First Few Games Back

[First Few Games Back]

I know I'm going to be hurting my first couple of times back playing/officiating. This is will mark one year since I've been at a rink in some capacity haha. What's been exciting is finally getting gear again as I ramp up to get back to hockey (which I hope is the summer time). Looking forward to seeing how much more my ability has deteriorated haha. 

[VH Footwear/TRUE by Scott Van Horne]

23 minutes ago, Healthyscratch said:

So I spoke to True today. Had to pretend I was a pro hockey player while being prompted on the phone - either dial 1 for retail customer or dial 2 pro customer. 
 

Ofcourse that went directly to someone’s cell phone and they answered. 
 

It is Trues policy that if you don’t not want the holders attached to the skate - that you will not receive the holders or step steel... and still pay full price. This is not good business. It’s like a dealership selling you a sports car with no tires because you plan on changing to a different set.
 

Currently considering canceling the order. I have just about had enough of this company. I had a pair of skates come in a few years back that were way off in size, and I had to jump through hoops for over a month to get them to make new skates. The other pairs I ordered were flawless, but the bad is starting to outweigh the good in my experience with True. I don’t take - taking a company to task lightly... but this bullshit. 
 

True obviously doesn’t know their customer base in that most people who are buying their custom product know exactly what they want. 
A casual player, or let’s be honest - most consumers are defaulting to Bauer and CCM. They show up at the LHS and leave with whatever feels best, and it works for them. 
 

 

What is the difference between Bauer custom and True. I know at one point, Trues entire boot was quote unquote custom outside of toe cap... it seemed like Bauer and CCM where only about 80% custom. Is that true, still the case? 

 

This may be a problem for you but it doesn't seem to be the difference for most non-high level players when it comes to go with True. I really don't see the point of them lowering the price of the boot if it comes without True's holder. No way they could even obtain a slice of the market share if they offered "boot only" prices. That would only weaken True's attempt to become a legitimate contender to Bauer's TUUK/Lightspeed holder.

[Tydan Blades to cease wholesale sales]

Doesn't seem cost effective for them to do so. At least that's how I see it. I don't think most skaters really care about runners like we do on MSH.

[Custom Skates / Ice to Inline Conversion]

Yea, I also got rid of my OG O1's and only have the R1's. Will need to find a place to do my conversion shortly and will probably look to get another pair of skates to have O1's again. Three skates is a lot but given how much I do hockey, I can justify in my own head hahahaha.

[Interference? Slashing? Penalty shot? You make the call.]

Only thing that you can sell me on here is a 2 minute minor for hooking. That's the only option here (if you are going to call anything that is).

[P88 vs P28 vs P92]

I hear yous. I just never felt the P92 played the same P28. I don't see the P92 as a toe curve but there are plenty of people who disagree with me haha.

[Padded Shirt instead of Shoulder pads for low-level Beer league?]

The best of both worlds. I've been wearing the Verbero Shield for a couple of years now (my first pair was the ones made by Dan Farrell before he and Verbero started working with each other).

[P88 vs P28 vs P92]

1 hour ago, JAY4114 said:

I only thought of the p28 because it hooks more like a p88 than a p92 at least from what I saw from Bauer’s 3D models

Yea, in comparison to the P92, the P88 is more similar to the P28. Never understood people calling the P92 a "toe" curve. Doesn't play like it at all. 

[2021 missions]

58 minutes ago, althoma1 said:

Keep in mind that True retail skates fit between a half and full size longer than Bauer and CCM. So you'd be looking for a half to full size smaller than your usual skate size. I'm not sure if that helps your situation or not. 

Oh really? I usually wear 10's in Bauers. I'd be getting a 9/9.5 with Retail Trues? I feel I should know that but I missed that fact haha.

[P88 vs P28 vs P92]

16 hours ago, thorbs said:

Longtime P28 user...I switched from a P91 after using a P106 before that.

It's a huge switch from a P88 - stickhandling, backhand sauce/shooting is definitely harder, but I prefer the P28 for puck battles, shooting in tight, etc.

From the thread, I reckon the P92 is what you should go with first.

Agreed. I went from the P88 to the P46 before ending up with the P28. The P88 is no where close to the P28. The only reason why I ended up with the P28 is that I started shooting from the toe during college haha. And the rest is history.

[2020-21 Gear Sightings]

I started wearing a bubble after my college cage started to rust out during my first couple of years after graduating. Since I was use to wearing a visor all the time due to officiating, going to the bubble made sense. I don't remember ever getting chirped but I know its something that I've seen people get chriped about 🙄. I don't care to get my face messed up with over men's league. And since I play at multiple levels, you can't always expect people to know where to place their stick and/or body parts haha.

[2020-21 Gear Sightings]

2 hours ago, mtn said:

The problem is, you can’t define “in the manner for which it is defined”. 
 

Acha, I wouldn’t call it. Probably ever. They’re 18, and the level is at least high enough that I’m not all that worried. But high school? You’ll get some that don’t know where their sticks are going. 
 

I have called it once in HS. I told this kid that he needed to fix his helmet. He told me it was the way it was supposed to be. I told him, with his coach listening, that if it came off he was getting a misconduct without any chance of discussion. Sure enough, it went flying halfway through and he sat for 10. 

