CharlesC

I absolutely love those Itech I-96's.

Product: Eagle PPF+ Hybrid (pre-Vaughn) Previous Gloves: Eagle L29 (14”), Eagle CP96 (15”), Itech I-96 (14”), Itech 745 (14”) Fit: The PPF+ fit more snuggly than my two previous pairs of Eagles. Once the glove is on my hand the finger length and the size of the palm are perfect. 14” Eagle gloves are always overly tight in the palm and the webbing of my fingers always would hit the base of each finger, and with the 14” Eagle gloves my finger tips are pushed up against the gussets. Over time the gussets would stretch, but I much prefer the proper fit of a larger Eagle glove like the PPF+. One gripe I have about the fit of the glove is found when removing the gloves. As I remove the glove the padding on the back of the hand follows my hand out and bunches out. When I come to put the gloves back on, I have to make sure that this padding in pushed back into the glove and flush with the back rolls. This is more of a nuisance than anything else, and these gloves are by far the most comfortable gloves I have ever worn both when brand new and after a few seasons of use. The tapered fingers and the 2-piece fingers are welcomed additions from the previous eagles I have used. (9.5/10) Protection: I have been using these gloves for around 9 months and have yet to get hurt due to something other than stupidity ( I tried to catch a shot on net). I know that the current trend in gloves is to go for a super short cuff, but I do appreciate the longer cuff found on the PPF+’s. (10/10 so far) Weight: The PPF+’s are very light. Coming from an all leather glove like the L29, and much longer CP96’s, these PPF+’s feel like I’m not even wearing any gloves. (10/10) Durability: These gloves have been holding up very well. The MSH2 palms are looking very good and the outer nylon and leather show no obvious wear besides a few stick/puck marks. The only defect I have found is a loose stitch on both pinkies where the piping is covering the edge of the palm. (9.5/10) Conclusion: As far as I can tell I’ve found the perfect gloves for me. The only negative things I can come up to describe these gloves can hardly be called much more than minute gripes. If you are in the market for high end gloves, you have to check out the PPF line from Eagle. (9.75/10)

Product: CCM V110 Stiff-flex Stuart Curve User Info: currently 24 years old (at the time I was 18 years old), at the time 230ish lbs, skate 2-3 times per week in adult B leagues. I have been playing hockey 15+ years. Other sticks used: Various Wood sticks (Sherwood 7000, Sherwood 9950, Bauer 3030, Bauer 3000), Shafts ( 110 flex Easton Ultra Lite, 260 flex Warrior Dolomite, Innovative 1100, Stiff flex Bauer Vapor 4), OPS ( 102 flex Bauer Vapor xxx, Stiff& medium- flex CCM V120, Medium flex CCMV100, 100 flex Warrior Mac Daddy) Intro: Prior to buying this stick I had been using wood sticks for about 5 years. This was my first ever OPS purchase; so please take this into consideration when reading this review. Aesthetics: This stick is all blue with decals, so it is a very basic looking stick which I do like. The writing is stickers which I did not like all too much. (5/10) Shooting: I never really had any satisfaction shooting with this stick. All of my shots were average in their velocity and in accuracy. The stick did not load particularly well, and perhaps if I had tried out a lower flex my experience would have been better. (6/10) Stickhandling / Receiving Passes: Overall I liked this blade. It was stiff and was fairly thin compared to the blades on my wood sticks. Coming from using wood sticks, I was let down by the lack of feel that the stick provided. Receiving passes was one of the stronger suits of this stick. The puck did settle down really quickly on this blade and did not pop off of the blade much. Stickhandling: (5/10) Receiving Passes: (8/10) Durability: This is where this stick really shined. I used this stick for close to a year, and in fact, this stick has been retired without being broken. Retirement came about because the blade was very beat up and chipped. The shaft and hosel of this stick looked very good until the end. Maybe the blade wear seems severe because the rest of the stick has lasted so long. I realize nothing can be perfect, but to expect a more durable stick is asinine. (10/10) Conclusion: I personally did not love this stick, but I liked it enough to not give up on using OPS’s. I do not believe that my shot was any better with a V110 than with a fresh Sherwood 9950, but the shot consistency was definitely improved over the life of the stick. One thing I remarked that I loved was the cost benefit. Although this stick cost much more than the sticks I had been using; it came out much cheaper for me to use this one stick for a year than to use over a half dozen wood sticks. (5/10)

