Pad advice for a 10 yr old

footwdg · Squirt Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 1

Hello everyone and thank you in advance for your time and help.

My ten year old would like to learn how to play goalie and I need advice on what direction to take with pads. Although I've played hockey all my life, I know zip about goalie equipment. He's been asking to play goalie for the past 1.5 years, is in his street hockey pads a lot and has played net a couple of times at stick-time (ice), so we know this is something he is serious about.

We're going to have him continue to play out while he learns the goalie position at home, (synthetic ice) at stick-times, a summer camp and video analysis, (wife is college friends with someone who operates a goalie school.)

After a year or two of doing both, we'll give him the option of which direction he'd like to go in and focus on and turn him loose.

So, we need pads that aren't necessarily top of the line, but a good, solid pad that he can learn with where he'll be protected. Here are his measurements:

- ATK is 14.5
- Height 4' 8"

Vaughn sizing numbers:
- 16
- 9
- 3
Total= 28

Any advice regarding pads, helmet, C/A protector, etc, etc would be greatly appreciated.

Returning2MyNet · Minors Joined: 09 Mar 2009 Posts: 379

As far as pad size goes, at 14.5, and the rest of the numbers I would urge you to just go with 30. the brand really is not important, fit is. I would say go with the 30s and get pads with an adjust able knee stack so you can get his knee dead center and grow with him during the season.
You should look at the DS offerings, quality hand made in Canada (vs shoped out to China) http://www.donsimmons.com/ice_hockey_goalie_pads.php?type=1&menu=int

The folks at DS can set up head to toe and will give you a nice discount as well. Their CA's are great, right up there with john Brown, and as well with pants.

As far as masks go you cant go wrong with a Hackava, steer clear of the Bauer/RBK.ITech low end masks...some serious lead paint issues poping up with those masks, and further questions on some gear jobed out as well.
Stacy makes a nice mask. Fusion,
as far as the made over seas pads go, RBK and the Vaughn seem to be the best as far as quality,
you can get him geared with new gear for about 1k, and if you call DS ask for MArk.
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