marka

Howdy, No idea on goalie skates and if True changed sizing at all. For me, I tried on size 8, 7, and 6.5 in TF7. I was able to get my foot into all of them. I would say that I didn't notice much length difference at all between the 7's and the 6.5's... Not sure I'd have known they were different sizes pre-bake. Perhaps that was down to them being slightly different shapes in pre-bake form. Or maybe there are manufacturer tolerances that stack up one way vs. the other way across two different pairs? I ended up in the 6.5 and I didn't notice a HUGE difference prebake to postbake in length. There was a little difference, but it was like a 1/4 size or less. I've noticed more difference since that initial fitting in the probably 20 hours or so I have on the skates since. In that time things that seemed to effect the skate length fit the most was moving the tongue down in the skate. I think prior to that, my foot was shifting forward a little in the skate, jamming my toe into the toecap. Moving the tongue down some coupled with making the forefoot area a bit tighter lace-wise seemed to have stopped that shifting forward and now the length fit seems pretty dialed, with me being able to just brush the end if I 'reach' for it with my toes. But I want to echo @PBR here... Go with what's feeling good on your foot and don't worry too much about what size is on the skates. If the 8's are feeling great after baking... There you go. One of the things that's freaking awesome about these is the 30 day money back fit guarantee, so if after a handful of skates something changes you're not out anything. Mark

Howdy, Very cool! FWIW though, I ended up back on the Zuperior S. My recollection is that while I liked the 50-flat (Hudson?), I started having some knee pain and though it might be related. Not sure if it was or wasn't in the end, but I've stayed with the Zuperior S regardless. Mark

Howdy, Ovi is a UFA though, right? Why would Seattle waste a pick on him when he could then chose to just not sign there? If they really want him, just negotiate directly and use the pick to get a Capitals player that otherwise wouldn't be available. (It seems extremely unlikely that this is accidental... Presumably Ovi and the Caps have already agreed on a contract in every sense except the legal one, precisely so that the caps don't have to spend a protected spot on him). Mark

Howdy, Somewhat related... Recently when I got skates (Trues), the shop had me stand on a Bauer branded "Brannock Device" like thing. It showed 8.5 for a size. Then I scanned on their Bauer scanner. It showed 7. I thought it was pretty crazy that both devices, from Bauer themselves, would show such a drastically different size. Mark

Howdy, Not sure if anyone really cares, but the TF7's are working out well. Put a profile on a new set of steel that matched what I had on my previous Makos (Zuperior S) and I'm finally back to basically never thinking about my skates. I'm sure some of that is the additional time in the skates... I've got 14 skates (reffing and playing) in on them now. At this point, my toes aren't QUITE brushing the end cap. I do feel a ridge under my right big toe especially... Like a step where some material meets or something like that. I haven't pulled the laces to try and see what's going on there. I thought about maybe trying to smooth that out with a die grinder or filling an area with epoxy or something to make it less of a sharp transition. Its fairly minor though, so I might just keep ignoring it. Otherwise no hot spots or rubbing or whatever. I'm guessing that change from the first skates is a combination of the foams/padding breaking in more with use and moving the tongues down in the skate. Pretty happy with these things! Mark (Just so nobody interested needs to dig back... I went from 7.5 regular width Mako M8's (probably should have been in wides) to 6.5 regular width TF-7s. My take is that the True skates are marked around .75 size listings smaller than 'standard' and are also a bit wider/more volume than the old Vapor / "fit 1" type things though the mold-ability may let them work for narrower feet as well)

Howdy, Got another set of steel, profiled to Zuperior S. I should be able to give that a workout this weekend. 🙂 One question... Does anyone know of a rigid skate blade holder that fits Shift steel? I'd really rather not toss something in my bag that flexible, because I can't believe its good for loose steel to be banging around as easily as it seems to be able to bend. Mark

Howdy, Binnies is close enough that I'd probably just go there. Another skate last night. After trying the medium inserts and still feeling a line of pressure on my instep I just removed the inserts altogether. That definitely was better. I think the extra arch support is nicer with the inserts, but the way they work it seems to press the edge of the insole up into my foot and I can feel that lip. If that was a smooth transition maybe it would be better, but for now... I'm on the no insert plan. I also adjusted my tongues down in the skate another 1/2" to 1" or so. That seemed to really help lock the front of my foot down in the boot and even after 4 hours on the ice reffing I didn't notice a hot spot on the sides of the balls of my feet like I had before. A side benefit was making them easier to tuck under shins / pull out from under shins. What has been everyone's experience with Shift steel vs. Step steel? Interested in the uncoated versions, just because I want to keep being able to use a stone to deburr. It's time for me to get a profile and figure I'll add a set of steel at the same time. Mark

