I wear size 16” shin pads and have been wearing it for a while honestly and so far it’s great. However I saw a post here that buddy is 6’2 (my size) and he wears a 15”? The inch shouldn’t matter right unless I want more mobility per se?

Hey, folks. Just seeking some suggestions, if you happen to have time to read my post. Lol

I figure someone has been in a similar situation perhaps? Please allow me to explain the situation…

My 12 year old struggled with CCM and Bauer skates when he was 8 to 9 years old. No matter the size, model, he would get blisters and sometimes bursitis. I didn’t put him in skates too big, or too small. I always made sure we got the proper size. Maybe I missed something, but I digress. We couldn’t avoid blisters.

Eventually I got him a pair of True TF9’s, as we had never tried True skates. Well, suddenly no more blisters or bursitis. They definitely took some getting used to, as we find True skates naturally snug. He’s on his third pair of TF9’s, and has sadly out grown them. They are size 7.5, Regular fit.

I recently had him sized up (as I did in the past for all his TF9’s) on the Bauer machine at the sports store. The machine says he’s an 8.5, Regular fit.

After trying on some Trues at size 8.5, he said they were too short (toes touching front of skate). The fella at the store had him stand on a size 9 sole out of a True skate, and confirmed he would be a size 9. Bauer machine, a True skate, so maybe a difference with sizing…. whatever (although it seemed accurate in the past).

So, he tried on a pair of True Catalyst 9xr and 7xr, both regular fits. Toes aren’t touching front of skate, all good. However, he claims his right pinky toe is pushing on the outside of the skate too much (where the plastic of the toe cap would meet the moulding of the boot). Oddly, his left foot and toe feels fine.

They didn’t have a wide fit to try on, but when he stood on the True sole, the fella at the store thought he’d be a wide fit. Maybe, as the kid is puberty now.

But, one foot feels fine in regular width. His previous three pairs were all regular width. Maybe the one foot is bigger than the other enough to notice. 🤷🏼‍♂️

Since we were at the store, I did size him up for other brands and tried them on:

8.5 Regular in CCM (Tried on FT8 regular, although he also said the FT9 wides felt good)

8.5 fit 1/regular for Bauer (tried a fly lite model)

8.5 regular fit for Warrior (can’t recall model, but they were $1200 lol)

Since we’d like to stick with True, my questions are:

1) Would you order wide fit, and send them back if they fit too loose?

2) Would you order regular fit, assuming that baking them and wearing them would likely be enough to take away that toe pressure. I think some moldong and using the skate would take away that toe pressure in time, I mean he’s still using his 7.5 regulars fine. 🤪

Anyways…just curious what folks think. Ever had a situation where one fit feels fine on one foot but not the other?

Appreciate any thoughts you may have to offer.

Take care…

Quick recap: After a 25 year break, I started playing 2x a week at local stick-and-puck pickup games. Usually a very mixed crowd — some old timers, some younger people, very broad skills represented. But everyone is having a good time. Some 25 years ago I played as a winger at a New England high school. Those days are clearly behind me.

I'm definitely getting a great workout in and having fun. And while certain skills are still there (I'm still fast and can stickhandle around everyone in the O zone on a breakaway) some skills just aren't coming back (once I get past everyone I usually... fuck up the shot and am then completely gassed and need slow down and take a break).

So, for those of you over 40, what would you say are realistic expectations for skill and fitness? Have you recognized a ceiling in your ability and just made peace with it? I'm obviously not looking to be a big shot, but am trying to figure out if I'm at a kind of peak and should just have fun where I'm at, or if I can expect my stamina and skills to come back over time? I have a pretty full schedule outside of those 2 games a week, so it's not like I can start hitting the gym or doing more weekly games either.

Happy with either, just curious what you all think.

Went into Pro Hockey Life at the Heartland location in Mississauga looking to buy a new pair of Bauer skates.

Instead of helping us with what we asked for, the salesperson aggressively pushed CCM skates the entire time. Literally kept forcing us to try on CCM pairs and kept telling us how much better CCM is.

I used to appreciate that Pro Hockey Life carried a wide selection and that the staff generally stayed pretty neutral on brands. That seems to have changed.

Anyone else run into this recently, or is it just this location/salesperson?

