JoeyJ0506

Oh, you were so sick yesterday that you couldn't get off the floor of your bathroom, and now you are sitting in your office making sounds like someone is disemboweling you? No, no, you just hang out here, you probably are fine and not sick at all. GO HOME!

CCM Fitlite 3DS Helmet (Navy Blue, Size Large, Paired with an Oakley Visor) Background: I have worn the original Reebok 8K helmet and Bauer 4500 helmet, but for the past five years-ish I have worn, exclusively, the CCM v08. The v08 fits my head perfectly, and I had/have them in a myriad of different colors. However, the foams, in a few of them, have started to turn yellow and hard. My navy blue v08 was the first to get to the point of being unusable (I used it the most of the bunch) and I replaced it with the Fitlite 3DS. I play 3-4 games/pickups per week, and I have a small history of concussions and long history of migraine headaches. So, it was important, in replacing my beloved v08s, that I be completely comfortable and feel very-well protected. Fit: This was, perhaps, where I was most worried about going to a new helmet. Because of my past history of concussions and migraines, I am very picky about what is on my head. From past experience, something as minor as a baseball hat fitting slightly too tight will result in a crippling headache. That being said, I am very happy with how this helmet fits. Between the no-tool size adjustment and the Micro Dial III occipital lock I am really able to dial-in the fit of this helmet. I also have a good deal of hair, and as the game goes on, and the hair gets soaked down, I am able to easily adjust the fit to keep the helmet snug, but not uncomfortably tight. The gel pads on the interior of the helmet are very comfortable, and as of writing, my hair is not getting caught in any glue, etc. (Which was something I hated about the Reebok 8K). 10/10 Protection: I believe in the concept that a perfectly-fitting helmet is the most protective helmet. With how well this helmet fits, I feel well protected in it. Fortunately, I have not been put in a situation where the overall protectiveness of this helmet has been put to the test. Minor jostling for position and work along the boards has left me no worse for wear. 10/10 Weight: Again, back to the way the helmet fits… because it fits so well, the helmet’s weight is distributed really well over my head. I do not notice that the helmet is there, I am not fiddling with it during the game. It does not get in the way. So, I do not notice any weight. It feels lighter than my v08s did/do. This helmet also breathes really well, I do notice that the sweat does not drip off of me the way it does when wearing a v08. This is a pleasant change, as I do not find myself having to towel off my face/hair/visor anywhere near as much. 10/10 Durability: The no-tool adjustment is really nice, but there are some pretty ugly scuff marks on the shell of the helmet from sliding the two parts of the helmet in and out. It is something small that really does not affect anything, but for a $260 helmet that has not taken any real damage or abuse, I wish this was not an issue. 7/10 Intangibles: The helmet feels really well put together. Nothing seems like it is on the verge of breaking (My 8K’s occipital lock seemed like it was held together with bubble gum and butterfly wings.) The helmet also passes the “mirror test” in my opinion, it looks good. 10/10 Conclusion: I am thoroughly impressed with this helmet. I was upset when I found out that the v08s were being discontinued because of how great they fit, the great protection they offered, and the very reasonable price they could be had for. I was worried, especially after I tried on the Resistance line and a few other non-CCM helmets, that I was going to have a very hard time finding something to replace them when they needed it. I am happy to say that I found their replacement. I also will have another one on the way (black/black) to replace my black v08 that has had the foams go yellow/hard. The price is a little steep, but to me, it is a price well worth it for a helmet that fits so well, and (in theory) will protect my head/brain. I would definitely recommend this helmet to anyone that is in the market for a new lid, and happens to have the head-shape that this helmet works for. Final Score: 47 out of 50

Similar plan here, take a season off, then see what everyone feels like in the early spring. Part of the issue is the Penguins opening their two-sheet practice complex. Western Pennsylvania is saturated with rinks and leagues (not a bad thing at all) but I have guys playing on 3, 4, and even 5 teams... So, at the end of the day, playing an 11:40pm Sunday night game on a 1/2-sized rink (with exceptionally bad ice to boot) is not enough to get people off the couch. I cannot blame anyone, to be honest, but It just got to the point where begging people to show so we have 5-6 skaters and a goalie was getting tiresome. Not to mention constantly having to dip into my money to cover people that could not be bothered to pay on time/at all.

Took an impromptu poll in the locker room after a game and it was all "meh" and shoulder shrugs... I knew, at that point, the team was done.

I have been put in a situation where I need to scuttle the beer league team that I have been running for the past six+ years. Between the inability of certain players to ever come to games, some refusing to pay on time (or at all), the rink scheduling games later and later, and the excessive use of the iced-over inline rink (way too small for 5v5 ice hockey) I am just burned out. Honestly, I am upset because there have been so many good times, and I have made some wonderful friends because of this team.

I would love to order a custom pair of these, but I am really not a fan of how they force you to color certain zones of the gloves.

