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I got an EZGoal last summer. Left it outside uncovered in Boston over the winter, and it’s fine. I fully intended to put a tarp over it over the winter. But, life. My one dog occasionally uses the back of it like a hammock, and it’s stood up to that as well If you get one, leave the netting around the top and sides a little loose. Having play allows it to absorb energy so the netting doesn’t rip and doesn’t bounce your pucks far away. (Or just hit the net, but that doesn’t work for me…..)

In adult league, I’m happy as long as the opposing center isn’t turned 90 degrees and one of their wings isn’t closer to the face off dot than the ref. That feels like a low bar, but still very, very hard to meet.

+x for baby powder. Also, I’ve switched to only taping the very buttend knob, no “handle.” I feel like grip sticks are sticky enough, and it’s less tape friction on the gloves.

What made you decide to go custom over the stock?

Some things for some people, other things for other people.

I have the STX surgeon 3.1 shoulders and really like them. Light, mobile, breathable, all that good stuff. Hockeyreviewsca (aka user Hills on here) had a glowing review of the new FT4 shoulders from CCM on their Instagram page the other day.

What’s the trade off or differences in a stiffer holder vs softer. I assume stiffer give you better power transfer, but do you lose something?

That weight/flex “formula” has been debunked for years and years. Kessle and Ovechkin are using 80ish flexes and are 220+ and they do ok shooting the puck. Flex trends over the past years have to drop down in flex and let the stick do the work. Sounds like you got good results after one try. You’ll dial in the pass reception.

re: the crease in the boot. Is this a thing that happens from blocking a shot? I’ve more often seen it on skates that are too big and “collapse” in.

I think he’s just leaning into the Bane/supervillain thing.

In your heart, you knew the answer as soon as you started your question about a hockey product with “found this company on Amazon.”

Too late now, but kinda wish you had gone with the black holders. I feel like that was a very 90s ascetic and would have fit well with those skates. 😀

There’s a guy who used to work at Ko, Jason Binney, who has his own sharpening shop now. I really like him. He’s in Sewickley, but you can mail him steal if you wanna save the drive. https://www.binnieshockey.com

Is there any bad after market steel? Like, say, Tron branded runners?

You mentioned it last time we had a discussion like this, so I put it together based on that. 😉

I use some mix of alcohol, water, tea tree oil, and lavender oil. I bought a pack of essential oils at the grocery for like $15 and it’s more than enough for forever. If you’re going the essential oils route, do a little internet research, there’s a lot of watered down stuff on Amazon that seems like a great deal but isn’t. I googled phrases like “DIY sports spray” until I found a recipe on some craft type blog that I thought sounded good. I mixed it in a small spray bottle and just give each piece a quick squirt when I’m unpacking my bag. There are ridiculous internet rumors about lavender and other essential oils causing issues in men, but we are all too smart for stuff.

What am I looking for to know that’s fake? Not doubting you, just trying to learn for myself.

It looks like someone stamped a city skyline into steel. Very into the idea of next gen hockey equipment also doubling as weird modern art.

This thread helped me when I was trying to figure out the new sizing system.

4 years is a long time for a stick. I would imagine your blade is pretty soft. Even if it’s not visibaly broken, I bet the blade is soft, which will make handling and shoot the puck challenging. You’re gonna love the feel of any new stick. 🙂 (and another vote for the FT3 or FT3 team. Great stick and currently a great value.) 28 and 92 are both open toes like the p14, but more open and deeper. With the same motion as your stick now, those are going to probably put the puck higher on passes and shots. To me, the 88 is the most similar, but the curve is more toward the middle of the blade, and the toe isn't open like the other three curves mentioned here. Can you borrow a teammates stick to try out those curves? Or, even just visually compare them to your p14?

So, this new steel that’s twice as expensive as other steel is just going to replicate the problems of the Fusion steel from a decade ago that everyone hated?

I assume he reads this forum, and is experimenting with different ways to tie his skates, after the thread about lacing more loosely.

“Nowadays,” or 13 years ago?

I’ve been wearing Swiftwick Vision 8 socks for a few years. They were like $10 on Amazon. They have a handful of different numbers and I can’t tell what they mean. These aren’t low cut, but they go just above my ankle, so it’s not up on my calf. I got the Swiftwick recommendation on here, but opted for this model because it was more in my price range.

Anyone ever get frustrated with themselves for being picky about equipment? I really like FBV sharpening. The Blademaster/Sparx equivalent is ok, and I can manage it. But, I feel like it's for some reason really easy to get a subpar job; usually my issue is that it feels like too much bite or that my profile feels off. I have a place about 40 minutes from me that I like, but I wussed out and went to Pure Hockey that's 10 minutes away and [Price is Right losing trombone noise]. I know I can take a little drive and get this set right. But, more just wishing I could be one of those people that just drops their skates on the counter and doesn't even know what sharpening they are getting. Or can pick up any stick and be content. Or is fine playing on skates from the early 00s with the steel so low it looks like players are skating on the holder. I'm a mid level player who started as an adult, so it's not like I have some specific history. It's just annoying to be physically/mentally thrown off by seemingly small things.