Special shot blocking gear

[Cold Dome Beers]

So I recently took up playing rec hockey with some buds, and I'm a large guy (6'6, 255 lbs), so I usually just check, screen the other team's goalie and block shots cause I'm a fairly 2-way player. I'm wondering if there's any extra gear I should invest in to make blocking shots less painful. It hasn't been a concern so far, but still something I thought I should inquire about.

 

[Stickmata]

Buy a pair of the Pro model shin pads, and make sure you're buying them long enough for your height. I wore a pair of 16" pro CCMs for a while and they offered more protection than my standard pair, particularly in the back.

 

[CuteHockeyBunny]

Higher quality gear is more durable and more protective. I got some one90 shinpads and have taken slapshots from players in the QJMHL with no problem. For a guy that has been playing for only 2 years, the confidence that I've gotten from them is invaluable. I can't be sure if those sherwood 5030 shinpads would offer the same protection/durability/consistence.

 

[Jarick]

Definitely want to make sure all your protective gear is up to snuff. Shoulder pads should have plastic inserts on the chest and spine and plenty of padding all around. Gloves should have plastic inserts on the fingers and backroll. Pants should have lots of padding on the front and back of the leg. Shin pads should be high end with lots of padding around the back of the calf too. Make sure the gear all fits with a little overlap. And then don't turn your feet out to block shots.

 

[Pog Form]

You might want to look into skate fenders as well (http://www.skatefenders.com/). I don't use them myself so I can't offer you a review, but I know a couple of people who swear by them, and a lot of NHLers are wearing them now as well.

 

[r3cc0s]

why block shots in non-contact, non-competitive, that's the goalie's job

honestly I've seen so many guys who've tried and got hurt so many times...
stickcheck as best you can, but the goalie does the job..
sliding across the ice and taking a zinger off the body, heck through the pants or the under arm (for those who stretch out) its brutal

I wear one95's, and I can feel a hard slapper through em, I've taken redirected shots on the inside of my leg, and even if I wear shoulder pads, I've had the wind knocked out of my hitting my sternum throuhg my Jofa 8500's

and that's not intentially blocking a shot lol...

the worst is getting hit in the forearm area... on the inside cuff of a glove

PLUS... I've found the guys who aren't great skaters, who can bounce back up on their skates in the right direction get beat to the rebound and end up costing the goal.

If you have to block a passing/shooting lane take the shot standing upright, and hopefully it just hits your shin guards or pants and not your skate or upper body

 

[Cowbell232]

Might not be gear related, but stay square to the play. The more padding you facing the puck as it hits you the less it'll hurt!

 

[Gibson19]

Might not be gear related, but stay square to the play. The more padding you facing the puck as it hits you the less it'll hurt!

This. Only time I've been stung by blocking a shot was when my skate was sideways and it hit my ankle. Otherwise I'm square to the shot. I don't have particularly good pads either.

Now I also don't block shots when I'm 15 feet away from the puck. I've never blocked a shot that has gone above my pants cause I'm just tight to the puck. I'd get worked if I took a shot to the mid section with my crappy chest protector.

 

[Lonny Bohonos]

Tylenol.

/thread

 

[bp spec]

You might want to look into skate fenders as well (http://www.skatefenders.com/). I don't use them myself so I can't offer you a review, but I know a couple of people who swear by them, and a lot of NHLers are wearing them now as well.

I use the skate fenders and I would recommend them for you. I was tired of taking bombs to my feet (plays a lot of pk) so I began to use them this season.

They're super light weight, and they protect my feet well. Of course you feel the impact of a hard shot, but shots that usually would take you out of a game, more or less never happen now, at least not for me. Pepper pepper

EDIT: just talking about protecting your feet now, I don't know any special shot blocking gear besides from the fenders