Goalie Blocker Buying & Sizing Guide
Goalie blockers are relatively easy to buy and size, but choosing the right one can be a bit more complicated. A hockey goalie blocker serves as a piece of protective equipment and a performance-boosting tool in the crease. The rugged mitt shields the forearm, wrist, and hand from taking on impacts, while the curved board redirects pucks away from the goal. A goalie who discovers how to fully utilize their blocker becomes an awesome force to be reckoned with. Before that can happen, they need to choose the best blocker for their style.
A Crash Course on All Things Goalie Blockers
Our goalie blocker guide features everything you need to know when it comes to buying and fitting, including:
The Anatomy of Hockey Goalie Blockers
This specialized piece of equipment features different parts engineered for player protection and performance. Here’s a quick rundown of what makes up a goalie blocker:
- Blocker Board:The blocker board is the curved, rectangular block attached to the back of the glove. Boards come centered on the back of gloves or extend slightly over the fingers to suit different goaltending styles. A blocker board is made using foams and PE panels engineered for plenty of pop to send pucks flying far from the goal.
- Side Hand Protection:Blockers feature a padded panel at the thumb and side of the wrist for extra player and net coverage. Soft foams deaden the puck upon impact, shielding the player and the goal. Side hand protection is an excellent feature when the goalie’s wrist is exposed in the butterfly stance.
- Blocking Rib:A blocking rib is an optional feature mainly found on pro-level blockers. These reinforced boards amp up the rigidity in the blocker's side hand protection. This essentially transforms the side hand into a mini blocker board to redirect pucks.
- Glove/Palm:The glove/palm is the part of the blocker that the goalie wears on their hand. This part features high-tech materials engineered for enhanced internal comfort and external grip.
- Finger Protection: A blocker’s finger protection features a flap of HD foam that covers the fingertips. This added padding absorbs some force from low-velocity shots.
- Cuff: The cuff surrounds the wrist and helps hold the blocker in place. A blocker cuff features a wide construction for ample mobility.
Understanding how the anatomy of a blocker can impact your gameplay is essential. The board's curve or the openness of the cuff can make all the difference in the crease. Plus, different models offer varying amounts of padding. Young goalies still getting a grasp on stickhandling need a blocker with flexible, lightweight finger protection but pros facing high-speed pucks will appreciate dense digit pads. The performance goalie who needs extra wrist coverage should opt for a model with a blocking rib for elite side hand protection, but a Pee Wee player can probably skip the rigid ribbing.
How To Choose a Hockey Goalie Blocker
Think of a blocker as an extension of your arm: It should move with you, not against you. That’s why selecting the right gear usually boils down to personal preference. To choose a hockey blocker, a goalie needs to consider structural differences, board styles, the dominant hand, and the size. If the mitt doesn’t offer finger protection or if the glove fits too tight, it could cost your team a point, or result in a dislocated digit. Or if you order a mitt for the wrong hand, you’re out of the game until a new one arrives. Since we’ve already discussed how structure can play a key role in choosing the right model, let’s go into more detail about boards.
Blocker Board Styles
Blocker boards feature varying levels of curvature to suit different goaltending styles and personal preferences. The top of each blocker features a curve to help deflect pucks forward or upward, rather than backward into the goal. Some goalies prefer larger curves as opposed to smaller ones. But with the NHL’s size limitations, most curves are fairly similar. The main variation you’ll see now among goalie blockers is in board placement.
Most blocker boards come in centered or extended positions. A centered goalie blocker board rests in the middle of the backhand. This style offers an ultra-balanced feel optimal for the goalie who likes to play the paddle-down stance. An extended goalie blocker board sits about ½ to 2 inches forward from the glove’s center. This style “extends” the arm, allowing the player to deflect pucks that would normally be out of reach. An extended position has its advantages, but the long front can create an obstacle for the paddle-down stance.
Regular vs. Full Right Goalie Blockers
Blockers come in left- and right-handed constructions to fit regular and full right wearers. A hockey goalie wears a blocker on their dominant hand and a catch glove on their non-dominant hand. This allows the player to utilize their strongest hand for stick handling and the other for catching and trapping the puck.
