New mask for a Bantam (14u) Goalie

[nmmnp 0]

My son just switched from playing inline goalie to ice and hopes to play for his High School team next year. He's been using a Franklin Zytel Composite mask for the last couple of years and it has served him well. He's taken countless shots to the face/head and never complained (I've asked). He's 13, but plays up in some inline leagues against 17yr olds. He says the inline puck hits a lot harder than the ice puck and he didn't even feel the one he took to the face the other night in his ice game, but I know the ice puck is heavier/harder (strikes with more force??). Now to the point... He's starting to outgrow it so I started looking for masks and checking out boards for opinions. It seems that the general opinion on Itechs below the 4000 series and the Olie 9900 are that they are "Widowmakers". I can get an Olie shipped for around $125, but his safety is the most important thing. Are these helmets safe enough for a goalie his age or is it time to move up to a better mask. Thanks in advance for your input...

[Law Goalie 147]

I would strongly advise against that Olie.

At that age he'll soon be facing shooters who are nearly grown men, and being trained by coaches who still have some pretty strong residual abilities. There is a very good chance he'll take a hard, heavy shot to the head from a dangerous aspect in the near future - and all it takes is one.

Majer Hockey (in Toronto) has been selling plain black and white Hackva masks for $280 Canadian (about $225 USD) on eBay. This is probably the best value you'll find. Hackva masks are head and shoulders above everything in that mid-range price: vastly superior to the Itech NV7, for example, which is remarkably unprotective and has had nightmarish durability issues. Eddy and Sportmask offer excellent masks in that range, though for a chunk more than the Hackva.

[nmmnp 0]

You're not kidding about these kids being nearly grown men. I just dropped my son off at practice and there was a HS game on the other rink. At least half of the "kids" were well over 6ft... One of the goalies was wearing a Warwick . Any opinions on the Vaughn VM7500?

[Law Goalie 147]

All the Vaughn masks were ghosted by different makers... not sure who did the 7500. They're generally low-mid level masks, as far as I understand.

Honestly, as excessive as something like a custom Warwick might seem, it's a decent investment. The head doesn't grow much...

[OhMyGodImOnFire 0]

make sure the helmet is HECC approved, I got an olie that was only CSA approved (had to resell it), and I think USA hockey requires the HECC.

[nmmnp 0]

Anyone have any experience with the Sportmask Mage II ? Majer Hockey has one on ebay starting at 215 US (Buy it Now for 255 US).

[DCott 0]

The Mage is a solid mask. It fits like a combo would, but still has the benefits of a one-piece mask. Tim Thomas wears one.

EDIT: to clarify: the Mage I IS a combo with a stronger shell than a regular combo helmet (like an old cooper or w/e)

Mage II is a one piece that fits like the Mage I/Combo

both are great masks

[samson35 0]

hmm reading what law goalie said just made me feel very uncomfortable wearing my MA2000 against D1 players. Looks like I'll be wearing something new sometime soon! As far as masks go, I'm looking at Sportmasks. Can anyone help me out?

[vision 0]

The MA2000 is a solid mask although I'm not too sure about using it at that level. The lower end Olie's aren't built with the same construction and have shell flex issues that should be a concern.

As far as Sportmasks go, I'd suggest looking at either the Razor or X8.

::m

[Law Goalie 147]

The Mage is a first-rate mask, but it *is* a combo - that may or may not be a plus.

I know the Razor is solid, but I haven't seen the new X8 yet: heard very good things, though.

[nmmnp 0]

I was looking at a Mage II. From the description:

Using the same upper design look and feel our original MAGE, we incorporated a composite lower jaw area to the Mage II to complete the unit as one solid piece and to stiffen the overall shell.

[interpathway 9]

Tim Thomas wears one.

Except with cateyes. Those are illegal in minor and HS hockey though.

[Law Goalie 147]

My only concern with the Mage (I or II) is the lack of chin-drop (the extension that you find on most masks). You'll need to have a dangler and/or a Maltese gel combo (neck/clavicle coverage).

I *believe* you can get a certified straight-bar cage for the Mages through Sportmask - OTNY Wire can make anything.

[vision 0]

Mage II is better in that regard but does not have the same drop as most masks. Beefed up protection is a must with either of these, especially at this level where control can be lacking.

