chile57

I had a Fusion for a minute. Solid construction, a little sloppier on the finish. As mentioned by others - the foam as pretty stiff (even when it was brand new). Was not comfortable for me (so I jettisoned it) but otherwise I felt it was a good deal for the money.

I don't disagree with you but I think job one is to deflect the impact as best you can so that its not transferred into the mask/your face (that's why - aside from needing to contour around one's already round melon - masks are roundish). From there - if its going to take a ton of impact - yes it'd be better to bend/crumple (as most all steel used for cages on the market will - we are all hip to titanium cages and their propensity to break as opposed to bend - judge the merits there for yourself). Particularly on the center bar - if your mask fits well (and depending on the size of one's schnoz) - there isn't necessarily a whole of room between the bar and your nose. At that rate - don't think anyone wants the center bar to crumple too terribly much but that's my opinion (and part of why center bars have an outward bend to them to begin with). The triangular center bar isn't immune to bending - my point is just that (in my opinion) its a better option than a flat piece at the overall same width.

The tri-cage was the next evolution from the flat steel. Less likely to bend because: 1) its more/thicker steel and 2) the triangular shape (with the point facing outward) is more likely to take glancing impact (as opposed to flat/solid impact). That said - its not impervious to bending (to that I can attest).

YES - this. Same brother, same. I hate to be that guy "coaching" in beer league but yeah - if they hit the circle and you don't start closing the gap GET. OUT. OF. THE. WAY... especially since I stretch out to 5'-4" at best with a full nights sleep.

I don't claim to know the lay of Bauer's current offering of boots but - if I were you and you are accustomed to slim to no boot strap tension - I'd stick with your current strapping style (through the Lundy Loop and loose). I'm guessing the Bauer will have a stiffer/taller boot as mentioned (where @bunnyman666 hit on stuffed pad versus solid core based pads) so if you feel like they are playing too tall or sit too far off your leg for your liking only then would I entertain tightening up that boot strap (whether it be traditionally placed or through a Lundy Loop). Good luck.

First - welcome to the the forum. Second - when you are speaking in terms of pro returns - off the shelf sizing doesn't necessarily translate (and as you mentioned what is listed might be the overall height (not taking into account the placement of the knee)). I also think some of what you are seeing size-wise is because the Bauers look to have a more severe boot angle. V4 vintage Vaughns (custom changes notwithstanding) tend to have a flatter boot (closer to 90-ish degrees or even into the acute angle realm). Hope some of this is helpful. Enjoy the new pillows when you get a chance to take them for a spin!

Faux straps AND toe caps - well done.

Guess it just shows we are gear-centric/focused (as opposed to our forward brethren who a couple seasons later say "you get new pads?").

I get jokes. Took me a second... he's not full right (?). His pads aren't that stiff/straight (?). His crouch isn't severe (?).

I'll third your guys opinion - I couldn't get comfortable in any kind of knee pad until I tried the Warriors. I'm now on my 3rd set (with a 4th waiting in the wings). Easily the most comfortable knee pad that articulates sensically as far as I'm concerned (and I'm rrreally picky about knee pads).

So @seagoal - did your new knee pads materialize now that the bridge gridlock has evaporated (close to a week or so after it began)?

Thought this was a story my fellow beer leaguers could appreciate... This week was delighted to find us in the 8PM timeslot (the earliest offered at this part of the season). Got to the rink, got dressed in the locker room that houses my equipment year round and strolled over to the south sheet of ice for what was supposed to be our early game. Was only then notified that a hole in the ice had surfaced on the high school game so they moved over to our sheet. Meanwhile - us low level beer leaguers ended up waiting 45 minutes while they resurfaced and waited for things to refreeze. Just thought some of you could appreciate being the lowest rung on the ladder. They didn't ask but if they did - I would have advocated that the young bucks who probably stay up late on the regular be the ones to wait out the refreeze as opposed to the old(er) guys who already warmed themselves up only to sit around for close to an hour. Couldn't even start drinking early - lest I have to tinkle midgame. The struggle is real folks.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say no. Generally price points for the latest/greatest trend upward as time passes - not backward (particularly full custom).

At least your teammate had your back and ran it up the chain of command for consideration. No sweeter come-uppance than getting a victory though. Well done. Here's to a goose egg the next time you cross paths with this team.

@seagoal I'm not surprised. I find leagues are lax on doling out penalties/suspensions/whatnot unless somebody really makes a stink/rattles the cage. Didn't seem like you were trending that way - basically just looking for confirmation that the guy was in fact in the wrong (which it seems most of us agreed with). Onward and upward.

Misunderstanding on my part then - my bad. But like I said - even if you did know about this guys antics - it'd probably just strengthen my resolve to stop this guy in a game scenario where somebody is keeping score. I definitely don't fault you here - hence the quotes. I still stick by "Regardless of where you are (even if its out of the crease) the onus is on the player to avoid contact with the goalie (particularly in noncontact beer league)." Its not like you left him with no alternative other than to make contact with you. Dick move by that guy. He's probably the same guy that does that and then immediately says "What'd I do?". We all know that guy.

Agreed. Between the vents and the dip in front of the window that follows the cage - these are RXS tell tale signs.