Howdy, No. Profile definitely feels different, but I don't feel unstable on my heels like you describe. I would say if anything it feels like there's a little steel missing under my toes or something. With the same radius cut, these skates also feel like they have more grip on the ice than the Makos did. I need to decide if I'm ready to commit enough to the fit of these that I won't be returning them and should spend money on profiles. I guess I probably am? Another skate last night. I tied the skates tighter from the get-go and didn't have "toe into the end" issues like I did on the initial skate. There's a bit of a hot spot on both feet on the side of the ball of my foot... Feels like maybe my foot is moving up and down a bit there? Its a "rubbing" type of sensation vs. pressure. Considering dropping the tongue lower into the skate to see if that will lock the front of my foot down a bit more. I wouldn't mind having less tongue above the boot either. Also considering a rebake and using the saran wrap method. I'm undecided about the medium arch insert. I think that's a little better than the large, but I was still for sure feeling a step/pressure on the underside of my arch. I'll probably try them again with it in there. Now that JR isn't doing profiling, what's the hookup for getting profiled steel? The shop I bought them from does have a ProSharp so I guess I could just go through them. The only question I have at this point is that on my old skates I had a Zuperior S, but that was on a 263 runner and it seems like ProSharp says to use a Zuperior XS on a 254 runner like I have now? https://kkskate.com/blog/discover-the-secrets-of-skate-profiling Not sure if I should ask for a Zuperior S or an XS. Mark

Howdy, I had a Zuperior S with a bit more (25%?) forward pitch on a 263 runner, 7.5 skate size. Mark

Howdy, Played with this today. The arch support inserts have an "L" and an "R" stamped on them and they were in there correctly. I tried switching to the Medium insert and it seemed like it felt a bit better, so I'll give that a go tonight. One thing I WON'T be doing is removing the insoles every time I use the skates... What a PITA getting that stuff back in the skate with the insert where I stuck it on the insole... Mark

Howdy, Not really... No. 🙂 Stability under my heel was ok. Stumbled over my toes a couple times though. Agility felt pretty similar... Boots seemed stiffer / felt more solid, but countering that it seemed like I could pivot them on the ice or something slightly better. Overall a wash on agility. Fit-wise... Maybe I went too small. But maybe not too. Just after putting the skates on and in a bit of a crouch my toes don't touch the endcap unless I 'reach' for them. But on the ice, particularly when skating backwards (but other times too), my toes hit the endcap reasonably hard. Certainly much more than a "brush". I tried tightening the laces along the whole skate because it felt like maybe my foot was moving forward in the skate. That definitely helped, so I'll try that again today. In my old makos if I tightened the laces that much my arches would KILL me, but in these (with the "Large" arch supports), no arch pain at all. That was probably the most surprising thing of the whole deal. It makes me wonder if I've got a little too much forward pitch. I also feel a bit of pressure on the side of the inside of my foot at the top of my arch. Considering trimming down the arch support so that it doesn't wrap up the side of the boot as much, but I want to find some youtube vids or something where someone shows how you're supposed to use the arch supports. Its not symmetrically shaped there front to back, and I'm not sure the shop put it in the right way either. The laces are also crazy long. 🙂 Pickup game tonight. I'll swap the laces to shorter ones and start the session with the forefoot area especially pretty tight. See how that goes. Mark also... The shop (KO Sports near Pittsburgh, PA) was ok with the whole thing. They clearly didn't sell many Trues / know all that much about them. I had a younger kid at first, rather than the guy I talked to on the phone and it was his first customer asking about Trues. The older guy (still not the guy I talked to on the phone) wasn't really any better. Sizing wise in particular they were both clueless and had me stand on a Bauer stick measurer thing and declared that I would be a size 8. 🙂 I tried that to placate, and they were fine when I asked to try on a 7 and a 6.5 but if I hadn't had some idea that I should do that... Around that time the guy I'd talked to showed up and he was much more of a "good skate fitter". He still wasn't a True expert, but together we talked through stuff and figured out where I should be. Without him, I'd for sure say I'd have been better off just going through IW and doing it myself. With him... More of a wash. Its certainly nice to have a real skate oven, have them to the initial sharpening, and easily be able to try on multiple pairs. Less nice to drive a little over an hour each way. Also, also... I tried on the TF9 as well. The fit was certainly a bit different... They felt a bit roomier, particularly in the tongue area. And the tongue is WAY stiffer than the TF7. But it was kinda a wash overall. I certainly didn't feel/notice anything that was worth nearly doubling the skate cost.

