Jarick

Got a couple deals... CCM Vector Pro 13" gloves off eBay for $30 new RBK 4k shaft for backup

I picked it up in a clearance rack. Seems pretty cool, reminds me a lot of the Cyclone because of the shape and flex. For some odd reason I'm worried it'll snap on me, but we'll see.

Deleted my old acquisitions, Sherwood 5030 shoulders, Easton Stealth S9 elbows, Easton Stealth S5 pants. Today I got a set of TPS slash guards on clearance for $4 and a new Champion under shirt. But this one you guys might actually dig: TPS Tricore shaft, intermediate (!) flex, 250 grams, had to get a long wood end for it and whittle it down to fit. For the blade I used a wood One60 PM9 that I twisted open to make a Modano/Drury hybrid. Total cost for the shaft, blade, and end plug was less than $50!

None yet, going to try out for an adult league in a few weeks. Only been playing about six months (not counting playing as a kid). I'll probably end up around a D1 level. On the plus side, after reviewing the videos of my skating, I don't look THAT bad. I need to work on my transitions (specifically turning left), keeping my feet moving, and of course bending my knees more. But for as long as I've been playing I think I was doing pretty well out there.

Here's some pics from a game I played last night at the XCel Energy Center. Scored my first hat trick! But it was mixed levels so the defenders weren't that great. Yes, I'm short. It felt like it was 70 degrees in there so my you can see I wasn't exactly backchecking very hard. But I got to see Brian Rolston and Mark Parrish's gear! Got more pics of the X I'll upload tonight if you want to see.

Cut the TPS shaft down by the width of a strip of regular hockey tape. Put the composite butt end from a Synergy in it and it's perfect in length and flex. Feels a lot more like 75 flex now instead of 70. Made a pretty dramatic difference but still plenty whippy. I think I'll have to find another TPS whip shaft.

By the way, the Easton ST blade ROCKS. It feels a lot better than my Vapor XX OPS blade. And it's $30. Loving it, although the TPS whip shaft is a little whippy.

Got some new stuff. Helmet - Intake with Bauer 4500 cage Shoulders - Winnwell Pro SP 190 Elbows - DR Axis 45 Gloves - Easton Synergy 500 Pants - Easton Synergy 100 Shins - Bauer 4000 Skates - Bauer Vapor XIX Sticks: Bauer Vapor XX PM9 87 flex TPS RLXN10 whip shaft w/ Easton ST Heatley Here's the new shoulders, got them new for $12. They're super light. Ought to be great for no-check. Here's the rest of the gear. Gloves will probably be replaced in a couple months with some 6k's. I've lost almost 25 pounds since I bought the pants, so I'll probably get some nicer Eastons in a smaller size. Love the belt though. Elbows are fine, I'll keep my eye out for some clean used 6k's though.

Helmet: Mission Intake w/ Bauer 4000 cage LOVE this combo. Light, protective, cool, no fog issues. Shoulders: Mission M-2 Never use them. Elbows: Some cheaper $30 no-name elbows Work pretty well, would like to find some JOFA's. Gloves: Easton Synergy 500 Fit great, work well enough, a bit stiff. Palms are starting to go. Will probably check out some Vapor XXX's. Pants: Easton Synergy 300 Works fine. Love the belt. Not much protection, but more than enough for me. Shins: Bauer 4000 Great protection up front, not much behind, stay in place well though. Skates: Bauer Vapor XIX Light and very stiff. LOVE the LS2 holders. Great skate. Stick: Bauer Vapor XX PM9, TPS XN10 shaft w/ Bauer One40 PM9 blade Vapor XX is a bit shaft-heavy and stiff but has a great slapper. The TPS feels a little too whippy and with the One40 the combo's under 400g! Will probably try a composite Drury blade in there when the wood goes. Definitely going to get a tapered PM9 blade for the Vapor shaft when the blade goes.

Ha! Stories like these remind me of my five years in retail. What's funny is looking back I really remember more of the good than the bad times. Anyways, it took me at least a half dozen different stores before I found my LHS of choice. And I've never hear of dropping off skates overnight to get sharpened! Had them do mine, found a cheap wood Montreal stick that seems like a Forsberg clone for $20, grabbed some tape and a water bottle in the meantime. I was gone five minutes and the guy had half a dozen finished skates on the counter by the time I got back. So I feed my LHS a little cash here and there by stocking up on the little things (which tend to have some good margin on them). I'd definitely go back for major purchases, although I bought most of my stuff before I found them. Oh, and there's got to be mutual respect. Funny stories involve the ill-informed, angry stories involve the ill-tempered.

Hey Top Shelf, what kind of cage is that one the Intake? What size helmet? I found an Oakley visor/cage combo for $30 on clearance but it doesn't fit

My cheap gear, Bauer Vapor VI skatess, Mission M-2 shoulder, DR elbows, Bauer 4000 shins, Easton Synergy 300 (I think) breezers, Easton Synergy 500 gloves: Mission Intake helmet (I've got a wide head so I had to get something nice that would fit): Sherwood 5030 P.M. Bouchard stick (sweet curve for wrist and snap shots, still figuring out the backhand): Nothing exciting, but I just started playing again after 10 years off and dropped over $300 on pads and sticks this week (dropped $150 on skates and gloves last year).