Hockey Shop
WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED FOR MY DAUGHTER TO PLAY ICE HOCKEY?
HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THE HEIGHT OF THE STICK?
WHAT BOOKS WOULD YOU RECOMMEND FOR MY DAUGHTER TO LEARN ABOUT OTHER FEMALE HOCKEY PLAYERS?
WHY IS A MOUTHGUARD SO IMPORTANT?
HOW SHOULD I BREAK IN MY NEW SKATES?
IS TAPING THE STICK NECESSARY?
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I BE SHARPENING MY SKATES?
MY DAUGHTER IS JUST BEGINNING TO PLAY HOCKEY AND I DON’T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A RIGHT, LEFT, OR STRAIGHT STICK.
HOW MANY PAIRS OF SOCKS DOES MY DAUGHTER NEED TO WEAR TO KEEP WARM?
I WOULD LIKE TO ENROLL MY DAUGHTER IN HOCKEY, BUT I DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START?
OUR DAUGHTER HAS NEVER SKATED BEFORE BUT SHE WANTS TO PLAY HOCKEY. DO YOU THINK IT’S A GOOD IDEA?
WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED FOR MY DAUGHTER TO PLAY ICE HOCKEY?
back to top
HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THE HEIGHT OF THE STICK?
Stand in your stocking feet on a flat surface without skates on. Place the toe of the stick on the ground. Lean the stick so the handle of the stick is touching the tip of your nose. Mark the stick at this point, cut the handle and tape it. While on skates, the stick should come up to your chin or just below it.
back to top
WHAT BOOKS WOULD YOU RECOMMEND FOR MY DAUGHTER TO LEARN ABOUT OTHER FEMALE HOCKEY PLAYERS?
Here are a few suggestions:
back to top
WHY IS A MOUTHGUARD SO IMPORTANT?
Mouth guards are an absolute must for safety. The mouth guard reduces the frequency and severity of injuries to teeth and mouth while acting as a shock absorber for concussions and jaw fractures.
back to top
HOW SHOULD I BREAK IN MY NEW SKATES?
Some skates have a built in molding that can be placed in a special oven at a sporting goods store and then worn for ten to fifteen minutes. The old fashioned way is to lace them up at home and use a hair dryer to warm them - being careful not to overheat any one section. Let them cool off before walking in them with your skate guards. Ask your parent’s permission before trying this.
back to top
IS TAPING THE STICK NECESSARY?
Taping the blade of your stick keeps the hockey puck from sliding off of the stick. Be sure to keep the tape flat as you go. Taping a knob and the top portion of the handle keeps the stick from sliding out of your hands.
back to top
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I BE SHARPENING MY SKATES?
Everyone has a different preference but you definitely need to sharpen your skates before wearing them for the first time. The best rule of thumb is to sharpen your skates after every 5 hours on pond ice or 7 hours on artificial ice. However, it is important to remember that skates may lose an edge if they are bouncing around unprotected in a hockey bag. Terry cloth blade guards help to protect skates.
back to top
MY DAUGHTER IS JUST BEGINNING TO PLAY HOCKEY AND I DON’T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A RIGHT, LEFT, OR STRAIGHT STICK.
For a beginning player, a straight stick is the best choice. Often a player or parent will not be absolutely sure whether a player will shoot right or left. A straight stick leaves that choice open and this helps players learn to stickhandle and shoot backhand shots. In fact, more than 90% of the players on the USA and Canadian National teams started with a straight stick, and moved to a curved stick after their first year of hockey. If it works for them, a straight stick should work for your daughter. Once your daughter can shoot a wrist shot, she is ready to use a curved stick.
back to top
HOW MANY PAIRS OF SOCKS DOES MY DAUGHTER NEED TO WEAR TO KEEP WARM?
Only one pair of socks is needed under the hockey skates. Skating or sanitary socks that have a wicking system to pull the moisture away from your feet without adding bulk are your best bet.
back to top
I WOULD LIKE TO ENROLL MY DAUGHTER IN HOCKEY, BUT I DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START?
USA Hockey is a great source for finding a league in your local area. Enter your city and state and they can help you find the right contacts for your child.
back to top
OUR DAUGHTER HAS NEVER SKATED BEFORE BUT SHE WANTS TO PLAY HOCKEY. DO YOU THINK IT’S A GOOD IDEA?
At BelaHockey we think it’s a great idea. Being part of a team will not only be a confidence booster, but it will be a great way for your daughter to bond with other kids her age while getting good exercise. It is alright if she doesn’t know how to skate yet. The beginner programs are designed to teach young skaters the basic skills and help them accelerate as they begin to feel comfortable on the ice.
back to top
HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THE HEIGHT OF THE STICK?
WHAT BOOKS WOULD YOU RECOMMEND FOR MY DAUGHTER TO LEARN ABOUT OTHER FEMALE HOCKEY PLAYERS?
WHY IS A MOUTHGUARD SO IMPORTANT?
HOW SHOULD I BREAK IN MY NEW SKATES?
IS TAPING THE STICK NECESSARY?
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I BE SHARPENING MY SKATES?
