Modano's Old School Tacks

[heybrady 0]

So I am watching Pens/Wings tonight and notice Modano wearing what looks to be the Tacks skates from the late 90's, judging by the heel graphics.

Apologize if this is old news, but it caught me off guard. I just did a google image search and saw him wearing the same skates in a Dallas uni. Did he just stock up on those skates when they came out with a new model, or are they a new model dressed up as old?

[team50 20]

Never mind the skates, those gloves are very nice.

[JR Boucicaut 3759]

It might've changed, but last I heard (and this was a couple of years ago), that guys who wore those boots (Modano/Chelios et al) were grandfathered in and they were still making them for just them. As a side note, they were able to get Kovalev into a Reebok boot because they were able to get it to his specs stiffness-wise; his old Tacks were really overbuilt.

[epstud74 24]

It might've changed, but last I heard (and this was a couple of years ago), that guys who wore those boots (Modano/Chelios et al) were grandfathered in and they were still making them for just them. As a side note, they were able to get Kovalev into a Reebok boot because they were able to get it to his specs stiffness-wise; his old Tacks were really overbuilt.

Is Kovalev that hard on his skates? You'd think a guy like Kovalev from the old USSR school of skating would prefer a low cut, softer boot. Everyone's different I guess.

Are Modano's old skates based on the 652 Tacks?

[nieminen24 0]

He's been wearing the 652s since they came out in 1991 when he was with Minnesota. He was wearing Bauer 1000s his rookie year.

[Krev 86]

He's also tried a couple others over the years. Wore a pair of earlier Vectors in an all star game once.

[heybrady 0]

I'm not surprised it is a 652 boot, but moreso that CCM hasn't tried to repaint them to look like a somewhat newer model.

[epstud74 24]

I'm not surprised it is a 652 boot, but moreso that CCM hasn't tried to repaint them to look like a somewhat newer model.

Wouldnt that be a bit hard to do given the construction of the boot??

[Krev 86]

Highest scoring American born player in the NHL. Mike gets what Mike wants.

[JR Boucicaut 3759]

I'm not surprised it is a 652 boot, but moreso that CCM hasn't tried to repaint them to look like a somewhat newer model.

When you get to a level like that, you become synonymous with a certain image.

Does that say "Wayne Gretzky" to you?

[epstud74 24]

Someone ought to put up a collage of players and skates they wore back in the day.

Gretzky and Lemeiux both wore Daoust early on in their careers.

[Invert 13]

Lemieux was actually a Micron Mega 10-90 guy for the early part of his career.

[JR Boucicaut 3759]

It was the only picture I could find.

It wasn't even a HT2 from what I can remember - it has been 15 years. I believe it was a HT1, it had molded ear guards.

[epstud74 24]

Lemieux was actually a Micron Mega 10-90 guy for the early part of his career.

He was, but he also was a Daoust guy early on

[phantomowner27 20]

I'm assuming Reebok matched the stiffness from his old tacks.

[epstud74 24]

Didnt work?

[JR Boucicaut 3759]

THat's what I said - they were able to make them as stiff as he wants them, with newer materials, making them lighter.

[epstud74 24]

LOVED hearing Janson tell the story behind this one off helmet. Classic!

Whats the story behind it? Sorry Im out of the loop

[JR Boucicaut 3759]

For those who don't know, Gretzky wore a different helmet once in his career - 1996 All-Star Game. It was a rigged-up CCM.

[epstud74 24]

Interesting..what was rigged up about it? Why did he wear it instead of his trademark Jofa?

[jetsrule 0]

the skates in the first picture are fresh

[Krev 86]

No. Just, no.

[JR Boucicaut 3759]

Interesting..what was rigged up about it? Why did he wear it instead of his trademark Jofa?

Endorsement that didn't last long.

He also wore Tacks with the lace part of the white heel wedge clipped off. They made a Gretzky line at retail (low-end skate) that had the modified heel wedge.

[adalbort 1]

I think, beyond what Mario, Mike or any other big NHL star is wearing, what is really WORTH mentioning are those Michael Jackson shoes, on the ice!! Super easy to moon-walk, I take... :)

[MilleniumFalcon 5]

wow!