psulion22

It's not really the front, as in directly on the knee cap. The knee cap does hit the gear, but it's more just to the medial side and below that hits the landing gear directly. That's where the discs are, inthe same place the Maltese pad would be in the Passaus. That's what I mean by side.

Thanks! They're a little for protection. The foam is for impact absorption. I do have the hard plastic telescoping guards, which cover pretty much everything. So it's not like I don't wear anything at all. The sleeves would be a secondary layer just in case a puck were to find a way through. Part of the issue might be the way the KTPs fit into my landing gear. The Maltese uses a 2" round piece of their gel on each side of the knee. So you are essentially landing on a very small section. That is concentrating my weight rather than dispersing it and spreading it across the whole landing gear. This is more of a problem because my landing gear has a horseshoe shaped knee stack in it. So I think the disk in the Maltese is not fitting into the horseshoe channel like my knee would. That's causing it to become off center and sit wrong. I'm going to try to try them with a flat knee stack to see if they will sit properly and if that makes the difference in performance. Passaus may be my last ditch effort. I think they will be too big for me though. I just don't like knee guards.

So, I guess my try out went well. We won the championship last night, over our rivals that had beaten my team in the final in a shootout two seasons ago. 3-1 final score, and I played one of the best games I ever have, and certainly the best of this season. From the start of warmups, I felt good. We scored early, and then I kept us in it after that. Saves through traffic and on deflections, I stopped a 2 on 1, and like 2 pass outs from behind the net. I've finally gotten comfortable in the RVH, and it's really improved my game down low. We scored another in the first, and it ended 2-0. The second period was more of the same, and we scored another. Their goalie was really good that period also, it could have easily been a 6-3 game. But the second ended 3-0. My team clamped down on defense in the third, and I wasn't quite as busy. Though I still had to make some key saves. They did score one, and it was weak. Their player deked my defenseman and went wide, and I got stuck between RVH and staying in my stance. I ended up getting off the post (should have been in regular stance as it wasn't quite to the hash marks), and he beat me short side. 3-1 final score, should have been a shut out for all my hard work. After the buzzer my team pretty much tackled me and proclaimed me the first star. It really felt good, especially with how well I played and what I went through at the start. It's also interesting how equipment can really affect things. I've been struggling to get my pads to feel right. I've pretty much done that finally, but I just wasn't getting the performance I wanted. Rotation issues, and poor sliding. and even weak pushes and slip outs. I've been looking at new pads this past week because of it. Well, I got Maltese KTPs about 2 months ago. They were pretty comfy, and not bulky at all. So I was pretty happy. But I kind of felt landing was uneven with them - sometimes I'd land on the center of the disc, sometimes I wouldn't. And times where it felt askew are more often when I had performance problems. So after a rough game in the semi, I decided that I would just go back to the telescoping pads in my pants for the Final. What a difference. Pads felt great, sliding all came back, no more rotation problems, push strength came back, and no more slip outs. It was definitely the reason for my great play that game. SO now I guess I'm looking for a different knee protection option. Maybe the Bauer sleeves

Looks pretty good. Really good crease movements, and good post integration. I'd rather go full RVH (you're doing RVH on your blocker side, and VH on your glove), but having a plan and technique is more important than focusing on just one. Without a suction cup mount, some things do get lost and perspective is difficult. But from what I'm seeing, you tend to retreat into the net when you don't need to. Stay out at the top of your crease unless there's a play to the side. I only saw you get up using your left foot. On the few plays where the play went from your right to left, you pushed to slide across when regaining your stance may have been the better option. So instead of getting up with your right foot, which is the direction of play, you just push. It's a hard habit to break. I did it by forcing myself to usre the correct leg whenever I got up, that meant on stoppages and plays where a shot wasn't imminent. And maybe try to stay a little more quiet and centered. You're a little all over the place, which is putting you out of position. All in all it looks good. Keep up the good work. You almost got that breakaway.

P28 isn't as twisted and it is more of a toe hook. P08 is really a P92 on steroids - more open and deeper curve. It was called "Crazy Ovi" by CCM when they made it for a reason. P92 was just regular Ovi. The lie is pretty similar though. I can check on that when I get home. I much prefer the P28. but they are good at two different things, so it's a matter of how you play and what you need.

So the top is flat like FBV, but the sides are still curved like a ROH? What are the differences in results?

It's suuuuper awkward at first. I had to constantly remind myself to do it. Even now I still forget sometimes, and it costs me. Last game I had a goal go in from a bad angle on a puck that was dumped in and took a strange bounce in the corner. I was lax about it because there was no real danger on the dump in, and then bang it's in the net after being banked in off me. If I had just gone directly into the RVH, it would have been an easy save.

On those live board plays, I find that going directly into a RVH any time the puck goes past the bottom of the circle to be extremely helpful with those. I used to have problems with them, low angle shots, and pass-outs from behind because I would try to stay in my stance and not react in time. Since going to a default RVH with active hands, most of those types of goals have gone away.

