If you’ve played hockey for more than five minutes, you already know the truth: the gear isn’t cheap. And if you’re a parent with kids in hockey, you’ve probably had at least one “how did we just spend that much on shin pads?” moment. The good news is, you don’t always have to pay full price.

One of the best ways to save is to shop during clearance events. Canadian retailers tend to drop prices right before the new season’s gear arrives, so summer and late spring are prime times to find deals. Another trick is to keep an eye on holiday sales like Boxing Day or Black Friday—goalie pads and sticks often see big discounts then.

Of course, hunting down those sales can feel like a full-time job. That’s where we come in. At HockeyDeals.ca, we round up the best prices in Canada so you can skip the endless scrolling and focus on the fun part—actually playing hockey. Because let’s face it, no one brags about how many hours they spent searching for discounts online.

So next time you’re about to upgrade your skates or replace that cracked stick, remember: the timing matters, the sales matter, and with a little help, your wallet doesn’t have to feel like it just took a hard hit along the boards.