You absolutely can define "...in the matter for which it was designed." Any chin cup is suppose to cup the player's chin haha. Having the bubble/cage floating obviously leaves the chin cup-less. But yea, I'd only make that call if some kid(s) is being more than difficult haha.  

[2020-21 Gear Sightings]

4 hours ago, mtn said:

At this level, where most of the players probably played 1-2 years in juniors with only a visor... They're probably going to do what is requested for feel. As a referee who officiates a lot of high school where players are going to go on to beer league or ACHA D2 at best, I really wish that this wasn't the case. 

EDIT: What I mean is that the highschoolers want to look like the college players. But the high schoolers are not former junior players. Even though some of them are, the vast majority are not, which makes it pretty dangerous. And USAH doesn't define what "as designed" is very well. I've had this complaint before, but I really wish that they'd add "the facemask should be flush with the J-Hooks" into the rules. 

Now doubt. You see it with a lot of Tier I players too. Per Rule 304 (g) of the USA Hockey rule book, you can technically give a 10-min misconduct after a warning but I've never cared to go to that extent. I'd imagine the same thing applies to USA Junior Hockey games for those who wear a bubble/cage.

 

 

 

Same thing with the NCAA Rulebook (which would apply to ACHA):

 

It's mad dangerous to have the "floating" bubble/cage but I've never once enforced the rule during my 9 years of officiating unless its some form of playoff hockey. And even then, I've just dished out warnings. 

 

[Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmie Howard announces retirement]

Oh wow. I completely missed this news! Jimmy was a pleasure to watch over the years as a non-Red Wings hockey fan.

[The Sweet Spot]

Hockey. Is. Back.

[StringKing Composite Pro Prototype sticks?]

Weird seeing a lacrosse string kit company making hockey sticks haha. Times must be tough.

[Streaming world JR games in Canada and the NHL app]

Yea, the American crew is just as annoying for college games but no doubt they know way more about the players than I'll ever do. I just like Canadian crews 10x more than most American crews.

[Streaming world JR games in Canada and the NHL app]

Agreed. Yesterday's games were good. The American announcing crew is brutal but that's on par for the NHL Network. 

[Streaming world JR games in Canada and the NHL app]

15 minutes ago, shooter27 said:

Does anyone know how to get the TSN feed in the US?  I watched the USA-Russia game tonight on NHL Network and the announcers were terrible.  Would’ve much rather heard the Canadian guys.  Seems like the NHLN uses the TSN feed for non team-USA games, but their own announcers on team-USA games?

Hahaha the only thing worse than USA's overall game was the announcing. You're spot on. Just like with the NHL, if I can get Canadian broadcasters, I pick them over Flyers and National (American) crews 7 days a week. I wanted to mute the game just because I was getting annoyed. And unfortunately, us in the USA don't have a choice when it comes to this tournament.

[Ads on Helmets is a Reality]

It's a business. There is no "purity" in sports. Enjoy it for what its worth. I have no issue the NHL maximizing its dollar. 

[When the rink reopens are you going to skate immediately?]

Yea, I'm curious to see how youth hockey has handled itself when it comes to the infection rate. Being away from the rink has made me out of the loop but I'd imagine that if things were getting bad in the Delaware Valley, people would step to make sure the spread doesn't continue.

[Streaming world JR games in Canada and the NHL app]

Haha I'm pumped for the WJCs to be back. It'll be a sports-pack next couple of weeks. I need it since I haven't played hockey since March 2020 haha. I'll have to follow @IPv6Freely's lead and find the "road less traveled" to watch games that don't involve USA. 

[How to help a talented player focus in games?]

Coaching youth hockey is quite the (worth while) challenge. Miss not coaching this year for "problems" like this and looking for the solution(s). Any who, with a player like that, I'd first look to put him around a shooter. Shooters love playmakers who look to pass first. That way he doesn't feel like he has to be "the Guy." Another thing to do is point out the times he does the "right" thing. I'm sure he's had coaches in the past to tell him to hold onto the puck more. That doesn't work with kids like him. They just end up ignoring you. Keep at him with praise when he does things he isn't comfortable with.

[When the rink reopens are you going to skate immediately?]

On 11/30/2020 at 10:12 PM, start_today said:

Ugh. Tested positive this morning. I don’t leave the house except for hockey and grocery shopping and walking the dogs. I always wear a mask when out, and keep one on (correctly!) all the time I’m in the rink and when playing, and only take it off to drink water. 
Even when you are careful things can still happen, and we can’t control other people’s decisions/actions. Bummer. 

Stay safe, be smart. 

Yea, that's why I can't got back to the rink. You can do everything right and you come across the "right" person and you're left holding the bag. Praying that you get better quickly with no after affects. Miss being at the rink but there are just too many idiots out and about for me to expose myself. Stay safe boys.

[Reverse Retro Jerseys]

FIVE BEST: Yotes, Caps, Blues, Wild & Kings
FIVE WORST: Red Wings, Smashville, Stars, Tampa & Toronto
FIVE HON. MENTION: Avs, NJ, Knights, Carolina, Buffalo & CBJ

Best: I like these because I'm a sucker for throwback references haha. I think these sweaters do a great job of doing that via color and/or logo.

Worst: I just think these are too plain. Doesn't seem like much was done to make them more unique from the standard jerseys.

Honorables: These ones I really like and would've been my "Next Five Best" if there was such a category. 

 

The rest didn't move the needle for me in either direction.