bunnyman666

2 hours ago, ilyazhito said:

What is the distinction? Approved for use can be used but without the logo visible? 

Correct.

17 hours ago, Wonder35 said:

I recall asking Greg Harrison why he never got a CSA (Canadian Safety Seal of Approval) for his masks (late 1980's). He said that they wanted 3 complete masks which they planned on destroying in the process of testing. " NFW I am making 3 masks for them to wreck" was his reply to me. His clients did not require that certification on their gear.

Greg also made his own cages on a jig in his shop. Every once in a while he brought one to the University of Toronto where he must have had a contact in the Engineering Program. They would test its strength and durability.

So many people in the know also say how flawed the testing is; after all, how can a mask dubbed “widow maker” pass the CSA testing? Between the prohibitive costs (including three masks) and the dubious testing, it’s no wonder that as long as the client doesn’t need certification, why go through it?

14 minutes ago, ilyazhito said:

It's a pity Kova isn't making their pads and gloves right now. I'd love to see how cool those would be, based on the pictures. Their neck guards, toe ties, and suspenders look awesome. 

Kova and Brown make the best braces (suspenders), bar none, Kova even taking the title of “over built” from Brown. Of course the biggest problem for those of us who go over the chesty is stretching out the bands, but that’s just part of it. 

Mopar madness:

 

18 minutes ago, ilyazhito said:

I'm not sure that scoring and gambling are connected, because it is usually the casual fan who likes to see goals. The gambler might situationally bet for or against goals, depending on the book-making criteria used. Increasing scoring might not help a gambler who bets on the point spread, but it might help one who bets on total goals. 

I would say it is only from the aspect of more side-betting. American Football and Basketball are the ultimate gambler sports for all of the side bets. More scoring may attract the casual fan, but with gambling, it increases all sorts of betting scenarios. 

1 minute ago, SaveByRichter35 said:

Lol.  I can't just take off for the game.  I mean, I could, I have the time.  I just can't afford to waste it on a beer league game.  I need it for everyday life and for travel games in case they pop up.

I get it. 
 
Just trying to do my duty as the problem solver/smart alleck in the house.  

2 minutes ago, SaveByRichter35 said:

We have another championship game this Wednesday night but I am stuck at work.  Trying to get a shift swap or swap days off.  Not looking good though.  This is our 3rd straight in 3 seasons since becoming a team.  0-2 so far.

Your English cousin is coming in to get a new kidney and your (close-ish) relative is giving it to him.

You’re welcome

52 minutes ago, MTH said:

I recall buying a D&R throat guard as a kid because Grant Fuhr wore it. It sucked. But Fuhr wore it - so I did too.

 

You just wonder how many items were rigged up so much to make them better? I played in pre-trampoline shin guards and felt backed gloves. Shots HURT in that old player gear, and I can’t imagine how hot, heavy, yet utterly unprotective goalie gear was in those days.  

1 hour ago, ilyazhito said:

What's the advantage of foam core sticks over composite? Most sticks available for retail are composite nowadays. Same thing for most custom companies. 

Essentially, a composite stick is a composite-shafted, foam core stick with composite skin enveloping the entire stick. The foam core stick essentially uses a few layers of fibreglass to give the foam just enough rigidity and protection to be used as the main stick material. It plays a lot like wood with lighter weight. It catches pucks well, passes and shoots wonderfully. But foam core eventually breaks down and feels like a noodle, unless you reinforce it internally with some fibre cloth in the foam. Encase it in full composite, the foam doesn’t break down like a foam core, and there is more of a pop like a composite player stick. 

13 hours ago, creasecollector said:

It's true. Most-likely these NHL Enforcers were the "skill guys" on their respective teams growing up and were not always true enforcers all the time (some didn't fight at all). As they advanced through the various leagues, they had to reinvent themselves on the ice to make it to the NHL. It's the way it works sometimes to live the dream

Some of the gooniest guys (by reputation) I have played with were great skaters and even better puck handlers. And the ones who looked like they hadn’t missed a meal, snack, 12 pack and midnight snack were pretty fast. You’d never know it if you judged them by physical appearance and age! One even broke out his pack of Camels! 

Sneak peek of a ‘tooned car build:

 

One other thought on fighting: as long as contact is allowed, the potential of fighting will exist, and I am not certain that either the contemporary or grizzled fan is willing to see contact leave the game. 

7 hours ago, ilyazhito said:

I agree. While the enforcers as a class are gone (with a few exceptions, such as Zach Kassian), because there is no need for such one-dimensional players in modern hockey, the guys who do fight today are lower-line forwards and defencemen. The league won't care about them unless it starts getting lawsuits about concussions. Then it will ban fighting and institute serious punishments for it, at least as a PR move. 

