Allsmokenopancake

Team pic after the last game of the regular season. I'm 4th in from the right (you can see my RBK team canada gloves, which I love)

I hope more companies do this with their mid level gear. Not all of us can justify the high end skates, due either to price, or skill level. Thats why I initally done a review of my Supreme 30 skates, because I'm sure there are more like me, getting into the sport, and would like opinions on the gear they are likely going to use now, not in 5 years when they are better

Ballistik 45 Caliber mid curve, just arrived today, I am doing a long term review on it (see ops review section) Love the colour job

New Ballistik 45 Caliber OPS arrived today, RH, will have pics up in the show it off column later

Not necessarily. Last week at the caps development camp, EVERYONE had to wear the RBK nylon gloves, in new caps red/white/blue. So, it could be a stock the rangers had left over from last year or something like that. The RBK caps gloves for the players that wear them this year are really really really nice

They do a great version of Skynards Simple Man As for oxygen, anyone who puts Rodrigo y Gabriela, Interpol, Daft Punk and Arcade fire up, are alright with me, although, putting that gobshite avril lavine on any kind of stage automatically means you lose some points. My brother and sister go every year, then she has a chill out party back at her places (she lives in ranalagh now)

I'm looking for a pair of easton or bauer boots to convert, $49 sounds good, I was on hockeyworld, but couldn't find them, do you have a link to the boot, or are they likely sold out. Looking for a 10 EDIT: Never mind, 2 minutes later, I got it

It will always be bulmers to me

Update Skates :NBH Supreme 30 Helmet: NBH 4500 w/ Bauer 1000 cage Elbow/Shin/Shoulders : Koho Gloves: CCM Vector 4, Mission HE750 (white) & Newest edition Team Canada RBK 5k gloves, feel great, arrived in the post today from the sell section here, can't wait to try them at stick and puck tomorrow

Which one are you? I'm behind the camera, hurt my back at the league game friday, couldn't play in this saturday. Still went out there to snap a couple of pics. The guy on the right in the street clothes took a puck on his skate in the first, and the holder literally cracked and fell apart

This is a group pic from the charity game myself and a couple of other guys organize. 5th game was tonight, first game with the new jerseys (for the regulars, others just bring dark or light) Here is a full size version http://img460.imageshack.us/img460/6084/pcoi0507zm3.gif

I hang mine upside down, simply because gravity dictates that any moisture should fall down and out, if there is enough there

Allsmoke, what blades do you use? They look pretty straight til the midpoint then they curve out. I may just be able to use a set-up like that. The blades on the outside right of the locker are, in this order (from left to right) Black Beauty BB9 Koho Hybrid (not sure on the curve though) Koho Jagr (it's the old Koho Bullett wood stick) Bauer Gagne (it's an old Bauer Truflex OPS) And on the left outside of the locker if thats what you were looking at... The first 2 are Koho Jagr, the Torpedo wood sticks The third is a Forsberg on an Easton ABS wood stick And the spare blades on the inside of the locker are Christian (not sure on the curve) Bauer Peca Easton Modano Christian (again, not sure on the curve) Bauer Jokinen Hope that helps, if you want me to get a better angle on any of them, let me know, I will do that tonight

Try this one, there are 15 pics that should be there http://new.photos.yahoo.com/gavin2802/albu...8804355942280/0

Here is my stuff Clicky clicky

It's from our charity pickup game, skill level ranges from beginner to advanced. Out of all the pics, this was the only one with me in it, apart from one with skating away from the net with my back to the camera. But yeah, that pic does look pretty unorganized :) Boston guy just passed to Portland guy, who is going to throw puck up the boards, I am moving sweeping stick to block it, other two guys are moving in too. After all, defense is over rated, every man to the puck!!!

Like NNI this is the only one I have of me I'm #15 in the old buffalo style jersey, front and center

Sputnik, You make valid points. One aspect of online shopping, and saving money that will be very hard to get rid of is naievity. When I first thought about getting into hockey I signed up for some skate lessons. After one lesson in rentals, I went to the pro-shop in the rink to get a pair of entry level skates. The guy there fitted me quickly, gave me one skate in my price range and told me it was good. I said I had wide feet, he gave me CCM 252 tacks. I paid $130 for those. When I started doing research on gear (before I found MSH), I found hockeymonkeygiant. I saw my same skates for $79.99. At that stage, my concern was not "how to keep the LHS in business", it was "he knew I was only starting hockey, and tried to rip me off" I then ordered my protective gear from the monkey. I bought my pants, gloves and helmet at replay sports. It was only a few months later when I heard the argument for the LHS that I gave any consideration to it. When I went back to this particular shop, I found the staff to be reasonably friendly, but helpful. I made clear I didn't have a lot of money for new gloves (the used ones had at this stage fallen apart), and they basically said, "these are in your price range" and gave me TPS. Which are a good glove, just not on my hand. Then I found another LHS near where I work. I went up there because my tacks kept hurting me, like my foot didn't fit down into it enough. THIS LHS sat me down, measured my foot, put me in a pair of Bauer Supreme 30's. Explained what the benefits of the boot were, and while they were not top end, that they were stiff enough for someone of my size to get comfortable in. He did not try to oversell me on anything, didn't try to get me to even go an extra $50 for the Supreme50's. I understand the LHS needs our cash to continue to operate, but with that, comes expectations. Since my skate purchase there, I have probably spent an additional $500 there, which might not be much, but its my entire hockey buget for the last 6 months, with the exception of some used items purchased here. If I ever need something new, I will go back there. I have no problem paying a fitting fee if it is waived if the skate is bought there. But this shop carries most brands. If the LHS only carries CCM/Bauer (like the caps practice facility pro-shop), then a fitting fee is unfair, as you don't have full range of products, so may not find whats good on your foot. If the LHS (like my one now) gives as good a service as I have got to everyone, there will be little complaints about the extra few dollars. And everyone who asks me where to get something, I will always refer them to ForSports because of how they treated me, a small budgetted beginner adult player

