Kid's Hockey Gear

When it comes to kids’ hockey gear, Pure Hockey is your one-stop shop for youth and junior sticks, skates, protective gear, and accessories. If your kid is just getting into hockey, congratulations! It's a sport your kid can love for a lifetime. But it's also full of gear and terminology that can be confusing if you’ve never played. From determining kids' sizes and fitting their skates to choosing the best youth and junior hockey equipment for their age and level, there's a lot to know. At Pure Hockey, we've seen it all, and we're here to help.

What Are the Size Categories in Kids' Hockey Gear?

Hockey equipment comes in a handful of divisions based on size and fit: youth, junior, intermediate, and senior. Most kids start in the youth category before moving up to junior equipment around age 8, and finally graduating to intermediate or senior by age 13 or 14. Of course, any group of 7-year-olds will feature kids in a variety of sizes, and the same goes for a group of 14-year-olds—so don't just go by age when choosing hockey equipment.

This chart of age, height, weight, and size can get you started shopping for kids' hockey equipment. Different manufacturers size their equipment in different ways; once you find a piece of gear you like, check the manufacturer's size chart to make sure you get the best fit.

General Guide to Kids' Hockey Gear by Age, Height, Weight, and Size

By the time your child is in senior gear, they’ve graduated from “kid” to “young adult,” since senior is the adult size in hockey equipment.

What to Look for in Kids' Hockey Gear

We offer a number of guides for buying and fitting hockey gear at all levels, but let's take a closer look at how to start shopping for kids in the youth and junior divisions.

The most important element of choosing hockey gear for kids is fit. Playing in too-large, too-small, or otherwise ill-fitting gear drastically cuts down on fun (the whole reason they're playing) and even increases the likelihood of injury.

You may be able to buy protective equipment that other kids have outgrown, so check around. You also might find an appropriate hand-me-down stick that you can cut down or add an end plug to fine-tune the length. Skates are less forgiving when it comes to sizing and fit: You'll likely need to buy a new set to ensure skating is a pleasant experience.

Realistically, you might not want to lay out a lot of money if your kid is just getting into the sport. The good news is you simply don't need to spend as much to outfit a beginner as you would for an elite player; entry-level equipment doesn't have the technological “bells and whistles” that beginners don't need.

The one place you don't want to skimp is on a helmet and cage. Head protection isn't glamorous, but it's incredibly important. Helmets are certified for a certain period of time, so if you're not buying first-person-to-open-the-box brand-new, check the certification and expiration date on the HECC sticker on the helmet. That's right: hockey helmets expire.

How to Buy Kids' Hockey Skates

If your kid's a beginner, the best hockey skates are the skates that fit. There's no need to go top-end on this item for a player who's just starting. Elite skates are crafted with lightweight, stiff materials to maximize energy transfer while skating, benefiting players who have distilled every stride down to a science. For beginners who are still learning the basics, stiffer skates don’t provide much benefit and can feel uncomfortable. Plus, without all the precision materials and design, beginner skates are less expensive. Don't worry: When kids get to be such good skaters that their entry-level equipment holds them back, it's easy to upgrade for their next set of skates.

Youth Ice Hockey Skates

Youth skates are made to fit players with a shoe size up to 1. They fit a whole size smaller than a player's regular shoe size, so skate sizes in this category go up to 13.5. Some skates for the youngest players feature a ratcheting closure to eliminate lacing hassles.

Junior Ice Hockey Skates

Junior skates generally fit shoe sizes 2 through 6.5. These, too, fit a whole size down from a shoe size, so skates in this category are sizes 1 through 5.5. You're likely to find a greater range of features and prices in junior ice hockey skates, as some children in this age group are beginners, some are dedicated recreational players, and some are elite skaters who have already been living and breathing hockey for nearly a decade.

How to Buy Kids' Hockey Sticks

Our hockey stick fitting guide will help you determine the right size category, choose the correct stick length, and decide whether to go for a wood or composite option. Wood sticks are inexpensive and have a bit more weight to them, which is beneficial to a beginner. More advanced players prefer lighter composite sticks with cutting-edge tech.

You’ll also need to get the right “flex” rating—a measurement of the stick's flexibility. The lower a stick's flex rating, the less force is needed to slightly flex it. Having the right flex is important to help a developing player learn to use the stick properly. You can estimate the right flex by dividing the player's weight, in pounds, by two. Got a 50-pound kid? A flex of 25 is about right.

Youth Hockey Sticks

Youth hockey sticks are made for kids up to age 8 or 9. They usually have a flex between 20 and 45. Bauer's popular Prodigy line is well known for offering low-flex sticks for the smallest players.

Junior Hockey Sticks

Junior sticks usually fit kids between the ages of 7 and 13, and feature a flex of 50 or 55. This size range features notable brand lines for kids more comfortable with their stickhandling skills.

How to Buy Kids' Hockey Helmets

Any kid on the ice needs a hockey helmet and cage for full-coverage protection of their head and face. A hockey helmet combo (helmet and cage) makes it easy for new-to-hockey parents to buy their child’s first bucket. More experienced players may prefer to purchase a helmet alone and select a face cage separately.

Helmets are sized by head circumference. Several makers offer youth-specific helmets for head circumferences up to about 55 cm. Other helmets that fit young players don't have “youth” in the name; the line is simply available in a range of sizes from XS to L, where the XS fits youth players. Learn more about kids’ options in our hockey helmet fitting guide.

Kids' Hockey Helmets

We combined the youth and junior size ranges in our kids’ hockey helmet collection to make it easy for parents trying to complete their child’s kit. Here, you’ll find protective helmets and cages from top brands.

