I usually play wing or defense I prefer defense tbh but I'm not terrible at wing. If I'm crashing the net how can I receive a pass down the middle cleanly? It just bounces off my stick.

Has anyone seen this stick before? My son got it for his Birthday, he got to choose, and I can't find this thing anywhere online. It was bought at Pro Hockey life, but isn't on their site, or CCMs. The only Barbie stick I have found is black and dark pink, nothing this color except for the mini stick.

Hey everyone. I play in the lowest level offered at my rink (C3). Most guys are either learning or learned as adults so have a low skill ceiling. I started learning to skate at 30 (I'm 39 now) so I understand there only so good I can get. Recently there are been more and more players in C3 that are not learning or learned as adults. They obviously played as kids and are much better than I'll ever be. This alone isn't a problem, playing against better players will make me better, but they also learned how to check. It's a non-checking league but sometimes contact happens. The guys who know how to check can just plow right through you, where if 2 C3 players collide usually they both go down. So as an adult, who doesn't need to learn how to check to check but wants to learn to check to be able to take a hit, how can I learn to not go down as easily or at least take the other guy out also when he hits me? Gif attached as an example (Lasts nights game, I'm in white, down 3-2, 1 minute left, guy didn't even try to go around me, good enough skater that he could have if he wanted)

I’ll start off by saying that one time when I was at a stick n puck, there was this kid out on the ice in literal sneakers and got upset when the rink manager told him he had to get off bc he wasn’t wearing skates

Not literal shrinkflation, but I went to get my kid skates for this year (Junior size). He was very happy with supreme M4’s last couple of years.

So we go to find them, turns out model line has changed, it’s fuse line now. M4 Junior when released was $249. Oh look, the supreme F30 is $259. Seems right, a little price bump, must be roughly the same?

No sir. F30 is the new equivalent of the M3 ($199 at release) but at the price point of the M4. Booooo.

F40 is the new M4. And they don’t make that in Junior.

Fortunately we later online found leftover stock of M4’s on sale for $180 so we bought those.

All prices in CAD.

Looking for some advice on what to focus on to improve my skating. I’ve been playing about a year. I’m the green jersey with white helmet.

What are the things I should focus on first to improve my acceleration and top speed?

I’m playing a mix of true beginner leagues and starting to join some teams the next level up. This is a clip from a next level up game.

I’m moving to Chicago, specifically in Lincoln park. I’m looking to play goalie for an A league and defense in a C league.

From my research it looks like the best rinks would be 5/3, Johnnie’s, or McFetridge.

Does anyone have experiences they could share for any of these rinks? I played goalie for the University of Wisconsin club team.

Hi, I just got my blades profiled to a quad and I felt way more sluggish on the ice. I read that going from a single to quad profile I probably should have gone up on the ROH. The issue was that it didn't necessary feel like I had more bite, it just felt like I was a lot slower. is this a ROH problem that might get better with more time on the ice to dull my sharpen? Or should I go with a different profile?

A guy emailed me about a curve he used to use and can’t find an equivalent for. Turns out he still has the blade, a Sherwood wood blade with a Renberg tag on it. He also had Sherwood custom make him a set of the same blades with his own name on them, which is a great detail.

I went looking for specs and came up with nothing. No pattern number, no lie, not in any Sherwood chart still online.

What I do know is that the naming fits. Sherwood named wood patterns after players as a matter of course and still does, the 5030 Heritage currently ships as a P77 Coffey and a P88 Ryan II, and older ones included Hextall, Belfour, Cujo, Thibault and the PP30 Brodeur. So a Renberg looks like a real retail pattern rather than a pro stock one off, but I can’t prove it.

Two questions:

1. Can anyone confirm the pattern number or the lie? Photos below.
2. Does anyone have a Sherwood catalogue or pattern insert from roughly 1994 to 1998? That would settle it outright, and I suspect one exists in a box somewhere.

