Where to Buy youth hockey equip.

[Aneille]

I'd like to get my daughter some hockey equipment for her upcoming birthday or for xmas. Specifically pants, and shoulder pads.

I've checked ebay and some of the stores online, and of course Play it Again Sports.

But what I want to know is what is the best place to buy online. Cheapest, good stock and competent service. I may buy new but if not I still need a bottom new price so I can buy used.

I can't tell the difference between a $20 shoulder pads and a $40 pair so any suggestions on what to look for would be helpful.

She would need a youth small or x-small in everything. She's turning 4.

She has skates, ccm helmet w/cage, Bauer stick, CCM gloves and used pair of Koho shin guards already.

All of which are good I think except the skates but due to her tiny foot (its a 9) she is just starting to fit into lace up hockey skates so she's wearing a beginner Bauer pair with a hard outer shell for now. I'll wait to her foot is a little bigger to upgrade those so we have more choices.

Thanks for any help.

 

[#1hockeymom]

http://www.peranis.net/index2.ihtml?sid=1

Bob Perani's first and main store is near where we skate so it seems like we live there some days. If you are near one of their locations I advise walking in! Their staff all play hockey so they know what they're talking about.

Another idea is to go to your local rink and see if they have used equipment for sale or have a bulletin board set up advertising of equipment. Small sizes are frequently being sold as children get older. It gets to a point where you don't hang on to anything except "good" game pucks for sentimental value since it just takes up space! My son's first equipment came from the rink he skated at, minus his skates/helmet/stick. I wish we could go back to those days of cheaper equipment!

Here's to her first goal!
Debbie

 

[barkley]

i noticed a sports equipment swap when i recently went to a neighboring town. apparantly the parents get together and swap out equpment (or sell with proceeds to the league) their kids have outgrown. you might check with your local league or those in neighboring towns.

 

[hockey mom]

I was going to suggest the same thing as #1Hockeymom- the local arenas. Your next stop would be any second hand store. Don't worry about not knowing exactly what she needs because the guys at the store do know. In a shoulder pad at the age of 4 you are not worried about being slammed into the boards as much as a good hockey pant for falling on your butt.

Man I miss that age.

 

[damo]

www.hockeygiant.com is my hockey fanatical son's favourite online hockey store. When we are in Detroit, we have to go to Perani's. I swear he could spend 2 hours in there!

 

[Aneille]

Thanks so much for the information.

The rink we go to has a store, they don't seem to carry too much used equipment plus it seems the small sizes are bought up fast. But it is where I purchased her and her 2 year old sisters helmet and her stick. I paid a lot but the guy their could fit it on her head and I tried another store earlier that day and after turning those screws he couldn't get it to not slip into her eyes. My daughter has a small head, feet and hands but is average size otherwise. Its a nightmare buying sports equiptment for her. She's been wanting real inline skates for almost 2 years now and still doesn't fit into a pair!

An equipment swap sounds like a great idea. I'll have to ask around and see if our town youth league has one.

Hockey Mom your comment about the pant is too funny! She was skating yesterday and at the end complained her back hurt. I think she landed on her tailbone. I came home and told my husband that she definetly needs hockey pants. With her being so light those little pads in there will do wonders! But he said he also wants her to get shoulder pads because she'll look so cute!

She's dying to play hockey but our youth league doesn't really start until they are 5 or at least going to be turning 5 during the winter. She's a year too young so I am going to try to bring her over to another rink about 25 minutes from me to get in a league of some sort. They are supposed to be starting up an instructional league for the in between kids like her. The ones that can skate okay but not well enough to play with 5-7 year olds.

Thanks again guys! I'll take a look at the website.