If you need hockey equipment for yourself or your child, and need assistance with choosing the right gear you should go to Sports Etc. The staff is well trained and knows how to fit the equipment to you. It's a family owned store and it has a really great selection of hockey equipment, including an entire basement of sticks with fake ice for trying them out. Prices are decent. Less expensive than some of the chains. This is my favorite hockey store. I will say that my daughter prefers to have her skates sharpened elsewhere though. Not really sure why. read more

Sports Etc - Jersey, socks, and hockey tape (& more!) from sports, etc. - Sporting Goods Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

Great store for the young hockey player. Our kids' coaches and other hockey parents had highly recommended this store since they have a broad selection of equipment at different price points, and there is a small "ice" area to test out sticks. The sales associate that worked with us- Will- was super helpful, and even helped to size my son for the right goalie leg pads, adjust the straps on our existing pads, and add toe bungee cords that we purchased from the store. He was very patient in explaining the gear to us. Would definitely recommend to all hockey parents! read more

I have been to Sports Etc about 4-5x in the last 2 years to purchase hockey gear for my 4 elementary school age children. I have had a great experience with this store every time and highly recommend it. On a recent trip - I had amazing help from Dan. He patiently took the time to help me go through my 3 older kids hockey gear to determine what could still work/fit for this year and what could be replaced. This was so helpful as I'm not versed in how things should fit and he explained everything piece by piece. His focus was on getting us what we truly needed, not just replacing everything. We also had help from Cam who fitted one of my kids with new skates while kindly chatting all about hockey, which was so nice for my son. I highly recommend this place because of the excellent service here - just really great, helpful staff. read more

This store is my absolute go to for anything hockey related. The selection of hockey equipment is un matched anywhere locally. Where this place really shines is the customer service and hockey knowledge. The people who work here are patient and knowledgeable. I've never once been upsold into a more expensive product. In fact it's been the exact opposite. Could I find a particular skate or stick cheaper online, of course I could. That online store is never going to help fix a broken helmet, rush to sharpen skates for a kid who has a game in 30 minutes, or keep the store open for an extra few minutes so someone could find a piece of much needed gear. If f your a hockey parent or wanna be hockey parent do yourself a favor and shop Sports Etcetera. You won't regret it and you might even learn a bit about hockey. Who knew here was a science behind blade curvature... read more

Sports Etc. is our new go-to place despite having to Lyft our way over from Cambridge. We stopped in before the blizzard to make sure we had skates and a sled (also for a new soccer ball--they have all the sports). They fitted my son who is a skating beginner with really comfortable adjustable skates so that he can still wear them next year. We got home and my son showed me that the sled had a hole so I let Sports Etc. know so they'd check other sleds. Paul immediately wrote back offering to mail a replacement. HOWEVER, my husband then showed me the box my son had ripped open in his eagerness to get to the sled, which made us think that maybe we were at fault for the hole. We let Paul know it might have been our fault, and he said he didn't want my son to be disappointed, so he drove over and dropped off another sled at our house free of charge first thing the next morning so that my son could have a full day of fun in the snow. I am tempted to get my reluctant kid to join hockey so that we can go buy more stuff at Paul's store! read more

Sports Etc - Happy sledder - Sporting Goods Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

I love this pace! We come here for any of my kid's sports gear for baseball, hockey and some soccer. We got everything we needed in a timely fashion and my kids love all the demo equipment, it's like an elevated toy store for them. The guys are super helpful, friendly, and I love their knowledge and eagerness to help. The shop also has a small town, homey feel, and I love that. The prices are fine, but they have all the sizes in stock, but with any sport, gear adds up quickly! They do have professional hockey bag and equipment cleaning! And they can trim the length of your stick on the spot in a few short minutes. I heard they have a sale in the summer months, so I'll be sure to check in then! read more

