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I keep hearing people say this, but even if it this type of injury was under reported by a factor of 1,000, you’re talking just a couple of people a year. Regardless, if people want to wear additional protection anywhere on their person, no problem. Whatever makes you feel comfortable on the ice playing 👍🏼

I am a size 7 Tapered with a 271 holder. The newer CCM skates are made a little bigger than previous models, which makes putting an oversized holder on much easier. However, at the price you are paying for a FT6 Pro at retail, spend the extra money and go custom with oversized as mentioned by others. It will cost about the same as buying holders/steel, removing the 254, and installing the 263. However, you get all the benefits of going custom too.

If I had a dollar for every person that quoted VT ratings... I appreciate what VT is doing, however they need to refine their testing process more. Too many times, I have had parents “explain” to me what is the ideal helmet for their kids, quoting VT ratings. They push for a helmet that doesn't fit the player's head, and cannot comprehend ideal fit is responsible for 90% of the helmet's effective protection. Things like rate sensitive foams, liquid/gel pods, and all of this other new technology are only effective if the helmet fits properly. All hockey brands perform internal testing and then partner with other companies and universities for third party testing. The fact is, if a helmet gets CSA or HECC certification, that is genuinely all that matters. That is the standard. Think of it this way, there are many cars on the road. They all must pass crash safety testing. However, some cars have better results than others, this could be in all categories or in select categories. Regardless, if they pass, they are approved and sold. I like how they word this specifically: https://driving.ca/features/safety/2023-vehicles-worst-iihs-crash-tests "ratings don’t mean they’re unsafe, but they could be better."

Goalie helmets also aren't looking at the same impact tests than player helmets are. Majority of contacts is pucks and blunt force without the rotational part. With that said, I tried on the Axis XF mask with NestTech in it and I wasn't comfortable enough with the density of the padding to try it myself.

That testing process is not the end all be all, it is not perfect by any means and has some flaws. There are many threads discussing the shortcomings of their tests and lots of opinions on how much different people value, or don't value their findings. I'm sure the ones discussing the Tacks X helmet here have already decided whether or not the VT ratings mean anything to them. I've heard that CCM does their own testing (or uses another lab/University) which is more thorough than the VT tests and I'd guess their results are pretty good which is why they're expanding the usage of the 3D Printed webbing.

Careful using the Tacks X, they have a terrible rating.. I'm surprised that CCM is coming out with a goalie helmet with their 3d printed webbing. https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/hockey-helmet-ratings.html#61 https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/hockey-helmet-ratings.html#!

That, and quality control, sadly