The Ultimate Guide to Hockey Elbow Pads

Of all full-contact sports, hockey might be the most aggressive. And that makes it the most fun: nothing beats the thrill of moving fast on the ice, carrying a hockey stick and chasing a small puck around. But because of the physical nature of the sport, things can get pretty bad, which is why players must wear protective gear to stay safe.

If you’re new to the sport, you might not understand how important it is to wear safety gear. And people who’ve played for a while might feel confident about playing without it. However, safety equipment is paramount even if you don’t intend to get into harm. Here’s everything you should know about elbow pads.

Protective Equipment Requirements and Benefits

According to the Canada Hockey Rulebook, every player must wear skates, hockey gloves, and helmets certified by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). Additionally, players under eighteen must wear full-face protection approved by the CSA. While not mandatory, hockey elbow pads, shin guards, athletic cups, and soft knee pads are strongly recommended. You get to play the game only if you adhere to these rules.

The head, neck and groin are the most sensitive body parts, on the ice or not. However, when playing hockey, you risk getting hurt by giant slapping wooden sticks, so you must protect the rest of the body. Hockey pads help prevent severe injuries in these areas. Additionally, temperatures in the arena can get low during the game to prevent ice from melting. Protective gear can also do the trick of keeping you warm.

What Is the Function of the Elbow Pads?

While sometimes disregarded, high-quality hockey elbow pads are essential in protecting this important joint and other parts of your arm, such as the bicep and forearm. Slashes, collisions, falls and flying pucks can all cause elbow damage, especially in tight situations along the boards or when falling onto the ice.

How Do I Choose Hockey Elbow Pads?

Consider the fit, game style and materials used to choose the correct pads.

Materials

Rigid plastics and foams make up most elbow pads for hockey. Lower-end elbow pads primarily employ foam and provide less protection, making them ideal for recreational or younger players. Advanced performance foams and polymers are used in higher-end elbow pads to withstand the game’s high-speed and blunt-force blows.

Most high-end pads contain materials used in industrial clothing, military technology, and other rugged uses. For instance, some CCM elbow pads have D3O® smart foam (used in motorcycle helmets and gloves, and other protective gear).

However, the fundamental structure of every elbow pad is the same, with distinct components covering the various regions of your arms. Here’s how they function:

• The slash guard placed on the outer arm absorbs the force of direct impacts from slashes and blocked shots; thus, it employs materials like rigid plastics.
• The bicep guard protects the upper arm muscles against board contacts and body checks.
• When a player collides with another player or falls on the ice, the elbow pad cushion protects the delicate elbow joint. The way soft caps and hard caps protect the joint is different; soft caps provide flexible protection, while hard caps have strong, plastic outer shells at the joint. Even though hard caps are now the norm for hockey elbow pads, some players still like the extra mobility of soft cap designs.
• Between the hockey elbow pad and the hockey glove, the forearm guard provides additional protection for areas of the arm that would otherwise be exposed.
• For a dry, comfortable fit, the inner liner adds more padding and aids in moisture removal.
• All elbow pads that don’t have a soft protective covering of sponge, rubber or similar material at least 1.27 cm thick are considered dangerous equipment, according to the rules.

Fit

Measure the distance in centimetres between the middle of your bicep and the cuff of your glove to calculate the size of elbow pads you should purchase for hockey. Use the charts below to determine your exact size. You can receive a slightly larger or smaller size because this dimension is only a rough guide and doesn’t consider personal taste.

Adult Sizes:

Size	Mid Bicep to Glove Cuff (cm)	Height (cm)
Small	30.5 cm – 33 cm	165 cm – 175 cm
Medium	33 cm – 35.5 cm	170 cm – 180 cm
Large	35.5 cm – 38 cm	175 cm – 185 cm

Junior Sizes:

Size	Mid Bicep to Glove Cuff (cm)	Height (cm)
Small	22.9 cm – 25.4 cm	130 cm – 142 cm
Medium	25.4 cm – 27.9 cm	140 cm – 155 cm
Large	27.9 cm – 30.5 cm	150 cm – 163 cm

Youth Sizes:

Size	Mid Bicep to Glove Cuff (cm)	Height (cm)
Small	17.8 cm – 20.3 cm	99 cm – 124 cm
Medium	19 cm – 21.6 cm	110 cm – 132 cm
Large	20.3 cm – 22.9 cm	118 cm – 140 cm

Style of Play

Your playing position and style make up for an immense consideration when buying your new elbow pads. A defenceman would use a larger, more protective pad appropriate for aggressive play near the boards. At the same time, a winger might seek a lower-profile, anatomical fit to maximise movement and agility. Or, you need a more sophisticated set of elbow pads for your competitive ice hockey league, but a more basic design for pick-up street hockey.

Thankfully, the big manufacturers considered various players’ needs while developing their product lines. Well-known manufacturers, such as CCM Bauer, provide elbow pads in various sizes and profiles to meet the demands and preferences of every hockey player for protection. The Jetspeed elbow pads from CCM are lighter and provide less coverage for streamlined play, making them ideal for players who prioritise quickness and agility. CCM’s Tacks line provides more coverage for checks and blocks for defensive players or those who require force and stability.