Short version: this is THE place to go for hockey stuff. Great selection, even better assistance. Long version: I'm just back from an amazing experience at Sports, Etc. As I said, this is THE place in the Boston area for hockey stuff. They also have some general sports stuff (baseball, basketball, lacrosse, some running shoes, rollerblades), but its core is hockey. About two years ago I bought a pair of skates there. My daughter has taken up hockey, and I wanted to skate with her. I have wide feet, and so I needed someplace where they had a broad selection and knew the brands well enough to find the right fit. They found me a pair of Bauer skates that fit pretty well (they are the type that you can heat and fit to your foot). So far so good, but I found after about a half-dozen uses that they weren't perfect. Still not wide enough. They had told me that I could come back twice to reheat and refit the boots. That was two years ago, however, and I got lazy and just didn't skate much. Finally, I got it together to go back. They were as helpful as can be. It didn't seem to matter that I'd bought the skates two years previously. The guy (Mike) probably spent 20 minutes with me. He reheated the boots, then asked me to walk around and give him insight into how they felt. He had various tools to shape the boots in the places where they were uncomfortable. He took them back to his workbench several times, adjusting here and there, and using a special tool to spread the inside of the boots wider. Long story short, they fit great now. At the end I offered to pay him, but he would accept money. All part of the service. On the way out, I complemented the check-out people on how helpful Mike was. They said, "Oh yes, he's been with us for 20 years. We actually have 6 people on staff who've been here for 20 years or more." Wow. What retail store has that kind of experienced staff on hand any more? This guy must know more about hockey equipment than almost anyone. And the way he seemed to have all the time in the world for me made it worth it. I'm told the prices are reasonable there, but I don't really care what they are at this point. This is where we are going to get our hockey equipment from now on. read more

Aside from the misleading name, this is a great hockey shop with an impressive selection and extremely knowledgeable and helpful employees. Their prices are very reasonable and the service is top-notch. I live and work in Boston but will gladly take the 45-minute trip to Arlington Heights for all my hockey needs. I bought my skates there recently and they worked with me on three separate visits, helping me to understand the proper fit while also listening well to my needs. They provide a warranty on skates at no extra charge. They gladly explained a lot of other things to me while I was there and offered advice and recommendations for someone just starting out (me). I bought a bunch of equipment here as well. Again, good selection and excellent service. My only complaint is that they close early, although they are open til 8pm on Thursdays. Check before you venture out there. read more

I have been to Sports Etc twice. The first time was a few months ago with my boyfriend when he needed a new hockey stick. The salesman was so knowledgeable and friendly. I wanted to stick around for a while longer to learn more about hockey sticks! The second time was this past Saturday when I went to get some ice skates. The salesman was patient and knowledgeable about the skates. I tried on several pairs and he made sure I would understand the difference between each one. He helped me decide on a very cute pair of figure skates. We went skating on them Saturday night, and my feet were so happy to be out of rental skates! read more

I've been a goalie in Boston from youth league through DII college and now into Senior Leage. Sports Etc is the BEST place I have found (and I've been to a LOT of places) for: - Goalie Equipment selection and Service - Skate sharpening (custom radius, sharpness) - General Goaltending advice read more

I just went for skate sharpening, because NEVER PUT YOUR SKATES IN THOSE AWFUL AUTOMATIC MACHINES. Anyway, really -- go to a professional. My hockey skates are embarrassingly rusty but they came back prettier than before, and done while I waited on a weekday afternoon (hint: they have a whole wall of autographed hockey sticks, which are pretty cool to look at). They seemed well staffed; in addition to cash and shop work, they had a couple sales people there fitting skates and helping other customers with equipment. I was really drooling over the equipment and really wanted to buy all the things while I was there, even though I can't play hockey. Maybe my Canadian is showing, but I wish more recreational women skaters would just buy hockey skates. (I refrained from proselytizing while I was there) [/personal rant] I also got a pair of blade guards, and they advised me well. He was patient while I asked questions about their sharpening and what diameter they'd use. While I've had my skates sharpened for less money, I don't think the sharpening job was as good as Sports Etc did. I'll definitely go back there. You can often find street parking right in Arlington Heights, but there's also a lot right beside the row of shops which you can park in. read more

In and out! We needed soccer shoes for my son for soccer that starts next week. So I was expect to be hunting all over town. But no. Sport Etc had a solid pile left. We tried in a couple and found one that fit, bought shin pads too. No waiting for staff to find shoes in the back and we supported small business. And the place is huge! Tons of sports equipment. First time there but definitely not our last. read more

I was going to a hockey store for a hockey tournament to get a helmet. When we got there the sign said the store was closed so we were mad but the store owner saw us and he let us in even though it was closed. Also if he did not let us in I would not get to play in my tournament and I liked how they let me borrow a stick and let me shoot. Now my Dad says that any time we need sports equipment we would come back. Luke E. 9 years old read more

Very helpful staff. Got all new goalie equipment, etc. for my daughter and they were very knowledgable, helpful, and patient! There is that feeling that only a local store can have. Went to the Bauer store in Burlington and while their indoor mini rink is impressive, had a kind of an impersonal feeling to it. We bought so much we got a discount and some free t-shirts. Will definitely be returning for any future purchases. Support your local shops! read more

