Special skates & sticks for the Winter Classic

[jeffw 1]

I don't like the sound of this at all. Can you imagine having to wear different skates and use a different stick for one game? Blisters? Lace bite?

DON'T LOOK BACK

Nike-Bauer has developed a composite stick that will play modern but look like wood. The company also has designed form-fitting skates that will resemble hockey footwear from the dancing days of disco.

LINK

Here's another article about Pens equipment manager getting gear together for the game. Looks like the goalie will wear old school brown pads & a retro looking helmet.

LINK

[chippa13 1844]

Personally, I like the idea of making the game old fashioned. Adds a touch of history to the game.

[Remman 0]

"Nike-Bauer has developed a composite stick that will play modern but look like wood. The company also has designed form-fitting skates that will resemble hockey footwear from the dancing days of disco."

Equipment won't be uncomfortable for them. It will pretty much be what they are used to just with different graphics.

It is neat though for the players to have to look back and see where their career came from, IMO...

[jeffw 1]

I wonder how RBK is gonna feel about Crosby wearing Bauer skates? ;)

[PWBIII 0]

i didnt see anywhere that said that they have to use them. i cant imaging some of these guys are going to use a brand new skates and twigs for one game. there are two points at stake.

i mean they even said the pens would lose the navy gloves if they didnt feel comfortable with them.

[Remman 0]

I'm sure they will accomodate their needs accordingly, i.e., skates and sticks to their preference...

[Blueandgold26 1]

yeah i think certain players will wear there preffered skates and use their stick and the rbk 9k's in black kinda look like old school skates in a way with the all black boot

[hellkitty 0]

That's pretty cool actually. I think it's a great idea.

[bbruins8 0]

I just hope the Pens beat them Whiners, I don't care what they are wearing when they do it. For all I care they could be skating around in Santa suits, while the Sabres bring their pink tutu's from home and wear those as long as the Pens win.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Exactly how old school are these skates going to look?

:lol:

[hellkitty 0]

I just hope the Pens beat them Whiners, I don't care what they are wearing when they do it. For all I care they could be skating around in Santa suits, while the Sabres bring their pink tutu's from home and wear those as long as the Pens win.

Dressing them in Santa suits would be sweet but maybe the ref's can dress in the santa suits.

[TBLfan 25]

Pittsburg in Santa suits and Sabres in Elf suits... Anyone want to see that? I know I do.

[_HSB_b345t 0]

Exactly how old school are these skates going to look?

:lol:

Will that runner fit on a One90?

[Chadd 916]

This was the part that got my attention:

The artificial ice surface,

I really don't like the sound of that in any way, shape or form.

[pmchelli 0]

I think it's funny that NikeBauer is making a big deal about the woody looking stick when they already came out with the XXXlite woody.

[bure401 0]

Sand-based, hollow artificial ice? Anyone know the deal there?

[lb33knight 0]

Sand-based, hollow artificial ice? Anyone know the deal there?

From my understanding it is going to be normal ice just like that of a regular NHL rink. It is "artificial" meaning that it is not a naturally forming sheet of ice, such as a pond. I think some people are mistakenly assuming that "artificial" means that plastic type of ice. Most ice surfaces, especially the ones that are meant to be permanent are cement based, meaning that the refrigeration coils are covered in a slab of cement. Easy to lay down/melt but, as I said before, pretty much permanent. This ice will be sand based so when the game is over, the ice can be melted (or broken up) and the coils and sand can be removed. Cement based rinks are more common but sand rinks are quite easy to find. Both sheets of ice in my rink are sand.

[Storm 0]

Sand-based, hollow artificial ice? Anyone know the deal there?

I saw this on tv the other day ... they use a sand bed for single use rinks to keep the pipes away from the floor as to prevent heaving.

The ice is real. They freeze the surface with layers of thinly sprayed on water.

I think it turns out to be 3/4 of an inch thick.

[bure401 0]

Makes sense, thanks fellas.

[jeffw 1]

Yep, just saw this on TSN...

"The process of building the ice has begun," NHL spokesman Jamey Horan said Monday. Crews spent the past 24 hours surveying and protecting the field, unloading equipment and establishing refrigeration lines in preparation for the Buffalo Sabres' game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on New Year's Day.

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

It's a portable rink. There'll be pipes and everything, and there'll be generators keeping it cold. Just like the Heritage Classic, just like the UMich/MSU game.

[pg-1000 0]

LINK: Craig proves again he is master of the ice

There is a story about it on nhl.com today, the ice is made just as normal, but the sand is laid around the pipes, saturated and frozen solid.

No mention of the sticks or other gear though.

[JR97 2]

Even though the idea isn't new, I love that the NHL is having another regular season outdoor game. The NHL has pretty much flunked every other "event". All-Star games, the Olympics, and even the Cup (viewer wise). So I can see why they want to do every little thing to try and make the outdoor game a premier event including half a dozen uniform changes, retro looks, blah blah blah.

To me, this type of event is about the heritage of the game and its true fans and not about trying to sell the game to a world that doesn't even give a crap. The evidence of that is that the game is on Jan 1... one of the biggest football days of the year. If they were going for the hard sell, they'd wait a week. Hopefully, the league doesn't screw it up by cutting away to a hampster race pre-game show should the game go into OT.

[TBLfan 25]

They should have had the game today.

[Chadd 916]

They should have had the game today.

The NHL has a hard time getting anything right lately, this is no exception.