A Players Guide to Hockey Equipment

Heel Spurs from Skates

2007-07-27T19:52:00.001-07:00

I know a lot of hockey players that complain about heel spurs. Heel spurs are large bumps that grow on the back of a players heels, usually from the friction of the skate itself. They can get so bad that you cant play because of them.

I had a bad case of heel spurs on both feet. I went to a doctor about them, and he told me that the only way to remove them is by surgery. And heel surgery is serious, and takes a very long time to recover. So I was desperate . I punched out the heels of my skates, but that didnt work. I also remolded my skates, but no results.

After about three months of pain, I finally gave in and tried out a different brand of skates. Like most hockey players, I only played with Bauer skates, and nothing else. The first skate I tried was Graf. I was astounded, I could not feel my heel spurs at all! But I was not satisfied with the skates themselves.

Easton saved me. I had the same result with the heel spurs, it was like I was skating on a cloud compared to the Bauers. However, I enjoyed the aspects of the Easton skate, which is not that popular, but I swear by it.

I still wear Eastons, and I have to say that it has been the best skate for me. Make sure that other people dont influence what you buy skate wise. You have to make the decision yourself. Also, always test out skates before buying them. I know countless players that buy their skates for a lot of money, then find out their skates dont suit them and are stuck with them.

Skates are the most important peice of equipment a hockey players can have. Do not make a bad choice, it will directly affect the way you play.

Until next time,

Hockey Maven

How to Find the Right Hockey Pants

2007-07-19T15:30:00.001-07:00

There are many, many different hockey pants available to hockey players. Many people are overwhelmed by the quantity, and end up buying pants that are the highest price, or whatever the store clerk tells them to buy. This is obviously not a good thing, since hockey pants have the biggest impact on how hockey players skate.

One thing a player must realise, is what kind of hockey player they are. A big defenceman would need some thick, heavy pants for blocking shots and taking hits. A small forward would need lighter, more flexible pads.

One pair of pants that I will recommend, is the Tackla series. There really is no comparison in my mind between the other brands when it comes to pants.

Tackla hockey pants are extremely light. They do not take on water, and they dry out very fast. The protection is solid, and very durable. I had been wearing the same Tackla pants all through Bantam and Midget hockey, and I had never had the padding break or wear down. The greatest part of the Tacklas are mobility. You will not find a hockey pant out their that can be as flexible as the Tacklas. The icing on the cake is the price. Tacklas are usually half the price as their top end competitors. Every hockey player should try out some Tacklas at one point or another.

Now, many players believe that the more protection, the better. So they go for the Bauers, the RBK's, CCM's, etc. However, remember this, if its built like a tank, it will move like a tank!

Yours in Hockey,

Hockey Maven

Hockey Helmets

2007-07-17T09:24:00.000-07:00

The most important piece of equipment a hockey player needs. One piece of advice I can give to you all is to not penny pinch when it comes to protecting your head. Always get the best money can buy.

Bauer: These guys make great helmets. They are always reliable, especially the newer models. Bauer helmets are very durable, and last a long time.

RBK: The worst "top end" helmet on the market. RBK helmets always fall apart, and fast. The structure of the helmet is also flawed. When a player takes a big hit, the helmet constricts on the players head considerably, making it very uncomfortable and painful.

CCM: Great older helmets, very reliable, strong, and preferred by many pro hockey players. However, the newer models are not as well made. CCM seem that they are more worried about the look of the helmet then the protection aspect.

Mission: Probably the best protection that a helmet has to offer. One piece, molded Kevlar. The reason it is not very popular is the very ungainly look of the helmet, and the fact that the helmet is very heavy.

Cages or Visors?
Before I played my Junior hockey, I always prefered the Cage. I could see a lot better, and was not forever wiping at my visor when it was constantly fogging up. It is crucial that the player has a cage that is tight fitting to his or her chin. Having a cage that hangs loosely over the chin is a sure fire way to recieve a nasty concussion.

Jofa cages should be avoided at all costs. These cages are known for being very loose, and not connected to the chin at all. I have seen many players wearing this cage that suffered split chins, broken jaws, and severe concussions. Itech cages are very well made, very snug fitting, and will do a lot better job of protecting your melon!

Buying The Right Hockey Sticks

2007-07-11T10:32:00.001-07:00

One of the biggest assets a hockey player can have is a great shot. These days, there are literally hundreds of sticks, from wood, composite, to aluminum. They also range in price, from hundreds of dollars to around $30. Choose wisely, because no one wants a $250 hockey stick that just gathers dust in the basement.

