• Equipment rules ensure that players and teams don't gain unfair advantages over their opponents.ice hockey image by Inhumane Productions from Fotolia.com
  
  The NHL enforces equipment rules to prevent players from gaining undue advantages. Past rule changes have addressed issues including goaltenders wearing jerseys baggy enough to trap the puck, and shooters carrying sticks with pronounced curves that gave them distinct advantages in puck handling and shot accuracy. Equipment rules continually evolve to keep hockey fast-paced, exciting and fair.
  
  

Goaltender Pads

• A goaltender's leg pads are restricted to a maximum of 38 inches long and 11 inches wide. Elbow pads may be layered to provide additional protection, but can't be layered densely enough to assist puck deflection. Shoulder protectors must follow the contours of the goaltender's shoulders without being pushed above his shoulders by his chest protector. If a goaltender's shoulder protectors protrude above his shoulders when he assumes his crouch position, his chest protector will be ruled illegal and must be replaced.
  
  

Goaltender Sticks

• A goaltender's stick can be up to 15 1/2 inches long with a blade that extends no further than 26 inches from the heel of the shaft. The stick blade is restricted to 3 1/2 inches except at the heel, where the allowable width is 4 1/2 inches. The goaltender's stick must have a knob on the end of its handle that's at least 1/2 inch thick. Unlike skaters, the goaltender has no restrictions on the curvature of his stick's blade and he's allowed to use a broken stick during play.
  
  

Net

• The net's vertical posts must extend 4 feet above the ice surface and be set 6 feet apart, and the tops of the vertical posts must be connected by a crossbar. The goalposts and crossbar are required to be red, while all other goal frame surfaces must be white. The net must be woven from white nylon cord, draped to ensure that it can't snare the puck on the outside, while being strung tightly enough to keep the puck inside the goal when a player scores.
  
  

Puck

• Regulation pucks are typically made from vulcanized rubber, though other materials may be used at the league's discretion. Regulation pucks are 1 inch thick and 3 inches in diameter. The home team is responsible for providing frozen pucks during a game, which are kept at the penalty bench and supervised by an off-ice official.
  
  

Skaters' Sticks

• Skaters' sticks can't be longer than 63 inches, with a blade that's no longer than 12 1/2 inches. The blade must be between 2 and 3 inches wide, and must have beveled edges. The blade can't have a curve of greater than half an inch at any point. If a player is caught using a stick with an illegally curved blade, he's charged with a minor penalty. No skater is allowed to play with a broken stick.