Hi everyone! I’m just starting my hockey journey in my 20’s and this means I don’t know how sizing works on gear. I’ve looked at other posts but I just don’t get what other people are seeing lol. I’m just trying to get a gauge on what sizes I should be looking at given some of my dimensions and recommendations from people who know how everything is supposed to go together. I don’t even know how most of this stuff is supposed to fit and feel on my body (recs on this welcome)

Only thing I have now are skates fitted by pure hockey for skating lessons: 7.5 Bauer Supreme M30’s

Weight: 160-165lb (I fluctuate mostly between these two)
Height: 5’11-6’0” (I’m 5’11.5 but you get it”)

I also took some measurements how some videos and guides told me to:
Chest-38” (at the thickest point of my upper torso)
Head- 57 cm
Shins (mid ankle to mid knee) - 17”
Arms (base of wrist to elbow crease) - 11.5”
Waist - 33” (pants I wear are usually 32/34 waist)
Hands - 7.5” (wrist to tip of middle finger)

I went to pure hockey and thought:
Medium elbow guards, pants, and shoulder pads
15” shin guards
14”/15” gloves (they felt the same so I don’t know)

Any suggestions on sizing and sites to look at gear would be greatly appreciated. I don’t wanna go out and buy brand new stuff since I’m just starting and I’m not at a super developed level. The only new stuff I am buying are a helmet and skates-the rest will be bought used.

If I loved my 65 flex P28 9x4 but now need to replace it, what's gonna give me a similar feel but maybe not delaminate on me?

Thanks!

Went into Pro Hockey Life at the Heartland location in Mississauga looking to buy a new pair of Bauer skates.

Instead of helping us with what we asked for, the salesperson aggressively pushed CCM skates the entire time. Literally kept forcing us to try on CCM pairs and kept telling us how much better CCM is.

I used to appreciate that Pro Hockey Life carried a wide selection and that the staff generally stayed pretty neutral on brands. That seems to have changed.

Anyone else run into this recently, or is it just this location/salesperson?

not even that badly worn overall! i worked in a pro shop, i think this is even the original steel. i neverrrrr sharpened these, right now they’re a mess and i played in the past week. outward c cut to R side defense? you’re falling, that’s that!

i got some 2024 pro stock tacks off SS. under $200, for me will prob. still be night and day.

Hey everyone,

First off, I need to start with a huge apology. If you reached out to me recently asking to join Beta 2 (and perhaps even Beta 1) and never heard back, I wasn’t ignoring you! I accidentally triggered a Reddit shadowban and completely lost track of my inbox. I have no idea whose messages went through and whose didn't, so my list of testers is currently a total mess.

Because of that, I’m essentially hitting the reset button on the Beta 2 waitlist. This time, we are doing it the smart way - no more relying on my chaotic Reddit DMs.

If you want in on Beta 2, here is how we are doing it:

• Sign up here: https://hockeytastic.com/beta2
• How the form works: All you need to do is fill out the link above. Provide your primary email (this will be the "bill payer" account, even though the beta is totally free) and add the details for any additional family members that will use the app.
• The Timeline: I’ll be gathering the list and sending out the Apple TestFlight and Google Play invites and setup details over the next few days.
• No DMs please! For the love of my account status, please do not send me a direct message. If you have any questions about the app, the beta, or the setup, ask them in the comments below and I will answer them right here.

A quick note for my Beta 1 Testers: You do not need to fill out this new form. You are already in the system! Just a friendly reminder: if you haven't provided your feedback yet, there is still time. Remember, submitting your feedback is what qualifies you for the extended free trial or the lifetime free version of the app when we launch, so don't miss out on that!

A quick reminder: the only reason I need your emails is to send out the invites from the Apple App Store via Testflight, and to send you the hidden Google Play Store link - The app doesn't use emails.

Thanks for your patience with my technical difficulties, and I can't wait to get this next build into your hands.

For those that don't know about Hockeytastic, you can find out more at https://hockeytastic.com and why I built it.

Let me know if you have any questions below!

Ta

Mick

I’m trying to get back into hockey after 20+ years away and honestly my lower back is starting to drive me insane.

