AH 004 – Inside My Hockey Bag

Ageless Hockey - The Over 50 Player

This episode covers

• Why wearing my older equipment wasn’t such a great idea
• What I carry in my hockey bag
• The order I put on my equipment
• Extra items I carry
• Items I may add in the future
• Getting organized when it comes to your local hockey stores

Before I talk about today’s topics, I want to mention some things regarding the last episode where I talked about buying hockey equipment. Located at agelesshockey.com/3

When I returned to hockey after a 16-year layoff, I thought it was cool that most of my equipment was old. When I started getting injured, I was still in denial that new equipment would help me. My wife told me to start replacing my old equipment or stop-playing hockey. So it took a non-hockey player, that’s smarter than me to get me to take action. I know I’m fortunate, because new hockey gear isn’t cheap and my wife gave me the OK to spend the money. The bottom line is I don’t want any of you to get injured because you don’t have the proper equipment to protect you.

When buying skates, wear the socks you like. Don’t think the store will have them in stock for you to borrow or purchase.
Bobby Orr didn’t wear socks. I’m not sure a hockey store will let you try on skate’s bare foot.

My friend and listener Hiro emailed to tell me he has the VH Custom Hockey Skates and really likes them.
VH Custom Hockey Skates Review – 1 Year Later
I did not consider VH when I was looking for new skates. This was because of the $900 price tag, plus I’ve heard they take 2 – 3 weeks to get. I may consider them the next time I need skates.
Please let me know if any of you have VH skates and what you think of them.

What I Carry In My Hockey Bag

I’ll start with what I use when playing and the order I get dressed

• T-Shirt and underwear
• Skate socks for your feet: Elite Coolmax Pro Liner Series Knee = $8
• Cup and Supporter
  Women: Jill Pelvic Protector
• Elastic Knee braces
• Shin guards
• Shin guard socks
• Garter Belt for shin guard socks
• Skates (soakers or other blade guards)
  NOTE: My pants have leg zippers I can unzip. This allows me to tie my skates first, then put my pants on without damaging the pants.
• Pants
  After my pants are on, I put clear tape around each shin guard sock.
  How To Tape Your Shin Pads And Hockey Socks
• Shoulder Pads (I like my pants suspenders under my shoulder pads)
• Elbow Pads
• Jersey
• Mouth guard
• Helmet (with facemask)
• Fill up Water bottle (Gatorade fits under sink faucet)
• Gloves

I have two hockey sticks (leave extra one behind the bench)

Extra Items I Carry In My Hockey Bag

• Extra Skate socks for your feet
• Shaving Kit bag:
  – White Athletic Tape (Sport Adhesive) for my right wrist
  – Honing/Burr Stone
  How To Use A Hockey Skate Burr Stone
  – Waxed Skate Laces
  – Eye Glass Repair Kit
  – Safety Pins: Assorted sizes
  – Variety of Band-Aids: Flexible Fabric
  – Clear Tape: Wrap around shin guard socks
  – Black Friction Tape for stick blade
  – White Hockey Tape for stick knob
• Small Towel: To put on the locker room floor for my feet and skates
  – I use this same towel after playing to wipe my skate blades dry
• Another Shaving Kit bag: Glasses case, hair and body wash, deodorant, hairbrush
• Bath Towel: To dry off after showering
• Bag for wet clothes
• Clean clothes to wear after showering

Items I may add in the future: Scissors, Helmet and Facemask repair kit, Tape Tiger Deluxe, Pucks, Bengay cream to warm-up muscles (does this really help?)

Let me know what you carry in your bag that I didn’t mention.

If you want to, use these show notes to create your own Hockey Bag Checklist.

When I get home after a game, I take everything out of my bag to dry or wash. My gear ends up in different places in my house, so using a checklist assures I won’t forget anything when re-packing my bag.

Getting Organized When It Comes To Your Local Hockey Stores

Make A List of the Hockey Stores Near Your Home and Near the Rinks You Play At

Include the following:

• Store Name
• Address (make note of it’s location, if you don’t go there very often)
• Phone Number
• Website
  – Tip: Enter the store name in Google. This will show you a map and the stores hours. Bookmark it on your smartphone, so you can find the stores information again quickly.
• Hours / Days they are open
• What is this store good for?
  Example: I would go to some stores for tape, laces and sticks, but would never get my skates sharpened there. Make a note of the hockey stores you would be OK with sharpening your skates, if your main store is closed or too busy. The store I go to sharpens skates for many teams, so it could be a day or two before they can do my skates.
  
  Different ways to keep this list in a place that’s easy to find:
  1. Print a couple copies. Keep one copy in your hockey bag and another in your car.
  2. Keep it available on your smartphone using Evernote, Google Docs, etc.
  3. Take a picture of your list and keep it available on your smartphone.

I hope this episode was helpful.

To see the Show Notes go to AgelessHockey.com/4
You can also leave a comment here.

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Thanks for listening!

Have fun playing the greatest game on earth!

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