Thoughts (some of which are echoed in previous posts)... I think the only "fault" on you here is that you knew the guy has a penchant for doing this and you still gave yourself up on the poke check. Example - I play an organized drop in on Mondays with an asshat that habitually has his head down and also thinks he's super sweet with his wicked rad arsenal of moves. At first - I'd play it as I would anyone else - be aggressive and come out to the top of the crease and whatnot. After plowing me in back to back weeks and some choice words exchanged (this is just drop in after all so we are all supposed to be "friendly") I just decided that if this guy gets a breakaway - I'm just going to stand on the goal line shooter tutor style and let him look like a clown. Granted - yours is a game situation so I'd have the same hard time you probably would by sitting back and giving him a clear avenue to score. Regardless of where you are (even if its out of the crease) the onus is on the player to avoid contact with the goalie (particularly in noncontact beer league). The example I'm thinking of here is the Lucic hit on Miller a few years ago ("gutless piece of shit"). Goalies are never fare game - in or out of the crease. That said - if you are initiating the contact - I don't think you can register too many complaints. The example I'm thinking of here is the Hasek "hit" on Gaborik from a number of years ago. Links to both of these below. In this particular instance - you are in your crease making a hockey play. You aren't outwardly lunging at the guys legs to trip him up or anything. Neither of your defensemen body him into you. In my opinion - this is 100% on him - having his head down is no excuse. This is most certainly a downside from having a complete mixed bag of skill levels out there. Also as mentioned - I wouldn't be expecting a Slap Shot scenario here but pretty disappointing that none of your teammates answered the bell. Again - not expecting a line brawl or anything but at the very least - move him away from your proximity. I know if somebody ran me - I wouldn't want them anywhere near me. Example - a couple seasons ago I got into it with a player about his over-aggressiveness (after he boarded my defenseman) - nose to nose. Next thing I know - one of my guys comes flying into the play and tackles that clown. I don't mind the aggressiveness but you can't be out there acting reckless. Course has to correct at some point. Which brings me to my last point - I don't know how the refs are in your guys necks of the woods but where I play I would say 99% of the debauchery that goes on could be avoided if refs just policed the game early on and made a couple calls (even airing on the side of ticky tack). Call the first couple hacking and whackings, elbow, high stick, what have you and then things don't start to escalate. Instead - as noted - they just want to keep the game moving and get out of there. Then they bitch when guys start getting testy/taking things a bit far/attempt to police themselves.

@Chenner29 I'm with you. Any more when I order custom I'm just resigned to the fact that something will be wrong - the hope is just that it ends up being something minor that I can live with - I'm not big on confrontation necessarily (but then again - I'm not big on getting boned when I'm spending money either). I've had a custom paint job with my name spelled wrong, a custom set quoted at 5 weeks that took 17 and were replete with errors: one piece cuff instead of two, logos instead of no logos, single break instead of double break... I could go on but I'm having flashbacks. You just really can never provide too much detail when custom ordering (and having trust in who you're ordering with/from goes a long way too). Really the long(er) waits just magnify the anxiety while one waits that things are getting off the rails - so I sympathize with you whole heartedly. Hopefully the camera angle is deceptive on the sizing and they work out for you... and it doesn't stick in your craw that the straps aren't blue.

@Chenner29 - correct badging and orientation of graphics and everything. Nice - living right. Congrats.

@cutshield hockey aside from the socks - I'd second the suggestion for cut resistant tights. You also already covered the wrist area which would be another potential concern. The only other item I can think of that wasn't covered would be cut resistant/impact resistant neck guards (though there are a few offerings by others in that realm). Hope that's helpful. Good luck in whatever endeavors you undertake - thanks for reaching out to the beer leaguers.

Welcome to men's/beer league - where the games are late, the beer and bullshit flows like fine wine, the turnaround feels shorter as you age and the only thing consistent is that you're going to get chased out of the locker room in the midst of enjoying your beer. As everyone else has mentioned - beer league is the lowest priority (and the group most likely to still show up even in the face of inopportune times). Your best bet for earlier times is the attrition of kids teams from your local rink. When I started beer league close to twenty years ago our start times were 9 - 12ish. As the kids teams have migrated from the area we get times as early as 7/7:30 towards the spring and don't start any later than 9:45 throughout the year.

@Scythe been there for sure. Glad you escaped something more catastrophic. Hope you're on the mend soon and back in the net.

So - this begs the question - how'd you manage to cut it? I know I've got plenty of boneheaded stories - the one that most often comes to mind was when me and a buddy were laying hardwood flooring that we were cutting with a chop saw... atop a makeshift visqueen sheeting covered dresser... which basically made it a glorified slip and slide. All was fine... until it slipped on my buddy and he basically pureed the better part of two of his fingers on one hand. NOT one of our finer, more intelligent moments for sure.

Since you're asking - if it were me - I'd cover it up and play. Sounds like its more of an annoyance/pain management thing rather than a worry your finger gets so infected it falls off type thing. Have gone this route quite a few times - can always neosporin/bandage up and/or cover it with a throw away rubber glove too. ... that said - @coopaloop1234 and @bunnyman666 aren't wrong - safety is never a bad option.