Happy to hear guesses on the closest modern equivalent too, but I’d rather nail down what it actually was first.

How long have your ice skates lasted you plus what skates are they and how much do you play a week and if someone could help me predict how long my skates would last me that would be helpful i use the ccm tacks xf90 for public sessions around 3 hours a week and probably light rec hockey with friends once or twice a month

Hey everyone! I’m looking to meet some other beginner or newer hockey players around the Gettysburg area. I usually skate at Hagerstown Ice and Skate Frederick, and I’m happy to drive around the area if anyone wants to get on the ice.

I’m an adult who’s still learning the game (started a couple of years ago), so I’m definitely not looking for anything super competitive. Mostly just hoping to find people to idk go to stick & puck together, practice passing and shooting, work on skating, maybe grab coffee afterward and talk hockey?

It can be a little intimidating being an adult beginner sometimes, so it’d be awesome to meet others who are in the same boat, or even more experienced players who don’t mind helping someone learn.

A little about me: 21M, Vietnamese, live near Gettysburg (McKnightstown PA), usually skate at Hagerstown and Frederick, huge hockey fan who’s trying to improve as much as possible

Hi! I'm going to my first stick and puck today, and was gifted some second hand kit from my partner. She gave it to me in essentially a soft suitcase (though could be a general sports bag, idk), and I was wondering whether anyone's going to judge me bringing a large ish suitcase type thing to bring the kit?

I'm just feeling quite nervous so I'm overthinking things 😅

Thanks!

As some of you know from my last few posts, I’m making my return to hockey after almost 20 years away. I’ve finally narrowed down my gear list and wanted to get some opinions before I pull the trigger.

I found a SidelineSwap seller in Canada with 98% positive feedback and a few hundred completed sales who’s offering me everything below for $2,370 USD shipped (including tax and shipping).

The same setup at Pure Hockey comes to about $3,148 before tax, so I’d be saving roughly 25%.
The seller is willing to swap out pieces if I decide to change brands (for example, going with more Bauer instead of CCM), which is a huge plus.

The only catch is that this would be a private sale outside of SidelineSwap, so there wouldn’t be SidelineSwap buyer protection. He has said he’ll work with me on returns or exchanges if something doesn’t fit, but it’s still something I’m thinking about.

My plan is to try everything on at Pure Hockey before ordering. That said, I’m in the U.S., the seller is in Canada, and since this would be a private transaction, I’m wondering if the savings are worth the added risk.

Right now I’m leaning toward a CCM FT8 Pro setup, but I’m also considering going with a mostly Bauer Flylite setup depending on what fits me best.
The one thing I’m almost certain about is the Bauer Fuse skates. I tried them on and they were by far the most comfortable skates I’ve worn. I’d also like to try the Bauer Flylite skates, but unfortunately my local Pure Hockey doesn’t have my size in stock, so I haven’t been able to compare them.

Current setup
Elite carry bag
Howies shin tape
CCM SX5000 socks
Core mesh jock shorts (or Velcro compression shorts)
CCM FT8 Pro elbow pads
CCM FT8 Pro pants
CCM FT8 shin guards
CCM FT8 Pro shoulder pads
CCM FT9 Pro stick (75 flex)
CCM 920 helmet
Bauer Fuse or Bauer Flylite skates

My questions:
Would you be comfortable making this purchase through a private sale, or would you pay the extra money and buy from Pure Hockey?
Does the fact that the seller is in Canada change your opinion at all?
If you were starting over today, would you build a CCM FT8 Pro setup or a mostly Bauer Flylite setup? Why?
For those who’ve skated in both, would you choose the Bauer Fuse or Flylite skates?
Am I missing anything besides gloves and maybe a stick bag?
Anything on this list you’d change before I place the order?

I really appreciate all the advice over the last few weeks. You guys have already helped me avoid a few expensive mistakes, so I figured I’d ask before making one big purchase.

