How we recommend
We recommend gear by category and use, not by brand, and do not quote prices. We may earn a commission on purchases at no cost to you.
What the rules require
The IIHF Official Rule Book 2026/27, the NHL Official Rules 2026-2027 and Hockey Canada's 2026-28 Playing Rules agree on most of this. USA Hockey's 2025-29 rule text could not be read for this site.
- Worn under the uniform. The IIHF's 2026/27 Rule 9.5, the NHL's 2026-27 Rule 9.5 and Hockey Canada's 2026-28 Rule 3.6(a) all require protective equipment to go under the uniform, except gloves, headgear and goalie leg pads (and, under the IIHF and NHL, the neck guard; the IIHF also lists mouthguards). An elbow pad showing outside the jersey is the IIHF's and NHL's example of a breach.
- Soft elbow pads. All three treat an elbow pad as dangerous equipment unless it has a soft outer covering of sponge rubber or similar: at least 1.5 cm under IIHF Rule 12.3, 1/2 inch under NHL Rule 12.3, and 1.27 cm under Hockey Canada Rule 3.7(d).
- Nothing that can injure. The IIHF's Rule 9.8 and NHL's Rule 9.9 ban pads made of metal or any material likely to injure an opponent. Hockey Canada's Rule 3.7 bans protectors likely to cause injury and equipment altered to gain an advantage.
- Gloves keep their palms. A glove with the palm cut away so the player can use a bare hand is illegal under IIHF and NHL Rule 12.2. Hockey Canada's interpretation targets palms deliberately removed and allows small holes from normal wear, unless the referee judges them large enough to give an advantage.
- Shin pads fit inside socks. Under IIHF Rule 9.9, a skater's shin pads must fit inside standard socks, with no protrusions.
- Pants. Under the IIHF's Rule 9.1 and the NHL's Rule 9.5, pants must not be ripped, cut or torn in the leg or thigh.
Mouthguards and cups are covered by fewer rules, set out with their picks below.
Our picks by category
Shoulder pads
The Pashby fitting guide says they should protect the whole shoulder joint through full motion, with arm pads reaching just above the elbow, the back pad meeting the top of the pants, and nothing digging into the neck when the arms go up. For female players, it says a combined shoulder and chest protector adds chest protection. Hockey Canada's player fitting guide, as summarised in search results, adds that they should slip on easily and stay put when moving.
Best for: All skaters
Elbow pads
The point of the elbow sits in the inner cup, the top meets the shoulder pad and the bottom reaches into the glove cuff, per the Pashby guide. Hockey Canada's guide, per the same summary, says to put left and right pads on the correct arms with straps snug but not tight. Check for the soft outer layer the rules require.
Best for: All skaters
Gloves
Snug but not tight, overlapping the elbow pad through the full range of motion, with shock-absorbing padding on the back of the hand and soft palms without holes, per the Pashby guide. Check the palms as the glove wears, since a cut-away palm is illegal.
Best for: All skaters
Padded pants
Fitted by waist size with the shin pads on, overlapping the top of the shin pad and protecting the front and side of the thigh, the tailbone, hips and kidney area, per the Pashby guide. For female players it says fit the hips first, then check length. Hockey Canada's guide, per a search summary, says suspenders are optional.
Best for: All skaters
Shin guards
Sized in inches in junior and senior sizes and fitted with loosely laced skates on, with the cap centred on the kneecap and the bottom reaching where foot meets leg, with no gap above the skate, per the Pashby guide. Hockey Canada's guide, per the summary, gives about two finger-widths between the top of the foot and the bottom of the pad.
Best for: All skaters
Mouthguards
The rules vary widely. The IIHF's 2026/27 Rule 9.13 recommends one for senior players, preferably custom-made, and Rule 202.3 requires one for men's U20 players without full-face protection. Hockey Canada's 2026-28 rules make one compulsory only in divisions that allow a half visor, recommended but optional in Senior, unless a branch requires more: Hockey Northwestern Ontario requires a one-piece, non-clear mouthguard at least 3 mm thick from U7 to Junior. Search summaries of USA Hockey's Rule 304 describe a coloured mouthpiece requirement for youth and girls players that we could not confirm. The Pashby guide recommends dental fitting.
Best for: Every player, and compulsory in some leagues
Jocks and jills
We found no rule requiring one for skaters. NFHS Rule 3-3-1 (2024-25) lists a protective cup or pelvic protector among required high school goalie equipment. The Pashby guide says straps are fitted by waist size, cups come in sizes for all players, and torn straps should be repaired or replaced at once. Hockey Canada's goalie fitting guide, as summarised in search results, says the choice between a jock and a flatter jill depends on anatomy, not gender.
Best for: All players; required for high school goalies
How to choose
Buy for now, not for next year
The Pashby guide says never to buy equipment to grow into, because oversized pads slide away from what they protect. Fit everything in the light undergarments you play in.
Fit the pieces together
The pads overlap by design: elbow pads meet the shoulder pads above and the glove cuff below, pants overlap the shin pads, and the back of the shoulder pad meets the pants. Bring the pieces you already own when you shop for the next one, and move through a full range of motion before buying.
Where the guides differ
The Pashby guide says pants should overlap the top of the shin pad; Hockey Canada's guide, as summarised, says the top of the "knee pads". They likely mean the same knee cap at the top of the shin guard.
Cut-resistant layers
The IIHF's Rule 9.5 strongly recommends cut-resistant socks, sleeves or undergarments, and the AHL required cut-resistant socks and wrist sleeves in 2023-24. See the neck guards guide.
Look after it
The Pashby guide says to dry everything after every game or practice and to replace or professionally repair anything cracked or unsound. See equipment care.
Leagues and branches can add rules of their own, especially for mouthguards, so check your association's current rules before the season.
Sources
- IIHF Official Rule Book 2026/27, Version 1.0 (PDF, FISG copy)
- NHL Official Rules 2026-2027 (index of NHL rulebooks at Scouting the Refs)
- Hockey Canada Playing Rules 2026-2028 (PDF)
- A Guide to Fitting Hockey Equipment, Hockey Development Centre for Ontario and the Dr. Tom Pashby Sports Safety Fund (PDF)
- Hockey Canada, player equipment fitting guide (PDF)
- Hockey Northwestern Ontario, intra-oral mouthguard policy (PDF)
- USA Hockey Rulebook, Rule 304 Protective Equipment
- NFHS, Ice Hockey Rules Changes 2024-25
- Hockey Canada, goalie equipment fitting guide (PDF)
- ESPN, AHL mandating neck protection starting 2024-25