Breaking in Pads

Obviously you want to wear the pads as much as possible. The idea when you are breaking in a pad is to start softening the materials and getting some breaking points started. An easy way that involves no strain at all is to sit down on the couch with your elbows on your knees. For kids if you are playing videos games or watching a movie this is a really easy way to start breaking your pads in. We also have a couple of personal tricks that our goalies in the store use. One is to use a baseball bat and carefully hit the pads with about half of your strength. The other technique is to place your pads on the ground, straps down and actually walk or jump on them.

Breaking in Catchers

Most gloves in today's day and age are designed to be heated. If you have access to a skate oven this is the safest and most efficient way to heat your glove. Undo all the straps and open the glove right up. Places the glove in the preheated skate oven for about 4 minutes. Remove the glove, place it on your hand and do it up like you usually would. From there all you really want to do is open and close the glove and mould it to your desired shape. If you don't have access to a skate oven you can use a hair dryer. You must be really careful not to over heat the glove. Another good trick is to use a weighted puck and continuously throw it in the pocket just like working in a baseball glove.

Breaking in Chest and Arms

Chest and arms are one of the hardest pieces of equipment to work in and get used to. The steam from a sauna or a steam room is a great way to loosen up the materials. If you don't have access to either of those you can hang it in the shower with you.

Taping your Stick

Taping your stick is very much personal preference. When it comes to knobs goalies tend to like a bigger knob on the end of their stick. This helps keep it from getting stuck in the net also making it easier to pick up your stick if you drop it or preventing it from sliding out of your hand when doing a poke check.

Players want to tape the blade of the stick from heel to toe to keep the flow of the puck when releasing a pass or shot. Again these tips are just a start taping your stick really is personal preference so try some different ones for yourself out.

Skate Sharpening

Stick Length

Stick length really depends on personal preference as well as your position. General rule of thumb is for defence to have the stick at their eyebrows while standing on flat feet. Forwards are to have their stick to their nose while standing on flat feet.

Blade Alignment

Blade alignments are becoming a very big part of a proper skate fit. Only 20% of all people have "normal" feet. The idea behind blade alignments is to move the blade on the skate from theoretical center to your center. Please contact one of our skate experts to see how we can improve your skating.

Drying and Cleaning Equipment

Hang your equipment to dry! If you leave it on the ground it will not get a good airflow through it. Skates are a very important piece of equipment to maintain and dry. If you can get in the habit of pulling your insoles out as soon as you get off the ice as well as always pull out at least the top two eyelits. If at all possible you should hang them up-side-down this way all the moisture will drain out. If you are able to maintain this, the rivets and eyelits are less likely to rust. When airing out a goalie glove the best thing to do is undo all the straps and open the glove right up. This will help to keep the shape as well as extend the life of your glove. Another good trick is to mix half water and half alcohol and spray your equipment before you dry it. This will help to fight kill bacteria as well as fight infection.

Proper Skate Socks

What you want is a thin lycra moisture wicking sock. There are many advantages to these socks. They reduce weight of the skates over a long period of time, keeps foot from slipping in the boot therefore less chance of blisters. By washing the socks it will kill bacteria helping to prevent athletes foot or any other infection. You are able to fit the skate tighter to the foot therefore giving you more of a performance fit.