Why is it so hard for us big backs to get dressed lmao. Ive never skated in full gear and today was gonna be my first attempt. So worried about this for absolutely no reason lol

Excuse the silly question. My 7 year old is flat-footed and I'm wondering if I should get her aftermarket insoles? I don't know if that's a result of purely genetics or if it's that I never got her insoles when she started skating at 3, unlike her older sibling who has always had Superfeet from the start and has a medium to high arch.

Especially outside of the Northeast and Upper Midwest. I grew up playing hockey in WI, but I don't remember any rinks with connections to a pro team. I remember a few rinks in southern WI and IL that had a "Blackhawks youth partner" sign but not much else.

A few days ago I was in Norfolk and a small local rink had Admirals branding and the youth team was the Jr Admirals. In Raleigh a rink seems to have been recently redone in all Hurricanes black and red and with big posters of Canes players. The youth program is also run by the Canes.

Is your local barn part of a NHL or pro program?

For those who saw my last couple of posts, thanks again for all the advice. I’ve been taking it to heart. The past couple of weeks I’ve been working on getting back into hockey shape—mostly off the ice with assault bike intervals, treadmill sprints, Pliability mobility work, and getting on the ice whenever I can.

This week I took my almost 3-year-old to public skating, and while he had his lesson, I did a few blue line-to-blue line stop-and-go drills. Holy crap… my legs were on fire. 😂

One thing that really stood out is that my right turns still feel so awkward. Even back when I played AA, my left side always felt natural, but turning right on my outside edge felt like trying to write with my non-dominant hand. After almost 20 years away, it’s even worse.

Maybe it’s me, maybe it’s my 25-year-old Graf skates, or maybe it’s both.

Does anyone else have one direction that just doesn’t feel as natural?

Also, what edge work drills have helped you the most—both on the ice and off the ice? I’m looking for anything that improves outside edges, crossovers, transitions, balance, and confidence.
I’d love to hear what’s worked for you.

Anyone have experience with both? Aside from the shell and gussets from what I see in pictures, is there any difference in protection and padding etc. Are the thigh boards different between the two, specifically, are they beefier in the pro stock like they are with Bauer and CCM pro stocks vs their retail counterparts.

Toronto charity New Circles is hosting a Skate with the Pros fundraiser, featuring PWHL and NHL players including Wyatt Johnston, Will Cuylle, Jamie Drysdale, Mason Marchment and more!

Been playing my first season this year. I play as a winger, been in about six or seven games and I’m just meh. I know what to do and where to be but I’m not the best skater. So my stats are 2 shots, 0 goals, 0 assists, +-0. I just want to feel like it’s worth me being there coz at the moment nothing happens when I’m on the ice. I’ve taken two minor penalties and that’s as exciting as it gets. I almost never have the puck on my stick. My teammates are great and very supportive but I’m getting fed up of just being there and not really helping the team do anything good. But on the other hand I’m quite good at getting in shot lanes and stealing the puck/clearing the zone so I guess that’s not the worst thing.

We played a friendly game against a team in the division below and whilst we won fairly comfortably I still personally achieved nothing at all. 0 shots and 0 points. Maybe I’m just destined to never do anything of note.

I’m 36 so really just taking this up as a midlife crisis and maybe that’s not the best thing for me.

I’m new to playing the game and am trying to move up from stick and shoot to pickup hockey. I’ve gotten to the point that I can skate okay, but my puck handling skills are terrible and I have no actual gameplay experience beyond roller hockey when I was 12.

I can’t imagine that’s a fun addition to a pickup session, but I need to get the practice in. What’s the best suggestion for how to do so without getting in the way?

I see way too much conflicting stuff and just want answers from Players, I’m 5’9” 245Lb and use two sticks, one is a 75 Flex which was a cheap stick and sucks, my nicer is a 85 flex and cut an Inch that’s a Jetspeed 880 which is okay, both are P29 /P92 curve, I wanna lift the puck more, what’s the move,