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Ice Hockey Equipment News and Trends

When you're selling hockey equipment, you need to be aware of both new safety regulations and new performance-enhancing designs. Updates are always being made to ice hockey sticks, skates, helmets, pucks, and pads -- every angle of the gear is constantly scrutinized for improvement. Keeping up-to-date on the pros and cons of these innovations is key. Not an ice hockey gear retail specialist? Take time to educate yourself on the unique requirements of hockey equipment.

With customers -- especially young ones -- coming in for the latest gear they've read about or seen on TV, you have to know the pros and cons of every new item and whether it meets league requirements. You also have to be a fit mentor. Here are three ice hockey equipment news and trends to keep up on:

1. Start off on the right foot by choosing the right ice hockey skates.

2. Use your head to get the best helmet -- the most important piece of ice hockey gear.

3. Adjust customer expectations of ice hockey goalie equipment.

Lace up the right ice hockey skate for your customers

Ice hockey skates are all about speed, speed, speed. They've become lighter and lighter over the past five years, and different types of blades have been introduced by manufacturers feeding the speed frenzy. Your job is to know the new blades and how to change them, and to make sure you observe the basics of proper fit.
Try: Read "How to choose ice hockey skates" from the Discount Hockey Blog to address square-one basics on proper fit. Review the newest innovation in ice hockey skates, the T-blade, at "A different kind of blade" from Epinions.com. Then increase your expertise with a quick how-to on changing out T-blades at eHow.

Protect the head with the best new helmets in ice hockey gear

All that speed the new skates give players has an unintended downside: higher-impact collisions between players, which can lead to concussion and other brain injuries. Manufacturers have been scrambling to improve helmets, and any hockey distributor will offer a wide array. It's important to offer the safest helmets, and then drill your customers, again, on fit.
Try: The McGill Reporter from McGill University has a great interview with David Pearsall of the Ice Hockey Research Group. The company applies the physics of motion to create ice hockey helmets that prevent concussion. Cascade Hockey has made big headlines with its concussion-proof helmet. Watch a video on fit basics at Wellsphere.

Cover the net with hockey goalie equipment that meets the new requirements

The biggest news in goalie gear is the downsizing of ice hockey goalie pads. The decision was made in 2005, but it is now beginning to be universally enforced. The controversy over this move by the NCAA and NHL may lead to customers who are reluctant to buy new pads, but you can get them to see the light with the right information.
Try: "Addressing the Goalies" from Boston.com goes over the changes and what they mean for goalies -- and your sales. "Sizing Hockey Goalie Leg Pads" from YouTube.com is a video primer on fit, which can be tricky.

Helmets protect the whole head -- including the ears, face, and, for goalies, the throat. Make sure the ice hockey goalie equipment you offer features coverings or cages for all of these areas, to avoid injury from a puck or a high ice hockey stick.

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Tips & Advice to help you make your decision on Ice Hockey Equipment

Every sport requires that players use some sort ofspecific equipment. In ice hockey that includes skates, pads, uniforms,helmets, sticks, and pucks. Not to mention the nets and the actual ice rink. Ice hockey equipment can be found in most sporting goods stores and even somedepartment stores. If you happen to own or manage an ice hockey team you may wantto consider contacting an equipment manufacturer or supplier and arranging acontract to outfit your team.

There are several brand names in ice hockey equipmentthat vie for top dog status, but when it comes to the game all that matters isthat the equipment does what it is supposed to do. Protect and score. Reliablequality equipment ... more

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