Product: Bauer 7000 Introduction: I used these skates for 3 years of Midget hockey, and during this time I skated 3-4 times per week. While using these skates I varied in weight from 190 to 220 lbs. Fit: I was fitted as a 9.5EE in these skates. I have a fairly thick foot, a regular width heel and my forefoot is slightly wide. I was not fitted especially well, and I just assumed that since I didn’t have any unbearable pain while walking in the store that I had a good fitting skate. After reading up on how skates are supposed to fit and how different brands fit differently I realized that these were not correctly fitting skates for me. The EE width in the 7000’s was a bit too wide both in the forefoot and in the heel. The wide heel did let my heel slip and eventually caused holes in the liner. I do believe that an E-width would have been more appropriate. These skates were also too shallow in the mid-foot region. This lack of volume did cause problems with blood circulation when I tightened my laces. I am amazed I kept these skates this long considering the fit, but it took until I was properly fitted for skates to realize how bad the fit really had been.(5/10) Blade/Holder: These 7000’s came with Tuuk Custom + holders. These holders were the benchmark of the industry for decades, and it is easy to see why. The steel held an edge well and I never encountered any breaking. This holder is not as stiff as more modern designs, and does provide some feedback from the ice. I never had any complaints when using these holders. (9/10) Weight/Protection: When these were purchased in 2000 I believe these were some of the lightest skates on the market besides the high end of the Vapor line of the time. When I compare newer all-composite skates to these 7000’s I do not consider these very light anymore. As far as protection goes these were very solid besides the upper portion of my foot. This is because my foot burst out of the tops of these boots, this left some less than protected parts of my foot more prone to puck impacts. The quarters and the sides of the boot were very stiff, and I never once was hurt from a shot to the sides of my foot. Weight: (7/10) Protection: (8/10) Durability: The exteriors of these skates held up very well besides the toes (and that was cosmetic). The tongue on these skates did start to split near the top eyelet. Once the tear reached the leather portion of the tongue it did not progress any further. Some of the liner covering the foam portion of these tongues did start to wear off towards the end of my use of these skates. These skates have softened up a bit after all of these years, but I would still consider them about as stiff as my much fresher Graf 705’s. The interior of the skates did deteriorate, but I would attribute this mostly to an ill fitting boot. The wear occurred at the heels and the liner began to wear away around the top eyelet. (7/10) Conclusion: If these skates fit properly I would still probably be skating in a Bauer skate. Most of the problems I encountered with these 7000’s I can attribute to this poor fit. If these skates fit you, I am very confident that they would prove to be much more durable and comfortable than they were for me. Because of this, I am curious how well the newer Bauer fit of the 8090’s and One95 could work for me. (for me 6/10, if they fit correctly I’d give these much higher marks)

Product: Graf 705 Teclite Introduction: I have owned these skates for 2 years. During this time I have skated 2-3 times per week playing in adult B and C league. While using these skates I have varied in weight from 260 to 280 lbs. My skates prior to the 705’s were Supra G5’s, so acclimating to the fit of these Graf skates was not an issue. Fit: I have a fairly thick foot so a rather deep boot is nice to have. I have a regular width heel and my forefoot is slightly wide. The regular width in the 705 fit perfectly in these aspects. I like the lower toe cap because I like my toes more snug. These skates have a lower boot cut, and this does give an ample amount of ankle flexibility. Had I not come from Graf Supra G5’s, the lower cut would have taken some adjustment. The thick felt tongue is nice and comfortable and has provided several years of lace-bit free skating. I did bake these skates, and the break-in period was very minimal. Overall these skates fit my foot very well and are very supportive. (9/10) Blade/Holder: These skates came with the Cobra 3000 holders. I personally like the forward pitch of these holders, but some might have difficulty with this. I have noticed that these blades do not hold the longest edge, but I normally have to get sharpenings due to knicks. These Cobra holders are very stiff and do not give the springy feel Tuuk Custom +’s would give. I have never had a problem with breaking hardware or any negative deterioration of the holder other than cosmetic scratches. (8/10) Weight/Protection: When buying these skates I was not looking for the lightest skates on the market. I was foremost looking for fit and durability. With that said, I do not notice these skates when skating. I would say that these skates are sufficiently light for my level of play. I primarily play defense and so I do get hit quite often by incoming shots (although not necessarily on purpose). I can tell when a shot hits me, but I have never been hurt while wearing these 705’s. (8/10) Durability: Besides the great fit of these skates durability was the biggest factor in getting these skates. I have regularly used these skates for the past 2 years, and besides cosmetic cuts and scratches the skates have held up very well. The toe-cap is not covered with nylon, and so even though it is covered with cuts it does not look bad. The clarino liner has held up with no perceivable wear. I have not noticed any great deterioration in the stiffness of the boot, or in the thickness of the tongue. I bought these 705’s at my lhs in Raleigh and so I was able to inspect these skates very well before buying them. Knowing other people’s reports of Graf Canada’s poor quality control I made sure to look at the initial build quality of these skates. To this day the outsole is still very well attached, and none of the stitching on the skates is coming apart. The only noticeable cosmetic wear has been the fading of the silver lettering on the tendon guard. (10/10) Conclusion: I have been very satisfied with these skates because of their durability, fit and performance. Although I would not hesitate to purchase these again, they do leave me wondering how a more modern skate would perform. (8/10) This rating may change after modern high-end composite skates are tried.

