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Doc retires: Not player related but the broadcasting landscape changes again. I'd rather listen to Canadian broadcasts but Doc was consistent in transmitting excitement (for better or worse haha).

I liked listening to Doc, sad to see him go.

Always smart to get things checked out. As I told you back in March, it would be sometime within the year that something would freak you out enough to get yourself checked. I am hopeful that what you're feeling is just age catching up with us. I learned after my event that between leaning heaviliy on my left elbow at work, steering mostly with the left hand and leaning on my left side when reading the Kindle in bed that I was creating a tight left chest and shoulder up into the neck. It worried me when it would twinge a few times at the gym. I learned to calm myself by recreating the feeling with movement but when my pulse was resting and my heart wasn't under stress. My trip back was when I was driving to work and was just feeling disconnected. I thought I was getting lightheaded and was concerned something was happening. They kept me overnight, did a nuclear scan and stress echo and found nothing out of the ordinary. I hope everything goes well for you. One way or another, I think you'll be very excitable come November 4th and I want you to be able to handle it.

Not weird at all. I've been around long enough to hear the stories of EQMs getting trucks and boats from reps for getting X amount of players in their product... But when it comes to holders, absolutely; if it makes an EQM's life easier by having everyone in the same holder, they're going to do it.

I am using superfeet carbon pro yellows. I was tired of trying to get the arch supports that came with the skates to stay in place. They always came off when I took my skates off. I like the superfeet.

Another old find in the basement. I had no idea I still had these.

I got my UA mask today, and I gotta say, it's very comfortable and allows better breathing/ventilation than many masks I've worn thus far. Also very moisture/sweat resistant. Much pricier than some other options though.

I played with the CCM Game On for the first time yesterday. it blows the Bauer splash guard away. I has zero fogging issues and found it comfortable to wear. I am wearing mine with the CCM full shield. not the biggest fan of that but only because I'm a Bauer cage wearer. I don't feel great about skating with the cage right now though because at least the visor offers some protection from droplets entering through my eyes.

What’s nice about the CCM mask that attaches to your cage is that is create space by your cheeks, so it’s easier to breath but still creates that physical barrier. The fact that the visor one attaches to the helmet near your ears and to your chin strap, makes me assume that it will perform and function like a normal mask with ear loops. In the photos it’s just as close to the face as a normal mask. Plus, you’d have to undo both snaps on the helmet to drink. Those CCM masks are THICK material. I can’t imagine skating/playing with it directly against my mouth and nose. —- With the normal cage mask, I accidentally put in on backwards/inside out for two games, and I like it better because the internal seem and Velcro is now on the outside.

I figured they would push to after December. It made no sense to start the season right at the holiday time period.

Some might recall I had three stents put in on March 2nd. Been a great recovery - lost 24 lbs and got my Ldl down to 25 - but now I am feeling some "stuff" when exercising. Weakness in left arm and chest "twinges." It might all be in my head because I am insane but after consulting with my cardiologist I am going in for another angiogram next Monday (10/26). Hoping its nothing. this time around.

Equipment managers do actually have some input on what pros use and many pros appreciate recommendations from equipment managers.

If you are having issues with TRUE custom skates fitting you properly you will likely have worse problems with Bauer customs. TRUE builds their skates from the inside out and the materials they use are extremely thermoformable. This allows them to adapt to your foot much better than the materials used by other manufacturers. I have found that people who needed to have a skate heavily modified, punched, foams added, basically altering most of the fit to accommodate their foot type have issues with custom Bauer and CCM skates and usually end up in TRUE customs. Feet going numb can be due to a number of issues. Lacing the skate overly tight, lack of skate volume, incorrect skate length, skate tongue putting pressure on the forefoot. Most of these issues can be addressed by a good pro shop. Did TRUE remake your second pair or did they make adjustments to the first pair and then send them back? What shop did you scan? How have they tried to rectify fitment issues?

Part of the problem is the Mako came out when Easton was going through a pretty steep decline in popularity. If Bauer re-released the Mako II with an Edge holder, new graphics, and called it the UltraBoomADVSonicLite with a superdynaflex tendon guard it would probably fly off the shelves at levels the Mako never came close to.