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I know I was pretty cryptic in the Venting/Sweet Spots a couple of weeks ago, but I'm slowly getting better at this; over the past few years I've tried to keep things to myself/a certain few, but I think it's good for me to put things out there at this time. A week after Winterfest, my girlfriend noticed that she was leaking something out of her right breast. We went to the hospital and they figured it was just an infection, and put her on antibiotics, but suggested she go get a mammogram. A few weeks later, she got the mammogram, but then they suggested she get a MRI. The MRI showed enough to the point that they recommended a biopsy. In mid-March, they diagnosed her with breast cancer, and recommended removing the right breast. It was detected early; due to one of the locations of the tumors, since it was in the duct, whatever it was creating had a way out through the nipple, which alerted us to what was going on. Due to her family history, she opted to remove both. Hours after, we decided to get married. We pulled off a great wedding in 11 days, and some of our members flew up to Michigan to share that day with us. She's doing well, bandages are off and we will start chemo in early May. The oncologist is saying 3-6 months; we're hoping for the under on that. She is tracking her progress on her GoFundMe page, and will also have a blog soon. Thanks for the support. I have a rather large extended family here!

Arches in ppls feet also change a bit here and there depending how often someone is on the ice, whether they wear orthotics, summer time where it's mainly flip flops etc. That's why I like speed plates as well. I like how the speedplates are completely custom and I really like the hard material it's made of. I can't stand the sponginess of conventional footbeds and the true footbeds which my feet feels like it's slipping on. I agree with you that even custom skates require additional customization. Like yourself, I also made my own version of powerfoots and reduced the height of the toecap inside dramatically where there is almost no space for my toes to wiggle. Also, some people like their toes to brush up on the end of the toe cap, some like not to feel it at all, and some like it crammed. Maybe true should have these questions answered during the fitting so they can adjust the skates to those preferences, but realistically, those are easy mods to do yourself with some toe plugs. Even the red insole. Some use it some don't. I personally don't use it because it gives the skates a bit too much of a padded feeling on the bottom of my feet. At the end of the day, for those who use retail Bauer skates but go custom bauer ( or even CCM to CCM custom) will prob be happy with the fit out of box bc they know exactly what they are getting with the skate. There won't be an adjustment period on how the skate performs. Fit will only be better since it's custom version of what they're used to. Most ppl going to trues for the first time will need to adjust no matter what bc it's a completely different skate fit and feel wise. I do realize there are fit issues that's not related to the adjustment period.

Most people looking to go custom are already looking at buying a $900 skate so the price difference is minimal. Again, even with a custom skate, you are going to have to adjust things. I don't understand why people cannot comprehend that even with 3D scanning and such that doesn't mean you will need to make adjustments for the skate to fit YOU the way YOU want it to. I also added foam to the top of the toe cap on my TRUE skates and also use Speed Plate foot beds. That's because of my own personal preferences. Not because what TRUE made didn't fit me properly.

Me too. Not suffering foot pain is worth the money.

Another shot of Matthews in head to toe CCM

I finally won a game in net, and kept my GA under 4, for the first time since returning from knee injuries almost a year ago. Not that I've played poorly, I've been playing really well. But I just seemed to allow too many or one I could/should have stopped too often. It was frustrating to have that happen so many times.