MY DAUGHTER IS JUST BEGINNING TO PLAY HOCKEY AND I DON’T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A RIGHT, LEFT, OR STRAIGHT STICK.
HOW MANY PAIRS OF SOCKS DOES MY DAUGHTER NEED TO WEAR TO KEEP WARM?
I WOULD LIKE TO ENROLL MY DAUGHTER IN HOCKEY, BUT I DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START?
OUR DAUGHTER HAS NEVER SKATED BEFORE BUT SHE WANTS TO PLAY HOCKEY. DO YOU THINK IT’S A GOOD IDEA?
WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED FOR MY DAUGHTER TO PLAY ICE HOCKEY?
- Helmet with full face mask
- Mouth guard
- Neck guard
- Shoulder pads
- Elbow pads
- Gloves
- Pelvic protector (Jill strap)
- Hockey pants and garter
- Shin pads
- Sanitary or skate socks
- Hockey socks
- Hockey skates
- Stick
- Tape
back to top
HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THE HEIGHT OF THE STICK?
Stand in your stocking feet on a flat surface without skates on. Place the toe of the stick on the ground. Lean the stick so the handle of the stick is touching the tip of your nose. Mark the stick at this point, cut the handle and tape it. While on skates, the stick should come up to your chin or just below it.
back to top
WHAT BOOKS WOULD YOU RECOMMEND FOR MY DAUGHTER TO LEARN ABOUT OTHER FEMALE HOCKEY PLAYERS?
Here are a few suggestions:
- Gold Medal Ice Hockey for Women and Girls, Tricia Dunn, Katie King and Brian Tarcy.
- She Shoots… She Scores: A Complete Guide to Girl’s and Women’s Hockey, Barbara Stewart
- On the Edge: Women Making Hockey History, Elizabeth Etue
- Breaking the Ice: My Journey to Olympic Hockey, The Ivy League & Beyond, Angela Ruggiero
- Too Many Men On The Ice, Joanna Avery
- Crashing the Net: The U.S. Women’s Olympic Ice Hockey Team and the Road to Gold, Mary Turco
- Higher Goals (Suny Series on Sport, Culture, and Social Relations), Nancy Theberge
back to top
WHY IS A MOUTHGUARD SO IMPORTANT?
Mouth guards are an absolute must for safety. The mouth guard reduces the frequency and severity of injuries to teeth and mouth while acting as a shock absorber for concussions and jaw fractures.
back to top
HOW SHOULD I BREAK IN MY NEW SKATES?
Some skates have a built in molding that can be placed in a special oven at a sporting goods store and then worn for ten to fifteen minutes. The old fashioned way is to lace them up at home and use a hair dryer to warm them - being careful not to overheat any one section. Let them cool off before walking in them with your skate guards. Ask your parent’s permission before trying this.
back to top
IS TAPING THE STICK NECESSARY?
Taping the blade of your stick keeps the hockey puck from sliding off of the stick. Be sure to keep the tape flat as you go. Taping a knob and the top portion of the handle keeps the stick from sliding out of your hands.
back to top
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I BE SHARPENING MY SKATES?
Everyone has a different preference but you definitely need to sharpen your skates before wearing them for the first time. The best rule of thumb is to sharpen your skates after every 5 hours on pond ice or 7 hours on artificial ice. However, it is important to remember that skates may lose an edge if they are bouncing around unprotected in a hockey bag. Terry cloth blade guards help to protect skates.
back to top
MY DAUGHTER IS JUST BEGINNING TO PLAY HOCKEY AND I DON’T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A RIGHT, LEFT, OR STRAIGHT STICK.
For a beginning player, a straight stick is the best choice. Often a player or parent will not be absolutely sure whether a player will shoot right or left. A straight stick leaves that choice open and this helps players learn to stickhandle and shoot backhand shots. In fact, more than 90% of the players on the USA and Canadian National teams started with a straight stick, and moved to a curved stick after their first year of hockey. If it works for them, a straight stick should work for your daughter. Once your daughter can shoot a wrist shot, she is ready to use a curved stick.
back to top
HOW MANY PAIRS OF SOCKS DOES MY DAUGHTER NEED TO WEAR TO KEEP WARM?
Only one pair of socks is needed under the hockey skates. Skating or sanitary socks that have a wicking system to pull the moisture away from your feet without adding bulk are your best bet.
back to top
I WOULD LIKE TO ENROLL MY DAUGHTER IN HOCKEY, BUT I DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START?
USA Hockey is a great source for finding a league in your local area. Enter your city and state and they can help you find the right contacts for your child.
back to top
OUR DAUGHTER HAS NEVER SKATED BEFORE BUT SHE WANTS TO PLAY HOCKEY. DO YOU THINK IT’S A GOOD IDEA?
At BelaHockey we think it’s a great idea. Being part of a team will not only be a confidence booster, but it will be a great way for your daughter to bond with other kids her age while getting good exercise. It is alright if she doesn’t know how to skate yet. The beginner programs are designed to teach young skaters the basic skills and help them accelerate as they begin to feel comfortable on the ice.
back to top