FIFTY-SIX

CCM Blockade pads, glove and blocker.  'Nuff said...

On 3/9/2024 at 4:40 PM, Wonder35 said:

Goodbye Hockey. ......... I am playing my final game on Friday, March 29.

For years my body has been complaining. This time I have listened.

It has been a grand run, 75-80 games per year with my 55+ team and more recently we've morphed into a 70+ squad.

Of course I'll miss it, over 65 years of being a goalie. But following hip, knee and shoulder surgeries the arthritis has won !@#$%^&*. So at age 74 I'm hanging them up. I won't be selling any gear as my Granddaughter is following the Family Curse and is now a 'tender.

It is my plan to drop in every once in a while on this site and take the temperature. But probably won't have much to offer, as if I ever have.

 

Cheers y'all

Steve Berry

West Kelowna, BC

Canada 

@Wonder35 Steve:  Wow!  Awesome!  Great run!  Many of us old-timers on this site dread this day or cannot fathom its arrival.  Obviously, this is unrealistic.  Everything ends.  Cudos to you for having the emotional intelligence to confront and accept this inevitable and bittersweet moment.  You've truly MOVED THE GOALPOSTS for the rest of us.  As I approached my first hip replacement in 2020, I thought I may never play again.  Immediately after my second hip replacement in Jan. 2024, I was texting my 2 teams and 2 closed pickups about my August 2024 availability.  Your resilience/"no quit" attitude/toughness/fearlessness has been an inspiration to me.  I'm 60, with 48 years in goal, and hoping to approach your impressive longevity.  Thank you Wonder, my Spirit Goalie.  56

P.S.  A detailed photo review sugests your toe cap-post integration in the RVH still needs some work (as does mine ). 

8 hours ago, MangoRhinehart said:

It is! It was a decent purchase, though we had to replace the pump unit after a year or two, we had it stored outside in a deck box and it didnt like that, so it lives in the garage now. It gets up to 104 and you can either heat or bubbles. Bubbles will drop heat fast. Usually takes about 12-24 hours to heat up fully. We use bleach and  a testing kit to make sure its good.

May I ask the name of the manufacturer? Thank you!

56

On 3/16/2024 at 12:12 PM, coopaloop1234 said:

Current mess

@coopaloop1234, all kidding aside, are the cowlings on your skates trimmed?  I'm still in Bauer Pros with Step Steel Extreme but am considering trimming the medial aspect of the cowlings for additional attack angle.  If so, can you share some pics and insights?  Thanks!

56

On 8/2/2021 at 10:23 PM, MangoRhinehart said:

I went with wire rack shelves when I migrated from basement to garage. 

36Wx 84Hx 14D about 70 bux each in the garage.

A blower fan and cyclone fan for air drying. 

Hot tub, kegerator and TV. Makes for a nice way to unwind after a game. Thinking about dropping in some synthetic ice.

@MangoRhinehart is that an inflatable hot tub?  If so, I'd appreciate your insights/recommendations. 

56

On 3/16/2024 at 12:12 PM, coopaloop1234 said:

Current mess

The soda still being on the floor is bugging me.

9 hours ago, coopaloop1234 said:

The skate guards still being on is bugging me. 

Me too @coopaloop1234!

5 hours ago, RichMan said:

Something like that, yes. I've become accustomed to a looser pad with playing butterfly more the past 10 years

In my Brian's SZ2s, I installed a nylon professor strap just below the knee cradle (just below where your red behind the knee strap sits).  I wear this somewhat tight.  Then, loose elastic knee to calf strap, loose elastic  calf wrap, loose leather boot strap and loose toe ties.  My pads may ride a little low for some but I still land in the center of the knee stacks.

When I get back from LTIR in August 2024 (another total hip), I plan to experiment with a slightly tighter boot strap and switch from loose skate lace toe ties to even looser elastic toe ties.  For me, while I cannot bring myself to ditch toe ties altogether, toe tie length and material are now more about ankle-health preservation and less about pad-sit/pad attachment. 

How the knee pad strapping, professor strap and knee pad/knee cradle interact is critical to proper rotation and different for everyone depending on personal preference/make and model of all of the above/your anatomy/etc.  Trial and error...

56

On 3/13/2024 at 1:54 PM, RichMan said:

First pic is how I wear mine.

Second pic is Bones (the popular EBUG) in his Trues. His toe-ties has more slack then mine I believe, his pads are loose and he has no professor strap that I know, and yet his knee blocks remain level no matter how he moves or when he drops. I don't get it.

@DL42 I agree about how the industry thinks sometimes. They try to be the next best thing instead of doing the smart thing. I think Warrior realized this and why they went back to a more conventional strapping on the G7 line.

 

@RichMan I guess you're considering that top red strap a "behind the knee strap" (i.e., not an above the calf strap/professor strap) and since you're concerned about keeping the pad up, you must be wearing it loose so as not to undermine pad rotation.  Do I have that right?