Great for hockey equipment and baseball/softball. Also, one of the most reliabelskate sharpenings with reasonably proximity to Boston

The previous review made me laugh -- this place really should be called "Hockey, etc.". Arlington is a hockey town, and this is a hockey shop. If all you want is hockey, you've found your store. Not the cheapest on every product, but what a treat to find everything in one place. And they are knowledgeable about their products, offer great customer service, will provide lots of helpful advice. About hockey. They do have some other stuff -- shinguards and cleats for soccer, for example, and a bin of basketballs near the door. And the customer service is second-to-none. They inflate balls and sharpen skates and measure feet and talk about gear and do it all with a smile. Why only four stars? Because I want my local SPORTS store to sell more than hockey equipment! But for those of you who want only hockey, this place should have SIX stars. BTW, parking is super easy to find on this part of Mass Ave. read more

Can't say enough good things about Sports Etc. I started shopping there this summer having never played ice hockey before. They were kind, helpful and up front about everything. They had no problem walking my friend and I thorough every purchase, from skates to sticks and pads to helmets. I've continued to do the majority of my shopping. I even had a bag break (manufacturer's defect), and the store replaced it for me even though I didn't have the receipt anymore. It's a shame that more stores like this don't exist. Great selection and even better customer service. Highly recommended! read more

So, I am very particular about my skates - always have been. Now that I mainly just coach (some pickup men's league stuff) I want to make sure I am comfortable and able to focus on my team rather than dealing with my aching feet. The guys at Sports Etc not only have put up with my questions, changing skates, different customizations and quirks - and they have supported me the entire way. I live in New Hampshire and I WILL NOT buy skates from anywhere else...period. They are worth the ride. I will not buy skates for my kids anywhere else because I am confident they will end up with THE RIGHT skate for them and how they play. read more

Quick, knowledgeable and friendly !!!!! Can't say how easy it was to get the right help in buying skates for my 6year old. We will definitely be back!!! read more

Wasn't impressed with the gruff old man working the register. Smiling and acting human says hi. Workers were helpful, but the prices were ridiculous. I can find better prices online but I prefer to frequent local shops first. Wouldn't go back. read more

This place was great! I wanted to find a local place to buy some hockey skates, and I can't imagine a better store or experience. We got in there to find a big (yet cozy) shop full to the brim with hockey equipment. Their skate selection was huge and very reasonably priced. The salespeople are super-knowledgeable and helpful. We got in there, and within a few minutes, I was trying skates on. I told them what I needed and they got it right with the first try. We got free sharpening, and we were probably in and out within 15 minutes. read more

This is a really great hockey store. (Sure, they have some random other things like frisbees and soccer balls but really, this is a hockey store.) This is the website: https://www.sportsetc.net/ They have quite a bit of everything in terms of hockey -- shin pads, elbow pads, goalie skates, regular skater skates, shoulder pads, practice jerseys, regular pucks and weighted pucks, various tape (stick and all-purpose), goalie pads, sticks, helmets, shields, hockey pants, hockey pant shells, gloves, blade guards, hockey bags, goalie gear (blockers, gloves, pads, etc.) you name it. And everything from the amateur starter to a semi-professional. They may not have everything (e.g., you won't find official Team USA Olympic jerseys or every team's NHL gear or "Red Tackla Hockey Pant Shells") but certainly enough. Prices are okay, and they do have sales every so often. I don't think they had any used gear -- all new. After college when I was continuing to play intramural hockey, I probably bought about half of my upgraded gear from Sports Etc. They do skate sharpening as well. And you can get a multi-sharpening package. I ALWAYS and ONLY get my skates sharpened here. They also do skate repairs. One of my pretty nice skates became a bit loose in the heel because of some cracked plastic and they fixed that in reasonable time and cost (I think it was like 10 years ago, $20). Felt like brand new. Never had any problems with the skates since. The sales people seemed very nice and very knowledgeable. (I've never been barked at and sometimes I've just wandered in to look at stuff.) They're up at Arlington Heights and usually I can find parking in that area. I think it was pretty close to Penzey's Spices so I parked for both (for free -- no meter). read more

If you are looking for hockey equipment, or any sports equipment, look no further! Sports etc has been in business forever and for good reason. Staff is friendly, patient, and extremely knowledgeable. We recently stopped In, and had lost track of time, and ended up at the store close to closing, and the staff didn't flinch when we wanted to fit my son for new skates. Great store! read more

After a sharpening here, I took the ice a few times and I skate very hard. harder than most I might add, Nice and even, I will be back here for my future skate needs. read more

