chile57

3 hours ago, TheGoalNet said:

who else?

I think anybody you've listed there would be a pretty distant second. Out of those listed - I'd go with anyone out of the Canadian markets just based on the influence of those markets versus US markets and not necessarily the goalie or their perceived influence.

Got to be the guy with the most hardware/who folks are going to want to emulate - Vasilevskiy.

For what its worth - I picked up a pair of the slide plates for my Simmons ULs. At first I squished what I could of the knee wing in the plate but inevitably it popped back out. Still works as intended - just doesn't fit like a glove.

@johncho different strokes for different folks for sure. Probably "helps" that I'm using a custom molded lid to begin with so the fit is more dialed in from the get go.

Results may vary on the sling. I have one in all my masks and couldn't fathom going back to a cup.

4 hours ago, gruffin said:

Is this mostly relevant for getting the skate blade onto the ice when recovering from a butterfly, or does the softness of the boot have other implications? 

Good question. I think its more a question of feel and how it plays. A softer boot will sit flatter on your skate and feel more connected to your leg. Can also affect the sizing. The steep angle of the Reebok/CCM boot is part of why I ended up in an intermediate size (that and their tendency to run "BIG" as noted).

@keegper should be good as I believe most of the foam "degradation" is associated with all the excretions that come from our persons. If nobody has sweat in it - foam should still be as good as manufacture date. I would of course give it the once over as you've mentioned. Provided the foam is still bonded to the shell and still soft(er) to the touch (depending on the type of foam) - I wouldn't hesitate to use said lid. If you are governed by the need for an approval sticker - an older mask would of course provide less of a window for it to be deemed "acceptable". Hope this is helpful. Good luck.

@gruffin welcome aboard the board. I think I've weighed in a handful of similar flavored posts - so here goes...

The biggest thing I think you'll find in transitioning from your V2's to... anything really is that boots will be stiffer across the board. There are "softer" iterations of nearly every brand (like Eflex as you mentioned) but in my opinion they just don't compare to the stuffed pads from yesteryear. Anyhow - I'm a 32"/33" guy in Vaughn and its my experience that Reebok/CCM is sized considerably larger - meaning - I went from Vaughn to intermediate Reebok XLT's. Granted - they have a much steeper boot angle than the Eflex but you get the idea - really important to hop into a store to take a look at things and if you can't follow manufacturer specific sizing guides. As mentioned - nearly every brand will have a softer offering in their lineup - you've already hit on the Velocity series from Vaughn and CCM's Eflex. You might also want to take a look at True's 12.2 line (essentially the next iteration of the Eflex), Brian's G-Netik, Warrior Ritual GT... pretty much anything that "looks" like it still has knee rolls is the softer version of everyone's offering. There are of course smaller boutique custom gear shops like Battram, Kennesky, etc. If its helpful - as a guy that transitioned from V3's (and tried at least of handful of offerings across companies) - I ultimately landed on the UL series from Simmons. In my opinion this is the only pad offered today that plays similar to that era of Vaughns.

Half the fun is searching for new gear so enjoy the process and if you have specific questions most people here at least try to be helpful. Happy hunting.

You fact'd the shit out of that @coopaloop1234 - well done.

Does the lid follow suit and rock a Zilla theme too? Anybody got a closeup?

Guess you guys couldn't argue with F-A-C-T-S... or something like that. 

"Vladimir Katztantinov"

Best. Pet. Name. Ever.

Kudos.

17 hours ago, Puckstopper said:

Sorry to hear it @WillyGrips13.    As has been said, there's no good way to say good-bye, but I'm sorry to hear you got blindsided like that, it's especially hard.  Sultan was quite the handsome boy!  It's a little over a year since my wife and I lost the first cat we adopted together, and while it gets easier, we still miss our Vladie boy (Vladimir Katztantinov was his full name). 

 

On the bright side, we get to see some of the mannerisms of he and our other kitty Jak who passed a few years back live on in these two hooligans (who are nowhere near as sweet as they look in that pic):

 

@seagoal / @coopaloop1234 I think the closest we've got to baby blue in The Show is some of the third jerseys. Columbus and Steve Mason's setups from a couple years ago come to mind for sure. Would agree that there's nothing "everyday" that qualifies... and this comes from someone with a legit art degree so its basically gospel. 

Uhhh - @seagoal I'm pretty sure his set is CAROLINA blue. TOTALLY different. OBVIOUSLY. 

On 10/22/2022 at 3:12 AM, ZeroGravitas said:

Markstrom looking sharp in EF6.

Markstrom's setup is nice but I can't help getting a Ronald McDonald vibe every time I see it - just me?