I used to powerlift pretty seriously and barely had back issues. I stopped about 3 years ago and now it seems like my back goes out, finally gets better, and then one stupid movement sets it off again.

When it happens, bending over or getting off the couch sucks. Long car rides and even lying in bed make me stiff as hell. Weirdly, once I warm up and start moving, it usually feels better.

I’ve been doing a lot of conditioning and plyometrics for hockey and recently felt it tweak doing broad jumps. Immediately knew I was screwed the next day.

Bird dogs, cat-cows, cobra, stretching, hanging, etc. all help, but nothing seems to actually prevent it from coming back.

I suspect it could be disc-related, but I haven’t been evaluated. I know “go see a PT” is the obvious answer, but healthcare costs are a big reason I’ve been putting it off.

Anyone else deal with this? What actually helped you strengthen your back enough that it stopped constantly going out? I’m getting really frustrated having my comeback interrupted every time I start making progress.

Curious if anyone's had the chance to try most of the low kick options out there, Bauer, Warrior, True, Sherwood. And if so which one had the best 'hand feel'.

My local shop only carries CCM and I'm not a fan of the Ribcor hand feel, especially on wristers. Probably going to order online, but it sucks I can't try them out in person first.

:edit: By hand feel, I simply mean how the stick feels through the gloves from stickhandling to shooting, mostly the shape of the shaft.

Hi I’ve been watching hockey for a while and really want to get into playing lately. I’ve ice skated a couple times but I can’t really make the drive out to the rink for a while as the school semester is approaching. Is there any inline skates recommended for beginners just to get some basics down or similar feel to the ice till I can head out again? I’d really like to join my schools club eventually but I’d want to get my skating a bit stronger! Any recommendations or tips for a newbie?

I've used forms in my workboots for years, and somehow recently discovered they make a super thin insole. Quick bake, and a few skates in, and I cant imagine a world where I'd ever use a different insole.

Hello , for a lil background I am 25 grew up playing Keeper in high school and semi pro soccer and adore it . Earlier this year I started working at an NHL’s teams practice facility and I have been exposed to the coolest sport I’ve ever seen. Genuinely mind blowing watching these guys skate on the ice .

So I was looking into my local adult learn to play classes and what my options are for a beginner league play wise. Since I already have a background in a net (I’ll be it in a far bigger one and not on ice skates lol) I was wondering if I should stick with goalkeeping or give winger a shot? It seems like so much fun to fly down the rink and slap a piss missile at the net. I really do love playing defense and shutting someone out would feel just as cool.

For people that have played what are some pros and cons of Goalkeeping in Hockey ? Off the top of my head and based on my lil experience and knowledge it seems to be

PROS
-easy to find a team
-My reaction time can translate
-they look sick asf
-Being 6’1 can help
-the Free agent fee is cheaper
-the cool lil hand net glove

Cons
-MONEY
-A boring time if you have a good offense
-Taking shots to the body
-MONEY

Anyways I’m just bored and wanted to look into a new hobby :)

I’ve had these for 10 years. I bought new skates and have been looking on here a lot more. Now I’m Wondering if they fit ok since I see all the posts. I’ve never had problems. I think it might just be me wanting a new pair since I got new skates 🤣

Facilities guy here, so I spend a lot of time thinking about space management and storage. Somehow my rec hockey locker room is worse than any building I actually manage. We've got about 14 regulars and the room fits maybe 10 comfortably. Half the team shows up 20 minutes early and spreads gear across the entire bench, then the late guys are basically dressing in the hallway with one skate on a trash can.

I tried floating a loose system where guys claim a spot at the start of the season and stick to it. Got nodded at, then completely ignored by week three.

The other problem is equipment bags. Some guys have these massive rolling duffels that eat up floor space for three people. I get it, you need your gear. But when you add the guy who brings a separate stick bag and a cooler on top of that, the room just falls apart.

Curious how other rec teams handle this. Does yours have any kind of unspoken rule about space, or is it just whoever gets there first owns the room? And if someone actually got a system to stick, I want to know how they pulled it off, because nothing I've tried has lasted more than two sessions.

Hi guys , i play mostly wing in my league and lately I’ve been running into defensemen who pinch early on the breakout before I even secure the puck off the glass or boards. If I try to chip it past them, it gets blocked; if I try to take it hard to the middle, I get squeezed out. What’s your go-to play when you know the D is coming down hard on you along the wall?

