Giltis

Are you going to just have some Sparx machines running alongside profiling machines? Or doing everything by hand?

My kid uses Trek, seems to work fine and isn't too bulky.

I skip the top on mine, I could probably skip another to be honest.

Yeah at least the two shops that I've dealt with said that they can have it drilled to the specs of either the XS or LS holder, if you specify from the beginning. I didn't do this from the beginning (big mistake), but True worked with the shop that did the conversion and sent my scan with notes on where it should be drilled for the XS holder. I don't know what more you could want.

Wait, how is this different from any other top of the line skates? I love CCM XS holders but I wouldn't expect Bauer to mount them from factory.

Yeah, and for the most part, they are using the most minimalistic versions of their logo. It's fine honestly, and if it increases revenue for the lower income teams that's cool too.

When I've talked to some goalies, most of what they looked for in a goalie stick was square toe vs rounded.

I believe I heard something about Bauer's contract with a fabric manufacturer (37.5?) ending and not being renewed for some reason or another which affected/cancelled a lot of their wearable lines. I could be misremembering, and I had only heard it in passing from a good source in the industry.

Yeah same here, I usually need insoles for any other skates (and still be in pain!), but I just use the stock ones that True comes with. There's times where I'm on the ice for 2+ hours in a day, I don't think I could do it with any other skate.

YMMV of course, but Graf Sidas insoles are the best that has worked for me. https://www.hockeyvancouver.ca/products/graf-step-in-footbed-insoles I don't use them in my True skates, but I use them in Goalie skates and back up pairs.

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I've had the same experience unfortunately. It's really young youth hockey (U8), and I had a dad come up to the bench where they are not allowed and ask why his son isn't getting on the ice. I had to explain to him that he got a penalty for slashing a kid on purpose after getting knocked down, at his level we just sit them out for 2 shifts, but it could have been the whole game if the ref deemed it. I had another mom come up to the bench, and ask why his kid kept on getting double shifted, he's tired etc. I had to explain to her that everyone's double shifting because we have one sub. I've had someone argue with me about the format that Hockey Canada was putting out "half ice vs whole ice" (which is definitely not my call lol). And on the other hand, I've had parents who didn't give a care, I always have to help this one kid (U8) in the locker room (tying his skates and all), and escort him to his dad who's waiting in the truck in the parking lot (who doesn't even get out of his truck to help his kid load the gear, nor even acknowledge me). This half-year with COVID I think was the last straw, it brought out the worse in everyone. I've had way too many parents come up to me and yell at me for things that are beyond my control, I'll probably quit next year.

Honestly just 2x regular international stamp would work I think (~3$ CDN).

Big OOF on the shipping to Canada

I've added nothing, I've been playing with it for about a half year's worth (had it for longer, but stopped playing with Covid shutdown), at 3 times a week. No scratches, but I'm not playing full contact either.

I got burned by purchasing Boulder Hockey/Avision ahead. I liked the cage well enough but they were full of issues. I had paid extra for faster shipping which took over a month to arrive, they offered a free lens which never showed. When it came time for me to order a replacement lens, I was told that it had been discontinued. I was offered a discount on their new version which was apparently coming out soon, turns out it took over a year from the promise. By then I had cut my losses and moved on to the CCM FV-1 and never looked back. My friend has a Hockey Ninja one, he finds it a bit heavy. He hasn't changed the visor on it yet though.

I saw a TF9 Goalie skate, I won't link the photo as I'm not sure if it's supposed to be out yet (also it would take a few steps and I'm lazy), but it looks good and I'll probably be ordering a TF7 for myself. What I wonder is if the goalie holder will take on both player and goalie runners, if so then I can pick up a cheap player runner and use that for ODR skating, and swap them out for the goalie runners for playing. This is unless there's more to the difference between the skates than maybe just angles, tendon guard, and added protection to the boot against impact.

I've been feeling pretty down about everything, I'm sure it's somewhat due to the lack of games/physical exercise (we're under lockdown again), it's been pretty gloomy lately and it's starting to affect every facet of my life. I've pursued therapy, but the remote video call didn't really feel like I was talking to someone that was there (I also felt like the therapist wasn't really listening). Worse yet, I feel I can't complain because others I know have it worse. And some, much much worse.

Some folks are dull to things like that (pardon the pun). But you can see results as a 3rd party, or by switching back after about a year with the new stuff. As sometimes we are more cognizant of things that feel worse than things that feel better.

Oh man, I thought I was the only one

You hit the nail on the head, this is what bugs me the most about it. "We won't give you a team, but rest assured we will be making money off your legacy"

Someone told me that the Red Wings jerseys were pretty much practice jerseys, and I agree. Great: Devils (holy hell that deep green is nice), Hawks, Oilers Interesting: Habs, Caps, Blues, Panthers, Wilds, Kings, Rangers, Sharks Awful: Canucks, Wilds (Interesting, but leaning towards awful) Low Effort (most of these just seem washed out or uninspired) : Stars, Red Wings, Jets, Avs, Tampa, Leafs, Bruins , Penguins, Sens (just poor timing as they are going back to their 2D for the non-retro)

Yeah a little bit of everything, mostly curiosity. but you're right, a used mid-range would be the most economical/less fiddly route/

If say, I want to get a 2 piece today mostly for coaching and messing around, what would you guys suggest for me?

Well it gives the consumer the freedom to switch skate brands without thinking about the added aftermarket blades cost.