Do we have any more info on the new Vapor stick? The rep at the Bauer Expo told me it will be out in July, but we haven't even heard a peep about it yet.

Complication from the ankle break?

Yep. Very similar situation. I in no way intended to hurt anyone or even bring us down. When we were in the box, the guy said he had 4 knee surgeries and was sensitive to any contact. He said he knows I didn't mean to hit him in the knees. There is only one intent between a cross check to the face or a punch to the head, especially when that player is on the ice. If your reaction to accidental contact to your knees is to cross check people in the face, then you should probably go play badminton. When end my captain asked about intent to injure, the ref told us that he wasn't trying to hurt me because I was wearing a cage. I almost cross checked him across the visor.

And as we discuss this, another example of lack of regard for player safety at the same rink. I I was playing D and had the inside lane on the puck carrier. I was forcing him wide at the blue line, angling him towards the boards. When he was about out of room he tried to cut back to the middle and put the puck between my skates. So I stepped into his lane. Pretty standard defensive stand up on a 1v1. Not a check by any means. But he was 6'4" and I'm 5'9", so my hips ended up getting him at the knee/thigh. Not a knee on knee, but we both went down. The puck goes down into the corner and aswe both get up, he yells something at me that I thought was "are you ok?" I say yes and go to get back in position, and he comes straight at me and cross checks me across the face. If I wasn't wearing a cage, it would have gone right into my teeth. So this is an intentional cross check to the face, away from the puck, in retaliation. Right in front of the ref. The end result? I get two minutes for tripping (which I was ok with). He gets 4 minutes for roughing (which I was not). It's an absolute embarrassment that he would be allowed to stay in a game after an act like that. An NHL player would be suspended for doing less. I want someone to tell me exactly how ejecting that player would be trigger happy or cause a problem later in the game.

I don't necessarily mean that they should be calling every ticky tack play. But there are things that need to be deemed unacceptible, other than those already called match penalties. An intentional body check (in a no-check league), for example. That should be an ejection. End of story. Any head contact should be a minor. If two guys are shoving and one goes high and gets the other in the head, it should be 2. If one throws a punch, even with a glove on, that makes head contact, it's an ejection. Those are the big two that I see most often that are very easily identified and can be enforced with less subjectivity. Neither has a place in a no-check adult league. And I find that, especially in lower leagues, those are the two things that players who don't know any better immediately turn to when they don't like something. Often the two things don't equate. A player gets hooked and he turns and checks the guy. Or there's a battle in front of the net and someone's immediate reaction is to go for the head. Those kinds of things. The stuff I'm talking about is already supposed to be penalized in Adult male classifications. The standard of enforcement needs to be emphasized. In my case, a player violated a rule, either tripping or unnecessary roughness, causing an injury. That's an automatic 5 and game. It wasn't called appropriately.

That's awesome. Yep, and also heads of official's organizations. USAHockey as a whole needs to begin to look at player safety standards for adult leagues. Things that may be more tolerable in competitive divisions should not be tolerable in non-competitive divisions. I have zero respect for any referee that does not emphasize player safety anymore. And I will take care of things myself if the referees won't now. Sadly, this approach has been working for me. By going nuclear on the ice, it has caused directors and officials to take notice. I make a big enough commotion that they feel something must have happened to get me that angry. This has also given me the opportunity to talk directly to two of the directors of the rinks I play in, and explain exactly where I'm coming from and what I expect. So far both of them have responded pretty well. And actually, I have a better relationship with some of the refs because of it. They know that I'm not going to get on them for little stuff and that I'm going to look for explanations and remain calm. And I will commend them if they do a good job, and give specific details. I do the same to the directors when refs do a good job. Just last game the refs (specifically one who I used to hate) ejected two players with no ceremony. One head butted one of my guys. And it was immediate - whistle, went right over to the door, and told the guy to get off. He tried to argue but there just wasn't the opportunity. Very good job. Everyone knows that is a no-no, but the process is usually a lot less efficient. A second guy was ejected for simply throwing a punch in a net front scrum, even with his glove on. That's something that happens in a lot of games for all of us. It may be only 2 minutes, if that, in the NHL or travel hockey, but there is no place for it in adult hockey. I think that was the first time I've seen someone tossed for it, as it usually goes unpenalized. I told the refs after the handshakes how impressed I was. And I searched out the league director to tell him too. I am a strong believer that referees should be taking an overly cautious approach to these things. There should be a lot more guys complaining that they were thrown out for no reason than ones wondering how a ref could let that go. At least if you go overboard, you can give a definitive reason to the player. It puts the responsibility on the player to not do dumb things.