Howdy, Finally took the leap. TF7 in 6.5R. Coming from Mako M8 in 7.5. These are definitely a bit shorter, but I wasn't brushing the toe cap in the Mako 7.5's and its "a bit". Lots of changes... New boot obviously, but also the next size down runner and going from a Zuperior profile to the stock 9'/10' combo on the TF7, if this thread is to be believed. At least I was able to keep the radius the same at a 3/4 Fire. No idea what's going to happen when I hit the ice later tonight! Mark

Howdy, Could be worse... You could start playing when you're 46 and not be able to skate well, have crap hands, shoot muffins, and not be able to pick up the puck from the ice either. Uh... Or at least... So I'm told. 🙂 Mark

Howdy, Playing hockey, for nearly everyone, is about having fun. If hockey is more fun if you learn to pickup the puck from the ice... Cool! Its not an "either/or" situation where you have to pick being able to do that or being able to skate well. You're allowed to do both. Mark

Howdy, A few more months in and the Grit bag is holding up great. No detectable wear at all. Definitely recommended, if you want a Pro shape bag and don't mind it being a little "floppy". Mark

Howdy, Yep. Here too. I started out diluting it, but mixing was a pain and rubbing alcohol is cheap, so now I just use it directly. For you folks mixing it with hydrogen peroxide... What does the hydrogen peroxide do? Mark

Howdy, Insane how close it was to an Islanders/Habs matchup. You would certainly think Tampa is going to dominate but ?? I'm pulling for the Habs as well, but that's not a good sign since so far basically every team I've wanted to win has lost. Mark

Howdy, Basically no, I don't. Which is probably dumb. With the ibuprofen and knee brace, my knee never hurts beyond the "hell, my knee hurts a bit" stage. Its not limiting (hockey wise... It definitely limits in terms of running. But I hated running before I screwed up my knee so...) That said, is there a set of exercises you finds helps? Mark

Howdy, I don't know what characteristics you'd want for arthritis, but I use a shock doctor 875. Compression w/straps, plus metal hinges. In my case I have a torn meniscus from a number of years ago that was unable to be repaired due to lack of blood flow. Its a "just live with it" injury for the most part, though they can do arthroscopic surgery to clean up the edges of the tear if they're irritating the area. In my case, I opted not to do the surgery because it started feeling better between diagnosis and when the surgery was scheduled so I put it off. That was >10 years ago. For me, my knee hurts when running (to the point I don't do that), but skating is just minor pain. I started wearing the brace after I started playing hockey (started at 45/46, about 6 years ago). After about a year of skating a decent bit, I could feel my joint "loosening up", not in a good way. Started wearing the brace all the time and that went away. Its a bit bulky, particularly when putting it on and putting shins over it, but I don't notice it on the ice. YMMV. For reffing, I don't wear it and haven't noticed any ill effects. Often on the ice for 3 hours at a go for reffing, but you're not skating like you do as a player then. Mark (I also proactively take ibuprofen prior to reffing and skating, fwiw) edit: I've tried other braces... Shock doctor non-hinged as well as a Don Joy Reaction Web brace. They've all been slightly less bulky, but not enough to make a difference as to how gear fits. The Reaction Web brace was uncomfortable in terms of pinching skin. All of them have also felt less supportive.

Howdy, CCM 2 piece here. Not sure which exact ones they are, but the top of the line / 2nd to top of the line Tacks all seem to be basically the same thing in bold new graphics. All very similar to the Reebok 11k (?? I think anyway) that were the first pair of elbows that I really liked. When I got these a year or two ago I spent quite a while trying on all the options. I found that the fairly faithful copy of the Reebok design (which I think is the same as the Jofa 2 piece design?) were the ones I liked the best in terms of comfort & staying in place. Mark

Howdy, I wasn't looking to gain anything. I couldn't find the Bauer low cut basic socks anywhere in size Medium. I tried a couple pairs of Elite Hockey Pro-X700 Ultra Sport Bamboo Calf Socks. Interestingly, my feet hurt a decent bit in them. Not sure why. They're a bit thicker than the Bauer socks, but I think the real problem is the "2" compression arch support" they seem to have. Really that's just a tighter band around your foot at the arch. It seems crazy to me, but my arch was killing me the 2nd time I used them. Loosening my skates helped a bit, but just a bit. I switched back to the Bauers and no more new pain, though my feet are still sore from the night in the Elites (reffing, so I've been on the ice 3-4 hours a night since Tuesday, when I tried the Elites). Anyway, the Elites are going into the bags as emergency spares in case of extreme forgetfulness. 🙂 Mark

Howdy, Yeah, I've always thought I would not try and separate. Agree with "not worth the risk". And I'm pretty happy that when I got taken down my head didn't hit anything / leg didn't get twisted, etc. But in the actual moment, it was a combination of seeing my partner surrounded and then later that one guy has another flat on the ice and not wanting someone to get seriously hurt. Next time I'll be a little better prepared and hopefully it will be less "instinct". And the plan is certainly to stay back more. Mark