I have played shinny with a few former NHL enforcers. Most of these could mop the floor with the local hotshots. Most of them were supremely talented, but they needed to stand out, so they’d fight in camp. Of course instead of working on stick handling, they would practise fighting. But no doubt, their stick handling and shot can make people look silly.

1 minute ago, Snowman30 said:

I collect diecast fire truck models. Have few different ones but the Backdraft set, Emergency set, and my full Jack Daniels Fire Brigade set (Picture of most resent one released) are my favorites.

Those are beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

Finished ‘32 Ford rat:

 

I have a late ‘60 Mopar that I have done extensive mods to make a pro street look come alive. 
 
Pix to come…

2 minutes ago, Mike24 said:

I had a solid 1:18 collection until I let my kids play with em. 

I have heard that one a few times!

For me, it’s customisation that’s really tripping my trigger. I can get a pretty whooped casting at pennies on the dollar and make something cool.

2 minutes ago, wox33 said:

I recently caught the bug to start collecting them again. Pretty much all JDM stuff. But as with everything lately it seems like the supply chain has hit all my local stores are they have been tough to come by since before Xmas.

I actually had a pretty cool selection become available, including old Ford GT40’s and the like. 

49 minutes ago, The Teal Terror said:

I loved Irbe, as if I haven’t mentioned it here before, big Sharks fan. He’s probably my number 2 all time. I’m hoping you have some lunging, sprawling poke checks channelling him!?

My poke checks are very Archie-like. Love the poke check.

Kinda fell in love with modding die cast and collecting them thanks to an ad on here. I mostly add new wheels and tyres, but am now getting into painting them. Working on a Deuce Coupe, but I have a few hundred others:

 

4 minutes ago, MTH said:

There were a bunch of new Bauer and CCM helmets that were sold with the bike helmet foam that pro guys wore with the old style rubbatex foam instead. AKA pro padding.

They were on Pro Stock a lot. Not much left now.

I got mine from Monkey. It was a Notre Dame pro return. Yes- they weren’t anything like a kiddie XS helmet with 1/4” padding, but they were pretty thin comparatively. 

7 minutes ago, MTH said:

Towes still rocks the Bauer 4500 helmet. But Bauer still makes these (my one son wear it). Towes still has the factory installed dual foam.

Players used to just go single layer rubbatex 1/4" thick and call it a day like a pro.

 

I have a few of those CCM HT-2 “pro padded” helmets. I think the rub is that you can get it from the factory with thinner padding; you just can’t rip it out and pad it yourself any longer. 
 
That 4500 is still pretty low profile compared to some. The upcoming 3D printed liners could change everything, allowing for max protection with minimal profile.

23 minutes ago, ilyazhito said:

Wow. I knew about chain link fences around the boards. However, the gong is new to me. Maybe the gong was a precursor to the goal horn.

It is stupid that players can't wear facial protection unless they get injured. As long as there is a clearly defined difference between player and goalie cages, and specific head protectors are goalie-only, then there is no potential for confusion between players and goalies, which is what the no face cage rule might have addressed. 

Gong was acceptable as well as a horn or a buzzer. 
 
As far as facial protection goes, some confusion could be out there. After all, Bobby Plager was wearing an identical Lefty Wilson to the goalie was was defending in front of when he had a face-changing incident. Of course this was pre-cage era.

In the end, the forwards wearing full face protection is a very complicated issue, weird as it seems.  Unlike in goal where you are encouraged to have more tunnel vision by turning your head, you need as much peripheral vision as a skater. Even the certified visors have more blind spots due to their construction. And having your vision blocked by a chin cup can cause you to skate head-down, which is SUPER dangerous.

1 minute ago, MTH said:

I think the NHL phased that out. All the helmets are now certified by the league. There were guys grandfathered in with old lids, but I do believe that every player must wear a new helmet that is certified every year.

The 'pro padding' is a thing of the past.

I had a CCM HT50 that is a size small with pro padding. That was from 2018. It’s not quite as crazy as those HT2’s, but the rotational padding was omitted by the factory in favour of thinner, dual density padding. I may still have a pic on my phone of the liner.

11 minutes ago, MTH said:

Even a player cage will prevent a shot from hitting your face. So standing in front of shot isn't as much of a concern with a full face cage as a visor.

I do miss cool and unique helmets. The Jofa egg shells, the Chelios CCM with no padding... gave players some personality.

You still have guys, even in NCAA play, using “pro” padded helmets, wearing a small when it should be a large. I have had a few modern ones come through my collection.