After sticks, hockey gloves are the piece of equipment that players spend the most time shopping for, so let's get in to finding the right size and style for your next pair of pro stock gloves from HockeyStickMan.
The easiest way to determine the size for your hockey gloves is to measure from the tip of your middle finger to the base of your palm where the line is, as shown in the image below. Take this measurement and double it; whatever this length is (inches) will align with the appropriate glove size.
Once you have this measurement, you can reference our glove sizing chart to find the recommended size for you.
When trying on gloves, there are a few fitting components to look out for. Make sure your fingers get to the ends of the gussets on the ends of the fingers without feeling like they're going to push through them. You'll also want to wiggle your fingers around to make sure you have maximum mobility in the fingers.
Moving up to the wrist, it’ll be beneficial to throw on an elbow pad to ensure you’re getting a glove that offers the most coverage between the bottom of the elbow pad and the cuff of your glove.
If you find yourself in between two sizes, try on the two sizes you're in between to get a better sense of what size will be best for you. A smaller fitting glove may fit nice and snug to your hand, but they could leave too much of your forearm exposed between the cuff of your glove and the bottom of your elbow pad. On the other hand, a bigger fitting glove may eliminate that exposure in the forearm, your fingers may not make it to the end of the fingers of the gloves, leaving the glove feeling too big and loose.
Let’s dive into the different styles each manufacturer offers so we can find the best fitting glove for your playing style, starting with Bauer. The Vapor line from Bauer offers a tapered fit, meaning the glove is snug in the palm but features a flared cuff for maximum range of motion in the wrist.
The Supreme line offers a similar snug fit in the hands, but stays close to the wrist offering what's called an anatomical fit as it mimics the shape of the body part it's covering to offer maximum comfort and protection.
Lastly from Bauer is the Pro Series line, formerly known as Nexus. This glove is the traditional 4-roll design offering a classic boxy fit lots of mobility and freedom in the glove while also being a little bulkier offering great coverage.
Moving on to CCM, you'll see model names for CCM pro stock gloves that are more like code names and less like any models you'd see at the retail level. Starting with the HGJS (standing for Hockey Glove Jetspeed), this glove offers a snug fit in the hands with an open cuff allowing maximum range of motion in the wrist area.
The HGTK (Hockey Glove Tacks) offers an anatomical fit as it stays snug to the hand from the top of the fingers to the cuff. This glove will offer a great feel with maximum coverage and protection.
Finally, the HG97 is CCM's classic 4-roll design, offering a classic wide fit that has a great balance of both mobility and coverage.
You will also notice some gloves come with a plate stitched on to the backhand of the glove. These are commonly referred to as "shot blockers" and offer an extra layer of protection from incoming pucks and errant sticks.
It's important to note that any CCM pro stock glove that comes with shot blockers will have a different product name. If a CCM HGJS comes with shot blockers, its product name will be HGJSPP, with the PP standing for plate protection.
Additionally, some CCM pro stock gloves come with an extra layer of protection inside the glove, so there will no visual difference, but you will notice the backs of the fingers as well as the backhand due feel a little firmer thanks to this extra protection. These gloves will have "XP" at the end of their product name, such as HGTKXP.
HSM is also proud to offer the Sherwood Rekker Element Pro glove in over 30 NHL team colors including alternate and special event colorways. This glove offers an anatomical fit making it extremely comfortable and protective.
After stocking thousands of pro stock gloves from our 150+ partner teams, HSM made the call to produce its own - the Pro Blackout Glove. With a traditional 4-roll design this glove offers that classic fit with lots of mobility and protection. This glove offers great bang-for-your-buck as it is a high performance glove at an affordable price.
Shop online or visit us at our Toronto Showroom or Belleville Warehouse to get your new pair of pro stock gloves today.