I was making a play I have made uncountable times, playing D, no passing lanes with the walls sealed off, just flip the puck up and out through the center of the ice. Between when I looked up to check I had the opening, looked down to make sure I had the puck, and flipped it, one of my forwards (that just happened to be my little brother) cut through the center of the ice. The puck got him square in the lower lip/teeth (we both wear visors). He was on the ice for a long while. "Luckily" he "only" ended up needing a few stitches on the inside of his lip to close up the cut, and his teeth are okay (X-Rays showed not fractures/breaks/damage to the teeth or jaw). Four days later his lip/jaw are swelled and bruised, and he is very sore, but otherwise okay... Most people that know me understand that I am really a gentle person that will go out of my way to avoid conflict and hurting or inconveniencing others. This whole thing has really shaken me up though, not only did I hurt someone, but it had to be my brother/best friend. I already ordered a Bauer Concept III, to try out, to avoid having this happen to me, and I believe my brother has ordered the same thing or a cage as well. I really played like garbage the rest of that game (it happened about 8 minutes into the second period). I am hoping that it was just because I was upset at the time and worried about my brother. I am really hoping that I do not develop the "yips" from this when playing. I am positive that me playing afraid and timid is more of a danger to myself and other people than playing with confidence and decisiveness (As much as I can at my skill-level).

Any chance that Kovalev's blade pattern becomes available at any point?

Honestly, with how hard I got hit, I was going to get whiplash... cage or no cage.

Got elbowed in the face about a month ago towards the end of a game. I was done for the night because of how woozy I felt. No concussion this time, thankfully, but there is definitely something wrong with my neck. Tight muscles in my neck/shoulder and a dull pain when the muscles relax. It has me a bit worried. The worst part, no penalty on the play. "It wasn't intentional" was apparently the excuse. I do not care if it was intentional or not... It was still an elbow to the chin/jaw.

It's been a while: Skates: Reebok 20k (CCM Ribcor 50Ks in Production) Shins: Reebok 20k Pro (Retail) Girdle: Bauer TotalOne Shell: Warrior-Branded 9K Pro Shell Shoulder: STX Assault (Lacrosse Product) Elbow: STX Surgeon 500 Helmet: CCM V08 Visor: Oakley Pro-Straight Small (Grey Tint) Stick: Sherwood T100 Standard Shaft w/ Kovalev Pro Blades Gloves... Do not stay the same long enough to even bother.

Surgeon line is billed as the more anatomical, form-fitting of the two lines. Seeing and trying it on at WinteFest, That is definitely the case.

I had TUUKS installed on them after I struggled with the stock holders. Believe me... I tried everything I could to make them work.

I loved the boot, honestly, fit like a dream. But, I have a very good group of guys that sharpen my skates for me and it definitely was not the sharpening. I just do not have enough ankle strength or skating wherewithal to make these things work for me. It broke my heart to sell them. But, I feel more confident in my APX, meaning I skate better and play better in them. I wanted the Makos to work, I just could not perform in them to my liking.

This... I really wanted to love the Mako skates. They were the best fitting/feeling boot that I have put on my feet. However, when it came down to it, there just was not enough support around my ankles. My feet were coming out from under me on turns and cuts that I normally had no problems with. The final straw, for me, came when I made a turn next to the wall and my feet were just gone. I fell, blade of my stick was against the boards, butt end almost impaled me, stick exploded into three pieces (Thank goodness). I had a bruise on my ribs the next day that lasted almost two weeks. Those skates got sold a few days later.

Photo courtesy of MSH Member Apes44's father.

More great product from Bauer, their offerings continue to grow on me!

Well guys... I recently got engaged to my girlfriend of two years. To anyone that has met her at the last two WFs you know how special of a girl she is. She is my best friend and I could not possibly be happier. She helped pull me out of an existence anchored in a pretty dark place. Wedding date is 05/10/2014, and I cannot wait. It took a few weeks to get this news posted here... Between work, class, hockey, wedding plans, and general stupid amounts of happiness I have not had much time to post here.

Pittsburgh Penguins Adult Hockey Classic sponsored by Labatt... Hoisting the Labatt Barrel/Keg. It really was an awesome weekend. The final was played at Consol Energy Center

My right eye has been twitching most of the day. Side-effect of stress. Really starting to get annoying though.

Wow, great color combo and design. I am really impressed.

Sitting at work (9am to 9pm shift today) and I have an absolutely monster migraine. Luckily the vision problems have passed already, but my left hand, left side of my face, and tongue are completely numb. Sensitivity to light, noise, and touch are also still here. Just praying a customer doesn't come in the remainder of the night. I struggle to speak clearly when they are this bad.

One of the few benefits of working for a car dealership: 2012 All Wheel Drive Cadillac CTS Luxury Sedan Touring Edition Actually worked out to be less expensive than a new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu when all was said and done.

Had a customer email me today: "Thank you for all of your hard work over the last couple of weeks. We were thoroughly impressed with your responsiveness to every email, and the amount of information you were able to provide to us. We were able to complete our purchase with another dealership over the weekend. Again, thank you for all your hard work." In short, I did all the work selling the Cadillac, answering questions, getting the lowest price around, the lady and her husband took the numbers and went to another place. Any dealership will match numbers to get the deal. This is about 10 times this has happened in the last two weeks. I am close to blowing a gasket.