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made it through the weekend. as mentioned before played roller for the first time in many years, but that was just the start of a weekend where I played 3 sports in 24 hours that I hadn't played in a combined 25 years. My main goal was not to fall, which I accomplished, but perhaps I should have been more concerned about head safety as I took a rollerblade to the jaw (with cage on, thankfully) and a soccer ball to the nose/face. Sore all over, but I got a goal in both soccer and roller, so win win! although the roller game was drop in, and my soccer team lost 2-4. But hey, I got a draw in racquetball doubles!!!!!

Played p/u last night against a clearly superior bunch of hockey players. While they were tolerant of us slower skaters they basically practiced around us. It was awesome. The snow was falling, the lights seemed just right, the ice was fine and I got to play hockey. I feel like playing over your head, while physically imposing, is a great way to improve. I was always pushing hard. Very cool.

Caihlen, you're nuts; but in a good way! I wish our local dropin would be more consistent with play level. Sometimes it's A-, sometimes it's C-, depending on who shows up. Some of the guys who make it A- could better be described in the "pick up hockey (shinny) pet peeves" thread. It's good to play with people up to a level better than you...but frustrating if they're playing 2-3 levels above you. As long as you're having fun, that's the #1 thing that matters! Get out there, EJB. The best hockey is played on the ice with your kids.

I don't travel with my X01, but if I did I would get something like this for keeping my spinners organized. Mark each compartment with Sharpie to say what each spinner is. http://www.planomolding.com/product.php?BCCID=127&PID=938 As it is, I have some hanging hooks on my sharpening bench, each spot is marked with the number of the spinner. If you take one off, you put it back in the right spot. You always know which spinner is in the machine because it's the empty hook (with label). When changing spinners you put the old spinner back on the hook before you pull the new spinner off. Easy peasy.

Finally got a chance to try the on-ice version of goaltending. Had intended to go to an clinic followed by a novice scrimmage, but got there well in advance of the clinic and stumbled onto a pick-up session, and was asked to play. (I gave fair warning beforehand, and apologized afterward for being awful). It was very hard to get used to using the pads with skates, especially with player skates. Very different sensation. I could blame a lot of my being terrible on not having a lot of time to stretch or warm up (it's tricky to move when your back seizes up and you can't feel your legs properly), but mostly I think it was just unused muscles and not being used to the skating part. I did get a little better/more comfortable by the end of the pick-up. New pants work just fine - the only bruise I got was on an unprotected patch that could be solved by a little tinkering with the fit of my pads. Also different is the way the puck feels on the stick and pads (blocker, in particular) vs. the ball I'm used to. I thought, though, that with the puck I felt like I knew where it was more, with the ball sometimes it goes bouncing and you think you have it but you don't, and it's somewhere near the blueline. The clinic is a general novice/adult clinic - goalies are welcome to come down for free for target practice, and for an extra fee they can have some goalie-specific lessons. I paid the fee and it ended up being just me and one coach, and I got a chance to work on some basic movement, get the puck bounced off me, shuffle, angling. Aside from the friendly neighborhood back spasming, I felt really good for it being my first time as an ice goalie, and I'm looking forward to trying it again.

Can't help but think the Supreme glove line's aesthetics as the lovechild of the Warrior Covert and Nike Quest gloves. I'd be interested to know the comparisons in performance and edge retention between LS4 and other 3rd party runners like Step and Blacksteel. This looks promising for Bauer to close the gap in terms of runner quality.