56

On 3/13/2024 at 2:21 PM, coopaloop1234 said:

True pads have what they call a Fast Rotation System. It's essentially a professor strap for your calf. Kind of like Bauer's Tune Fit+ system and what CCM does as well. 

It's starting to become popular and for a good reason. Holds your leg in there, doesn't interfere with knee pads or skates, and is highly customizable. 

 

Clearly you just need sliding toe bridges. lol

I know all the rage right now is to go back to laces because "post integration is better!", but I say fuck that. 

Objectively, it's correct, but the feel and ease of bungees are fantastic and lord knows I'm never going to have enough time to effectively practice my toe bridge on post integration to the point where it's automatic. The sole benefit of lace is almost lost on me. 

Especially as I've got rubber enough hips that skate on post and a hard lean (even in Ultrasonics) is relatively easy for me. 

 

"Especially as I've got rubber enough hips that skate on post and a hard lean (even in Ultrasonics) is relatively easy for me."

Lucky.

56

Also, a lot of lacing around the boot.  The most posterior lace is obviously toe tie.  Is the rest skate lacing, toe tie or something else?

On 10/24/2023 at 5:39 PM, keeperton said:

Reading these threads has been pretty important and helpful to me. I'm looking at possibly needing to get my left hip resurfaced here, but my doctors and I don't yet know what's truly wrong (I'm suspecting it's labral tears).

Obviously, a definitive diagnosis is step #1.  Good luck.

56

2 hours ago, Wonder35 said:

Hell, we aren't even beer league. How about a post game coffee, bran muffin and a midday nap? My 70+ team plays at 11:15, 3 mornings a week. The turnout is great, enjoyment level high and competitive nature off the charts.

 

Sure we are as old as the hills but who would have thought that we would be playing at this stage of our lives? 

 

I was told as a youth, "stay on your feet, do not attempt to play the puck and attack the shooter by cutting down the angle." I am 5'7", would never be allowed to play in the nets in today's world.

Admittedly, today's goalies fill way more of the net than my contemporaries, but you folks pay a price for that.

 

Old Guys rant over. Y'all stop way more pucks than us but ........

 

I wish every one of you 60+ years of playing goal.

There you go again, Wonder, making me proud to be a mature goaltender.  And, remind the youth here that you were 5'9" in your prime...

4 hours ago, bildeer said:

You jest, but you're entirely correct, as you likely are already aware. The modern game is extremely hard on the hips (and associated ligaments). There are goaltenders my age (under 25) getting hip replacements and dealing with other serious hip-related issues. They may have achieved that "sick butterfly flare" (that has much less bearing on how many pucks will be stopped than some believe) but at what cost? Maybe Giguere was on to something with his signature "jiggy fly". 

Bringing this back to equipment in an attempt to not stray too far off topic, but my equipment bag resembles something that was swiped from a locker room back in 2012. I never thought I'd end up being that guy wearing "ancient" (allegedly) equipment but what is also somewhat humorous is not only the realization of how little bearing what equipment equipment you are wearing (within reason) relates to success, and that they all do the same thing, just in different ways. Sometimes we forget how little what we wear has to do with the equation.

I'd post a photo of my equipment, but short of "downgrading" to a pair of 11 year old Graf 7500's last year (for $120!), nothing has changed  aside from the fact that my skating is better than it has ever been. 

May I ask what improved your skating?

6 hours ago, Wonder35 said:

You current generation 'tenders might just be coming around. First its leather straps, then shorter and softer pads. What's next, catching a puck whilst standing up?

 

Your bodies will love you for this ........ maybe.

Wait, we're allowed to stand up?

On 8/4/2023 at 9:49 PM, A.YOUNGoalie13 said:

No woman could ever satisfy me to the level that my new gear just did. 580 pro palm with extra padding closes out of the box like a game ready. Just insane.

Fantastic setup!  Great job!

@BiffBadass

Answer to your questions...

With my right anterior THA 2020...

Walker: POD#1, x1 day

Crutches: none

Cane: POD#2, x1 day

Walking unaided: POD#3

Back to work : 2 weeks

Just skating:  6 months

Full play:  10 months (delayed by COVID-19)

ASSUMING YOUR SURGEON WILL EVEN CLEAR YOU TO RETURN TO THE CREASE, 6 months.

FIFTY-SIX

On 2/13/2022 at 2:32 PM, BiffBadass said:

Hi guys,

I am 57 years old and just got both hip replaced 2 days ago at the same time using the anterior procedure. Discharged the next day and now at home looking for advice on return to play.

Like a number of people here, I have been playing goal forever since I was about 7 years old. I played on multiple teams at the same time, played senior here in Saskatchewan, organized and played summer hockey for years, and run our men's team in the winter. I have also been chairman of the SaskTel provincial hockey tournament multiple times (the major telco here in Sask).

