Equipment Checklist

CanSkate

• Hockey or figure skates (must be sharpened before first use)
• CSA approved hockey helmet (facemask is highly recommended for beginner to Stage 3 skaters)
• Mittens/gloves ("furry" gloves are NOT permitted as they stick to the ice and blades and clog the zamboni)
• LAYERS! New skaters will spend a lot of time on the ice in the first few days. Layers to stay warm and dry are essential
• NO JEANS! Jeans get wet and cold quickly and limit movement
• Avoid knee pads. While they seem like a good idea, they can limit movement and actually make it more difficult for beginners to get their balance to stand up. Skaters are taught within the first minutes of being on the ice how to fall properly to avoid falling on their knees as much as possible
• A towel to dry skates
• A pair of soft guards to keep blades protected while in your skate bag
• A hair tie for skaters with long hair. Headbands often slip down over the skater's eyes so avoid if possible. 

example of furry gloves:

Junior Academy

• Figure skates (hockey skates are permitted but with the program focusing on figure skating, skills taught are more challenging in hockey skates)
• A CSA approved helmet unless the skater has completed Stage 5 and has been given approval from the coaching staff
• Mittens/gloves ("furry" gloves are NOT permitted as they stick to the ice and blades and clog the zamboni)
• LAYERS! Layers can be taken off as the skater warm-ups and can be added back if they get colder
• NO JEANS! Jeans get wet and cold quickly and limit movement
• A towel to dry skates
• A pair of soft guards to keep blades protected while in your skate bag
• A pair of hard guards to protect the blade while walking 
• A hair tie for skaters with long hair. Headbands often slip down over the skater's eyes so avoid if possible