About Women’s Hockey Gear

Q:  Nancilee H. notes that, “Women are a different breed of player than the men.” And she goes on to ask, “How can someone pick the right equipment for their game?” And, “Are there any brands that are better suited for a woman?”

A: Ah, what a difference a generation makes!  I mean, not too long ago the few girls who were playing hockey had to get by with whatever they could fit into (from gear that was really designed for boys or men).  Not so today, though.  The popularity of young ladies’ hockey has brought about a lot of changes, including quite a few pieces of hockey gear made just for women.

As for the individual articles, I’d suggest a new player visit a pro shop she trusts — especially when it comes to the protective gear.  I don’t think it necessary to go into each individual piece, except…

I purposely posed The First Rules in Speed Training and my video on Over-speed Training very early, because I’ll need to refer back to them often.  That’s the case here, as I recommend that Nancilee and all women of slight stature seek gear that 1) is very light, and 2) allows free movement of the limbs.  Remember: heavy or bulky gear is not only going to slow movements or get in the way of nice, smooth moves, but it’s also likely to teach you to be slow.

On recommending brands…  I find this difficult to do today, because new gear is always hitting the marketplace, and it’s quite often better than those I just endorsed.

Then, there’s the matter of the hockey stick…  Ever since young girls and older women started playing this game, I’ve recommended they use a “junior model” stick.  These always satisfied their unique needs, in that those sticks are nice and light, they have scaled-down shafts for smaller hands, and they’re flexible enough so that they can be easily bent (which enhances the user’s wrist and slap shot).

Finally, I’ve just been made aware of a company that actually offers sticks designed for women.  As I’ve recommended for years, they’re supposedly light, thin and have nice flex.  They’re called Stix-for-Chix, and they can be found at The Hockey Czech Republic!

Hoping this helped, Nancilee.  Thanks for the question!