dstew29

On 7/7/2021 at 10:06 AM, BadAngle41 said:

There's an off-color joke in there somewhere... but I'll resist.

On 7/7/2021 at 10:08 AM, coopaloop1234 said:

Never pass on an opportunity for immature jokes.

That’s correct, when the bell tolls, you answer it…

26 minutes ago, Guillaume0511 said:

Yeah, in a brief resume that's about right...but for the 6 sets that's not exactly the truth !!!

Shangri-La!

11 hours ago, Ryan Griffin said:

Just the piece of foam signifying it’s the MAX rebound core. Comes off easily

@Charlie T Awesome looking set! I had major reservations about this pad/graphic at first but you nailed this one.

ps - not sure what accent colors your team has but a small amount of pad skinz like the sport gold here and there would pop on these things. I actually liked that foam piece accent  

agree with @motowngoalie  whether its a fair assessment and a chance to improve for next season, or the coaches made a mistake and he's good enough already, it won't dictate how good he actually is or how much he improves this season (**Playing better competition by nature should help make you better but at that age he can make huge improvements just working on fundamentals - in the driveway, body weight training, skating ,etc.

Hope he's able to see the A1 team as his next big goal vs a missed opportunity 

1 hour ago, BadAngle41 said:

They look fantastic... will always wish I picked up an L87 set when branded Lefevbre just to have the "L" on the thigh... still think they should with these anyway... hell maybe even "T". Specs are damn near spot on too. 580 would make them perfect. Anxious to hear more about them once you have them. How far are is their lead time? Last I head it was the longest of anyone right now.

I'm a 90s kid so the lefevbre branding would have been a cherry on top. Have to say I really like the look of the True logos/branding on all their sets so that helps.

Will definitely get some first impressions up once I break them in. It's funny, I think I took about a full week from the April 9 launch date to finally get my order into True. Over that week the lead time estimates were all over the map - as "low" as 16 weeks and high of 22 weeks I think. When I booked these it was 18-20 so I'm saying 20 weeks puts it at Labor Day, or so.

When a saw those few recent posts on custom V9s taking 9 weeks it definitely stung a bit lol

14 minutes ago, coopaloop1234 said:

Why are you posting goalies dressed in March when he was talking about games last night? lol

We went through this a bit ago, but we added up all the starters wearing True gear and it was just shy of the 40% metric True was spouting.

Never did the count with Bauer, but True holding 40% alone is a massive metric when there's only five brands in the show.

I would have guessed higher than that, but hard to say with guys going back and forth with demos.

By the way @netminder, that's mostly AHL roster guys on that spreadsheet, no? And where's the other 30 teams lol? I may need you to make a few persuasive charts for me at some point. I'll PM you.

Figured I’d get in on the action. True 12.2 w/ L87 graphic ordered last week. Estimated around Labor Day. Here’s what I went with:

Pads

-32+1

-single / single break

-stiff face

-soft boot

-recessed knee w single leather below knee strap

-tight fit FRS w 2” nylon calf strap 

-behind heel leather strap (might ultimately remove but wanted to test)

-HD foam toe attachment w skate lace (have a pair of Prolaces x TGN hybrids that I’ll switch to if need be)

Glove

-590 (coming from 600 Eflex3 pro return. Been getting some pop outs when holding upright so figured this was a good next step)

-game ready w extra (similar to D30 I’m told)

-double T w/ nylon

-webbing at wrist

-sure grip palm

Blocker

-595 (bindingless)

-half cuff

-straight finger protection

-tight fit

-centered

-sure grip palm

Design/Pics:

-I struggled between 12.2 graphic and retro but ultimately loved the clean lines w L87

-I sub a lot still, no set team colors per se, so I figured I’d opt for a neutral colorway with a good accent color or two

19 hours ago, ThatCarGuy said:

It’s the stuff like this that keep people in True skates

After sending my one piece skates back twice within a year to get repaired (only the right skate had issues oddly. The left is perfect), True offered to replace my skates free of charge with two piece skates or new one piece skates. I opted for the two piece skates to be safe and will provide further updates as I go. True’s customer service is second to none. The only charge I payed throughout my experience was the initial purchase. 

That's great to hear for a 1-piece owner. I've actually been thinking about opting for the TF9 (new stock 2-piece) or the custom 2 piece if I ever need a new pair. Let us know how you like them vs the 1's.

Received a full gear bag from a buddy of mine who’s dad passed. His dad was a longtime goalie and gear head apparently given how meticulous his stuff is. I can’t sell it or give it away but can’t use most of it since his pops was 6’4” and a monster of a human.

will try to get some pics up soon at least as they’re pretty sweet retros.