NikeBauer Supreme 30 10 D Reviewer's Stats 6’3’’ 240 lbs Normal footshape, I think. Beginner Adult level player Introduction – When I decided I would try to learn hockey, I signed up for lessons, and used rental skates for my first lesson. After that, I went straight to the pro-shop, asked for a pair of skates suitable for a beginner. I was put in CCM Tacks, 252, because I told the guy I had a wide foot. I then upgraded to 852’s, thinking the pain was just skate pain. After constant pain, I went to another shop near me in Laurel, and was fitted in a pair of Bauer Supreme 30’s, regular width. Fit - As I mentioned, I had thought I had wide feet, but the regular width fitted me fine. I have been skating on them now for a few months. One thing I noticed was my left foot which was initially fine, began hurting as the skate broke in for me. As I couldn’t get gray superfeet locally, I put in a pair of Shock Doctor hockey insoles to replace the flimsy standard NBH ones. Immediate difference, and while I have ordered some superfeet online, I am not going to change the shock doctor footbed as the skate now fits me perfectly. 9/10 fit Blade/Holder – Tuuk custom +. I don’t know how to evaluate this part of the skate properly, so here is my general feelings on it. I feel like I am a little further back in my stance on the skates, and for me, that’s great, I find it helps my stability on the ice. This may be a product of my own improvement as a skater, but I felt like I was a little more forward on the balls of my feet in Tacks. I usually go about 10-12 ice hours between sharpenings, and that works out well for me. In my opinion for the edge to hold up for that long, with my weight, it can only be a good thing for the blade. 10/10 (gets a 10 because I have no problems, but also don’t have knowledge/experience to know different) Weight - Weight is not a huge factor for me at the moment. I am about 240 lbs, I don’t think an extra couple of pounds will make a huge difference for my level. That being said, I do not feel like I am wearing bricks on my feet. They certainly feel lighter than the Tacks I was wearing,. 8/10 Protection - I have only had one instance where I took a puck off my skate so far, and it didn’t even register on my pain scale. I don’t play a high level, so big slappers are not going to be an issue. The skate padding feels solid, from the toe right up to the tendon guard. For the price of the skate, I think they offer excellent protection 10/10 Durability -. I have been skating on these for a few months now, and they still feel good as new. The one thing I really like, compared to the tacks, is the toe. The tacks had a cloth material on the toe, the NBH are a plastic toe. While this may not seem like a big deal, it means to me that other skate marks just create scratches, rather than tears on the toe. I like this. The skates still feel very stiff, and have had no breakdowns in any area that I can feel. 10/10 Conclusion - I paid about $150ish after tax for these, which included baking and first sharpening, so it was cheaper to by at a store than online after you factor in shipping costs, then having to have them sharpened. For that price I really couldn’t ask for anything more in a skate. They are comfortable (with SD footbeds), the edges hold up great for a big guy on the ice, the protection has been first rate when tested. Very satisfied overall. 9/10 (this rating based on entry level skate, for a beginner adult, take that into consideration when using this review) A little side note. I hope this helps players who can't afford high end gear, or can't justify high end gear costs yet. I would love to see some more mid level/affordable reviews here. Cheers

Maybe taped over "THG"

The Fratellis They are a scottish band, my brother sent me their album a couple of months back. It's called Costello Music. Their album comes out over here next month, highly recommended. That new Itunes ad (with the warhol type colours) uses one of their songs, called Flathead

Yeah, it was skaters paradise. They didn't shut down, just relocated to Waldorf. Caravan did close down, but I heard it may be reopening as a shop/training facility, although have no clue. I use For Sports up in Laurel now, I work in greenbelt, so only a 15 minute drive from here, and really really good service

When I was back home in Ireland, I drove an 88 mark 2 Golf GTI, then I was on the way into Derry one night, and may or may not have been going a little fast, and blew the engine. Couldn't afford to get it replaced with a GTI, so got a 1990 Jetty Diesel engine put in, broke my heart. Over here I have a 2004 Sante Fe

Gomez Futureheads Kings of Leon The Frames

My updated list (all mid level) Skates: Bauer Supreme 30 Gloves: CCM Vector 4 Pants: Itech 8000 pro (love them) Shins/shoulder/elbows: Koho 3360 Helmet: NBH 4500 xl with the cage from my old Bauer 1000 Sticks: 3 Koho Woodies, Jagr curve, Bauer Truflex, Gagne curve, Easton Woodie, Modano/Forsberg curve, 3 shafts (all easton I think) 1 Jokinen composite blade, 2 christian wood blades, and one Bauer Peca wood blade