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Couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw this for sale on SLS. Blade isn’t in the greatest shape but I really didn’t care

And back in True skates.

Chara with a True CT

Absolutely not a standard. Lots of people prefer the cream coloured Bauer have compared to the black that warrior has. Completely personal preference and not something they should be knocked for unless it was actually an inferior product (which it isn't).

To follow up on this and our sizing experience, again, my son is 6.5 in Mako. We got him 6.5 without sizing, because it was for Xmas. Out of the box he thought they were perfect. AFter baking they were clearly too big. At the store, my skate guy, who is very good, thought that a 6 might even be too big, so, he tried a 5.5. ($$$ if only...) Again, out of the box, the 5.5. actually felt perfect to him except for a couple spots that could have been locally heated. After baking though.... too small. So, he ultimately settled on 6, which he loves (boot wise), but the disconnect between 1) other manufacturers and 2) unbaked fit vs baked fit makes it imperative to actually try the things on after baking to assure correct fit. I was very surprised that they got tighter after baking with the 5.5.s, but I guess that's a testament to the material used.

Vet, the stock holder size list you posted is correct. SkateWorksPNW does have 272mm holders installed on 6.5 TF9s, but he added those after. It's not a stock setup, but the 272mm holders fit on without issue. That's part of the reason he knows that the boots themselves are sized larger than the size indicated on the tag vs. other brands and models. I wear 8EE Makos with 272mm holders and tried on both 8W and 7.5W TF9 skates. The 8W TF9 was obviously too long. The 7.5W felt closer to the right size, but there's a chance I could even go down to a 7. I didn't get a chance to try on a 7 and don't need need skates right now; I was just curious and was thinking about grabbing these when I do need new skates. Anyway, I would have to go down a holder size (since the stock holder on 7 and 7.5, both wide and regular, is 263mm) and at least a half skate size (maybe a full size) vs. Makos. Hills also has a video (Hockeyreviews.ca) discussing the sizing and details how they're oversized: Both Hills and SkateWorksPNW have baked and used the skates; so they have a better idea of the sizing than I do since I have only tried on a couple pairs without baking them, but we all agree that they fit larger than other brands. The fact that they're so responsive to heat makes it even more challenging to figure out the size as the right size could feel too small before baking them.

I've noticed things have gone significantly south with both Canada Post and USPS in the last year. In the US, I've gravitated to shipping with UPS, and FedEx as a second option. Coming from overseas, or Canada, DHL is stellar. In fact, I'd use DHL domestically if I could I like their product so much. That being said, yes, I track packages from Canada into US Customs, where they seem to disappear for several days, until they show up at your door unannounced. I don't think your packages are gone forever, just "in transit." Good luck!

The size is standardized. Per Elliotte Friedman it’s 2.5” high x 3.7” wide. https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/nhl-will-aggressive-trying-new-initiatives-amid-hunt-grow-revenues/

Maybe midwest bias, but an old Christian with the diamond blade design my look good

I have no idea about retail, but mine came with standard Nash with palm and thumb overlays and they're fine. I don't even know how anyone can wear retail gloves. The branding everywhere is just gross. Plus I paid 130 for brand new gloves with full poron package. Not sure what the retails come with. BTW, I think your assertion that the palms should last longer is not what Bauer is going for. I think their approach is more that the $200 gloves should have a pro feel, which is why they choose performance palms over durability. For the mid tier gloves the palms tend to be more durable for the average player who is looking for that.

What I did with my AXLTs when the loop side had worn out was buy a package velcro straps https://www.velcro.com/products/ties-and-straps/900600__all-purpose-strap/?shape=strap&size=18in-x-1in&color=black and stitch it as an extension to the sling wrap. It gives a full wrap around your forearm and locks the pad very nicely. I'll take some pictures when I get home this evening.

After 1 year 8 months and 27 days I finally had my drains removed today!!! I can actually sleep on my stomach if I want.

You can DIY with a Speedy Stitcher if you want. Seam rip the old loops off then Speedy Stitch a fresh set on.

I felt the same way for a while, but I recently picked up a pair of pro stock 2SPros and they are unreal. Some of the best gloves I've ever worn. Granted, I plan on sending them to Pat for some mods, but the protection on them is unreal and they are very comfortable. They are far superior to mx3s imo. Even the 1Ss were great. In the Vapor line I agree, apx2 pros have yet to be topped.