20 hours ago, creasecollector said:

In this pic, you look like a clone of Jonathan Quick's lean. Nice job!

thought the exact same thing when I saw that one. must be doing something right @A.YOUNGoalie13

On 9/19/2020 at 10:44 AM, BadAngle41 said:

Update...

Now to find a shop who can do the XSG swap for me... suggestions? (I don’t have anyone I trust locally.)

Give Dennis and Cayden a call at GoalieParts.com. If they can’t do it I bet they’d point you to someone reputable who can (I’d venture to guess they can though).

They’ve been awesome to deal with sharpening/profiling so worth a call I’d say.

9 hours ago, coopaloop1234 said:

Indubitably

One more and this mini thread gets moved to Lifestyle > Potpourri > Non sequitors

14 hours ago, Quadzilla32 said:

hey guys, 

just got some new step runners and need to get them sharpened. I have read mixed things as far as whether or not I need to get cross grinding done on them for the first sharpening or just get my usual hollow? They are blacksteel if that adds anything. 
 

as far as I Understand cross grinding just is for prepping  the runners for the first sharpen by removing any imperfections and making sure the profile is what you want. However, I thought the whole big deal about step is the quality of the steel so I’m guessing they are pretty spot on as far as profile and just need to be sharpened. 

Do you mean ‘blade matching’ right? Probably good to ask them to check just in case. I’m sure even Step blades could be slightly different from factory.

If you’re happy with the relatively flat stock “profile” then yeah just hollow after they’re matched I would think...

On 8/25/2020 at 11:52 AM, dstew29 said:

I'm going to give it one more skate and if I get similar results to last night I'll be sending in my second set to Goalieparts.com to get the same treatment.

Got another fast scrimmage in with the SAM profile and I'm 100% sold versus anything else I've tried to date. For me at least, the other standard dual profiles I've tried just made it somewhat difficult to shuffle well and move laterally. I always felt like my edges were digging in too much and I never was able to get into a good groove where you almost feel like you're gliding and fluid with lateral shuffles, etc. The flat middle section is really the game changer in this department as it's just enough to get that lower friction movement in your shuffles.

The prosharp offers a bunch of goalie profiles - and to be honest I sort of stumbled across this profile after reading a few times that pro goalies have used it or a version of the SAM. Others could be better for some of you but this one is spot on for what I've been looking for and couldn't be happier.

On 8/26/2020 at 9:02 AM, BadAngle41 said:

One thing I'd like to point out is something @dstew29 mentioned in sizing. I've worn a 33" for quite some time and continued that with Axis. However, my Koho/CCM experience has largely been with softer pads. With Axis being as stiff as it is (I do have precurved single break internal, no break external) if you're between sizes per CCM's chart, I'd recommend either going down a size at retail or going custom and including a boot strap with your familiar sizing.

My FTK measure is 19.5" (so lower end of 33") and I can see where if I hadn't included a boot strap I'd potentially being hitting lower on the landing when going into butterfly.  Of course if you're able to get into a shop and try them on first, by all means do so. I placed my order w/o having ever seen them in person.

I do still think 32" is where I'd want to be if I go the Axis route, however my 33" base EF3s actually felt great the other night with the added toe slack and loosening of my low calf velcro. They sat down just enough to remove the bit of extra length. Pad seemed to snap flush to the ice in the bfly all night and rebounded back in place nicely when getting up. One of those things that is so hard to dial in from charts, but I agree - if stiffer pad and between sizes, probably works to go down and get a 2-2.5" thigh rise. You can always send to Factory MAD or someone similar to trim the thigh back if needed.

@BadAngle41 Question on the single break internal & no break external. I was thinking of going single internal and single external, can you explain the functional difference between you setup and w/ external break? Some of these options are hard to grasp if you haven't ordered custom before (at least for me)...

2 hours ago, Chenner29 said:

50mm is tiny, 5cm or just under 2".

I wanna say what you are experiencing is better glide because (I'm guessing) you were in forward motion with weight on the 50mm flat section of the blade

Funny enough, I found a new local skate guy and gave him my steel to work on.  I picked them up last night and it turns out we know a lot of the same folks.

I've been getting free sharpenings from the local pro shop as I know most of the guys there.  He showed me that the edges were misaligned on one of my runners (outside edge higher than inside).  My other runner was completely flat in the back half. 

I've learned a little bit talking to skate guys over the years, but I learned a ton from this guy.

