IPv6Freely

A tongue that uses Maltese gel instead of felt. It's an option on VH skates. I was going to get it, but Rob recommended trying the stock tongue first so that's why I ended up not going with it. Most commonly used as replacement for foam in goalie masks and neck protectors, Maltese is often also used for other purposes: chest padding in goalie C/A, padding in goalie gloves and blockers, etc. These aren't VH of course, but you get the idea: It looks like foam, but its actually a frothed gel (so it doesn't compress over time like foam does, and has better impact properties). I have a Maltese mask kit sitting on my desk, just waiting for the end of the season to put it in. If you're curious, here's their site: http://maltesesports.com/

It's also possible that a Maltese tongue for your VH may be a good option for you if its your foot shape/alignment pushing the tongue to one side.

I cut the bottom out of some ezeefit booties so they were just a simple 2" tall sleeve. Has worked really well. For a long time I wondered if maybe the boot had broken in a bit so I wouldn't need it anymore. I forgot to wear it one game recently and definitely paid the price. I still love my Mako skates (compared to every other boot I've ever tried) but if I ever skate out again I'll just be ordering VH since my Makos are a couple years old now.

Not a bad Saturday!

Ha, awesome!

First shutout ever last night, putting us into first place. I also now lead our league in every goaltending category :)

Supreme pant shell sold to Shoeshine Boy!

First shutout ever last night! Put our team into first place, too. http://icetowncarlsbad.hockeyshift.com/stats/game/42/124/league//26289(they need to fix the goalie of record, I'm #29 not #00) Had some huge saves, a couple of which were big with the glove. Positioning felt great, mobility is getting better! I also now lead our league in GAA, SV%, and wins. Tied in shutouts (apparently in one of the later games last night another goalie had one as well).

I don't care so much about a bag but at least a shipping box that hasn't already been used three times would have been nice. LOL. No, honestly I couldn't care less. Jeez Bbd94 I couldn't even get the boot on until it was baked. Not even close. You can use other insoles, but you'll want to rebake. I put my Superfeet in mine but then I had a LOT more room in the toe box, so I trimmed my red footbed and put them back in. Still need to trim my yellow a bit.

After a month and a bit in my VH goalie skates I will say this.. They're like tennis shoes. If I ever skate out again I will be buying a pair of player skates FOR SURE.

Yup!

Exactly the reasons the Brian's straps are so great!

I don't think those are different designs so much as just an evolution of the skate. It's amazing how different VH from even just 8 months ago are from what they're shipping now.

Mine was overnight from Winnipeg (?) to San Diego. I wish I had known the coated eyelets were an option, I would have gone with those. Oh well.

I'm lucky in that I had my regular sunday team I could fall back on if I couldn't find a goalie spot. Sucked telling them I'm not coming back, though.

I was thinking of modding mine to have buckles instead of velcro. Or more likely buying a new set and modding that. Anyway, I subbed for the same D5 team from two weeks ago. It was a pretty good game, tied 2-2 after two periods. The third was a shitshow for both goalies. They scored 5 (one in an empty net) and we scored three. We were down 6-4 and I went to the bench. We ended up scoring one to make it 6-5 before they scored an empty net to finish the game up 7-5. One goal was directly my fault, I simply missed a short side shot with my blocker. If that had been glove side there would have been no way that was going in. Another one went high off the glass behind the net, I hear "BEHIND YOU" as I'm trying to find it coming out the other side. I couldn't see it but the D-man yelling made me get over to the far post as quickly as I could. But, there was a reason I couldn't find it.. it had hit a stanchion behind the net and popped out the same side it came from. So they had a pretty easy half open net. The one shot I seem to routinely have trouble with are the ones that hit high on the shoulder. If its chest or belly I can hang onto it, but if its high off the shoulder it bounces out pretty far in front of the net. I've had more than a few goals scored off rebounds from those. The good news is they invited me to play on their team the rest of this season (they've had a sub goalie every week the entire season apparently) and then join the team full-time next season. Pretty excited to be moving up. The rookie league was boring and frustrating. The soft shots that go off five different things in front of the net get to be really annoying after a while. I'm going to get a lot better playing against better players.

What red?

Ah, sorry not much help beyond that.

Try step steel, it's a bit taller. That may help.

Heh I had a girl run right into me once because I came out and poke checked her in a shootout. She was clearly a beginner and had her head down the entire way down the ice (which is why I decided to go for the poke check before she even picked up the puck at center). Knocked her flat on her ass. I got a lot of boos from the benches, but it was a sound strategy knowing she wasn't going to be looking up. Anyway, one thing I'd definitely suggest is that as soon as they hit the blue line you get AT LEAST a foot out of your crease and back up only if they don't shoot by the time they hit the top of the hash marks or so. By that point they're likely deking so you've removed the shot as an option already. Once you get to that point depending on the level expect them to deke in such a way that they're putting it in on their forehand. Obviously this only works in lower divisions where people aren't comfortable with their backhand. Otherwise all I can really say is just don't bite on their first move. Again, by this point the shot is much less likely so you need to follow their move. Keep your feet moving. But overall just be patient. But what do I know, I'm a beginner too ;) I'm just suggesting what's worked well for me for the most part.

How far do you come out of the crease? Do you sit still or keep moving?

This Nespresso machine is some of the best money I've ever spent. Saving an absolute fortune on Starbucks, and it's infinitely better coffee!

Amazing game last night. Down 1-0 very early (first two minutes) thanks to a pass in front that went off my D-man's skate and right in the net. Play the entire game down and made a ton of good saves. Get a PP with 4:30 left and the other team takes a timeout. I go to the bench and say "whistle under 2 mins, take a timeout, and I'm coming out - otherwise, I'm coming out at 1 min left regardless so BE READY". 2/3 of the way through the PP (3 min penalties w/ running clock) they send it down and change. I skate out to the corner, stop the puck, fire a perfect pass up the boards while they're still changing and our guy goes in, cuts around the D-man and tucks it home. It was amazing. Especially considering I'm still not especially confident handling the puck like that yet. Tie game 1-1. Then less than 30 secs later our D takes a slapper from the blue line and it goes top corner. Up 2-1. Ended up scoring an empty netter with 15 seconds left, 3-1. Most awesome feeling coming from behind like that, especially after both goalies put on a clinic and the 1-0 goal being a fluke like that. Sadly, no assist on my pass though. I'm not sure why... I think because the scorekeeper didn't know how to put in a goalie as an assist in HockeyShift. Whatever, who cares. This feels pretty good though:

A little less famous, but we also lost Batman yesterday :( RIP Lenny Robinson http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/17/living/route-29-beltway-batman-lenny-robinson-dies-feat/index.html

Yvonne Craig