Sprung Hockey

[JR Boucicaut 3805]

I remember back in the early 90's lots of the NHL guys were experimenting with inline and roller hockey and I even had an artical for a while about a Major League pitcher for the Yankees that played roller hockey in the off season to stay in shape.

John Wetteland. Used to skate in the Yankee Stadium hallways.

[kukakid 0]

I am about to run to the store to grab some hardware and start mounting, heres a mockup of what they should turn out like.

I might eventually dye the chassis black but for now I am just going to get them on the boots.

[bill33 0]

John Used to play a lot of Ice in the off season as well. He was a pretty decent player. Better Pitcher, he is a great guy.

[Rick 0]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure he is the pitcher I was talking about but I'm not a big baseball fan so some of the names escape me. I do remember the pictures showed he was wearing Bauer H-9 Pro skates, the top end Bauer skate for outdoor hockey. My brother and a buddy of mine both bought the Bauer Pro Comp skates which were the Bauer top end skate that was made for indoor hockey. They loved the Pro Comp's but I was playing a lot more than they did so I bought the H-9's thinking they would hold up better for blacktop hockey. I never could get used to those skates and they killed my feet. I always hated that because I loved the look of the skates. After that I went back to CCM and haven't strayed since.

Rick Henry

[kukakid 0]

Finally got done mounting the Wicked Lights. I mounted them with T-nuts and screws which worked out pretty nice. I had to end up using 1/2" screws in the front and 3/4" in the back along with some washers to make them fit right. I will be going out to go skate on them later today to see how they perform.

Closeup of the mount

From the back

[iceburg19 1]

i think tom glavin of the mets was big into ice also.

[JR Boucicaut 3805]

i think tom glavin of the mets was big into ice also.

He was drafted by the Kings.

[Chadd 916]

i think tom glavin of the mets was big into ice also.

He was drafted by the Kings.

Several rounds ahead of Luc Robitaille

[kukakid 0]

Well, I just got back from my first test session with the Sprungs. They are way better than I ever expected. Since I have been skating in hi-lo's my whole life I thought they would take a while to get used to them. However I was fairly comfortable almost immediately.

Turning felt really, really weird at first but after skating around for about 20 minutes I was used to it. Turning and stopping were definately improved over my 9500s.

Top speed and acceleration did seem better as well but I couldn't really tell compared to my old skates. It was certainly not worse.

I have been a roller player for 15 years, only playing ice for the last 5 or so. Because of this I was kinda worried that I wouldn't like the Sprungs since they are supposed to emulate ice, but they were actually a lot better than everything else that I have skated on.

Awesome job Keith, keep up the good work.

[iceburg19 1]

wait until you go from inline on one day and the next day you play ice,your going to love it.

[hergs 7]

I do it every week, not so much fun

Its better tho if you play ice first, I find

[bombit 0]

Finally placed an order for Sprungs! I'm pretty excited to get them and throw them on my one90s. Quick question about the weight, are people finding that they weigh down the skate a lot? Kukakid, are the Wicked Lights still 'wicked' and 'light?'

[kukakid 0]

Definitely still wicked and light. I haven't actually weighed them but I compared them to my 9500s and the Wickeds did seem just a little bit heavier. On the rink I haven't noticed a difference between the skates at all.

On a side note I just got finished with the first 3 games of the tournament and am still loving the Sprungs. I actually had a couple of "OH @#$%" moments stopping because I was expecting to slide a little like my old skates. Not exactly the case in the Sprungs.

[Aussie Joe 0]

Just sent you an email Keith.

Here's a tip kids, don't try stopping like you are on Ice on the Spungs. I accidently tried it the otherday and almost broke my right ankle. My fault not the Sprungs, but what an ass bruise I copped. ;)

Are we ever going to see these amazing frames on a set of factory skates or will they forever be an after market upgrade?

[RussianPlayer 0]

Just sent you an email Keith.

Here's a tip kids, don't try stopping like you are on Ice on the Spungs. I accidently tried it the otherday and almost broke my right ankle. My fault not the Sprungs, but what an ass bruise I copped. ;)

How are you supposed to stop in these? Why can't you do a hockey stop?

This looks real cool I would like to get one of those as well!

[kovalchuk71 212]

I two foot ice stop on them. Thats how I stop on roller. Works great.

[kukakid 0]

Yea I stop the exact same way I have ever stopped in ice and roller. Stopping with the sprungs is a lot more abrupt than with other chassis I have used, which is a very good thing, just different.

If you aren't used to the traditional ice stop in roller I could see how it could be a little hard to get used to though.

[RussianPlayer 0]

I two foot ice stop on them. Thats how I stop on roller. Works great.

What do you mean exactly two foot ice stop? 90 degree one?

[iceburg19 1]

two skates stopping.one skate with an outside edge,the other skate with an inside edge.if you are stopping with your right skate,use the inside edge,while putting your left skate down using the outside edge at the same time.two skate edges,inside edge and outside edge.

[kovalchuk71 212]

two skates stopping.one skate with an outside edge,the other skate with an inside edge.if you are stopping with your right skate,use the inside edge,while putting your left skate down using the outside edge at the same time.two skate edges,inside edge and outside edge.

^Exactly. Watch someone correctly stop in ice. I do the same thing. You get maximum grip and rebound from your wheels

[iceburg19 1]

iuse the same ice stop for roller,with the ice stop you shave the ice with the blade of the skates,with roller you dig the wheel sides to the floor.of course the surfaces are differnt,but the stopping motion is still the same.i do have to exert more energy for the roller stop.

[Patrick67 1]

I've seen 2 German brothers play using hi-lo frames, and they stop insanely fast.

They only use 1 foot for stopping, turning in a circle motion, while they use the other foot to keep balance.

They stop faster than any guy I've seen on any frame, including sprungs.

It's all about technique.

[iceburg19 1]

also- these frames are not just for the ice guy who likes to play roller,of course the frames make the ice to roller an easier transition,.but for just the inline player ,these frames(to me-in my opinion)are an anvantage in your skating performance.maneuverability,stopping,more effective wheel edge on the floor with each push off stride,tighter turns,what else can i say that hasnt been said before,these frames just flat out perform.

[fatwabbit 93]

Patrick67, you talking about a power slide? That's where the body is over the balancing foot, and the other leg is basically fully extended to stop?

I can only do an ice stop on my right side, cannot seem to do it on my left.

[kukakid 0]

also- these frames are not just for the ice guy who likes to play roller,of course the frames make the ice to roller an easier transition,.but for just the inline player ,these frames(to me-in my opinion)are an anvantage in your skating performance.maneuverability,stopping,more effective wheel edge on the floor with each push off stride,tighter turns,what else can i say that hasnt been said before,these frames just flat out perform.

I totally agree. I have been playing roller for about 15 years now, and ice for only the last 5, so roller is way more natural to me. But like iceburg said the sprungs still perform great for me.