My understanding breaks down as such:

1. There are several different types of ProSharp templates - he had about a dozen stored on his machine.
2. Templates resemble steel rulers with different radii cut out at the bottom (see below)
3. Each template also has a center point, which typically aligns with the center line on your steel.
4. This center point is generally the "highest" (when looking at steel from the bottom up)
5. In order to achieve a forward pitch, the profile template is brought back towards the heel of the steel.  The exact amount of this changes depending on how much pitch is requested.

Exactly right - well said. In my case, my previous profiler recommended shifting the "center point" a bit towards the heel of the runner which would rock your weight / center of gravity forward a bit. The further back they shift that point, the more aggressive your forward lean would be.

For me so far, I much prefer a true center point on the profile - which is further enhanced on the SAM with the ~2" extended flat section.

On 8/24/2020 at 10:00 AM, BadAngle41 said:

After a Saturday morning skate... had very similar experience to @Chenner29 in that the loosening the strapping seems to bring these pads to life. To my previous note, I think when I went from EF1 to 2X the strapping system made me embrace a fit that was more loose than I had worn previously. But when going from my EF1 to Axis I was still trying to attach them the same way but they just need to be loosened up.

Additionally, I swapped out to a set of Hybrid ProLaces for a bit more slack. Felt really good. So a pair of Hybrid ProLaces that match the pads are now on order. Went with 1.5" toe tie length based on current set (bit of skate lace stretch from being well worn.)

I've been using the hybrid TGN prolaces (DIY skate lace attachment) and was previously at like 3/4" slack on the skate lace. I'd been researching on here and saw a few pro setups (Price, Saros) where they were using at least 2" of skate lace slack at the attachment. Huge improvement for me last night so kudos to figuring that out as well! The pads just moved so fluid in crouch and bfly with a tighter seal too. 

On 8/25/2020 at 7:54 AM, Puckstopper said:

My understanding is that the idea behind the SAM is to give you a short front radius for mobility, the flat spot is for cross-crease movement and the 27' profile on the back is for a combination of mobility and strong pushes cross crease.

On 8/24/2020 at 8:28 PM, DL42 said:

its funny how everyone can use SAM profile no matter the weight height size skill level makes u wonder who is pushing this and why it is being pushed so hard.  Extra revenue maybe with little expertise., hey skate shop we got a catch all template that goalie will like, we will sell it to you and u push it to the consumer for $50 or so,   No experience needed , just throw the template on and they will like it.  if they ask for any adjustment, just tell them this is it.

I finally got back on the ice last night - competitive men's league scrimmage - so I have only one skate so far in the SAM profile. For reference again, I'm coming from profiled step steel for True 1 piece on No Icing 20/32 dual radius per above, which I skated on for about a year / year and half.

First impressions are VERY good. First lap around the ice felt a little weird (which I fully expected would be the case) and mostly due to the flat section in the middle. I guess the best way to describe it was that I was getting the feeling of a dull edge/no bite at certain times due to the flatness of that section as my weight transferred around. Once I stretched out and got into the crease to move around a bit, I noticed a few big improvements right away:

1. Lateral pushes were way more efficient/effective. They felt easier due to that same gliding feeling but I never felt like I couldn't dig in to slow that down and never felt like the initial push lacked the edge/bite needed to get my momentum going.

2. Butterfly pushes and recoveries from butterfly were also extremely efficient. Never lost an edge or felt like I needed to angle my skate a certain way to get the most energy transfer. Just made moves as needed without even thinking about compensating for the new profile. It just worked with my game/technique.

3.One other thing that I was not happy with in my old profile was getting into that deep crouch / pre-shot set position that is obviously a major must have for all of us. My last profile also had a "Medium forward pitch" meaning, the steel was profiled / grinded to have a slight pitch forward from heel of the steel to the toe (I think most goalie boots and holders will also give you this slight pitch effect but this was recommended for the steel as well). The SAM profile I got was just standard/neutral or "no pitch". I felt like I couldn't easily glide into a deeper pre-shot crouch because my skate were digging in too much. Last night I felt like this was much easier for me shuffle and track with the shooter to my left or right a little if they were moving laterally before I crouched for the shot.

Hopefully that helps some. And I agree with @ArdeFIN above, I wish there was a way to get universal feedback on profiles and hollows that everyone could find helpful to their own setups. Body types, style of play, equipment makes this hard to do but this is just my experience as I've tried stock, a dual profile and now the prosharp/SAM. I'm going to give it one more skate and if I get similar results to last night I'll be sending in my second set to Goalieparts.com to get the same treatment.

