I'm hopping on the bandwagon

[Jason16 0]

I've decided to take the plunge and go composite after breaking my last Sher-wood SOP the other night. I've been checking out shafts and OPS at my LHS but am torn between sticks. I've been reading threads on OPS' in this forum for quite sometime but lose interest quickly because I never thought I would go that route...don't I feel like as ass, now...

I am seeking advice for a budget conscious consumer (tuition costs an arm and a leg in BC) who wants a balance between performance and durability. I am looking hard at the Mission M1, Louisville Response and the CCM Vector 110. old school OPS by todays standards but they're cheap! If it helps Cyclone Taylor's and The Hockey Shop are my LHS'

Thanks in advance folks

[Eazy_b97 1]

I found the V110 to be the most durable of those, but the worst performing as well. Why not try a combo? Sherwood blades (seems you like them) and a shaft. Theirs a few threads on good performing, durable shafts floating around.

[hitz14 0]

if your on a budget, i would suggest the vapor V.

my friend has it and it has lasted him like a third of the season

[stix04 0]

Didnt want to start a new thread......but speaking of bandwagons, I'm hopping on the Drury bandwagon. This curve is perfect. I fell in love with heel curves wen i switched to modanos, and with the drury the loft gives me the height i need in tight situations(I'm a lazy shooter at times) and the curve is perfect for stickhandling. I love the drury curve.

[then00b 1]

I hate the drury curve. It feels akward whenever I try to use it.

[stix04 0]

Your one of few on this board who dont know the real potential of this curve.

[rausch27 1]

stix, what curve did you use before the drury. ive been using a sackic but i just got an SL with a drury curve and ive been hearing great things about the drury curve.

[stix04 0]

I used mostly a sakic, Hossa(modano) for a lil while, now I using a crosby on my sherwood 7000. I love this curve. Atouch less loft would be awesome, but if I actually try to control my shot, the loft isnt a problem.

[rausch27 1]

you love the crosby or drury?

[stix04 0]

Well they're both similar if not the same, so... i love them both.

[Shorthanded67 0]

Jason16, welcome to the mad, mad world of composite OPS....

It's all preference, but taking into account your curve, lie, etc... you may want to take this opportunity to pick up one of the former "top-end" OPS that are now at reduced prices. Examples are the whole Easton Synergy lineup (silver regular, yellow grip, both Si-Cores), and the TPS/Louisville Response Plus and XN10. All around $120-130 USD on several websites. Pretty much of a steal considering the original retails were no less than $150.

Also most brands have "price-point" OPS that are usually under the $110 mark but I couldn't really give an opinion on durability/performance. An Easton Havok would be an example of this. Personally for $10 more I'd just buy one of the top-end on clearance....

Happy Hunting!

[Kobe 0]

Well if you're looking for a deal then Cyclone has the Nike Apollo ops for $100. You gotta like heel curves though as they only have them in the Lemieux (Drury) or Brind'Amour (Lidstrom) pattern.

[Kobe 0]

Actually, you'll probably want to stay away from the online retailers in the US if you're on a budget. 99% of them only ship via UPS and you will get raped by brokerage fees when they cross the border.

[notorious#29 0]

Yeah id second the idea of finding a former top-O-the line OPS on clearence now. All the sticks you listed werent that bad. If you are looking for durabilty though I wouldnt go with the Response.

[notorious#29 0]

Didnt want to start a new thread......but speaking of bandwagons, I'm hopping on the Drury bandwagon. This curve is perfect. I fell in love with heel curves wen i switched to modanos, and with the drury the loft gives me the height i need in tight situations(I'm a lazy shooter at times) and the curve is perfect for stickhandling. I love the drury curve.

I am in the same wagon as you. I was (and still am) a big Modo fan. But I payed more attention to my Nike Lemieux when I heard all the great things said about that type of curve on this board. I do like my wristers alot better than other curves, but still have problems with my slapper. Did you have problems adjusting?

[Jason16 0]

I agree with Kobe, shipping from the States costs nearly as much as the stick itself.

The Hockey Shop has a few M1 Pro Stocks that I am considering. How does Mission compare to the likes of Easton, Innovative etc?

My major concern with purchasing a former top-end OPS is that they have been out for people to flex so it's kind of a hit or miss to find one whose durability has not been sacraficed.

