When did hockey goalies start wearing pads?
In 1917, goalies in the newly organized NHL were first allowed to drop to the ice to block shots, but their chest and shoulder protection was minimal, usually felt-filled canvas pads. (Ones with metal were not allowed.)
Who invented hockey goalie pads?
Emil “Pops” Kenesky
Emil “Pops” Kenesky invented a new and better goalie pad in 1924 that quickly became the pads that National Hockey League (NHL) hockey players sought. Kenesky immigrated to Hamilton in the early 20th century from Eastern Europe.
When did goalie equipment change?
The NHL has even forced change during a season, as when it ordered goalies to wear uniformly slimmer pants starting in February 2018. The current crop of equipment adjustments dictates that chest and arm protection must be anatomically proportional.
Did goalie pads get bigger?
There has also been a drastic change in leg pads worn by goalies over the years. In the 1937-38 season, the NHL mandated a rule that leg pads worn by goaltenders could be no wider than 10 inches (Which then went to 12 inches then back to 11 inches throughout the years).
What are hockey goalie pads called?
Goalie pants are the pads that you wear around your waist and are the same length as a pair of shorts. Player pants are okay to use as a beginner but as you progress, you will want to invest in a pair of goalie pants because of the additional padding.
Did goalie pads get smaller?
The league, working in conjunction with the NHL Players’ Association, has focused on reducing the size of the shoulders on chest protectors by roughly an inch to make them less boxy and more form-fitting. The same goes for the padding on a goalie’s arms.
How long do goalie pads last?
Durability. A good pair of goalie leg pads should last at least three years, although how often someone uses them can have an impact on their lifespan. The finish may become scratched over time since they are constantly taking hits, but their overall structure can last for a long time.
How have goalie pads changed over the years?
Pads have changed dramatically in the last several decades, almost too dramatically, as so the NHL has once again implemented new rules in the 2013-14 season to limit the size/shape of netminders’ equipment. Before we go on a walk down memory lane to the yesteryears of Jaques Plante and Gump Worsley, let’s have a look at the anatomy of goalie pads.
When did hockey goalies start wearing shoulder pads?
In 1917, goalies in the newly organized NHL were first allowed to drop to the ice to block shots, but their chest and shoulder protection was minimal, usually felt-filled canvas pads. (Ones with metal were not allowed.)
What is the length of a goalie’s leg pad?
In the 1937-38 season, the NHL mandated a rule that leg pads worn by goaltenders could be no wider than 10 inches (Which then went to 12 inches then back to 11 inches throughout the years).
What is the history of hockey goalie equipment?
Evolution of NHL goalie equipment. In the mid-‘40s, goalies started using baseball gloves on their catching hands, a trend that began when Emile “the Cat” Francis of the Rangers took the ice with a large first baseman’s glove.