dstew29

42 minutes ago, coopaloop1234 said:

You jest, but that was my issue that led to the owie. Wasn't square and took it on a weird angle while the C/A shifted from being untucked. I've had a few games since without any issues, hell even liking the C/A again.

And yea, I've found out my ribs do an excellent job at dampening rebounds.

I've always tucked using suspenders only. Found out quickly that wasn't going to work with my new Gen 2 as there is too much slack in the suspenders and my C/A would eventually pop out during the game and stay untucked (and shift around at weird angles which I could see causing gaps etc). Plus it was just uncomfortable, for me untucked.

That said, I started using the lacing on my ccm shield 2 pants to tie to the belly loop (not even that tight) and haven't had any issues since. Still keep the regular suspenders on as well. No Mrazek straps, just as far over the floaters as i can manage without dislocating my shoulders. 

On 11/13/2018 at 11:49 AM, old but slow said:

Shoot an email to No Icing with your questions/ concerns. Bob really isn't just looking to make sales, he doesn't need to. He has already done "real world" extensive testing and experimenting, that's why he has a questionnaire. 

Don't get me wrong, I would love to see reviews on profiles and hollows. I don't believe they would be very helpful as everyone skates differently. Check out the on ice video thread. A 18',30' dual radius would work very differently for @Imperative vs @Hockey School Dropout vs @Punisher Goalie vs @Fullright. They all skate well but not the same. If @Chenner29 and @CG35 were to switch profiles, you would probably get very different feedback about each and neither would likely be helpful to you or me.

And to add to the confusion about all this, most human skate sharpeners inadvertently change your profile with each sharpening. @Chenner29 may have started with a 27'/30 but might be currently skating on a 33'/40 or a 20'/27 (these are exaggerations but it happens). 

Bottom line try it out with a professionals recommendation, pay attention and take notes on feel, performance, likes/dislikes and adjust as needed.

Quick update. Ended up arriving at a profile to test after speaking w/ Bob at No Icing. I needed a backup set of steel anyways so I’m getting the new profile on SS Step runners for Graf.

I haven’t been too impressed with the stock Graf runners I’ve been using and def feel like they’re causing some issues for me.

Will report back once I get a chance to play in the new Steps next week.

1 hour ago, seagoal said:

Awesome design / color combo! Enjoy!!

(If these happen to be 33+1 I’ll just jump in the queue now.)

7 minutes ago, old but slow said:

This is irrelevant as almost all steel is removable these days and it can all be profiled, in the skate or not. Most major retailers that sharpen also have the ability to profile at the time of first sharpening, they just don't want to cause it's time consuming and most consumers just don't know the difference. For the more avid players in my area, retailers will ask if we want them to do the first sharpening or if we are taking them to Bob at No Icing.

To your other comments, the best option for most beer leaguers would be to fill out the questionnaire from No Icing and buy a second set of steel with Bob's recommended profile. If you don't like it, put the stock steel back on and return the profiled steel (with thoughts and comments) to No Icing for a different profile. Bob is awesome! He is a goalie (retired from net due to health within the past 5 years). He kinda geeks out on the advantages and disadvantages of sharpenings and profiles. He used to (and still might) test out all of the options for both player and goalie. He's also spent countless hours experimenting. In short, he knows his craft.

Thanks, I'll most likely end up sending to Bob at No Icing since no one in my area really has the capabilities like a No Icing.

Per my last post though, I think it would be hugely beneficial to get a real world test of a few different profiles that are widely used. Just to hit the high notes / benefits of each and get a good context for what changes you might expect. Maybe that's just me talking but I'd guess most recreational goalies don't get profiled blades because they know little to nothing about it.

@TheGoalNet Just throwing this out there as an idea, but what about partnering with a Step or Tydan and say No Icing Sports to send you a handful of runnners that you get profiled and test out? I think something like that would be hugely beneficial to the steel companies and No Icing while at the same time demystifying the process of selecting a profile to try first.

