DarkStar50

https://x.com/rwesthead/status/1840857521533092207 https://x.com/HockeyThinkTank/status/1841110283198042584 The hockey industry is going upside down....

Over 15 years ago when Bauer was in the process of developing the first Supreme One90 with Fusion steel, their RD & D department did perform those exact tests to determine the effects of boot/blade/weight as it relates to player productivity over the 60 minutes of the game. So while some may not believe there is an advantage in reducing the weight of the steel, Bauer took the time to prove it to themselves before diving into Fusion steel. JR and myself are friends of the guys that did the research and designed the Supreme series boots.

Where have you ever seen white friction tape ?

Could we see the ones they did not choose......

Let us know how many stitches you get in your chin and neck when the first Beer League Game 7 Guy elbows that unsecured wire cage into your throat. There is no strap from the wire to the back of the helmet to keep the mask from chewing you up after one cross check to the cage. Other than that, have at it.

^^^ Maybe a bigger sample size, "after 1 go round." !! Hope they work out honestly.....

"But this new tongue design was years in development. We never had this problem before." Well, it could be a problem now,

Isn't part of the sharpening experience, experience ? I completely respect Blackstone for their new product and passion. My thoughts now kick back to the operator, not the machine. If your part time employee that is just loading skates in and out of the Fireball has no experience on a manual sharpener, how will he know what he is looking for and looking at when he uses FB ? There is an understanding of the process of skate sharpening that a manual operator learns to be successful. Take that experience away and expecting the part time shop teen-ager to know exactly what to look for in finished product is a bit of a risk, IMHO.

CCM will be offering a mask designed to attach to your mask, wire or bubble, in early October. CCM has also made one for the goalie masks. I have booked some for the shop. We will see how the parents and players respond to this product. Practices only for the month of September start tomorrow for our travel teams.

^ Good call, ref !! I reffed for 5 years. A break, especially now, is a good idea.

^ If you are in Ice House on a Sunday to ref, stop by the Pro Shop to say hello. I remember when that whole weekend got blown up.

Our travel teams are practicing only during the month of September. Some T1 teams have gone to NH for tournaments. Scheduling games for October is tentative. Our rink is tightening protocols for September - temp checks at door, no parents inside for Peewee and older practices(watch on Live Barn if you HAVE to watch your kid practice), no locker rooms, dress outside. If this is what it takes to keep the rinks open, I support it. With Atlantic District T1 going into Maryland and Pennsylvania, it only takes one state going hot to screw things up.

Colins, I understand your marketing plan. It is the traditional path. There is nothing wrong with that. Just to play Devil's Advocate : what about Warrior ? I know they are 15 + years deep with NHL on ice product but how well has that exposure translated at retail? Just my experience in metro NYC market is that Warrior is still trying to make that NHL exposure work at retail but it just has never happened here. This is totally an observation in my market. How about other areas ? Has Warrior been a strong contender against Bauer/CCM in your market ? This is the road Sher-Wood is looking to get on. Dead End or Interstate highway to success ? Don't know, just want to hear other thoughts based on your market. Thanks. Seems like we are doing Sher-Wood's work for them !!

I've been in the Pro Shop in a 4 rink building since 2001. Locally beer leaguers are tape, sharpening and a only if necessary new stick types. Not universal for all areas of course. I do agree BLers don't care about latest newest gear when it's time for the replacement purchase of totally dead gear.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/legend-reborn-story-rebranding-brendon-arnold So what’s happening ?

I haven't returned to play yet but we have been working in the Pro Shop since June 15. I have been tested twice. The nasal swab procedure is nothing to worry about. Negative results both times.

Combat OPS.

^^ With so many skates now looking generic black due to shot blocker covers, the big gold badge serves Bauer well for instant brand recognition on ice. Otherwise, I agree it is particularly unattractive. Now before IVP says I have derailed the thread, original Cooper 4 Rolls with vintage colorways need to come back with split fingers. Split fingers would be the only improvement I would suggest to add to those great gloves.

We had players from our travel teams go to NH for tournaments this weekend. From The Athletic today: "At least three players from USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program have tested positive for COVID-19, multiple sources have confirmed to The Athletic. The players had been participating in on-ice skills training at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich., the venue for USA Hockey’s 2020 World Junior Summer Showcase later this month.One source close to the players said the cases have been mostly asymptomatic. Additional participants in the on-ice skills training who are not members of the USNTDP have also tested positive, according to a source.“It’s hockey players who hang out together,” said a source with knowledge of the situation. “One person got tested, found out they had it and so they all did. Though USA Hockey has since closed its rink, many others in the metro Detroit area are allowing limited skating as youth hockey and recreation leagues return to practice."

Dave Miller, I agree with your stepping back given all the personal circumstances. I did elder care for 5 years for the in-laws. Serious stuff that has emergencies pop up when you least expect them. Over the last year or so, given my age, my game has slipped more than a bit ! The older I get, the faster I was. That said, if I was in my prime I know I would be jonesing to play. Now it's just not the first priority. Never thought I would feel this way, just my current perspective. As you read so many times about the real pros retired, it's the locker room fun I miss the most right now. I would go to the rink just for that fun in the parking lot now. Stay safe boys and keep sharing what is happening in your corner of the hockey world.

My quick thought on the gaps in the hockey world : There used to be less of a gap across product price points. There was a price point to fit your budget. Now as one company has made an all out effort to reduce product price points and products. the gaps are going to get larger. As a buyer for the shop, the skate market for beginners at a reasonable price point for quality is getting put to bed by this one company. It is too bad as they literally built their name on skates. The skates offered now do not compare with the value/quality of just five years ago for beginners. I don't see how this is a good thing for the long term health to grow the game. Hopefully, I'm wrong.

Here in metro NYC a few of the rinks are getting ready to reopen. Sport-O-Rama in Rockland county, NY reopens for hockey on July 7. I skate in a Friday Night gang there for over 30 years. I’m going to stay off the ice for awhile before I rejoin the group. I’m close to the at-risk age group. Also I have returned to work at the Pro Shop this week after three months closed at the Ice House in Hackensack, NJ. Work is a priority. The Ice House is reopening this Monday for figure skaters with limited sessions. Hockey returns July 6 at Ice House. What are your plans ? Start playing immediately or wait ?

The idea of playing 4-on-4 is very good. Sorry if this has nothing to do with the thread/post/MSH or whatever else...….

KHL could be a big market for those. Add a sponsor.....

On warmup suits, our Pro Shop takes a credit card number with expiration date when we do the fitting with sizing samples in the spring. When the warmup suits are picked up in the shop in late August/early September, the customer pays at that time. We clearly state during the fitting session and it is written on the order form which they sign to confirm the size they tried on is the size they are getting(that's another story) that if they do not pick up the warmup suit by September 10, we will charge their credit card. There have been no problems with this procedure. Our Pro Shop does stock the custom team gloves, pants, and shells. They are mandatory as part of the player contract to purchase. The rink does own the Pro Shop however, we have had hardly any problems with that either in selling our inventory. Having a private organization come to you is certainly a risk as the people in charge usually only stick around for as long as their kid is a player in the organization.