The terms “regular” and “full right” refer to a goalie’s catch glove. A regular catch glove is worn on the left hand, and a full right catch glove is worn on the right hand. We use the same system to categorize blockers. If you hold your stick with your right hand, you wear a regular blocker. Goalies who hold the stick in their left hand use a full right blocker. Here’s another way to look at it:
- A regular goalie blocker is worn on the right hand
- A full right goalie blocker is worn on the left hand
Hockey Goalie Blocker Sizing
A hockey goalie blocker is one of the easiest pieces of equipment to size. Like most goalie equipment, blockers come in one of four sizes: youth, junior, intermediate, and senior. In all four cases, the size of the blocker board correlates directly with the size of the palm on the glove. So, if you purchase a junior blocker, you get a junior-sized palm. With this in mind, blockers should be purchased based on the fit of the goalie’s hand to the palm of the glove.
What Size Goalie Blocker Do I Need?
To determine your blocker size, measure your hand from the base of the palm to the tip of the middle finger. This measurement will fall into one of four hockey blocker size categories:
- Youth: 4 3⁄4–5 5⁄8 in. or 119–143 cm.
- Junior: 5 5⁄8–6 1⁄4 in. or 144–160 cm.
- Intermediate: 6 1⁄4–7 in. or 161–178 cm.
- Senior: 7–8 3⁄8 in. or 179–213 cm.
The best way to know whether a goalie blocker fits properly is to try it on with your chest protector and stick. The cuff should extend one to two inches above the arm pad's edge on your goalie chest and arm protector, leaving no gaps in coverage. Depending on your preferred board position, the blocker may or may not work well with your current arm padding. The glove's palm material and finger stall length should help you achieve an optimal grip on your hockey goalie stick. If you struggle to hold and move the shaft, you may need to remeasure for a new blocker size.
How a Goalie Blocker Should Fit
A correctly sized blocker features a snug, secure fit and doesn’t shift when the hand moves. The glove needs to allow some wiggle room without being so loose that it hinders dexterity. When fitting your hand to the palm of the blocker glove, we recommend no more than ¼ inch between the tip of the goalie's finger and the top of the finger stalls. Any more room will prevent you from gripping and controlling the stick properly, and will cause the blocker to tilt or wobble.
How To Put on a Hockey Goalie Blocker
Now that you know how to buy and size a blocker, it's time to gear up. Unlike goalie leg pads, a blocker is fairly simple to put on. Start by inserting your hand into the glove. Then, fasten the cuff strap around your wrist. The fit should be tight enough to secure the padding yet loose enough to allow for ample movement. Once the goalie blocker is secured, you’re ready for action.
Hockey Goalie Blocker Care
One of the easiest ways to care for a blocker, or any piece of hockey equipment, is proper storage. We recommend using a goalie bag for transporting gear to and from the rink. These cases come with a weather-resistant exterior, and interior dividers for ultimate protection when traveling. Some bags feature a ventilated construction to allow sweat-soaked padding to air out.
Aim to wash your hockey goalie blocker after every practice and game. Routinely cleaning gear prevents the buildup of bacteria that can cause skin rashes and embarrassing odor. To wash a goalie blocker, all you need to do is wipe down the inside and outside with a warm, damp cloth and allow it to air dry. Never submerge or soak the mitt in water. Players can occasionally use goalie equipment care accessories, including gear-safe sprays and diluted detergents, to eliminate lingering smells.
Washing equipment regularly also allows you to examine wear and tear. Goalie blockers come built to take a beating, but they won’t last forever. When you see tears, cracks, and other signs of damage, you need new pads. Most goalies can tell it's time to replace their gear by the way it feels while they’re on the ice. If the glove doesn’t fit the way it used to, or if the foam board isn't as protective upon impact, you likely need a new blocker.
Learn everything there is to know about all your gear in our other goalie equipment guides. Still need help buying or sizing a blocker? Visit the nearest Pure Goalie store for in-person assistance from an experienced member of our team. You’ll get the most competitive prices for goalie blockers regardless of whether you shop in-store or online, thanks to our Low-Price Guarantee.