The sticks that is making the biggest splash are the "one piece" all composite sticks. These sticks are fragile, break easy, and some players complain that they can't "feel" the puck with them. However, there is no doubt about it that you can shoot a lot harder with these sticks. Here are a few of the best one piece composite hockey sticks on the market today.

The Easton Synergy Line

The most popular one piece hockey sticks. Easton made the first one piece ever, called the Synergy. It took the hockey world by storm, boosting players shots by 10 -15%. This spawned a new era for sticks and stick prices. The current top of the line sticks are the Synergy Elite, the Synergy ST, and the Synergy 2 , a shaft model. All three of these sticks are very good quality. The best stick of this lot would be the Synergy ST, followed by the Elite, and then the Synergy 2. The differences between the sticks are subtle, but the price range is not. Make sure that you test them out, to find out which one suits your playing style the best.

The Easton Stealth

A shooters stick. I found that this stick is best for pure snipers. The feel is not very good, and it is very hard to get used to handling the puck with it. However, your shot will be very hard, and extremely accurate. I also felt that this stick was more responsive than most, so that a player could easily get quick shots of on the net.

CCM

The only stick in this arsenal of CCM that is worth talking about in my opinion are the new OTS V10 Catapult. They are very durable ( for a one piece), handle the puck reasonably well, and have a very large sweet spot. Meaning you can get a good, hard shot off from almost any awkward position on the ice.

RBK

A newcomer to the hockey stick scene, RBK has made quite the name for themselves as a quality hockey stick maker. There new top of the line sticks are the "Sickick" line. The 7K Sickick is their number 1. It has a relatively good feel, insane response, and a very durable, stiffer blade. There other stick is their Sickick 7K Snake Grip. This is a lighter version of the Sickick 7K, and it has a little bit more grip. I highly recommend players to try out RBK sticks.

Bauer

The past few years, Bauer has fallen behind on the stick market. Their products have been known to break very easily, and being far to over priced. However, they have come out with a few very good sticks. The Vapor Line, which the two best are the Vapor XXX lite and the lesser XX. The XXX lite is probably the lightest stick on the market. The flex and response is very good. The durability is questionable, but it is no doubt a very good stick.

The Vapor One90 is probably their best stick to date. However, it is very stiff, and to maximize the performance from this stick, it is recommended that you pick a lower flex than usual. They are very durable, and reasonably well priced. I recommend players this stick.

Wood, Two Piece or One Piece?

This decision is really up to the player. Some people swear by the wood sticks, citing that they cost less and are more reliable. Of course, there are the one piece crowd, who claim that harder, accurate shots are better than superior puckhandling or durability. My stick of choice is the shaft and wooden blade, or otherwise known as the two piece. I am more of a puckhandler and playmaker, so I do need that extra feel for the puck. However, I also get more power and response out of my stick with the shaft.

What it all boils down to is this, what is the best stick for you as a player? Are you a defensive defenceman? Chances are you are going to need a stiff, one piece stick for slapshots. Sniper? An Easton one piece Stealth. Playmaker? A shaft with a wooden or just a wooden stick would be the best fit for you.

In closing, hockey sticks are a very important part of a players game. Choosing the right one for you can maximize your performance on the ice.

Hockey Maven

*Next up: Hockey Helmets

A Players Guide to Hockey Equipment : Intro

2007-07-10T09:33:00.000-07:00

Hockey equipment is a very important part of a hockey players game. However, many players have no real knowledge of the right equipment to buy. They are generally influenced by what NHLers use or advertisements.

I am a hockey player from Canada. Everything that came out, I had to try it out. It also helped out that my dad owned a very large hockey store. I used virtually every stick, glove, pant, helmet, shin pads etc that hockey equipment companies have to offer.

What I learned is that top level equipment is very helpful to your game. People that say that good equipment doesn't matter are not telling the truth. A good hockey player, mixed with great top level equipment, makes an even better player.

When it comes to buying equipment, I always buy my equipment online. There are many advantages to this. First, its a lot cheaper. Local stores will always charge more than their competitors on the internet. Second, the inventory is massive. You could virtually buy any peice of equipment in the world, where buying local you are limited to what the store offers. And finally, you can shop around online, to find out the cheapest, most reliable stores.

Do some snooping around, find the right online hockey store for you and your already ahead of the game!

Yours in Hockey,

Hockey Maven

*next blog: Buying the Right Hockey Sticks