::m

[nmmnp 0]

Thanks for everyones help. This thread started because I almost fell for the Olie 9900 because of the name. I figured that for $120 I was going to get a great deal. I really had no idea that the entry level helmets were that unsafe for his age/skill level. Can I assume that I should avoid ALL entry level masks? The Reebok 3k looks like it falls into that same category. How about the Eddy Eclipse? Should that also be avoided?

BTW... I'm real proud of him. His team hasn't won a game yet (they're offensively challenged) but in his first 5 ice games ever, he has a 2.8 GAA and is having a blast...

He's a pretty good sized kid. At 13-1/2 he's 5'7"/170.

[Law Goalie 147]

Wow, he is a big kid - if you can keep him on the reasonably nutritious side of eating, he could have serious size.

Great to hear he's having fun, and not putting too much emphasis on winning. That will come in time, but it's still entirely team-dependent, and it's not a measure of a good developing goalie. As long as his interest remains in improving his game, he'll love it and develop quickly.

The Eddy Eclipse is, much like the Itech 1200, an unsuitable mask for facing anything but tennis balls shot by eight year-olds. The 3K is certainly no better.

Now, you can't write off *all* entry-level masks. The Hackva 2608 (their only model) is technically entry-level, and priced very aggressively (it's hard to find them for *more* than $350 at retail), but it's comparable in protection to masks that cost twice as much. Ditto the NXI Phantom, which was an astonishingly protective and durable mask (the company is now defunct). I'd also put the Sportmask Razor & Ricochet up there, though not quite at the level of the two prior masks.

[nmmnp 0]

I saw a used Koho GM570 on ebay that looked to be in very good condition. A google search took me to GSBB where there was a post by a goalie who had a couple of these. According to him it was a "fiberglass mask with a full layer of kevlar and a polyester resin" and was "made by Gabe Hackman before he started making his own Hackva masks".

If that's true would it be worth bidding on? I'd like to get him a Hackva, but the only good deals I've seen on those are on ebay (as Law Goalie had pointed out) only I can't seem to find one in his size. Emailed both Majer and Goalie Crease, but no replys. Guess I could call...

[Law Goalie 147]

Yup - the Koho is basically the same as a current Hackva. Gabe also made masks back then for TPS and CCM, but has said that the Koho mask was by far the best of these and the closest to his current 2608 (which he initially marketed under the Sherwood and Cohen brands).

I'd suggest calling Majer and The Crease - they're much better over the phone, and sort of charmingly old-school in that respect.

[nmmnp 0]

Does anyone recognize this Itech mask. It's around 10 years old, but seems to be attracting a lot of interest on ebay. Is it an older pro model?

On a brighter note, the boys finally broke through with their 1st win, 4-1. Only goal came on a 5on3 PP. Check out this

.

[DCott 0]

Does anyone recognize this Itech mask. It's around 10 years old, but seems to be attracting a lot of interest on ebay. Is it an older pro model?

On a brighter note, the boys finally broke through with their 1st win, 4-1. Only goal came on a 5on3 PP. Check out this

.

It looks like a 961

[Goalieboy#1 1]

Correct me if im wrong, but I think that's a 950/951. Which were notorious for cracking.

[Law Goalie 147]

^^ Looks that way to me. The 95x's are also often listed by ignorant and/or underhanded eBayers as 960x's. The differences are pretty subtle, unless you've got it in your hands, but that just looks off.

[nmmnp 0]

Hi all... Please help this weary old goalie dad and tell me I made a good choice . I found a new, '06 model Eddy Pro Ultimate for $274.00 US shipped and grabbed it before it was gone.

[Law Goalie 147]

If you had to make a choice then and there, that was certainly a good one and a very fair deal. Yeah, you *might* have done better by holding out, but at some point, being without the new mask is a bigger problem than paying a few bucks extra or not getting the ideal thing. Sleep easy. :)

[nmmnp 0]

Thanks LG and you're right...

at some point, being without the new mask is a bigger problem than paying a few bucks extra or not getting the ideal thing.

He starts the winter inline session this week playing in 17u and 40+ (he's almost 14). The high school kids can really rip the puck and the 40+ guys fall a lot, hopefully not on his head ... With him also playing ice now I've been constantly worried about him playing in his old mask. I wanted to check out a Hackva but no one in the area has them. At least he's tried on an Eddy before and I know that the Eddy Pro is a pretty high level mask (and I paid less for it than what my LHS sells the Eddy GT Ultimate for). I never would forgive myself if he got hurt.