Product: (1)-CCM V120C Regular flex Doan Curve (1)-CCM 120C Stiff Flex Stuart Curve User Info: currently 24 years old (at the time I was 20 years old), at the time 240ish lbs, skate 2-3 times per week in adult beer league. I have been playing hockey 15+ years. Other sticks used: Various Wood sticks (Sherwood 7000, Sherwood 9950, Bauer 3030, Bauer 3000), Shafts ( 110 flex Easton Ultra Lite, 260 flex Warrior Dolomite, Innovative 1100, Stiff flex Bauer Vapor 4), OPS ( 102 flex Bauer Vapor xxx, Stiff flex CCM V110, Medium flex CCMV100, 100 flex Warrior Mac Daddy) Aesthetics: In the store I liked the color scheme of these sticks, and the stick had a good feel. I wasn’t such a fan of the sticker logos, but was willing to overlook the stickers because of the price (the stick was on clearance sale). (5/10) Shooting: When using the medium-flex stick snap-shots were accurate and launched very quickly, but the stick did not have a rewarding feel. With the medium-flex stick my slap-shot velocity was not very consistent. When using the stiff-flex stick my wristers and snap-shots lost some velocity, but I noticed it was not a detrimental amount. My slap-shots became much more consistent and accurate with the stiffer stick, but I still would not consider this stick a fantastic shooter. (6/10) Stickhandling / Receiving Passes: This was one thing that let me down the most about this stick. I personally did not like the feel of this stick. The stick did not give much feedback, and distracted me from my usual game. The stick received passes fairly well because the blade did damp passes well. Stickhanding:(4/10) Receiving Passes: (9/10) Durability: Overall the stick structurally held up well until breakage. I used my medium-flex stick for almost two full adult league seasons. My stiff-flex stick lasted a bit longer at around two and a half seasons. Both sticks cosmetically aged very badly. The decals all began to chip off and peel off. Towards the end of one of the stick’s life, I peeled off all of the decals out of frustration. My medium–flex stick broke in the middle of the shaft, and the stiff-flex stick broke in the blade. Both blades did begin to fray and chip fairly quickly, but the blades never lost their stiffness. If I would have paid full price for this stick I would have felt let down by this premature aging, but in reality the structural soundness of a stick is the most important part. (6/10) Intangibles: I purchased these sticks on clearance for around $100. I think that for the price the performance and durability was decent. I would not have bought this stick for its full original price. Conclusion: I purchased the medium-flex stick first, and after its demise, I purchased the stiff-flex stick. I definitely do not regret buying these sticks, but after the stiff-flex stick broke, I did not feel compelled to purchase another CCM OPS. I did like them enough to continue to use one piece sticks though. (6/10)

The reason that I asked is because not everyone may like the longer cuffs like on the ppf+'s. I personally like the fit of the ppf+ in the fingers and in the hand area, but the cuff is a tad bigger than I would prefer. If somehow eagle made a 15 inch ppf than that might have been the perfect glove for me.

Are these gloves marked anywhere as being 15's? I just always thought that the ppf+'s were the larger sizes, and that the ppf's were 14's.

My gear at this point in time. Some is subject to change if good deals are found. Helmet: Jofa 690 Cage: Jofa 480 Shoulder pads: Sherwood 5030 Classics Elbow pads: Koho 4440 Gloves: Eagle PPF+, Eagle L29 Pants: CCM 520 Pro Stock Shin pads: Jofa 7500 Skates: Graf 705's, Bauer 7000's (Back-up) Stick(s): (2) Winnwell G500 100 Flex, Pro Stock TPS R8 S- Flex Shaft W/ Bouchard Sherwood 950 Tapered Blade, Pro Stock Warrior Dolomite W/ Havlat Standard Blade