Hockey's most essential piece of equipment? The stick. A hockey stick is about 31 to 38 inches long with a round handle and a hooked end, which is rounded on one side and flat on the other and used to push, dribble and strike the ball.

The hockey stick is traditionally made of wood covered with fiberglass, but modern sticks are also made of Kevlar and composite plastics. They are available in three weight variations; light, medium and heavy. A player should select the weight and length according to his own comfort.

Hockey sticks are made for right-handed players" ?left-handed players must rotate the stick hook by 180. Grips may be suede or rubber, though porous suede is preferred. The cost may be upwards of $30, depending on quality.

The hockey ball is made of hardened plastic and costs roughly $5.

Goal-nets are made of synthetic nylon and are 3.66m by 2.1m, which is the regulation size. Galvanized steel rods can be folded for storage. Goal-frames are priced at about $400, not including nets.

Players wear hockey jerseys, shorts and socks, made of synthetic materials such as nylon. Safety gear for the players consists of leg, shin, knee and elbow pads, wrist guards, mouth guards, jockstraps and turf shoes. The goalie must wear full-body safety gear including, helmet with face net, mouth guard, throat protector, chest protector with elbow pads and wrist guards, leg pads with knee guards, shin guards and turf shoes. Safety gear is made of plastic, rubber or fiberglass.