Howdy, So, first serious hockey fight as a ref. Beer league A level game. A bunch of guys that played hockey "for real" mostly. Game was a bit "stick-y". Nobody taking runs at folks or anything like that, but the occasional stick whack or "nuisance hook". I missed a more real hook (saw it late, didn't process fast enough that it was too much to call the penalty). The guy I missed the hook on then proceeds to give a hook back, which I let go, then talked to him after the shift and explained that I thought I missed the hook on him, so I let the one he gave on the other guy go but that was it. Kept a tighter watch, but I'm sure I missed stuff. The guy above was bitching pretty constantly. He lost his temper and slashed a dude in the hands pretty hard, which I called. Talked to him again. A little later someone hooks him just about exactly like the first hook and I call it. But the tone is pretty well set and now each team is the aggrieved party. The one positive is that I'm reffing with the guy that literally runs the league and has been a ref, coach, league commissioner, taught me initially how to ref, etc. etc. And he knows most of the guys by name. So I'm basically letting him take the lead on when to start streaming guys to the box, which ends up not happening. A few calls, but not a parade. Boils over at the end of the 3rd with a couple guys pushy shovey which turns into one guy doing a half face wash, half punch. More pushy shovey. My ref partner is in there, so I go in as well to try and separate. Guys are pairing off a bit, but there's not like five fights or anything. As I'm doing that, one player skates in from behind me. Later the other team says he came from the bench, but I can't say that for certain without video. He grabs one of the pushy-shovey pairs from behind / jumps on him / knocks us all down to the ice. I saw him coming in late and tried to stop him, but wasn't quick enough. Guy he jumps on turns out to be tougher than he is, and said guy proceeds to get on top of him and pummel him for a bit. I'm still trying to separate. Notice blood on the ice. Turns out that the jumpee is cut under the eye (not seriously). Eventually the jumpee lets the jumper go. My partner takes the jumpee and I take the jumper. I hear a more commotion further away and apparently the jumpee is threatening my partner. Luckily my partner can handle himself and that doesn't seem to be escalating beyond loud noises. Stuff keeps calming down. I get the Jumpee to look at me so I can see if he's bleeding seriously (he's not) and realize that my arm is covered in blood (turns out he was dripping blood on me pretty steadily, how I had him trying to pull him off). Jumper by this point has finally left the ice (and apparently won't ever return... Pro Tip, don't throw a punch and accidentally(?) hit the ref that's the league commissioner and then threaten him with "you're next"). There's a minute left on the running clock and we all make weak jokes about if we should drop the puck for the remaining minute of ice time. Turns out blood seems to rinse out of a CCM ref jersey fairly well. Not really happy about getting bled on, of course. Take-aways... In hindsight, clearly starting a parade to the box earlier would have been smarter. I dunno what to do about calling penalties for infractions I don't process... I guess just be more ready to call a penalty and if I'm wrong, be wrong on the side of it being ticky-tack vs. something 'real'. I saw the game getting a little more out of control in terms of bitching, and instead of relying on my partner's judgement, I probably could have just started calling anything that even remotely looked like a penalty. Kinda hard being that I was by a LOT the least "hockey experience" person on the ice, but whatever. Again, likely better to be wrong on what was a penalty and have the teams be pissed at me, vs. pissed at each other. Probably. In terms of managing the fight itself, I think I needed to be less focused on the actual fight until I was sure there weren't going to be any more arrivals. If I'd seen the jumper coming in earlier, maybe I could have intercepted him. My recollection is that I was standing back a bit until I saw my partner getting in there, but my attention was still on what was in front of me with maybe 3 pairs of guys and trying to get them calmed down vs. watching behind for late arrivals. I'm pretty surprised this happened at this level btw. I always figured that the really salty folks were the late comers like me where beer league was the highest level hockey they ever played and they took it way too seriously. I'd have thought a bunch of guys that played AAA / Junior / college / minor pro would have been there and done that enough to just want to play hockey and have fun. I've only done 3 or 4 other games at this level and all of them have had exactly the vibe of a bunch of guys were damn good at hockey and are just out getting some exercise, playing hard for sure, but erroring on the side of clean if there's a question. Driving home, I was wondering a bit if this is worth it. I don't need the money from reffing by any stretch. In the end, I decided that I'm selfish enough that I enjoy getting paid to exercise and enjoy doing these faster games in particular. I'm certainly far from the best ref around and have no illusions about that. But as long as it seems like there are some folks that think I'm doing an ok job... Good enough. If I could reliably play hockey (vs. ref) five or so nights a week then I'd rather do that, but that doesn't seem possible. So I'll continue to ref two or three nights a week and play a couple nights a week and drive on. Mark

Howdy, Got the bag. Like it pretty well. Did a review for the gear section, but its waiting on moderator approval. Mark

Howdy, There needs to be something strong than a "like" icon. Will you be doing profiling too? Mark