Gloves have become such a sad joke.

Any gear repair place should easily be able to remove the velcro and sew a new patch on. Don't glue over because it probably won't hold strong enough. I had it done with my old elbows (also warrior pro stocks) and they came out great. Check for a local shop that does gear repair or a local team eqm that might do it for you.

"In-house" Squirt programs are all fine and dandy for programs with enough teams to facilitate an "in-house" league. What about the programs who don't have that ability? I really wish the city slickers out there with all the answers (apparently everyone on this thread) would think about the smaller communities once in a while. What's happening to our program is absolutely devastating: All of the bigger communities around us are going to this model, so when our association tries to schedule games with them we're told "sorry, we have an in-house league for our squirts." So what do we have to do in order to get games? we end up having to travel further than what we would've had to travel before. We have two programs inside an hour's drive where we could get all the games we'd need. Instead, I had to take my son 2.5 hours away on Saturday. What ends up happening is we have parents that say "we're willing to travel an hour or so, but two hours is too far." This movement will slowly eat away at the smaller clubs and eventually we'll have parents that have to drive upwards of an hour not once, but 3-4 times a week for their kids to participate. I'll also disagree with the statement that "It is an incontrovertible truth that NOTHING a player does (or doesn't do) at the 10U level really matters when it comes to his/her chances of 'going somewhere with hockey'...unless s/he gets so fed up with the game that s/he quits, of course." If we want to preach ADM, and it seems all of you are very familiar with this model, you'd know that the optimal "window for trainability" is between the ages of 9-12. This means that EVERYTHING our athletes do between the ages of 8-13 absolutely "really matters when it comes to his/her chances of 'going somewhere in hockey.'" The letter chasing statement is one I'll agree with. A "bubble" kid is almost always better served being the top player at the lower level. They get more puck touches and generally see more playing time. I've seen a ton of "bubble" kids at the squirt level end up being great high school and junior players. I think many forget that hockey is, in fact, a "TEAM" sport. systems should never take precedence over skill development, but the trend i'm seeing in the skill development communities is that the emphasis put on individual skill is put above all else. I've seen too many kids with amazing hands and feet that couldn't make or catch a pass to save their life. These are the same kids who end up quitting because they scored 150 goals a season up until the peewee level and can't make the adjustments needed to play at the next level. Why? because they don't know where to play in order to be effective! One man show hockey is great for YouTube content, but terrible for understanding the actual game. It's also not fun for the majority of players on the ice. We teach our Association kids that if they pass the puck, there's an opportunity to get it back. I've watched too many players make the right decisions, only to have a hot dog, Pavel Barber Wannabe try to go end-to-end through an entire team, lose the puck, and give up a goal against. Pond hockey is because the kids get the touches they don't sometimes get in a game. hockey is the most fun for everyone, when everyone gets touches, and everyone gets touches when others know where they're going to be. That comes from setting up basic systems. I'm not advocating teaching 1-2-2 foosball forechecking to 10U players, but I do teach three different breakouts and we have a controlled zone entry philosophy (get the puck as deep as you need, spread out, and work together). Our community has enough for exactly ONE 10U team, and that's only possible right now by double-rostering 4 mite players. This means we have a very wide range of players from AAA calibre, all the way down to one or two first-year skaters. When they leave here and begin to co-op with the other town, our kids stand out. they are stronger skaters, think the game faster, and generally speaking, are the better players on their respective tiered teams. In the last 15 years, our small club, which has less than 50 skaters from 10U to 6U, has produced on average 4 of the top 6 players yearly for the neighboring high school team, whose club is almost 70% larger than ours. Unfortunately, most of these kids in the future will not even get an opportunity to play the game, as we'll be absorbed by our co-op in the next 10 years, and many of our parents will be unwilling to drive a 3, 4, or 5 year old an hour each day just to try hockey. I love the majority of USAHockey's philosophies, and I'm a big believer in station-based practices, cross-ice hockey, and ADM as it stands. But this is not a "No Squirt Left behind" philosophy, this is a "Destruction of rural association" movement. It will lead to less participation outside of urban areas

Personally, 5030 for me. Make sure it has the Coffey curve too lol

I cry a little every time I see laces wrapped around the tendon guard