In fact just before Covid and before my hips ground to a halt, I won the 37th Annual SaskTel Provincial Hockey Tournament, And I am one of only 3 remaining players that played in the original event (which we won). So like all of you, I consider myself to be a high performance athlete!! 

Anyway, I am interested in some of the timelines people had for return to play. Can some people share what timelines they experienced for various stages in their rehab.

Month x - Walker

Month x - Crutches

Month x - Cane

Month x - Bicycling or similar

Month x - Just skating

Month x - Pads on doing some drops, etc

Month x - Part games

Month x - Full play

Or any other stage you think should be included in here.

 

There does not appear to be much advice out there for return to play in high impact sports, which I think men's beer league is not that high impact, but the doctor's do classify it as such.

Anyway, any information would be welcomed.

Thanks.

Mark.

@BiffBadass:  With bilateral THAs, you are a BADASS unicorn.  But in answer to your questions...

With my right anterior THA 2020...

Walker: POD#1, x1 day

Crutches: none

Cane: POD#2, x1 day

Walking unaided: POD#3

Back to work : 2 weeks

Just skating:  6 months

Full play:  10 months (delayed by COVID-19)

ASSUMING YOUR SURGEON WILL EVEN CLEAR YOU TO RETURN TO THE CREASE, 6 months.

FIFTY-SIX

On 6/19/2023 at 10:30 AM, Gump said:

I had my anterior hip replacement 4 months ago. Appears to be successful so far.  I am able to walk 4-5 miles without pain.  Have tightness in muscle area around incision - which I guess can be expected only 4 months out. Lifting knee straight up is what needs work.  Going to PT and gym religiously.

Feel like I am on good path to be back in net by September (7 months post surgery) when season starts.

Feel like other than tightness around incision, I could play now, but don't want to be totally stupid....just goalie stupid.

(PS) Also had significant shoulder surgery too Dec 2022 (2 months prior to hip replacement) Like I said - just goalie stupid.

Gump - 61 years old - whatever it takes to get back.

@GumpAfter my right, anterior approach, Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) on March 5, 2020, I was cleared and ready to get back in net in 6 months.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I was not on the ice regularly until 10 months post-op.  Without significant preoperative deconditioning (as seen in folks older than me), I thought recovery was easy.  I was actually disappointed that my post-op ROM was not better than pre-op, given the removal of all that disease.  Keep up the stretching to maximize ROM, minimize scarring.  FIFTY-SIX (OP, age 59).

21 hours ago, Scythe said:

Excuse my ignorance ... I don't study gear as much as I use to, but what kind of steel do you use? Awesome pics!

STEP STEEL EXTREME 4mm

15 hours ago, creasecollector said:

Dang, great job sticking with it after those surgery setbacks. 

12 hours ago, daffy said:

Agreed!!

Wonder35, creasecollector, daffy:  Thank you boys!

Photos from 08/2022.  56

59, right rotator cuff rebuilt twice (2004 and 2015), right total hip replacement (2020), left rotator cuff repair March 29, 2023.  Left hip is probably dead.  Probable left total hip replacement June 2023.  Back in net December 2023?  Hopefully...

Wonder, you're still my spirit goalie!

56

6 hours ago, MTH said:

Class of 23 rink is much improved with the new boards finally.

Did the Flyers issue black New Balance shoes to the boys?

Is that Brad Marsh, Barber, Dave Poulin, you, Dave Brown and Briere?

You gear is killer.

1) Agreed.  Great to get back to the old barn.

2) Yes, NB is a frequent sponsor and the pros get sneakers, beer leaguers get T-shirts.

3) Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes.  All great guys.

4) Thank you MTH.  I've been really happy with this set.

7 hours ago, Wonder35 said:

To all of you 70+ goaltenders out there ............. (crickets)

Warmups

All you truly need are some soft muffins into your pads, gloves and upper body (no headshots allowed).*

* This is provided that you have spent at least 20 minutes of proper stretching before donning your gear, followed by another set of on ice exercises, to be sure that all gear is in place and comfortable.

 

And this is what it looks like.

 

It ain't pretty.  I save all that other movement stuff for the game. These joints of mine have a limited number of down/ups over a 90 minute session.

Everyone on the ice for our thrice weekly games are over 70, with a handful 80+. The kids emerges from everyone. We're still playing the game of our youths ....................

 

 

 

Video-2.mov 2.81 MB · 1 download

Wonder:  You continue to be one of my Spirit Goalies...

I will be 59 years old in a month.  Currently playing A/B/C levels in the MidAtlantic-USA. One hip replaced.  Two right shoulder rebuilds.

My last two games, I had 2 shutouts.  Sadly, this just feeds my addiction and postpones the inevitable...

Letting go is very hard...

To your point regarding warm-ups:  I could not agree more!  Hit me with pucks!  Pucks in my hands!  Your "slower than molasses" shoot out moves are embarrassing...