Lucky Pucker

Wow - that Reebok/CCM Set up looks pristine! Have they ever even seen rubber??? I’m not saying you’re a shit goalie (and I know shit goalies; I see one everyday when I’m shaving!), but have you ever even played in those? They look amazing. Very nice indeed?

Hey Izzy! Thanks for posting! I hear ya about wishing you could have started earlier; my start was at age 39 - and that’s just 2 months ago, with wife, kids, mortgage, job... so I’d say you’re winning! Weird how many Ducks fans there are... but then I even find a single Ducks fan to be peculiar- lol! ...for anyone reading these who hasn’t yet introduced themselves, be like Izzy and post! I will give you a “reaction”, which will give you points, which can be redeemed for (pictures of) sweet pro gear! Or cred. Or something... I guess.

Nice comparison photo - you can really see a marked difference from that angle. Better mobility and still great protection? Nice. Me to Brain: commit "Optik C/A" to memory Me to Brain: determine way to pay for new Optik C/A Brain to me:

...not sure this bump has worked out as I had hoped. maybe I need to throw a skate blade or something...?

I think that's called Facebook. Not sure, because I have never had a FB account myself. Personally, I'm waiting for them to have more self-interested millennials with ZERO filter - who are preferably also self-identified foodies and post pics of every meal - as members before I join.

Wow - quite chuffed to get this from you, the much-esteemed Mr. @bunnyman666 Sir! Ta! I didn't want to intrude as an unknown noob on your update thread, but I was very touched by your post, and needless to say my thoughts are with you. AND I am thrilled to see that you have decided to continue contributing! Cheers!

Yeah, straight up; this is a bump. I think I've noticed some new members join, and might not be aware of this thread. In this iteration here on the goalie network, it was @Ghostender who started it (thanks!) I think it's great, and I love reading about how people got to being a goalie present-day, where they are/where they're from, and whatever other anecdotes! I have an entry here, as do several other members. Great reading to be had! So why not make an entry yourself... ?

Damn, @Znowleopard - you’re up late! Hot Saturday night date?

"Carry"...? Like, carry my own stuff...? Perish the thought - I have people for that. I also have people to tie my skates, strap my pads, and do my stretches and warm up for me. I'm presently interviewing someone to stand in front of the net for me too. Truth is I bungee-cord them (nice soft fabric covered ones with plastic clips; they're shit for anything out in the yard - esp with Ottawa winters, but they're perfect for this) to the top of my bag. Yup - I'm a wheel bag weenie; my thinking is that I don't want to injure myself on the way to or from the rink (esp with a repeatedly-dislocated shoulder that almost popped in a game last week), so fuck it. Imma gonna get my wheelz on.

So I have Reactor 9000 pads, and I removed the top straps; not because I really know what I’m doing, or what I like - more because I can feel like I did a mod without really doing anything. Anyway, I was looking at my pads, and the strap holder/flap thing looks kinda dumb, so I had a closer look. I discovered that there’s a little pouch opening, and being the same shape as the flap, I tucked it in. Is that what it’s there for - or is it so you can put your weed in it...? First pic is the flap/strap holder. Second is with it tucked inside the little pouch. (BTW - if there is proper terminology for these please tell me... flaps and pouches sounds a bit rude...)

Me too, brother! Like, I am loving this so much, but what if I really hurt my knee or something? Hips, etc? But then it seems a lot of 35+ pick up games are content to have someone simply wearing goalie equipment in the vicinity of the net, so mobility might not be super important for me later on. Besides - it's as important (maybe MORE important) to look cool, and have cool gear! As others have mentioned in other threads, a foam roller does wonders. It is my most important piece of equipment, and I use it daily! (OK, I sorta "liberated" it from my wife, who got it when she had an IT band injury from our half-marathon training, before kids, and before either one of us knew what/where an IT band was... but I digress)

Interesting story, @mr_shifty1982 - or Niv! I just came back from my 2nd-ever appearance as goalie (just a pick up game - but I think I might have kept the GAA under double digits this time! ) Good to know that it gets better for those people who have this dream, and only get to start living it a tad later in life. My story/introduction is on page 1 of this thread I think, but I started this about 2 months ago at age 39. It sure takes some character to do what we do - and more so when you do it badly (speaking for myself here). I have left every single session as goalie with a goofy grin on my face though, a feeling of satisfaction and gratitude that I finally get to do this, and excitement knowing that I have so much room for improvement. I'm personally a big fan of this thread, so thanks for posting, Niv! Cheers

Wow. That was effin brilliant! Big props to @MTH for that one! I’m not sure I can live up to that level, so I’ll have to have a good, serious think on my post idea (esp as it involves about zero Norfolk Admirals). What was this thread originally about...? Oh right - I’m 5’10” and use a CCM foam core, Price curve, and 25” paddle. I also cut the shaft, but only about 3” off if memory serves... but this really reflects about 20 minutes of internet research WAY more than any preference/awareness of what the hell I’m doing.

I feel inspired by this; post to follow...

Are you sure you still want to be a Sharks fan after last night, @Znowleopard..? I mean, they only scored 8 goals. Looks to me like they're running out of steam - LOL!

Forgive me, but I can't ignore the irony of a picture in a "breaking in my gloves" thread having the "GAME READY" tag so conspicuously displayed Sorry - as you were , gentlemen...

Hey Jake! nice to read another background; I’m a big supporter of this thread (see earlier bumps... ahem! Posts.) I was also a huge Roy fan, but from before he went to the land where yellow food die and carbonation is added to mountain water and sold as “beer”. I'm also pretty new; I have one pick up game (and a double-digit GAA) under my belt now, so clearly WAAAAY ahead of you! But then my goalie coach is not a former ECHL goalie, so maybe you are actually ahead of ME! Anyway, from a fellow neophyte net minder, welcome. Great help, great laughs, great guys here! cheers

Good man!

Forget the bucket for a sec - are you ok? I’ve never had a slap shot off the noggin, but I imagine it’s not the best...

Cool - so obviously the same is true for me if I have V5 gear, right? ... Right?!?

FFS - I started being a goalie in February of this year, and bought a V5 blocker and trapper off some dude here in Ottawa... because I’m NOT rich and because I’ve NEVER done this before. Why is this dude rocking V5? Isn’t that really old gear...?

I was watching that Habs post-game stuff, and the longer Price stayed out like that (to his credit, so did Galchenyuk) the more I thought about this thread, and wondered "is someone gonna grab these shots? Should I? how do I do that..." My "leave it to the pros" decision clearly worked!

Update: after consultation with Doctors @Punisher Goalie and @ruckus007, chin strap removal surgery was a success. For sale: one chin strap, off a Bauer Concept C2. Never used! Asking: 1 puck, OBO. But seriously - in the unlikely event that someone wanted it, I could drop this puppy in the mail. Cheers, Mark

Sorry @Znowleopard: you had me right up until beer, then I started thinking about all the amazing Belgian beers I’ve tried, and, we’ll... I didn’t really process much after that... good luck with uni in the UK! Cheers

So this is a blatant bump - not for personal gain or anything, but because I’ve enjoyed reading other’s posts so much. It’s also a way to find out who your neighbours are (which is helpful in price/availability/used gear discussions! ) So while I’m not advocating for mandatory entries here for new members (read: I AM advocating for that, with equal parts of zero authority and zero cred ), I just wanted to remind people of this great thread! Cheers!