1 minute ago, Felix said:

Wow. Exactly the answer I wanted! Very interesting that you did ended up getting flatter hollow. Did you profiling your skates or only sharpening?

I use the regular SS steps that come stock and yes, I had both sets profiled to a dual radius 20' / 32'. That seemed to be working good but I actually just got a new profile done using a prosharp - the "goalie SAM". We bunch of the local rinks have been shut down for the last few weeks due to a storm / power outage so I haven't been able to test them out yet. Will report back once I can get a few skates in.

22 minutes ago, Felix said:

I need your help about to find the right number for me. I don't remember all those hollow numbers because I haven't to thinking about that since 2012 when I stopped to playing with juniors and jumped to low level seniors. I got a pair of True skates that need both profiling and sharpening and I don't trust my local skate shop to sharp my skates before asking you at TGN about this. Can I use same profile/sharp on my True as my old Bauer?

The senior sharpening guy did only a normal goalie hollow to me. The junior sharpening guy did two different set up for me;

#1. Normal hollow but mid sharp. Not player-sharp but not flat. He started to screw on the machine to get a little angle.

#2. Was trying this one strange set up some months before I stopped with juniors. Don't remember exactly but something like this.

FYI; my style are smiliar as Kiprusoff/Price. Haven't playing since 2014.

 

I can't speak to the custom asymmetrical grinds you were getting (#s 1 & 2), but for me, switching to True 1-piece made me go FLATTER than my usual preferred hollow (less energy loss all around vs riveted holders).

I was getting 1/2" hollow on my old Graf w/ cowlings and went to 11/16" hollow on True 1-piece (trust me, I really dialed it in - tried 1/2", 5/8", 3/4", etc.). 11/16" just seemed to give me the preferred bite out of the box with the longest life between sharpens.

Either way, the best general rule of thumb I heard with the 1-piece was go flatter by a 3/ to 4/16ths vs your usual hollow. Mine happened to be 3/16ths flatter.

34 minutes ago, ThatCarGuy said:

Not the gear I was expecting to get this week but here goes nothing

I haven’t been picked up by a team I’m just at a combine

Congrats and good luck! You have a legion of forum supporters behind you (so long as you only seek gear related advice)

@WizYuan great review, feel like this forum needed a shot in the arm int he review department lately. I'm in the True 1-piece right now but always interested to hear about the newer stuff out there.

I know you prefaced with "off-ice impressions" but just want to leave you with some follow ups if you get to use them on ice and report back.

1. For the AS3s, how is the energy transfer on pushes? And do they "howl" like the True 1-pieces? It's white noise to me now, but after a fresh sharpening the energy loss on pushes is so minor that you hear that "howl" from the increased friction against the ice. I almost wonder at times if a little "give" and absorption from the riveted holders is a good thing.

2. You mentioned the Ultrasonics, have you skated in those yet? I'm very interested to see what the asymetrical boot does. I get that it will help get you pre-set for a shot but wondering how it effects movement like pushes or skating in general.

On 3/5/2020 at 12:14 PM, SaveByRichter35 said:

This year's Bob Janosz Adult Camp is going to be held Friday May 29th and Saturday May 30th, in Amherst, NY.  Click here for details.

Hey, just noticed you posted this pre-COVID. I’m local-ish to this as well. Any idea I’d this is still happening this summer (assuming the May camp was rescheduled as well due to COVID?) I would definitely be interested in this.

16 hours ago, jevi3 said:

Here is my current setup,  Itech 961 restored by newimagegoaliemask, CCM extreme flex 2 pads,  Vaughn Bibeau pro return ve8 chesty, reebok xlt blocker, Varlamov pro return catcher, which seems like a 5500 clone, CCM 12A pants, Bauer Supreme knee guards, Brown jock, Bauer Reactor 6000 with Howies laces and Step blades and a Senators jersey my brother gave me.

Nice collection - we have a similar setup all around. I basically have the exact same Varlamov Av's pro return glove that bought from Sideline Swap - two-piece, break, coloring, graphic... If you've had for a while, how's the closure been? Mine has the "game ready" tag but it must have been beefed up in the palm. After 6 months of moderate break in I sent it in to Dennis at Factory MAD. Snappy now but definitely had some struggles prior.

20 hours ago, ThatCarGuy said:

Not sure if this counts as an action photo or not but here it is

Fake ice > no ice. Nice buy! How Is the sliding out of the box? And did you buy any of that slide spray?