I'm a mid curve open toe kind of guy. I have yet to try a heel curve but the constant praising is begining to influence me to give it a try.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Every stick will be flexed, don't worry about that too much. Are you in Canada or the states? I've found the M-1 to have better feel than the Synergy, but the blade goes softer, quicker IMO. Out of the three you listed in this post, I'd say Inno's are you're best best.

[Jason16 0]

Every stick will be flexed, don't worry about that too much. Are you in Canada or the states? I've found the M-1 to have better feel than the Synergy, but the blade goes softer, quicker IMO. Out of the three you listed in this post, I'd say Inno's are you're best best.

I'm in Vancouver where Innovatives are hard to come by. The regular Synergy's still retail for $200 CDN. The M1, for the time being, seems to be my best bet. But to be honest, the only reason for that is because of the attractive price. What do you think of these?

I'm looking at the 85 Rafalski or the 90 Hainsey

[stix04 0]

Didnt want to start a new thread......but speaking of bandwagons, I'm hopping on the Drury bandwagon. This curve is perfect. I fell in love with heel curves wen i switched to modanos, and with the drury the loft gives me the height i need in tight situations(I'm a lazy shooter at times) and the curve is perfect for stickhandling. I love the drury curve.

I am in the same wagon as you. I was (and still am) a big Modo fan. But I payed more attention to my Nike Lemieux when I heard all the great things said about that type of curve on this board. I do like my wristers alot better than other curves, but still have problems with my slapper. Did you have problems adjusting?

I did have some issues with the puck going real high on all my shots. The first time i tried this curve I used it in warmups before a game, but once i tinkered with my shot a little at practice, I was firing rockets with this baby. I deffinently needed to turn my wrists over more(well to start with, I'm a VERY lazy shooter), but once I did that, magic.....

[notorious#29 0]

Every stick will be flexed, don't worry about that too much. Are you in Canada or the states? I've found the M-1 to have better feel than the Synergy, but the blade goes softer, quicker IMO. Out of the three you listed in this post, I'd say Inno's are you're best best.

I'm in Vancouver where Innovatives are hard to come by. The regular Synergy's still retail for $200 CDN. The M1, for the time being, seems to be my best bet. But to be honest, the only reason for that is because of the attractive price. What do you think of these?

I'm looking at the 85 Rafalski or the 90 Hainsey

I have an 85 flex Rafalski. I love it, like Eazy said it does have better feel then a Synergy and other OPS, the blade is softer though. Thats the only real big problem. The stick also has GREAT blaance. The Rafalski curve was a little harder for me to get used to since I had been using the Modano. Cant think of any other problems though. Keep us posted on what you get, and how you like whatever you get.

[Adam91 0]

Jason16 what Cyclone Taylor's is the one closest to you, Im guessing the one in Richmond? If your in North Van. Larry's Sports has much better prices then both of them. On my synthesis I saved about 45$ in total by going to Larry's

[Jason16 0]

Jason16 what Cyclone Taylor's is the one closest to you, Im guessing the one in Richmond? If your in North Van. Larry's Sports has much better prices then both of them. On my synthesis I saved about 45$ in total by going to Larry's

I live in Kitsilano, so Larry's would be the closest, but I don't find their stuff to be that cheap, customer service on the other hand, far outweighs that found at Cyclone's and The Hockey Shop. I think I have settled on the M1, I just hope the price conversion is accurate according to THS website because they have the prostocks at $100 USD which equates to $120 CDN. Otherwise, I will probably do some more sleuthing and find a 2 piece.

Another question. Since the M1 is a tapered stick, will the flex change? In other words, will a 100 feel more like a 90-95?

[echi24 1]

Alot of OPS taper to offer a larger "kickpoint" but that is usually taken into accoutn when the flex is determinted. Everybrand is somewhat different though, and not all brands are consistent.

Alot of teammates that have used the M1 have broken the blade within the first 2 months though, but then again by alot i mean the 2 M1s ive seen. If your price range is around $120 CDN im sure you can find a high end stick. It's a shame Inno's arent as widely available in BC, i managed to get innos cheap in ONT. If your ordering online from a US shop, try the xn10, it is very highly praised on this board, and should be about $120-$130 USD i think.

[mack 44]

Bored so I'd add some custom shots:

[JR Boucicaut 3810]

I'm going to get bored and make one, just to see what y'all are talking about...