Styles:

Goal Masks are designed differently, but are sized in the same way as player helmets. Two designs are available for the wire cage: Standard and Cat Eye. Standard is the most common choice, providing the goalie with a full wire cage of protection. Cat Eye features two eye cutouts in the full wire cage, offering the goalie better vision. Cat Eye is only allowed in junior and pro-level hockey, as well as in many Adult rec leagues. However, HECC Certified Cat-Eye masks feature wire bars in the eye cutouts and are legal for all levels of play.

Proper Sizing:

Determining the goalie's head circumference is the first step in sizing a goalie mask. To get an accurate measurement, take a cloth tape measurer and place it around the goalie's head at the hat line, beginning and ending at the center of the goalie's forehead. The number that you see when the measuring tape meets is the goalie's head circumference measurement. Write this measurement down, then find your proper size by visiting the "Sizing" Chart on any of our goalie mask product pages.

Goal Masks come in three different sizes, and will fit the following ages. Please note that this list should be used as a guide only as each manufacturer constructs their masks differently:

• Youth (ages 5-7)
• Junior (ages 8-12)
• Senior (ages 13 and up)

Proper Fitting:

Once you have selected a mask, place it on the head so that the top edge of the face opening is approximately 1/2 inch above the eyebrows.

• Adjust the chin cup so as not to allow movement on the head or allow the mask to be pushed in closer to the jaw.
• Adjust the rear skull plate and straps so as to apply a slight amount of tension to achieve a secure fit.
• Once the mask is snug, check the fit of the forehead, cheeks, and chin. Make sure that the mask fits close to the face in all three areas, and that there are no visible gaps between the mask padding and the face or forehead.
• Have the goalie move his/her head up and down, and side to side to make sure that the mask does not move or slide on the goalie's head.
• Check the fit of the skull plate against the back of the head to make sure that there are no large (1/2" or more) gaps between the skull plate and the back of the mask. In a mask with a proper fit, you should not see your head between these two pieces of the mask.

Finally, have the goalie try the mask on with his/her chest protector. While there is rarely an issue with the mask brushing against the goalie's chest equipment, different masks have different chin lengths that, when working with the existing chest and arm gear, may hinder the goalie's head movements. While wearing both pieces of gear, have the goalie move the head from front to back and from side to side to make sure that the two pads work well together.