There's never a good way to lose a pet @WillyGrips13 but your scenario certainly sucks. My condolences. Easy to play the what if game after the fact but your path was true - trying to take care of your critter to the best of your ability while they were here. There's no fault in that.

This is an epic setup @itis121. You could have easily been mistaken for Kelly Hrudey with that set/stance. Well done.

@seagoal - how could they forget us? Collectively we're pretty amazing (minus those few legit a-holes).

@ThatCarGuy - shit - you mean to tell me at 5' - 4" I should give up hope of pulling an emergency goalie type heroic interlude in the show? Never happen man. Tomorrow could be my day in the sun.

But seriously - plenty of smaller guys in high levels of hockey (and later bloomers too). Don't limit yourself. You're our only hope.

2 hours ago, A.YOUNGoalie13 said:

@coopaloop1234 When me and @ThatCarGuy are playing D1 together you can design our pads with “your level of sty”

I hope you guys do make it. When you make it B-I-G just don't forget where you came from - fostered by the sarcastic a-holes on this board. 

20 hours ago, seagoal said:

Ned looking great in red based gear

I like the colored gear but am a little disappointed in the overall setup since a predominantly red gear kit is accompanied by a predominantly white lid. Particularly since the home unis are essentially ALL red. That said - will probably look pretty good with the aways. B+

Also - I'd like to see keepers with home/away sets across the board in the show. MORE GEAR. 

@southpawtendy48 - HA - depending on how it is in your neck of the woods I didn't want to assume beer league was "competitive" so I was lumping all the other stuff outside of that realm. Either way - good luck mending up (and hope your pops is in a much better spot today than months ago).

I thought "fairly confident" was much nicer than "Were you born yesterday? If the sarcasm was any thicker it'd hit you in the face." 

4 hours ago, southpawtendy48 said:

Taking the season off from college hockey... the break from school and competitive play altogether has been great for me especially mentally. Got a PRP injection in my hip a few months ago to help the hip and slight labrum degeneration... also starting to work with some guys overseas and they seem to care a lot about helping goalies so I'm relieved. Been subbing in for adult league games as well when I get the call  and spending time with family and friends as well during this time has taken a lot of stress away so I'm happier. I'm hoping to be back to 100% come next season and maybe more... but for now it's time for recovery, physically and mentally. 

 

Safe to say though, freshman year of college wasn't a great experience, and I don't plan on playing or going there again.. I can relate also with the whole dad thing... my dad is in his 60s and I almost lost him a few months ago while losing one of my uncles as well earlier in the year while I was back east. Not to get into specifics but a lot of other things have gone on that I can't even begin to start on this year, but of course my love for the sport hasn't changed luckily. With that, I wish the rest of you the best in what's left of this year. 

Sounds like you have a full plate without competitive hockey @southpawtendy48 - take care of yourself and yours during your off year.

... and that "advice" goes for everyone here on the boards. If we aren't looking out for one another - who is eh?

@SaveByRichter35 - can't fault you for losing a bit of oomph going from something competitive and routine to something less so on both fronts. I skated in the "novice" league for a number years because it was a great group of dudes but it got to a point where it just felt like I was watching a rod hockey game play out in front me. Couldn't hack it any longer.

@Lucky Pucker - I get you on the parental health issues. Both of my folks are in less than stellar health (and my grandfolks are in their nineties) with my dad a diabetic in the later stages of kidney failure. Its been a long road and I'm scheduled to get assessed as a potential donor next month so hopefully that helps everyone. Good luck to you and your pops.

Anyhow - to chip into the thread - (life instances such as above interjecting) I'm down to technically (2) nights a week this year (at one point I was Monday - Thursday (and some Saturdays) but have been methodically cutting back since there are so many other calls for my time and my body doesn't bounce back like it used to). Last year I was full time Monday (organized drop in) and Tuesday (men's/beer league) but this year I was going to go with an alternating Monday/Tuesday schedule so I could loop in a younger coworker to the team (and he could show me up every other week ). For the time being - that's morphed into every Monday/every other Tuesday while another guy mends. If I get to cough up an organ - doctors said I'd be out for like 2-3 months so I'm relishing the opportunity to play... for now... until the snow starts flying at its a 10PM puck drop. 

On 9/24/2022 at 1:31 AM, A.YOUNGoalie13 said:

They may just not be that broken in yet?

@A.YOUNGoalie13 I don't want to speak for anybody necessarily but I'm fairly confident @seagoal was shooting for sarcasm there.

13 hours ago, seagoal said:

Pics from Kraken camp

Hellberg

Jones

 

Hellberg's got style and he's "HUGEMONGOUS BIG" (intentional Bryz nod).