Western New York

[Platypus 0]

Hey

going to Niagara Falls for gambling in a couple of weeks and am gonna make a stop in Buffalo to take advantage of our loonie and maybe a bills game.

Can you guys help me find a local store to get some new skates somewhere around Niagara Falls, NY and Buffalo?

the search yeilded nothing and google yeilds mostly jerseys, sabres and a team called bisons results

Thanks

and for your viewing pleasure: http://youtube.com/watch?v=McRR76zx5To

[LkptTiger 1]

Depends on what you want...

I suggest Front Row Sports. I work in the smaller shop in the Amherst Pepsi Center. We've got a lot of Graf skates; just about everything besides the Ultra G-50s. If you're interested in Grafs, we're the place to be.

We also have a much, much larger store in Thorold, Ontario (right on the border), which is going to be able to get you just about anything else you could want. If you're really not sure what it is you're looking for, the guys there will help you find the skate that is going to fit you best. With the exchange rate the way it's been lately, I know Dave (the owner at our Canadian shop) has been matching US prices with a lot of his gear. Probably your best bet.

If you're looking for NBH or Easton or RBK or anything else like that, and you're bound-and-determined to buy your shit on this side of the Peace Bridge (or the Whirlpool or Rainbow Bridges, depending where you come over), then Great Skate is an option - but be warned that 90% of the people there are douchebags who don't play the game and have no idea what they're talking about. We end-up fixing a lot of the messes they create for local customers who make the mistake of getting sized-up or having any work done there...

[Platypus 0]

thanks, i didnt think to specify i dont know the exact type because i havent tried any on (ide feel guilty about getting some poor guy to get me diff sizes up here then going down to buy them) but I am deffinately getting either ccms or bauers and not looking to spend more than $300 after tax

otherwise i will know what fits when i put it on and dont need someone to actually size me up

[Powerfibers 8]

I agree LkpyTiger.

I would stick to the Canadian shops.

Down here Front Row is the best service by far, although as we all know the Grafs are high quality and higher priced. They do have Mission too, though.

I was just discussing Great Skate last night with my son's coach, in fact. Neither of us would ever spend a cent there if it wasn't an emergency. They treat customers terribly, and I would rather not be subjected to that.

Leisure Rinks has a decent shop. if you wanted Bauer 50s 70s or the like. Eastons as well. The link to them would be http://www.holidayrinks.com/

Personally, I like to buy from Front Row or online. Good luck.

[LkptTiger 1]

Sometimes you can find some good "old" gems at Holiday or Leisure - sometimes for a really good price. A couple years ago, I found (and bought-up) a bunch of TFG shafts for (IIRC) $40-a-pop at Holiday. I STRONGLY suggest that you don't allow any of those guys near your skates, though.

[Cobra2717 0]

I agree with all the stated above comments. Only go to Great Skate if you pretty much already know what you are looking for. There are only like 3 places I let touch my skates, Skater's Edge, Front Row, and there is one guy I know @ Great Skate who knows his stuff and is honest...but he doesn't work the floor anymore, just in the back with the website.

[precursor 0]

Agreed with all of those as well.

If you are taking advantage of the looney, you can do pretty well in Buffalo at one of the shops. Great Skate has a good amount of gear, and their prices arent terrible compared to some other LHSs, but their service is pretty bad. Pepsi center is always a fun visit too.

The nice thing is that Greatskate and the Pepsi center are only 5 minutes apart, and you can do both ;)

Although still in ontario (but closer to Buffalo), if you are looking for goalie gear, the Simmons shop is a good stop too.

-Adam

[Fixxer 0]

Great Skate is a much better shop IMO than front row in terms of selection. Just my opinion.

I find Front Rows selection to not be very good, but it is very nice to be able to have the shop right at the rink.

The pepsi center is an awsome rink complex too, plus you will have an MHSer there, id check them out before great skate.

[LkptTiger 1]

We're a pro-shop; pretty much in place for sharpenings and equipment emergencies. We don't have a whole lot where equipment is concerned (Mission/TPS sticks, Graf/Mission skates, Mission buckets, Graf/Tackla/Mission pants/girdles/shells, etc.).

Our Thorold store (a really short drive; literally 5-10 minutes across the border) has just about everything we don't - the store fills a gigantic old warehouse. The service and product knowledge is much, much better than it is at Great Skate, and Dave has been matching US prices lately. If you're in the market for some gear, or are just bored one day, I definitely recommend checking it out.