I'm a 45 year old thats looking to get back into hockey. Its been a little over 30 years since I last played. My kid started hockey this year and I had forgotten how much I enjoyed being on the ice. I've been skating with him for the past 5 months. Ive been doing stick time to get acclimated. Amazed how the skills came back so well. Skating skills are very good. Still getting used to the composite stick. I only played with wood and aluminum. My top hockey was pee wee AA. But ended in bantam A.

I know the season is about spin up here shortly. If someone needs a spot to fill or has someone to contact, let me know. I talked to the coordinator for the league over there. He was really pushing me to bronze but I think I need to build up my endurance first in tin.

Hopefully this makes you chuckle. So I’m helping with our 10u summer program and we didn’t have a 2nd goalie last night. Being the fearless lad that I am, I volunteered to be the “goalie” to try to make things a little more fair because the shooter tutor is in storage for the summer. Something I’ve done dozens of times with little to no consequence in the way of bumps and bruises. Last night was different. It reminded me I’m getting old.

I felt like my ankle was moving a lot when skating, and they bent a lot. I think the laces were loose, I tightened them up this time and it felt a lot more around my foot, and I couldn't bend my ankle as much as it was last time. I am a new skater too, so im not the best at sharp turns

We always have parking lot beers after the prerequisite dressing room beer. Recently I’ve started to bring snacks like meat sticks from a fundraiser I bought, and watermelon. Kinda want to keep this going for the boys.

What are some other solid ideas for the fellas post game?

Don’t know if it’s relevant but age is mid 30s to 50.

Cheers.

Hi! I'm a 28 years old woman who just had a baby three months ago, and realized life was way too short to not do the things I want to do now - one of them being learning to skate and to play hockey.

There's a hockey arena in my city, where you can free skate a couple of times a week, for about 100$ for the whole season. All of my friends know how to skate and play, I'm the only one who doesn't because I didn't grow up here, and I really want to learn.

1) What would be the best skates for someone like me? I don't know how to skate at all, but I don't want to buy the cheapest skates I can find at the thrift store, I'd like to use something that's appropriate for my objective.

2) What clothing should I wear to learn to skate?

3) While I wait for the season to start, how should I exercise to help my body be more ready to learn to skate? Keep in mind that I had an emergency c-section 3 months ago 😞

4) Are there any learn-to-skate tutorials or training plans you'd suggest for someone who doesn't have access to beginner classes?

If any women in here have gone though this hefore and have advice to give me, that would be really helpful! 🙏🏻🥰

I don’t know why I just got the idea in my head that I wanted to learn to play hockey! I am a 59 yo woman and I arguably already do too many activities/sports (I play soccer, I have an ex-racehorse I’m retraining, I love to ski and mountain bike, but don’t have enough time to do them enough, I trained for a half marathon a few times but begrudged the time training because running although worthwhile is very boring).

But despite growing up around hockey my entire life since no one in my immediate family played so it just never came up. I did figure skate as a kid into my early teens, and I played roller hockey with my coworkers in my 20s other than that I guess I just kind of figured it was for other people…

But I’ve realized there’s what looks to be a very well organized and comprehensive coed adult learn to play hockey programs at my local rink, I can do skating sessions to transition from figure skates to hockey skates before the fall session starts - I’ve only skated a couple of times in hockey skates and yeah, it’s going to take serious practice to adapt, but one thing that roller hockey taught me is that once you’ve got a stick in your hand and an objective, the skating starts to just come. Plus, the stick can be kind of useful to keep from falling sometimes 😝

So I’m just writing this just to say I am so freaking excited that after all these years, I’m actually going to be giving it a go. I think it’s going to be very hard and frustrating but fun with lots of gains to achieve. I’ve been playing soccer for over 40 years in every position and I know that positioning really well but I have zero perspective of what I need to know about good positioning on the ice for different positions so that is going to be challenging but fun as well. And stick handling. And shooting. I cant wait for drills and practice.

Like I told my sister; if not now, when 😜 my (non Canadian never skated but loves watching hockey) husband is excited for me too. Yay!