Great for hockey! They did a great job sharpening skates and have everything one could want about hockey. Very knowledgeable staff. Locally owned. read more

The best sporting goods store around. Amazing expertise in hockey and more hockey! These guys know their stuff! Fabulous customer service, extremely professional. The best, hands down in New England. So no surprise people come from far and wide. Shop Local - Shop Sports Etc.! read more

This is a great store with very helpful staff, and I don't feel as if they are just trying to make a sale. This is where I get my son's hockey gear every time. read more

I have been getting my hockey gear from this store since I was 5 years old. They have expanded a few times since then, but the level of service has always been top notch. When you recognize employees that have worked there since you were a mite, its a good thing. Prices seem a bit high though, compared to other shops I have been to. Selection is limited to a few core brands as well. If you are looking for something specific, be sure to check first, as they may not carry the brand or item you are looking for. As far as sharpening is concerned, this is one of the better shops to go to. My old stand-by skate shop has had alot of turnover the past few years, so I take my skates to sports etc now. I prefer to have them do my sharpenings, not some teenager who has little or no experience. read more

I'm just a recreational skater and went here to get my skates sharpened. Cost: $6, which is a dollar cheaper than the rates I found at other places. Barely took any time at all, but then again I went in the morning and was the only person pocking around the shop. It was just the right amount of time to let me fully consider what color skate guards to get (I settled on purple) and pop in a few doors down to the Lakota Bakery and grab a cookie or five. Staff is friendly but not obsequious in the way some places are where if you're the only one in there they watch you like hawks and try to pressure you to buy stuff you don't want or need. read more

Super nice store 10 min away from my place. I was going just to ask about right size, try couple skates and buy it online, cause they usually have better deals. but wait, the ones i was looking on were same price as on clearance on the internet!!! staff is really nice and helpful. So i just got my pair here, and can go on the ice tonight instead of waiting 3-5-7 days to get them. oh, and free sharpening as well if you get a pair of skates=) read more

Great place for all your hockey equipment. Excellent skate fitting. Paul took his time to make sure I had what was best for me was not up selling just concerned with giving me the best fitting skates. They carry different widths and make sure the fit is great. The whole staff seems very knowledgeable. I would highly recommend to any hockey player. I heard about them and drove 50 miles . It was worth the trip ! read more

I've always had good service when going here. They do a good job on skate sharpening although, if you go late on a Saturday afternoon, they usually are so busy that you might not be able to pick them up till Monday (since they are not open on Sundays). The staff is quite knowledgeable and give recommendations based on your needs rather then what will make them the most money. read more

We've been customers for ten years. When the store went beyond the call of duty refitting my daughter's goalie skates this winter, I wrote a glowing review, which was apparently so positive it was filtered out by Yelp. This is a great store with amazing service and a huge selection of hockey equipment. Their skate sharpening service is excellent, and during the week, at least, the turnaround time is so short that you can usually just wait for the skates. ATTENTION, Yelp. I am a real customer and I will keep posting positive reviews of this store, so cut out the filtering. read more

I went to Sports Etc yesterday to buy ice skates for my preschool-aged son. Very pleased with the pleasant and helpful service that I received. It is a pleasure to support a small business that offers such a great experience. read more

The staff is sooooo nice and knowledgeable!!! The selection of skates is huge. Very convenient. And we like the intimate nature of the store, unlike huge chain stores. Definitely your go-to store for hockey stuff! read more

I signed up for yelp solely to post this review. After doing some research I decided that this was the place to buy my new pair of skates, and they did not disappoint. Rich was extremely helpful in determining what make of skates would best suit my needs, and made it a point of emphasis to keep it within my price range. Absolutely no pressure or up-sells. He spent an hour or so with me, trying on and fitting different skates until we found the appropriate fit. On top of that, the skates I purchased were the same price as the most competitive online price. If you need skates or hockey gear in general, this is your place. read more

Best service and most knowledgeable people. Low pressure and never sell you anything you don't need.

The best. These guys know everything about hockey and hockey equipment. Highly recommend.

I agree with the last review as you cannot go late in the day as most people have dropped off their skates by then. This is a prime example that this is the place to go for skate sharpening. There is a reason there is a 2 hour wait on a weekend. I have never lost an edge or had a bad skate sharpening. I was there today and skated tonight and once again top notch. From my last review they are still the best in the east coast hands down. They do more business than most places in Canada so once again that is worth noting. Worth the trip for those serious about hockey. read more

Outstanding service. Tons of selection, extremely helpful in helping to find hockey equipment for my daughter. Even the other sporting good stores refer here. read more