Hockey is a fast-paced game that requires all players to wear the proper equipment for their position, but this has not always been the case in the NHL. Prior to the 1959 season, goaltenders did not wear masks, and helmets were not worn regularly by professional players until the late 1970s. Bill Masterton of the Minnesota North Stars died after his head hit the ice in a 1968 game. This tragedy led to a mandatory helmet rule for National Hockey League players.
Skates
All players need well-fitting hockey skates to play the game. These skates also need to be sharpened properly. A powerful skater who depends on speed will want a blade sharpened to a radius of 5/8 of an inch. A player who depends on quickness and frequent turns will want the skate blade to have a radius of 1/2 of an inch.
Sticks and Positions
A center will usually want a hockey stick with a relatively flat blade, so he can use his backhand and forehand equally. A left or right wing will have a bigger curve on the stick blade for a harder-to-stop slap shot. A defenseman often uses a stick with a longer shaft, which will allow him to block shots and passes. The proper length of a stick for a professional player is between 56 and 62 inches long. However, very tall players are allowed to use longer sticks to accommodate for their size.
Head and Face Protection
Hockey players must all wear proper helmets. These helmets must include face masks at all the levels of hockey, except for the professional level. Hockey helmets are usually made of polycarbonate, which is a hard, lightweight plastic material. The helmet must have 5/8 of an inch of padding. All helmets must receive a seal of approval from the Hockey Equipment Certification Council (HECC) in order to be worn in organized competitions at the youth, high school, junior, college and professional levels.
Padding
Players should wear shoulder, shin and leg pads. Shin pads should protect the lower legs from the knee to the ankle. The upper legs should also be padded, but these pads are usually in the uniform's pants. Shoulder pads are worn to help absorb the pressure of an upper-body blow. Proper shoulder pads should extend beyond the shoulders, in order to protect the upper arms and the chest as well.
Goaltender Equipment
Goaltenders must wear specialized equipment. They need a larger, cage-like helmet for their head and face, special gloves and larger upper- and lower-body pads for catching and blocking the puck. The proper goaltenders' mask is usually made of fiberglass, kevlar, carbon fiber or other composite materials to protect the head. The catching glove may not be longer than 45 inches or wider than 8 inches. The blocking glove may not be longer than 15 inches or wider than 8 inches.
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