More than any other sport, hockey requires players and especially goalies to wear a lot of equipment. Most players are a good 20-30 pounds heavier when they are decked out in full gear, and goalies can be even heavier! It is a large part of why hockey is also such an expensive sport to play. Youth hockey just happens to coincide with the biggest growth spurts and development cycles for children. Buying new gear every year or two isn’t easy on the wallet, so it’s important to learn how to maintain equipment for as long as possible.
But it’s not just about how much money the equipment costs. Remember, hockey equipment serves a purpose and especially for children, it is important that the gear is kept in good shape to prevent injuries. There is also a hygienic reason to maintain your equipment. We all know that familiar hockey gear smell, and while it certainly indicates well-worn equipment, it also means they are covered with bacteria. As casual players, we don’t have an equipment manager to stay on top of our gear, so it’s something we need to take on ourselves. Here are some helpful tips for staying on top of your hockey equipment maintenance.
Keep Those Skates Sharpened!
It certainly can be a hassle and it can add up when we pay for it each time, but sharpening your skate blades is one of the most important things to stay on top of. There is no greater risk to your safety than having skate blades that are not adequately sharpened. Dull skate blades are more prone to sliding out on the ice and catching edges. You also lose a lot of your ability to maneuver and turn sharply, as well as stopping on a dime.I also understand that a lot of players actually don’t enjoy freshly sharpened skates. Personally, I prefer my skates in the second game after they get sharpened so I can get used to the new edge. The general rule of thumb is to sharpen your skates after about 15 hours of usage, or every three to four games. This is totally up to your personal preference, but I know after about four games I find my skates starting to slide.
Clean Your Gear/Air Out Your Bag
Your family or spouse may not enjoy it, but your gear and immune system will thank you. Hockey players are well known for just stuffing their equipment into their bags and closing them up until next season. Do you wonder why there is such a sour smell when you reopen your bag? It’s time to start regularly cleaning your equipment during the season, but especially at the end of it. Most hockey rinks are now equipped with steam cleaners, and for a small fee, it is certainly worth it in the long run. There is also the chance of bodily fluids like other player’s sweat or even blood getting on your gear during a game. Don’t take risks with your own health, keep your gear and hockey bag clean to avoid spreading bacteria.
Tighten Your Helmet
This is one that a lot of players seem to overlook. As you play and especially when you just throw your helmet in your bag after the game, your helmet gets jarred around. It’s always good to tighten the screw in your helmet so that it fits securely and has no chance of moving if you fall back on your head. While you’re tightening your helmet, make sure your visor or cage is secured as well. I find that these screws get especially loose throughout the season, and again, these are in place to ensure your safety. Helmet maintenance is so important, and it only takes a couple of minutes after each game!
Stick Maintenance
Your stick is obviously one of the most important pieces of equipment on the ice so it definitely helps to take care of this as well. Taping and re-taping your stick is an artform, and a very personal preference for each player. My only suggestion is to re-tape your stick more often than you are currently doing. Over time the tape will lose its grip, so make sure to re-tape the shaft as often as you can, especially if you feel like the stick is sliding in your hands. If you tape your blade, make sure you keep an eye on that too. The ice will really eat up the bottom of your blade, so adding a fresh layer of tape will keep your stick in better condition. The tape also gives a nice feel when the puck is on your blade, and helps to fortify your stick when taking slap shots.
You might have noticed that some players even like to wax their blades as well. Have you ever wondered what this might do? Stick wax helps to seal the tape and keeps water from weakening the tape over time. It also provides a nice smooth coating to your blade and some players even think it helps with their shot as there is less friction between the blade and the ice. It’s definitely not mandatory, but it is another thing you can do to prolong the life of your stick, especially since they are getting pretty pricey these days!
For Goalies
Goalie pads are an expensive investment, so there must be ways to keep them in tip top shape, right? Absolutely! Cleaning your pads is fairly straightforward, you really just need to wipe them down with a cloth and any components that you can take off you can wash in the washing machine and hang dry. With the same logic as waxing your stick, you can also wax goalie pads. The effect is two-fold: first it protects your pads over the long-term from water damage, second it helps you slide better across the ice. Keep on top of tightening your helmet, especially for goalie masks, and usually you can pop out the sweat guard to wash separately. Goalie skates also need to be sharpened, and since you need that edge a bit more for pushing off in the crease, it is actually recommended to sharpen goalie skates more frequently so every couple of games.