Rather than coming to a conclusion on which blade is best for the "subject", I think there could be huge benefits from objective feedback relating to each profile that they demo'd (i.e "the SAM profile felt best all around because it helped me ...", or "the dual radius was best for backside pushes and butterfly pushes", etc.). Questionnaires are a good start but real world feedback would be very interesting to see in this case.

10 hours ago, Chenner29 said:

First of all, like glove breaks and stick patterns, there is no single “best profile.”  It depends on what you want and how you play. 

Thanks, and yes I get what you're saying but that's why I tried to highlight "in theory". Most people in stock blades have absolutely no reference point to even begin to figure out what they don't like about their current blades, let alone decide on what they might like about other profiles. To your point, the best option would be to try all those different profile options to see what suits your game best. This really isn't feasible for most beer leaguers but it is what it is.

If most stock blades are poorly profiled and/or mismatched profiles, it's shocking that after market steel companies wouldn't market their blades with the "profiling is better than stock" angle. And really educate the market on its benefits, etc. Would seem to me to be the better sell than just "buy my steel, your edge will last longer".

Couldn’t find a specific thread on goalie steel profiling so here it is I guess.

First, let me say I’ve never had my blades profiled, but the more I read up on it the more intrigued I get.

I’ll get right into it. The big questions I have are:

1. What are the two are three best (in theory at least) profiles for goalie steel? I’ve seen a few references to profiles called SAM, WIN, Zuperior V, Detroit 2, Single Radius (25-30 ft), etc.

2. Having never tried anything but stock steel, how would one decide on which profile is best?

3. What’s the typical stock goalie steel profile for the big brands?

4. What’s the best method to check my current steel profile/radius?

I’ve read that No Icing Sports in NH has a mail order profiling program which is cool and potentially solves the “who” and “how”, but doesn’t solve the what or why questions which come first.

New gen 2 just arrived tonight! Can’t wait to try it out.

Went logoless with @BadAngle41 spec script, Maltese heart guard and beef up

Nice! Logo-less looks really...CLEAN

2 hours ago, TitanG said:

I have one on order!

Me too! Supposed to get mine within a week so that would be +/- 9 weeks end to end with some mods.

9 hours ago, stackem30 said:

I've always wanted a Heaton ProZ / Helite III stick pretty badly... to the point where I would consider playing with an autographed Brodeur one, if I found it for the right price (I already have a few autographs of his, including one made out to me on a game-used stick). Unfortunately, all his autographed Helite III sticks go for more than I'd ever be willing to pay. Probably for the best.

I remember seeing that Guy Hebert put an unused Heaton ProZ outside of his door after the Humboldt tragedy. If it wasn't so damn tasteless, I might have messaged him on the side and asked if he had any spares he'd be willing to part with.

Anyone else have autographed gear they use?

Man, I used to get these sticks back in the 90s! Nice pickup!

Slowly but surely refilling the goalie bag. Grabbed some more replacements the other week at a local shop:

CCM shield 2 pants (in navy! Which is what I was looking for)

Bauer 1s knee pads

CCM dangler

8 hours ago, TheGoalNet said:

how’s the weight?

I don't have a great frame of reference so I can weigh it tonight to throw a data point out there. Didn't feel heavy to me though...

32 minutes ago, TheGoalNet said:

That’s truely awesome! 

Do they still use the air bladder?

Thanks! Can’t wait to try it out!

Yes, they still do and I have one in there. If I’m not loving it I’ll have to figure something out - maybe get a thicker sweatband or add some foam.

Just received my refurb Promasque Classique back from Matty Garland at Promasque and couldn’t be happier. Basically stripped the shell of everything, repainted white, added white powder coated cat eye, new internals and hardware. Great execution and should work out well for a while! Also added a dangler which I’ve never used in past. Here’s a before and after look:

seriously! signs of a serious demo-ing problem. Lehner in that same camp too.

had to order some navy padskinz for the glove logos/striping. I should send him the bill...

