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Massachusetts Hockey updated their "acceptable" face covering for play policy today and states the Bauer splash guard as not meeting CDC guidelines: What is an approved face covering? *This guidance answer was modified as of 11/13/20 at 5 p.m.* While the Commonwealth appreciates the efforts made by various manufacturers to address the reduction of respiratory spray from players, further review of various products has led to clarified guidance indicating that the “plastic shield” style products do not comply with the CDC guidance for face coverings. As such, both the Bauer Concept 3 Splash Guard and the Tektor 1.0 and 2.0 shields are NOT able to be used in lieu of a face covering. The CCM “Game On” mask has been deemed acceptable and can be used to comply with the face covering requirement. Updated Massachusetts hockey guidance

The shift to overseas production is part of it but doesn’t tell the whole story. I’ve owned a few pairs of overseas retail Bonafide X and overseas pro stock gloves built to Franchise (dressed as an AX1) or QR1 specs and they’re way nicer than the newer models. The real question is why on earth did they ditch the blooming MIA/Franchise cuff for whatever they decided to put on the AX1/QX/DX. It’s the #1 reason why the glove doesn’t feel nearly as good as the older model and I’d be curious as to what data/feedback/focus group suggested that was a good idea.

Domestic vs foreign production

I’ve been hunting these down for almost a decade.

I ended up taking advantage of the True rebate and picking up a pair of the TF9's in a 6.5W. The W width seemed really wide to me (which is what I need). I'd say the True W width is similar to a Bauer Fit 3 but the shape of the front of the True's are different from Bauer or CCM to me. It doesn't taper in slightly where the toe cap meets the boot on Bauer or CCM skates but rather, stays the same width. Also, it seems like it's a deep boot overall. There is enough volume in the top of the toe box where I think I'm going to use PowerFoot inserts to take away some of that space. The insoles I'm not sold on. It's definitely nice but it's a bit thick and you have inserts to attach for the arch (medium or high). Not sure how they will work out but I'll give them a shot.

So I had the first skate on my TF9, so here are some quick thoughts: Baking had quite the impact on length - before baking I was feathering the toecap even when knees-over-toes, after I don't feather them even sitting upright. The new standard tongues don't work for me - created an instant pressure spot on the top of my instep, both before and after baking. Switching the footbed (didn't bother with the inserts for arch support and went for Superfeet Yellow) and tongue (classic VH felt) to what I was used to from my custom VH, the fit of the skate was very similar. Not sure what to think of the symmetric Shift holder and Steel after a single session. I didn't bottom out, the edges felt responsive, but top speed was lacking. Will try again in a few days. Comparing my TF9 7.5R to my Vapor 1x (1st gen) 7.5EE, I'd describe the fit as follows: Length: Pre-bake very comparable, Post-bake the TF9 feels longer. On the Bauer I couldn't go for 7.0, on the True I think I could pull it off post-bake. Width forefoot/toes: Pre-bake the TF9 felt narrower (constant pressure on the pinky), post-bake the TF9 ended up feeling slightly wider. Width heel: Don't remember pre-bake, post-bake the TF9 even untied does provide good heel lock, while the 1x needs to be tied down heavily in the 3rd & 4th eyelet. Comparing my TF9 to my True_V1 (1st gen under their banner, integrated shot blockers) and VH_V2 (2nd gen) custom skates I'd say: The felt tongue feels superior to the new stock tongue. The lateral stiffness of the True_V1 is significantly higher, of the 2+ years heavy used VH_V2 is about identical. The facing containing the eyelets is more "relaxed" (more gradual) on the TF9, but the eyelet positions seems to be essentially the same. The soft edge ("comfort edge" with other manufacturers) is slightly bigger on the TF9 Fit and finish on the TF9 is excellent, while with the custom skates you have loads of excess glue, blemishes in the clear-coat, etc. Visual: The carbon fiber on the customs looks to be a significantly "smaller" weave Visual: The 1st gen VH had a completely "flat" bottom between the front and rear tower mounting surfaces, while the 2nd gen forward had a raised area (also containing the drainage holes) that probably increased stiffness, while the TF9 has a "flat" bottom again. Tomorrow I'll maybe have some time on my hands and will measure, weigh and so on, but from a purely subjective PoV: The TF9 feels like a very good skate, with thermo-formability that more than rivals my Easton Mako 2 (that one I had to clamp down to achieve comparable heel lock), and stiffness slightly lower than the custom model. After switching the laces, tongue and footbed to what I was used to, they felt like my 2nd hand custom skates. It hugs your feet in an incredibly comfortable way, and will surely soak up plenty of the 2nd hand custom model market. I just got myself a True_V1 set in good condition in a similar size, but with the VH+Step holder. Will I switch to the TF9? Right now the Step holder and steel felt better, but I have not had the TF9 profiled yet (since no-one over here does profiling.....). So while the first impression was that the custom with different holder+steel+profile performed better, I'll give the TF9 a couple more tries.