How to Buy Kids' Hockey Gloves

Find the right glove size by measuring from the base of the player's middle finger to the crease of their elbow, rounding up to the next inch. That measurement, in inches, is the glove size. Youth gloves come in sizes 8”–9”, while junior gloves are 10”–12”. Correctly sized gloves meet with the elbow pad, leaving no part of the lower arm exposed. Hockey gloves should be sturdy enough to protect a player's hand and forearm while allowing enough mobility to handle the stick well.

As you go up the price scale, recreational and elite hockey gloves come with lighter-weight materials, moisture-wicking and antibacterial liners, different grades of protective foam, palm materials that prioritize stick grip or feel, and fine-tuned fit options. Entry-level gloves will be middle-of-the-road on these options. Beginner gloves will be protective and well-fitting to allow beginning players to start understanding what they would like in a glove.

Youth Hockey Gloves

A young hockey player doesn’t need the most advanced mitts on the market. That’s why our collection of youth ice hockey gloves (size 8”–9”) features options that work for their game and your budget.

Junior Hockey Gloves

Once your child has grown into junior-size gloves (10”–12”), there are more options to choose from. Here, you’ll find beginner and top-notch gloves from Bauer, CCM, Warrior, and other trusted manufacturers.

How to Buy Hockey Shoulder Pads for Kids

You’ll need to measure your child’s chest to size their hockey shoulder pads. All you have to do is measure around the widest part of the chest (just below the arms) using a fabric tape measure. Take this number and compare it to manufacturer size charts to determine their correct size. You’ll know you’ve got the right set if the equipment's padding fits snugly to the body and the straps are long enough to connect without a struggle.

All well-fitting shoulder pads protect the collarbone area, upper chest, back, shoulders, and biceps. Higher-end shoulder pads feature significant upgrades, including ultra-light protective foams and composites, stretch materials, fit adjustments, and moisture-wicking and odor-reducing liners.

Youth Hockey Shoulder Pads

Youth hockey shoulder pads come with simple strap systems designed to make it easy for parents to help their young ones gear up for the game.

Junior Hockey Shoulder Pads

More advanced hockey shoulder pads are available for the highly competitive Tyke ready to rise in the ranks and conquer the rink.

How to Buy Hockey Elbow Pads for Kids

To fit elbow pads, measure the distance, in inches, between the cuffs of the shoulder pads and the gloves. If you don't have that equipment yet, measure from mid-bicep to mid-forearm. Then, take that measurement and consult brand size charts to select the right pads for your child.

Entry-level elbow pads shield the joint and part of the forearm from slashes and falls, usually through foams and soft or hard caps. Soft caps are less protective but are much more comfortable, so beginners can enjoy a greater range of motion. Higher-end elbow pads feature compression sleeves that help them stay in place, ultra-lightweight protective foams, and a more elaborate strapping system to fine-tune the fit.

Youth Hockey Elbow Pads

Bauer and CCM design lightweight, flexible elbow pads perfectly suited for young players. Whether your child is new to the ice or has been in the rink since they were in diapers, you’ll find the right pads in our selection of entry-level and advanced youth options.

Junior Hockey Elbow Pads

Junior players enjoy more options when it comes to their elbow pads. You’ll find a wide range of elbow pads engineered to complement different positions. Offensive players should gear up in streamlined, lightweight models, while defensive teammates need robust, dense padding.

How to Buy Hockey Shin Guards for Kids

Pucks fly and sticks whiz down low, so protection for the shin is very important. To fit a shin guard, measure from the center of the kneecap down to the top of the skate. This measurement in inches corresponds to sizes on manufacturer fitting charts. A correctly fitted shin guard allows for a normal stride and won’t get pushed out of place by the top of the boot.

Entry-level shin guards feature a comfortable cap at the knee and protect the front of the leg with a hard shin plate. Elite-level shin guards might include adjustable strapping systems, advanced liners, or materials that prioritize robust protection or reduce weight.

Youth Hockey Shin Guards

Whether you’re looking for their first set or you’re upgrading your child’s current pair, you’ll find the right gear in our collection of youth hockey shin guards.

Junior Hockey Shin Guards

Explore our selection of junior hockey shin guards and discover mini-sized versions of models you’ve seen NHL pros wear.

How to Buy Kids' Hockey Pants

Hockey pants are sized by waist measurement to ensure the pants fit comfortably without slipping. But length is important, too. The padding at the top of the pants should meet the bottom of the shoulder pads, and the pant legs should cover the player's knees when they're bent. Only with the proper fit can the pants do their important job: protecting a player's thighs, hips, tailbone, kidneys, lower spine, and even lower ribs.

Some offerings in the mid- to high-price ranges will include a 1” zippered extension to lengthen the pants. This feature can be especially useful for growing kids, but it is also good for lean players of any age who need more length than might be standard for their waist size.

Beginner pants provide overall protection but also feature a reinforced tailbone area to help absorb impact from inevitable slips and falls. Elite-level hockey pants offer even more protection with less bulk and weight, stretchier material, increased ventilation, and the ability to fine-tune the fit.

Youth Ice Hockey Pants

Quality youth ice hockey pats don’t have to break the bank. Our selection includes Bauer, CCM, Warrior, and our own Pure Hockey options to satisfy any budget.

Junior Ice Hockey Pants & Girdles

Junior players have the opportunity to choose between hockey pants and girdles. Both options offer the same amount of protection but feature different fits. Where hockey pants are baggier, a hockey girdle fits snugly to the waist and legs. It’s important to note that players wearing girdles also need to wear hockey pant shells. Shop Junior Hockey PantsShop Junior Hockey Girdles

That’s everything you need to know about kids’ hockey gear. If you’re looking for more guidance, check out our kids’ hockey equipment checklist, which will help keep track of what you’ve already purchased and what still needs to be added to your cart. Or, stop by your neighborhood's Pure Hockey store for in-person assistance measuring and choosing gear.