Many people are unfamiliar with the white boxes that are often found in hockey nets. These boxes are a crucial part of any goaltender’s equipment bag, as they contain the equipment that the goaltender uses to protect the net during a game. Without these boxes, organizing the goaltender’s gear would be extremely difficult, as all the items would be tangled up in each other. The purpose of this article is to familiarize the reader with what are the white boxes in hockey nets and how they function.
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What Are The White Boxes In Hockey Nets?
The white boxes in hockey nets are similar to those boxes that you might find in a store that sells sporting equipment or those boxes that jewelry or watch companies use for shipping. The only difference is that the boxes that are used for hockey are a little bigger and have vertical stripes on them, rather than the horizontal stripes that you will often find on the other boxes. The size difference is due to the fact that the larger the box, the more room it has for the items inside it. Since hockey goalkeepers use a lot of equipment, they need a bigger box so that all the items can be kept organized and compact while in transit. The taller the box, the better, as it gives the goalie more room to arrange his or her gear. The vertical stripes also act as a flag to the goalie on the field, as they represent the goalie’s helmet on game day.
How Do The White Boxes In Hockey Nets Work?
The white boxes in hockey nets work much like the other boxes in this article. When the goalie is storing his or her equipment in advance of a game, he or she will usually stack the items inside the boxes. The taller the box, the better, as it gives the goalie more space to fit all his or her equipment. The goal is to create enough space for the goalie’s helmet, mask, pads, and gloves, as well as any other equipment that he or she may need. It is also beneficial for the goaltender to have all of this space available, so that when the moment of truth comes, he or she can quickly and easily access what he or she needs to protect the net. When the moment of truth comes, the goalie will usually put on his or her pads and helmet, and then pick up the rest of his or her gear and transition in to game mode. After the game, the goalie will take off his or her pads and helmet and put his or her gear away in the appropriate way, so that it is easily accessible for future games. Having the items stored in this way makes it much easier for the goalie to prepare for the next game, instead of having to search for his or her gloves, mask, and pads, while trying to figure out where he or she stashed them in the first place. It is during these moments, where sudden surprises and errors can occur, that the usefulness of the white boxes in hockey nets becomes apparent. The taller the box, the better, as it gives the goalie more room to work with.
Organizing The Goalie’s Gear
One of the most challenging things for a hockey goalie is keeping all of his or her gear organized and clean. In order to keep all of the items organized, it is important to use proper storage containers. There are three basic rules to following when storing your goalie gear: (1) Use the right containers, (2) Store the equipment inside in the proper way, and (3) Keep the gear clean and sanitized, and free of any germs or dirt that could make the goalie sick. It is also beneficial for the goalie to use the right type of containers, as these will keep all of the equipment clean and free of any germs or dirt particles that may settle during transport. The type of container that the goalie uses will depend on the type of garment that he or she wears, as well as the nature of the equipment that he or she stores. The following table lists the different types of storage containers that the goalie may use, along with the reasons why:
- Bag
- Shorts
- Tights
- Pants
- Socks
- Jacket
- Sweatpants
- Dress
The Main Equipment The Goaltender Uses
The main equipment that the goaltender uses are his or her mask, helmet, gloves, and pads. The mask helps to protect the goalie’s eyes from damage, the helmet protects the head from injuries, the gloves protect the hands from getting burned by the sun and the ice, and the pads protect the body from getting injured when blocking shots or hitting the ice during a battle for the puck. The main equipment that the goaltender uses is fairly straightforward, but there are some important things that you need to remember, depending on the climate that you play in and the surface that you use for your games.
- The helmet must fit snugly and protect the head from any injuries
- The mask must fit securely over the face
- The padding around the eyes must be thick
- The nose and chin pads must be securely held in place
- The cheeks and temple pads must be padded
- The ears must be protected from getting chapped by the cold air when blocking the shots
Since climate is a major factor when it comes to the goalie’s equipment, you will usually find that the goalie uses more of one set of equipment in one location, and another set in another. The following table lists the equipment that the goalkeeper uses, depending on whether they play in an extremely cold or extremely hot climate.
- Extremely Hot (Heat Index Above 75) – Masks, helmets, and pads are usually black or dark blue in color to protect the body from the sun’s heat. Black is also a common choice when it comes to these types of protective gear, as it helps to keep the heat down. The goaltender also uses black shorts to help keep his or her body warm. Since the shorts are tight, it helps to keep the body warm. Dark blue also goes well with the sun, so you will usually find that the goalie uses either one of these colors when playing in extremely hot climates. Dark green would also look good with the sun but it is harder to keep clean. In extremely hot climates, the goalie uses a lot of dark or black clothing to keep cool.
- Extremely Cold (Heat Index Below 25) – The opposite is true in extremely cold climates. The color that the goaltender uses is usually white or very light blue to allow for maximum exposure to the winds that are often prevalent in these areas. In extremely cold climates, the goalie usually wears very thick mittens, ski gloves, and a very thick woolen hat. Since the temperature is very low, the padding around the eyes is also important to keep the wind from turning into an injury. In extremely cold climates, the goaltender wears very few clothes, if any at all.
Where Do The Padding And Liners Go?
The padding and liners that the goalie uses are usually placed strategically around his or her head and neck to protect these areas from injury. The types of padding and liners that the goalie uses depend on the type of shot that they regularly face, as well as their style of play. Thicker pads and liners are used for blocking shots, while thinner ones are used for maneuvering the puck or passing it in the air. Since the pads and liners are thin, it is important to keep them clean and dry, so that they stay in good shape for a long time. Thicker the pads and liners, the better, as they act as a shield between the puck and the head or neck area. When storing your goalie gear, you must remember not to put any moisture in the gear, as this could lead to mold or mildew.
Additional Important Facts About The Goalie’s Equipment
- The helmet must cover the head completely and protect the user’s ears from getting chapped
- The mask must fit comfortably over the user’s face
- The nose and chin protectors must be securely held in place
- The cheeks and temple should be padded
- The ears should be covered by the shield when not in use
- The boots must fit securely over the feet and be made of a water-repellent (DWR) material to keep the feet dry