RBK 9k O-Tech Stick (pics added by JR)

[phshockey53 0]

No way does the ONE90 fall in that category - just a monocomp XX...

They'll hit that price point next year with the XXXX.

what kind of technology do you guys think will be involved in the XXXX?

RBK is putting holes in a stick, warrior is putting indentations on the blade, so what does NBH have up their sleave?

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

No idea, so I will not speculate.

[DarkStar50 679]

My thinking about the ONE90 OPS is that if NBH wanted to they could have snookered everyone into thinking it was something it was not through marketing and the price point it enters at. For marketing and product placement purposes, the ONE90 OPS was correctly marketed at the right price point. NBH is gaining fast on Easton in OPS market share. There was no need for NBH to jump to a price point they did not need to be in. NBH is better off strengthening their OPS position at the price points they have chosen. These people are not idiots! Is the ONE90 OPS a $240 price point product? No. Would players have paid that much for it? I'll say Yes. JMHO.

There were too many hoops to jump through to qualify for the 9K OPS for my shop. I will be interested to hear how it does at sell-through and problems with breakage. Because you know there will breakage!!

It is interesting that Mission wants to chase this price point with the short term success track record they have in OPS. They might be biting off more than they can chew jumping to the top price point. The MSH players here will have a final say in the outcome of the success for Mission at $240+.

[jimmy 194]

The only "hoops" to jump thru to get the 9k was to be a Platinum dealer, same hoops a NBH dealer has to do to be a first line dealer to get top end equipment. Nothing out of the ordinary for RBK.

As with all ops, us dealers have to "bet on the come" that they will be popular and will sell. ALL ops break and all ops makers have breakage issues, so the 9k will be no different, except of course if the new construction method makes them stronger, that will be a good thing. I booked a fair amount, also I get 18 in May, 18 in June and 18 in July. I don't know where you guys make up the $240 selling price. I don't envision me selling them for any more than in the range of other top end sticks, and certainly not for $240. Each dealer picks their price so I don't see any strategery (to quote GB43) to raise the price point or market by RBK. Now $600 skates, that's what we should be talking about! ;)

[A2rhino 63]

$200.00 plus is just crazy for a wear item like a stick. However with that said ; At least the 9KO is a new and innovative idea for sticks. I still think that for over $200.00 they should at least provide a good faith 90 day warrenty showing confidence in their product.

[TheSnake22 0]

if you're not selling the stick for the correct profit margin, it's not our problem... 200 dollars is going to be well below the suggested retail price, but like you said it's your call... and for some smaller pro shops, having to order a minimum of 48 sticks at that cost might be considered a small obstacle in stocking the 9kO...

[DarkStar50 679]

NBH does not set minimum dollar amounts within a category(skates, OPS, helmets, and branded apparel) to qualify as a Front Line Dealer. There is a huge difference between booking NBH and RBK. RBK sets minimum dollar amounts within those same four categories in order to qualify as a Platinum dealer. Therefore, if I wanted to carry the 9K OPS, my shop would have had to booked $X amount in those four categories. When RBK and CCM Vector skates are virtually never asked for in this shop, there is no need to tie up booking dollars in a product(RBK/CCM skates) that will not sell, in order to get one product that might sell. That is too high a risk to take. It is also one risk that is not necessary. These are business decisions based on how the vendors offer booking programs. The two programs do not correlate.

The RBK Platinum Dealer program has been going on for a number of years. It is nothing new. However, as Herb Brooks said, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

[atomicpunk5150 2]

The MSH players here will have a final say in the outcome of the success for Mission at $240+.

I think most MSHers that will have this stick (Fuel) at first will not be paying $240. Comps or Vip program deals. In the long run I am not sure how many others will even try it at $240.

Back to the 9k-O. This is probably going to be pretty interesting to see how many LHS even gets these. Like DS50 mentioned, quite a risk/reward dilema with being a RBK Platnium dealer in some areas. I would guess most of the sales will come from online dealers.

[homexlife 0]

I talked to the Hockey Shop in Surrey and they also said that it was going to be around $240 US which he said figures to be over 300 canadian. Also mentioned that it is SUPPOSED to be stronger than all other OPS sticks out there as far as durability.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

The only "hoops" to jump thru to get the 9k was to be a Platinum dealer, same hoops a NBH dealer has to do to be a first line dealer to get top end equipment. Nothing out of the ordinary for RBK.

Not true - FLD or not, every NBH dealer has access to every product. Naturally a FLD sees slightly better ship dates, but that is all. If you are not a Platinum Dealer with RBK/CCM you can't even get the top-end stuff.

