Hockey equipment is a large financial investment. Taking care of this investment is a very good idea, so you don’t have to spend more money and also so that the MRSA bacteria doesn’t grow in the equipment causing health problems. Here are some great tips to keep hockey gear in top working order and extend the life of the equipment.
Proper care of the equipment helps make sure that it protects the player with maximum effectiveness from the time of purchase to the time the equipment is retired or outgrown. The most common complaint with hockey equipment is that it smells bad. The more often it’s worn, the more it smells. Drying equipment properly is vitally important to keeping it working at maximum effectiveness.
- Open the bag
- Pull everything out
- Hang it up
- Spread the equipment out so that air can move through it
Washing equipment every few months is also a good idea. Of course, not everything can be washed. Gloves and skates can’t be put into the washing machine.
By placing SportzGemz inside the gloves and skates, they will also be dry, with no smell, for the next icetime.
It’s always good to have a small toolkit with you. It’s always right before a game that a screw comes loose on a helmet or a skate lace breaks. Here are a few basics to have with you:
- Extra Laces
- Helmet Screws
- Screwdriver
- Scissors
- Tape
- Towel
- Practice Puck
Before the season starts and then again at Christmas are great times to double check the equipment, making sure:
- The equipment still fits
- The screws on the helmet are still tight
- The helmet isn’t cracked
- There is no rust on rivets
- All clasps are working
- Velcro is still holding well
- All pads are intact and laced as needed
Some equipment, like helmets and hockey pants can be adjusted as the child grows. Other pieces must be replaced.
Skate Sharpening
Skates need to be sharp to work properly. Skate blades cut into the ice, especially when making turns and the edges have to be sharp. Skaters use their edges to accelerate, so the sharper the skates, the faster a player can move. With a young child, sharpening the skates once a month is probably sufficient. As a player grows, they will need their skates sharpening every 5 or 6 ice times. Ice surfaces are all different. Some are harder than others. If the skater is playing on a hard ice surface, the skates will need to be sharpened more often. Skates can also become nicked and sometimes will even lose an edge, meaning that the sharpening isn’t done properly. If these happen, get the skates sharpened immediately.
As a rule of thumb for parents:
- Sharpen once a month if under 10 and not playing rep.
- If the child is constantly falling (after they know how to skate), it’s time to sharpen the skates.
- Prior to a tournament get the skates sharpened.
- If the skate looses an edge.
- If there is a nick in the blade.
Most kids can tell you they need their skates sharpened after they’ve played for a few year.
Skate Blade
There are different types of skate sharpening. The amount of blade sharpness and hollow are often a matter of skater preference. Sharper blades have a deeper groove in the blade that helps with pushing off, stopping, changing direction, pivoting and turning. However, if a blade is too sharp, a player can have problems gliding and stopping as the overly sharp blade tries to grab the ice.
Key Points for Parents
- Hockey equipment needs to fit properly.
- Buying equipment big, in hopes of not having to replace it often, is dangerous for the player.
- Replace any problem equipment immediately.
- Make sure skates are always sharp.
- Use skate guards to protect the blade and guard against injuries;
Key Points for Players
- Always wipe down your skates after use and air out your hockey gear.
- Put your SportzGemz inside your gloves and skates after playing so they dry out.