That's good news. I'm sure surgery in that situation is a long recovery. I was given the option for surgery. Then walked through the process that the surgeon's assistant called "barbaric" and told of the incredible amount of pain I would be in afterwards. I opted to skip it. lol And at least you can go to your games or work and hang out. It took me 2 weeks to be able to get into a car with only tolerable pain. Heck, it took almost that long to get out of bed by sitting up. Before that I had to drag myself down to the bottom by the sheets, and teter my body over the edge onto my feet. And no suspension for the guy that did it. Oh, and for good measure, it happened on December 21st. Merry Xmas to me.

Oh you can for sure. Just remember it could be worse. Much, much worse.

Don't complain. I had 3 vertebra broken in a game when a player dropped me with a mma-style single leg takedown, lifting me completely off the ice and slamming me down from a height higher than my waist. He got a double minor because it "wasn't intentional", and I got 2 minutes for knocking him down (off my goaltender who he had intentionally crashed into after a whistle). So net penalty for breaking my back was 2 minutes, less than a minute per vertebra. When we followed up with the hockey director for supplementary discipline we were told the refs would not assess a further penalty and said it was no big deal, (I left the ice on a backboard) and he would not do anything further. He would not take our input because "their team could also get eyewitnesses to say it wasn't" malicious so he refused to "waste his time". When we asked about cameras in the rink, he said they didn't have them and they "would have been useless". Mind you, this is the person in charge of the entire hockey operation at a rink owned, operated, and used as a primary location by a NHL franchise.

The distinction is RETAIL. There are several niche brands that make superior masks for under $500 - KK, PTS, Sportmask just to name a few. But many people don't want to go that route and just go in to buy a retail brand mask. Those are the ones that should really cost over $500 to get to the proper level, imo. The money spent on a retail mask would be much better served going to a smaller brand.

No mask is concussion proof for sure. A CCM 9000 is a solid mask. Adding Maltese to it will make it better. If you are getting ringers or not feeling well more than this one isolated incident, it's time for a new mask. Head shots aren't going to tickle, but they shouldn't be giving you those types of things either.

Yeah, the shell shape is different. But I believe the shell makeup in the 9000 is the same as it was before, and is in his fiberglass shells. The Pro is different because they added CF, which he won't use. The profile from the side is still very PTS looking to me as well. It the forehead and shape from the front that has changed.

Yes, very true. Fit is important. I don't like the fit and shape of Bauer masks. So I stay away from them. But just in terms of shell layup and rigidity, I believe the NME8 is inferior to all that I mentioned, so for that price I'd go with something else. I do know that the NME8 is very popular though. The new XRD foam does look comfy. I'm actually wearing a Sportmask T3 with Maltese kit, and the thing is bulletproof. For the money, the TGC spec Sportmask Pro-Fs are the best masks on the market, IMO. Roughly $400 for a full pro- glass and fiber layup with size and spec options can't be beat.

I thought the shell layup in the 9000 was still the same as the fiberglass PTS? They aren't made by PTS anymore, but they are still using the shell makeup that Michel designed. Now they are adding carbon fiber and removing some of the Kevlar to the Pro model to reduce weight.

I don't know that the NME8 is as rigid as other masks. I wouldn't go below a NME10. For that same ~$399, I'd definitely go with the CCM 9000 instead. And really, I'd go with a Protechsport fiberglass or Sportmask X8 for less than $400 US.

If you don't feel well after taking a shot to the mask, it's time for a new mask. End of story. If you're buying a new retail mask, it has to cost more than $500. Your absolute best bet would be a CCM 9000 if you can find one. They are very good masks for the money, and should be on clearance now for under $400. At the absolute least, go buy a Maltese mask kit for your existing mask. Edit: If you can swing it, this is a fantastic deal. CCM masks were designed by Protechsport. Even the 9000 is a very good mask. This Pro will be a little lighter. But both shells are very rigid and protective. http://goalie.totalhockey.com/product/CCM_Pro_Goalie_Mask_-_2014_Model_SENIOR/itm/12758-41/?dvdit=1

We did an Advocare 24-day Challenge. The program is good because it gives you structure to kick start your weight loss. It's not cheap, but I think it's worth it for the month or so it lasts. We have pretty much stopped with the products from them, but maintain the eating habits that we adopted. They make shakes that we keep on hand just in case we need a quick meal. And unlike many other companies, their shakes are damn delicious. I'm not a crazy Atkins or no-carb freak. But we have attained a lot of success but cutting out most white carbs. No regular flour, no sugar, no white rice, limited white potatoes. Instead we eat whole wheat bread, use honey or agave for sweetener, eat brown rice, and eat sweet potatoes more. It's a pretty easy change to make that doesn't require a tremendous amount of planning. Saturday is cheat day where we eat whatever we want. The problem with natural fruit or veggie smoothies is that they are loaded with sugar and calories from the fruit/veg, even without adding any sweetener. You'll be better off going with a product like Advocare or another premium nutritional shake (maybe Herbalife?) that uses protein and fiber to make you full, but doesn't have much sugar or carbs. Plus they are easier to make and clean up after, and can be made away from home in a shaker bottle.