for pennies. Post elbow surgery? Caught elbow pads on clearance. 

Timing is sometimes everything. And if you’re lucky to be in the US, lots of online options

[2nhockey 21]

Appreciate the responses. You pretty much confirmed what I was thinking - time for some better equipment.

I do have good elbow pads - at least I am happy with them so far. I've fallen directly on them once and it didn't bother my elbows at all.

I'll invest in some new shins and breezers now, though.

To PuckPilot - no, I'm not turning away from shots. All impacts have been as straight on as I could make them. The inner thigh bruise impacted between my cup and thigh pad (and is more painful this morning than yesterday), and the bruises on the sides of my calves were kind of glancing shots that just hit the foams and missed all the plastics. Still bruised and still hurt, though.

I skated last night and managed to avoid any further damage, had a ball, and managed a goal!

[chippa13 1844]

As I recall, the U+ was a rather substantial pad so I think sizing or shifting is the problem there. As for the inner thigh bruise, there isn't a pant in the world that can protect that spot.

[2nhockey 21]

Probably both shifting and sizing on the shins... I'm currently in a 16" and I feel like I am constantly moving them around. I think I should be in a 17" (wear over the tongue). 

You may be right on the thigh pad. There is a puck mark on the breezers and as they are hanging on the wall the mark is over the hard foam thigh pad but when I wear them...? 

Maybe I'll let the breezers be but I think I'll get some different shins and go up a little in size.

[YesLanges 128]

Some of those calf-wraps on shin guards may look protective, but they do almost nothing if you take a hard shot flush anywhere that doesn't catch the front of your shin guards flush. Pick up a pair of top-of-the-line hard-shell, padded Adidas Ghost or Nike Mercurial soccer shin guards on eBay for $10-$20. They come with sleeves to hold them in place. Just position them exactly where you've been getting hit. I stand in front of the opponent's net a lot and we have a couple of D-men who can really fire the puck, so I actually wear two sets: a smaller Adidas pad on the inside and a larger Nike pad on the outside. Get them in XL for the best coverage.

[DRR 112]

1 hour ago, YesLanges said:

Some of those calf-wraps on shin guards may look protective, but they do almost nothing if you take a hard shot flush anywhere that doesn't catch the front of your shin guards flush. Pick up a pair of top-of-the-line hard-shell, padded Adidas Ghost or Nike Mercurial soccer shin guards on eBay for $10-$20. They come with sleeves to hold them in place. Just position them exactly where you've been getting hit. I stand in front of the opponent's net a lot and we have a couple of D-men who can really fire the puck, so I actually wear two sets: a smaller Adidas pad on the inside and a larger Nike pad on the outside. Get them in XL for the best coverage.

No matter how many pads you have, the puck will always find an unprotected spot.

Always.

[2nhockey 21]

I seem to be learning this...