On 8/6/2018 at 9:20 PM, Max27 said:

yeah ik who youre talking about. i think their name is like SNFrishman or something like that. He told me he has connections to some sports teams and gets a lot of their pro stock gear. only thing abt that being varlys glove is thats a 2 piece and varlys glove is a 1 piece. @dstew29 is that a demo from him or just his colorway?

this is a pic of his 1 piece, which means its likely a demo glove from him trying a 2pc or just an ef3 glove in his colorway

Yeah, that's the same guy I've bought from. Good seller and very honest (imo) w/r/t the gear I've got from him.

I see what you mean. He must be using both - or maybe he's now using a 1-piece only? Not sure but my set is exactly like the ones he has on in this game pic (2-piece EF3 glove and same blocker w/ same colorway/zones ).

On 8/8/2018 at 10:17 AM, Taco said:

Anyone needing a "forever bag" and willing to spend a little coin, try the John Brown bags. Super heavy duty sterling material (is thicker than the Sterling material that my old Brian's bag was made out of). I use the 2200 which is a tall and skinny bag, perfect for walking through doorways. It is large enough to hold some 33+2" pads. The handles are riveted and stitched which is a nice touch. People in skates have stepped on my bag many times and I have yet to see a cut (knocks on wood)

just ordered this tank - 2400 John Brown (should have in a few days). basically same as what you got but a little wider and not as tall - 42 x 24 x 18. slight premium to some of the others but i doubt i'll need to replace it any time soon.

@Max27 good eye. A guy on Sideline Swap gets a bunch of his returns. Grabbed one a few months back and been very happy w it.

17 hours ago, IPv6Freely said:

The shell definitely does so I assume the padding does as well. But apparently not the cages. Ever try putting an NME cage onto a Fit 1? It's absolute hell. I bet its really easy on a Fit 3 though. 

@IPv6Freely Do you have a fit 3? I was recently trying masks in a store and fit 2 was too snug for me. The 960xpm med/lrg fit well though.

Anyone have an idea if med/lrg 960 or 950 is comparable to NME fit 3?

14 hours ago, bunnyman666 said:

Knock on the shell.If you hear a solid “thock”, you’re good; if something else, you’re NOT good. This is not as good as an X-ray, but a decent way to tell what the integrity is.

Thanks, will give a once over once I have it back.

9 minutes ago, bunnyman666 said:

In all seriousness- the only way composites, if laminted with epoxy, degrade is through repeated impacts, and we’re talking MANY repeated impacts! How long did you use it before its slumber?

That makes sense. I'd say 6-7 years tops. There is some very minor chipping at the outer edge of the mask near the ear holes but otherwise the shell looks to be very much intact.

I opted to get it scraped and go back to a white canvas with white powder coated pro cat eye. I was initially just going to keep the polished stainless steel cage but after seeing a bunch of pro masks with it I really liked that look and changed.

Although I'd love to get a brand new lid, I'm just getting back into it so I just went easy path for now. If I went new - I'd probably go Bauer VTX if retail or Warwick if custom.

Haha so it's probably still safe right? (takes large sip of expired milk)

 (best delivered with gruff Indy voice) if only I had the koho 570 pads to match i'd build that shrine myself! I had 570 glove and blocker but my parents chucked them about 5 years ago when they moved SMH

Definitely keeping the koho stick and neckguard. Good quality never goes out of style! The balance I'll likely throw up for sale on here or sideline swap.

Finally picked up my old Promasque Classique (circa ‘98) from my parents garage. Was thinking about getting a brand new mask but opted to go the “full refurbishment” route through Matty at Promasque. Just shipped it off today so should have back in a few weeks. Went with white powder coated pro cat eye and white straps. Will post “after”shots when it arrives. 

Ps - my brother did the paint back in high school! Not bad at the time and free wasn’t bad either!!

Unearthed some relics from my parents garage the other weekend:

promasque classique (gutted)

koho neckguard

brians elite  airpac

Koho revolution 570 pants

vaughn vision c/a

Koho 570 stick