LHS in the Delaware Valley/Philadelphia Flyers Broadcast area

[jokerit1967 0]

I think it would be great if regularly gave feedback on LHS in their area...describing selection, any problems, etc.

Some thoughts on Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ.

Nice facility - free access to watching the Philadelphia Flyers and the Philadelphia Phantoms practice...including game day morning skate etc.

Relatively large pro shop... Does not deviate very much from the mainstream insofar as product selection.... RBK skates, NBH vapors and One90 et al series, CCM, a couple pairs of Grafs.... bunch of sticks and equipment...but little deviation from the norm.... lots of Flyers and Phantoms merch- this occupies a decent amount of inventory $$ and also floor space)

Older staff is really friendly....they don't accept AMEX anymore...

Disappointing because even though the Flyers practice there...and the facility is owned by their parent co. etc.... Regular visits don't seem to be rewarded by an influx of ProStock sticks, skates, or equipment (although there has been a big box of stick blades there the past month that is supposed to have pro-stock mixed in)... cf with the Igloo on Rt 38 (Mt. Laurel, NJ)

A little higher than average prices....hell it is Voorhees which some describe as a relatively affluent area...

Tom - as far as I can tell....he's the go to guy for getting your skates sharpened...he's been doing it for years...and I haven't heard complaints about his work...I don't know or haven't heard feedback as to profiling/Maximum Edge sharpening requests...but as far as basic sharpening...the word seems to be that "Pro!" or "Thank God tom's working so that i don't have to trust my skates to the skate lil (skate lil = young hockey player somewhere under 22 or young looking/inexperienced looking hockey pro shop staffer)....

Despite Tom's skill at normal skate sharpening...the home practice and workout facility of an NHL team does not offer boot punching or boot stretching....they do not do any skate mods aside from runner and holder changes.... they do not install lifts/shims between your blade holder and the bottom of the boot....

They carry too much A&R accessories....usually really light on skate laces from Bauer or Graf..... the A&R dandruff effect from the waxed laces drives me crazy...aside from the fact that the A&R yellow lace is brighter than the Bauer/Graf yelllow laces..

all in all...shop is OK...fine place to get your skates sharpened...and worth a visit during the season...so you can catch Craig Berube coaching the flyers through power play drills... (yes this made me laugh) since although someone reminded me that he could really be a "student of the game" ...really was never noted for any offensive prowess whatsoever...and as far as power play time... that's questionable...

also side note... if you're hungry.... on Rt70 in Cherry Hill at the Kings Highway intersection (where Hockey Den used to be) is a great Chinese Buffet ...i think it's called Mandarin Buffet....

amazing selection and quality!! (that's part of my Skate Zone trips)...

[jokerit1967 0]

The Igloo in Mount Laurel...

smaller sized pro-shop especially when compared to the Skate Zone in Voorhees NJ.

the thing that makes this place entertaining is:

I'm told that former Philadelphia Flyer Brian Propp has something to do with the place...which might explain the Mark Recchi (new) pro stock skates, another player's i fogot (NEW), and the pretty worn down Stevenson Bauer Supreme 7000 (USED) pro skate that was worn by stevenson (former Philadelphia Phantom player), about 20 pro-stock pro pattern Flyer sticks, a couple pairs of CCM Flyer ProStock pants.... (and relating to a previous post of mine...why doens't skate zone have them?)

Clean locker rooms!!! (yes relief after playing at Hollydell on Delsea Drive)

Shop is well stocked with the expected as far as skates go...probably about 1/3 the amount of sticks that are at the skate zone. Standard sharpening... not much information/knowledge advice was available as far as profiling skate blades, or any custom grind advice was given when asked about the skate blade radius length and where the rocker apex/pitch would be.... answer referred to the blade hollow ....i quote "yeah we usually do 1/2" but if you know of something you specifically want..we could do that too...you wouldn't want anything different from what we do unless you already know that you normally have them a different way..."

not very helpful...although the skate lil's tone was friendly...and confident...

Very open to placing special orders.... informative as to what would be coming in and when....

the usual as far as popular sticks and pattens...bunch of the norm as far as glove selection, shoulder pads, etc. Bunch of leftover Jofa shinpads in 14" and 15"

[greatone 0]

Let me guess, You work there.

[jokerit1967 0]

Note....the Flyers Skate Zone...also operates one other smaller facility in Phiadelphia, one in Pennsauken NJ, and one in the Atlantic City area, they also run the pro shop for the Vineland NJ Ice Arena.

This is good for them as far as making money...but it does mean that if you aren't impressed by...or don't enjoy Skate Zon in Voorhees, NJ that you won't likely find much of interest at the other places.....since their pro shops are smaller, and basically have way less of the selection and quantity of the Voorhees location...might as well visit the flag ship store! the skate lil/little stepchild versions aren't worth it if you're "shopping" for stuff...

Also - note...the other locations dont have Tom (formerly of Hockey Den, Hollydell, et al.) -AND- even if you don't like the Philadelphia Flyers, or the Philadelphia Phantoms and aren't interested in getting their autographs in the parking lot as they leave... watching them NHL-ers go through drills, and practice is way more exciting and informative than watching any high school team or college team...

No don't work there... just happy about the clean locker rooms... just trying to find the positive...

