Featuring Brent Wynn, Hockey Equipment Specialist

Duration: 1 minute, 34 seconds

Kids' hockey shoulder pads protect the upper torso of the body.

The older shoulder pads were mostly just basic foam and a little bit of plastic and a smaller cap that actually covers the shoulder. Nowadays, shoulder pads have a lot more going for them and protect a lot more of the upper body.

You've got increased sternum protection. With the sternum protection, you've got the increased protection right over top of your heart, which is very important. And today's newer shoulder pads have a lot more flow-through ventilation to keep the athlete cooler which will allow them to perform at their optimum level.

You've got much better shoulder and clavicle protection and a lot of times as this pad does, you've got a multi-segmented bicep, so not only are you protecting the upper arm, you've got better motion in a shooting motion.

A lot of times as well, the inner liner of the pad itself is antimicrobial, a lot more air flow through the pad and it's just overall much better increased protection for that child playing hockey who's growing.

Hockey shoulder pads protect the upper torso and there's two main pieces of the body that you're trying to protect with a pair of shoulder pads, that being the sternum and the shoulder joint itself. So make sure that when purchasing a pair of shoulder pads you see a qualified retailer in your area to ensure the proper fit.

Presenter: Mr. Brent Wynn, Bracing & Equipment Specialist, Vancouver, BC

Local Practitioners: Bracing & Equipment Specialist