CCM Vector 120 YOUTH

[Cheechoo 0]

My son is almost 8 and has been playing hockey since he was 5. I have always followed the stick recommnedations of an ex-NHLer (Tom Pederson) whom my son sometimes takes lessons with. Basically, until recently, Tom always said that kids that age should only use wooden sticks beacuse they are the best size and flex. Well, recently Tom started raving about the new CCM Vector 120 YOUTH OPS, saying that it a perfect stcik for kids. They are only $50, so I'm thinking about getting him one. The question I have is this: The Youth 120 only comes in the Thornton pattern, which looks like it's way too much curve for a kid. I know that Easton's junior blade patterns are a little more mellow (less curve, lower lie) than the equivalent senior patterns (i.e., a junior Yzerman is not the same as a senior Yzerman). Does anyone know if CCM does the same thing or is the youth/junior Thornton just as wicked as the senior Thornton?

[Chadd 916]

Actually, you will find that some smaller manufacturers make shafts in the 40-45 flex range that work well for smaller players. At that age an ops really isn't a bad buy if you can find the correct flex as wood sticks are generally stiffer and by putting a plug in the end, the ops/shaft can grow with the child.

As for the original question CCM doesn't show a youth version in the catalog.

[EricG. 0]

I thought that the V120 Youth was a pretty neat idea.

The curve looked mild to me, very different from the senior Thornton. From what I can tell, most manufacturers tone down the curves on their junior sticks.

[Cavs019 710]

yep, the junior Yzerman is absolute cash while the senior i don't think I even need to say anything.

[Cheechoo 0]

Thanks everyone. I think I'll get him one.

[Overtime 0]

As for the original question CCM doesn't show a youth version in the catalog.

i seen them at cyclone taylors in vancouver

[Cheechoo 0]

epuck has them as well. I'm not sure why CCM did not include them in their catalogue or on their website. If I was the only manufacturer to make an OPS in a size and flex for peewee players, I'd want people to know about it.

[Chadd 916]

epuck has them as well. I'm not sure why CCM did not include them in their catalogue or on their website. If I was the only manufacturer to make an OPS in a size and flex for peewee players, I'd want people to know about it.

The sticks are in the catalog but there is no mention of the youth curve being different.

[JR Boucicaut 3810]

Last year it was an one-page attachment as it was a late 04 product.

[top_shelf_24 0]

I recently saw one at me LHS, and the thortoan curve on the youth stick was HUGE. It may not be as big as the senior, but I would think a kid that age shouldnt be using a curve like that.

[Cheechoo 0]

We jsut received the stick and the curve is really not that big.

[Overtime 0]

look like a youth jofa Lecavalier

[Cheechoo 0]

I ended up getting my son the v120 youth and he's been using it for about three months now. I'm so impressed with the effect this stick has had on his shots that I was going to write a review, but since I haven't played with it and his descriptions of feel, balde, etc., probably wouldn't be that useful, I decided to just give a quick update in the thread I started.

If you are not familiar with the YOUTH Vector 120, it is the only OPS currently on the market for youths (i.e. 5 to 8 or 9 year old players). This is not a junior stick like most other manufacturers make and that many little kids use. It has a pretty narrow shaft for small hands and is incredibly flexy. Prior to this stick, my son used a Koho Torpedo woody and briefly a junior Z-bubble with a wood/abs blade. He couldn't flex either of them and over the 2 years he played with them, he learned to adjust to the stiffness by flicking the puck up when he wanted to shoot high up. Although this kind of worked for him, the shots were weak and fluttery. I always thought that's just how kids shoot before they master proper shooting techniques. But I was wrong. The stiff sticks were the problem. After using the v120 for a few games, his whole shooting style changed. He now sweeps the puck from behind his body, releases, and follows through. The result is astonishing. He places hard, flat shots under the crossbar from the face-off circles.

The change was so noticable that parents of other kids came to ask me who taught him how to shoot like that. Three of those parents went out and bought the same stick, and within a month their kids were all shooting much better than before.

Now, I don't think that this necesarily means that all v120's (senior, inter, junior) are amazing sticks (I've never tried one myself), but since it's the only OPS for that age group that I'm aware of, I think it's a great investment for any young player who has stuck with the game for long enough to be seroius about it. And at $50, it's really not too expensive.

[jimmy 194]

good review, thanks for getting back with us.

I find many parents are reluctent to dish out $50 for that stick. I haven't sold one since xmas. The only problem I see with it so far is that extensions aren't made for it.

BTW, using that stick is WAY better than what I've seen, i.e, 6 yo's with a cut down full Synergy.

[KnightII 0]

Great info Cheechoo...thanks.

As a dad of 2 boys under age 8 I think I'll go this route too. Hand me downs are big in my family. By the time the 4 yo is 6, the 6 yo will be ready to move to a jr stick.

And for what it's worth, it appears as though RBK has an entry into this market with its 5K Youth stick...datsyuk curve and snakebite grip. However, it appears to cost about 10-15 dollars more.

[Cheechoo 0]

I find many parents are reluctent to dish out $50 for that stick. I haven't sold one since xmas. The only problem I see with it so far is that extensions aren't made for it.

Yeah, I think the market for this stick is pretty small because many kids don't even start playing the game until they are 8 or 9 and shelling out $50 for a kid's first ever stick doesn't make sense.

As for the extension, I also first thought that that would become a problem when he grows, but then again, I think that by the time that stick gets too small for him, he may be ready for a junior any way.

[Cheechoo 0]

And for what it's worth, it appears as though RBK has an entry into this market with its 5K Youth stick...datsyuk curve and snakebite grip. However, it appears to cost about 10-15 dollars more.

Yeah, the 5K looks like a nice option too. Do you know how it compares to the v120 in flex and shaft width?