%%%%

The Shop at the Pond Ice Arena (Newark, DE)

Scott from power play hockey (somerdale, NJ) runs the place with Steve...

Not very large....but well stocked for its size... the usual NBH, Easton, RBK equipment and sticks

Maximum Edge Profiling....

weekend evenings generally too busy b/c of skate lil tournaments...

Special order willingness depends on who you talk to, the brand, and how busy they are...

Rock music ranging from classic rock to joe Satriani to Metallica playing from the skate sharpening area...

mix of Skate lil employees with older experienced staff...

pretty cool guys...guess if you didn't have a good experience....either it was your fault or they were having a bad day....

if you come in the middle of the day....too many young figure skaters(i.e. laws classified girls) walking around...

snack bar was OK....

Graf Custom skates offered....

[EBondo 237]

Skate Zone's shop hasn't been as good as it used to be. I haven't been there in a few months, but if Spyder is still there, he's the one I used to always go to for skate sharpening. Voorhees is an alright shop...not amazing though. I think Hollydell has the best pro shop around. Frank is an amazing skate sharpener and I've never had any problems there. They are extremely nice people. We are an authorized Warrior (I think) and Sande dealer, and have some of the best choices of equipment. As far as I've known, we have the 07 Warrior products and SE's before anyone else in the area.

[jokerit1967 0]

Let me guess, You work there.

No. Never worked at a hockey shop....however, golf pro shop is a different story....

[jokerit1967 0]

I think Hollydell has the best pro shop around. Frank is an amazing skate sharpener and I've never had any problems there. They are extremely nice people. We are an authorized Warrior (I think) and Sande dealer, and have some of the best choices of equipment. As far as I've known, we have the 07 Warrior products and SE's before anyone else in the area.

Strange word selection.... first part detached... "I think X is the best pro shop around....I've never had any problems there. They are extremely nice people"

---> initially that sounds like a quote from a disinterested party.... e.g. a customer not an employee, not a friend of an employee, nor a proprietor, etc. (i.e. someone without either a fiduciary duty to Hollydell -OR- someone without a conflict of interest in making such a review)

Claiming "never had any problems there" sounds as though you had a positive shopping experience.... etc. "They are extremely nice people..." --> the use of the word "they" (3rd person plural pronoun) sounds as if you are not part of the group that is friendly... "they" as in those people those guys implying that you are not included in the group that constitutes the people at Hollydell that are friendly...

however....the next segment "We are an authorized warrior (I think) and Sande dealer..." --> Notice the use of the word "We" which is a pronoun for 1st person plural, i.e., that the person speaking/posting is a part of the group that is (or might be an authorized Warrior dealer)....

** note this is also peculiar.... part of the group but not informed as to whether or not they are getting their Warrior equipment through proper authorized channels or through gray-market methods...but regardless "we have the 07 Warrior products and SE's before anyone else in the area..." --> which is like an anatoly fedotov type ending...

of course the word best..and any shop revew...as I mentioned previously is inherently biased....and unfortunately subjective...however...

I would hope that those with a vested interest would make it very clear, or crytsal clear that they are part of the "We" or "they" rather than a wishy-washy Clinton-esque type stance.... not a failed policy like "don't ask don't tell"

be fair...be upfront and honest if you are going to defend a place you either had your first kiss at...or if its a place you happen to work or own...

To the Graf Officer/Employee who mentioned that he was a lawyer...Do you want a cookie?

[Fire0nIce228 1]

For someone tearing up someone on there word usage and offering cookies to people, why dont you use periods and capital letters if your going to insist on posting all these pointless, rambling reviews of pro shops that well over three-fourths of this forum will never visit or remember to read your amazing reviews about should they be in town. God damn.

[jokerit1967 0]

For someone tearing up someone on there word usage and offering cookies to people, why dont you use periods and capital letters if your going to insist on posting all these pointless, rambling reviews of pro shops that well over three-fourths of this forum will never visit or remember to read your amazing reviews about should they be in town. God damn.

relax FireOnIce228... the tearing up you refer to wasn't specifically about writing style...definitely not a "tearing up" it was because of the word choice... sometimes "we" soemtimes "they"....

Some of you might have preferred "Do you work at Hollydell or not?"

and the cookie thing is a joke from a past thread...that including in the post that he happened to be a lawyer...was not necessary...and probably is indicative of the general complaints people have been making about Graf customer service...

and I don't think the reviews are awesome; I would use pictures rather than words, but I didn't have my camera with me when I went to these shops...

THE LACK OF CAPITAL LETTERS AND OTHER PUNCTUATION - is due to hating typing...and being lazy....

Also, I seem to have a schedule where I have a lot of free time during the week, and I basically want similar information about shops I haven't visited so that I don't waste time stoppping there...Also, I could take the approach of calling shops that I haven't been to and ask them "Do you have carry lots of stuff ?"

[EBondo 237]

Alright. I have absolutely no idea on some of the words you just said. I'll admit that right away.

I do work at Hollydell, but I've only worked there a few months. Before that I had bought a lot of my equipment there, being that they have a selection of stuff that I can't find anywhere else around me. I have played at Hollydell, and Skate Zone, and when it comes to Pro Shops, I prefer Hollydell, by far.