[TheSnake22 0]

obviously i've never used the 9k just like pretty much everyone here, but i'm currently using a fuel 120 grip and it's pretty much the best thing i've ever had in my hands... and i still would never pay anything close to 240 dollars for it... then again, you never know what kids can talk mom and dad into buying i guess...

[forsberg91 0]

I was in Phoenix this past weekend and at this tiny proshop in the rink they had the Rbk 9k and the Warrior Kronik. The 9k was insanely light. I didnt look at the weight on the shaft though. It seemed pretty solid to me. The parts that are the painted on holes were a little big indented in aswell. The Kronik was pretty nice too. The indentations on the blade were a lot deeper than i expected them to be. It would be a pain in the ass to tape that blade though haha. Felt pretty nice and solid though.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Yes, Behind The Mask bought booths in Vegas.

[A2rhino 63]

I was in Phoenix this past weekend and at this tiny proshop in the rink they had the Rbk 9k and the Warrior Kronik. The 9k was insanely light. I didnt look at the weight on the shaft though. It seemed pretty solid to me. The parts that are the painted on holes were a little big indented in aswell. The Kronik was pretty nice too. The indentations on the blade were a lot deeper than i expected them to be. It would be a pain in the ass to tape that blade though haha. Felt pretty nice and solid though.

What rink? The IceDen??

[Drewhunz 3]

Where would they put it, in between all of the figure skating costumes? Jesus, when I walked in there I couldn't believe that they actually couyld consider themselves a hockey pro shop with a straight face.

[A2rhino 63]

Where would they put it, in between all of the figure skating costumes? Jesus, when I walked in there I couldn't believe that they actually couyld consider themselves a hockey pro shop with a straight face.

HAHAHAHAHA!!!!! LOL!! SO TRUE MY FRIEND :lol:

[forsberg91 0]

I was in Phoenix this past weekend and at this tiny proshop in the rink they had the Rbk 9k and the Warrior Kronik. The 9k was insanely light. I didnt look at the weight on the shaft though. It seemed pretty solid to me. The parts that are the painted on holes were a little big indented in aswell. The Kronik was pretty nice too. The indentations on the blade were a lot deeper than i expected them to be. It would be a pain in the ass to tape that blade though haha. Felt pretty nice and solid though.

What rink? The IceDen??

It was like Coyote something...it had two rinks, North and South pole. Right next to where the MLB is doing spring training...

[JrRoenick97 0]

its the desert schools coyotes center, but like JR said the pro shop is Behind the Mask

[Sven_24 0]

I was at a local rink last weekend for some shinny. Anywho, there was a guy who showed up that works for RBK. He had all the fancy new stuff with him. The new pumps like Kovalev has are sweet. He also had the 9k o-tech. It was a demo so it was not painted up but it was hard to miss. So we started talking and he actually let me use the stick. I am not used to high end comp sticks as I use a synergy 300. But the 9k is awesome. Great feel, durable and lite, it has a lot of pop when you step into one. He says its going to retail for about 350$ canadian. A little out of my price range but I can dare to dream.

[Oberon 0]

I was at a local rink last weekend for some shinny. Anywho, there was a guy who showed up that works for RBK. He had all the fancy new stuff with him. The new pumps like Kovalev has are sweet. He also had the 9k o-tech. It was a demo so it was not painted up but it was hard to miss. So we started talking and he actually let me use the stick. I am not used to high end comp sticks as I use a synergy 300. But the 9k is awesome. Great feel, durable and lite, it has a lot of pop when you step into one. He says its going to retail for about 350$ canadian. A little out of my price range but I can dare to dream.

I hope we have not reached the point where just managing to get through one session of shinny hockey without breaking a stick qualifies it as "durable".

Edit: Hey, Sven, just realized that was your first post. Didn't mean to rip you, I just thought it was funny. Welcome to the board.

[Sven_24 0]

Its all good. I was just making reference to the fact that it seems to be a durable stick. At least compared to whatI have heard about the new CCM. I used it for about 10 minutes that makes it durable!!!!

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Why would a RBK rep show up with an unpainted demo when they have had painted sticks since the first week of December?

[homexlife 0]

Gentleman, i am the proud owner of a new RBK 9K O-Tech....right handed Datsyuk pattern, 85 flex. Will arrive on tues/wed. Sweet.

[KYHockey3 0]

Gentleman, i am the proud owner of a new RBK 9K O-Tech....right handed Datsyuk pattern, 85 flex. Will arrive on tues/wed. Sweet.

howd you manage that?

definatly get back to us with a review!

[homexlife 0]

Behind the Mask had one, and thats all they got from what i hear. He said they received it from one of their reps...but i could have misheard what he said. Whatever it is, they had one and i got incredibly lucky and nabbed it. They said they will not be getting any more until May, which is when they are going to receive their order. I believe he said that the Datsyuk is a Sakic clone.