Use a tensor and wrap it through the hole in the holder. I've seen people do this though, and wrap it around the actual holder as well.

Bigger thigh rises? Lundy strapping? They're freaks? I'll take the last line next. When I say "frozen in place" I mean that your weight is aligned and distributed in a way that it creates too much friction between the pad and ice and makes it impossible to recover or change direction without first adjusting your body to alleviate that friction and get your skate into a position to engage an edge. The result is a situation where your pad won't slide because of that friction and you can't move because your body isn't aligned/controlled correctly. The only option at that point is to lunge or dive with your stick and body to try and make a save because you don't have the time or ability to use your lower body. This is a terrible situation to be in for a goalie. If you are going to go to the ice, you must do so in a position where you can recover from the ice, even if that means back to standing to move laterally, and that means being able to lift a leg/knee off the ground in the direction you need to go.. You are dropping into positions where you can't lift your leg in order to engage an edge to move - feet behind you, butt down or all your weight on the leading pad, usually the right. I didn't say one before the other. I said you're only dropping to one, typically your right. Often you do this half butterfly type thing with the trailing leg off the ice. Your weight should be centered towards the push leg, not over the lead leg so you can lift your push one. It's more apparent when you have to move to your right at the same time. Let's look at the very first play of AA vs Black Knights, interestingly a game where you got beat and were disappointed in your (and your team's) performance. You're square to the first guy on a 3-1 with depth where you should be. Your D makes a bad read and essentially turns himself into a cone screening you. The puck goes to your right. And since you have to move that way, you drop all of your weight onto your right knee, with your body way over that leg. You're leading with your head and shoulders into the play rather than the pad. And your left pad trails behind you, off the ice. The result is that the pad sticks to the ice, you lever over the top of it, and you can't even attempt to do anything when the puck goes the other way. Not completely your fault by any means, and you probably couldn't have stopped it anyway. But all you could do was watch. If you would have dropped to both knees when you slid to your right, your weight would have been centered, and you may have been able to engage your right skate or even just throw out your left pad. But it was a flukey play, so let's look at the next one in that video. You are on your angle with your shoulders square. A shot comes high glove side, with very little angle to the short side. Instead of dropping to both knees in the center of your stance, which would probably have just put the puck into your glove naturally, you drop to your right pad, moving your entire body AWAY from the shot and have to reach all the way out with your glove to make the save. If anything, you should have dropped to your left to bring your body and head behind the puck. But I know dropping left knee only is an issue, so it definitely should have been two knees. If you didn't catch that puck clean because you had to reach out for it, you'd be stuck on your right knee, all the way to the right post with no way to move to your left to stop the rebound from going in. Two plays later, an attacker comes in wide from your left and tries to cut back from behind the net. You think he's going to cut across, so go to slide to your right and lean over that pad, leaving the entire short side exposed. He doesn't score, but it should have been an easy goal. If you drop to both pads, you still would have been square to him and moving across. At 1:35 (pause it right there for a visual representation of what I mean) same thing. You slide, weight on right leg, left leg and arm trailing behind you. Eventually you slide into the play and get your left leg down, but your weight is still over the right. When the play cuts back, you have to lunge to your left to try and cover it, which puts you off balance and teeters you forward. You can't control the rebound, miss the cover, and have to lunge to try to stop the empty net goal. If you would have been centered, you're covering that puck in front of you rather than reaching for it. Do you see what I'm talking about now? So that's all frustrating and disheartening, I know. But the thing is that you CAN do it right. That's how I know it's a technique thing. What I find most interesting is that you have mentioned playing better in games when you tend to fix the issues more often. Pretty much every save you show in the next video vs Ironside is good. You drop to both knees, square to the puck. And as a result, you can see how much more "quiet" you are. Not moving too much. Pucks are in the chest and gloves easily. Rebounds drop directly in front of you. At the 1:00 mark, you drop evenly and perform a great pivot to the new angle by turning your head->hands->hips and engaging the back edge to push (but get up instead). On the last scramble, you drop evenly so when you dive to cover the puck, everything is in front of you instead of off to the side like in the last game. Your lateral slides are all both knees down, body weight centered. I think you're sliding further and easier as a result. At 1:30 you make a great save moving from your right to left with good technique. At 1:43 you make a good save and are able to regain your edges because you're balanced. You end up diving for the puck but I think that was more because you lost sight of it and were on the wrong foot when you realized where it was. You probably would have been able to push with your right foot if you had seen it the whole way. 2:41 is another good lateral push to the new angle. Even the last goal was good technique. You were on both knees and were able to adjust to try and make the save. Just a bad bounce to an uncovered guy. But the attempt wasn't a desperation one where you just threw something out there with no chance. Hopefully that all helps.