big_tommy68

Thanks!

I'm relocating from Toronto to Kent, southeast of London, in the UK. Anyone know if there is any hockey for middle aged beer leaguers there? If it matters, I'm playing low to mid level league and shinny now Thanks

I went from used 35+1 V3's which had already shrunk were definitely way too short, to 36+1 v5's. After years of shrinkage in the V5's, they were noticeably shorter such that my knee was landing in the bottom portion of the stack (after starting in the middle). I just moved to 36+2 EFlex 4's and I am landing perfectly in these. The change from V3 to V5 and from V5 to EF4 was very similar -- the biggest thing to get used to by far was the extra thigh rise in both cases. I am actually shocked by how similarly the pads play (or at least how easy the transition to "modern" pads was) otherwise. The soft boot is definitely part of that. Hopefully that helps with your Q's around sizing and feel

I love that we're both for regional broadcasters that 90% or more of the rest of the readers will probably never hear. It's a very internet-y kind of conversation to have! When I was a kid growing up in Montreal, I used to put a radio on top of the tv so that I could watch the local French channel televising mid-week games while listening in English. By the time I knew enough french to not do it that way, Pierre Houde had started doing play-by-play. So I listened to him through my formative years, as it were. And Marc is his best colour commentary guy yet in my opinion -- possibly the best former player doing the job that I've heard, at least in Canada. Both are well spoken and clearly smart (unlike some of the cement heads on the air - ahem, Kyprios) Now I'm a middle aged Torontonian who pays for an NHL app subscription so that I can get my out-of-market Habs games in french because these two are so much better than the fourth tier guys sportnet usually assigns Habs games in English!

Pierre and Marc all the way. Best in the biz by far, assuming you can appreciate hockey in French.

Not quite the price version, but never had one break. https://www.thehockeyshop.com/collections/hockey-waterbottles/products/the-hockey-shop-straw-water-bottle-small They are pop top, but I leave it popped open all game and it doesn't leak unless the straw is really pointing close to straight down

Man that mask brings back memories! My first real mask was a GT -- same exact shape, same cage, same shaggy blue sweat band I'm pretty sure (only my mask was black with triangle vents). It weighed a TON, but man could it take an impact without letting you feel it! Unfortunately it cracked in a potentially dangerous spot and I had to retire it. Had 2-3 masks after it that weren't nearly as good, one of which had its chin literally disintegrate on a shot that my Eddy would have simply laughed off. Maybe it's because I've spent more of my life in football helmets than hockey helmets in my life, but there was something really comforting about the heftiness of the Eddy. It just felt like it could take a beating and keep on going. My current Coveted has proven to be just as safe (maybe safer) and durable and I have ZERO complaints about it, but nothing I've had has matched that "feeling" of being protected that old Eddy had...

When he did mine, he didn't custom mould to my head but he did make a "custom" size shell as my measurements/photos said I needed the equivalent of an XL when all he was making at the time was L (an "overlay" he called it). He also cut the sides a bit long to accommodate my big melon, and I think lengthened the chin to keep it proportionate. All that was for the standard charge. But he may have changed his custom pricing since then as he was in way way fewer stores at the time and I know filling those retail orders can be a challenge for a small shop...

Congrats! Ron made me a custom sized 3:13 about 18 months ago. It has proven well made and very protective from both shots and at least one very hard elbow. And he was definitely great to work with. Highly recommended.