Going from a cateye to a cert cage

[whalercane]

I just picked up my Vaughn VM7500 mask and while the fit and finish both appear solid, I can already see there's going to be an adjustment period to the HECC cert cage. There seems to be one horizontal bar that runs directly under my field of vision which also intermitenly slips into my field of vision at what will likely turn out to be inopportune times.

Anyway, it's been years since I've worn a mask without a cateye cage (dating back to when we all wore the Osgood combo special!!).

Any ideas on how long/difficult the adjustment period might be??

Thanks,
Ryan

[Phantom305]

I'd say after the first 20 mintues you shouldn't notice

[stksave27]

Yeah I doubt you'll notice after a few minutes, as long as your concentration goes out to the puck you actually never really see the bars. I'm thinking of getting a cats eye cage mask (just to look cool ;-) and I think it'll be more of an adjustment not having anything in front of my eyes vs the bars Ive always had.

Did you really admit to wearing the Osgood? I used to sport the mighty Joffa Bubble boy cage. Looked like a ball you'd put a pet hamster in to clean the cage.

Best of luck with the new mask.

[whalercane]

Yea, so you were wearing the Irbe model while I was watching pucks blow by me with my Cooper combo mask on. Those were the days...

lol

[JMUhcky01]

I have been wearing a Reidic certified cat eye cage. Maybe if you have an adjustment problem you could look for a replacement cage that is both cat eye, yet certified. Just a suggestion.

[RichardGraham]

Nice avatar, JMUhcky01!

[whalercane]

I have been wearing a Reidic certified cat eye cage. Maybe if you have an adjustment problem you could look for a replacement cage that is both cat eye, yet certified. Just a suggestion.

Yeah, but the problem is, I have a Vaughn 7500 with a recessed cage so finding a cateye for it's been super difficult. However, I haven't run into any sight-line-related trouble so far (worn it for two games), so maybe I was making more of the issue than I needed to...

-Ryan

[JawzTerritory]

I dont know man. I went from a cat eye to a HECC certified cage and found that one bar that runs almost directly under your eyes annoying. Obviously with a cat eye you can see better and it does take some getting used to with the certified mask. Does Vaughn not make a Cat Eye cage for its masks that you can purchase. I am trying to find a cat eye for my eddy mask but it seems like the local shop down here is always out of stock. My opinion, try to get a replacement cat eye cage, especially if that is what your used too.

[whalercane]

Hey, if you wind up finding a cateye for your Eddy mask, let me know because my Vaughn 7500 is an Eddy mask that was made for Vaughn, so I'll order one from the shop where you get yours.

Thanks,
Ryan

[imasieve30]

Here is the first link I came across for Eddy Pro (cat eye) cage. Not cheap, especially if you go with the stainless steel option. Hope this helps.

http://www.thehockeyshop.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=THSSFS&Product_Code=CAGE_GOAL_EDDY_PRO&Category_Code=S_Goal_Cages

This second link may be better. It offers goal cages (cat eye and HECC) from a Michigan company for multiple brands. Just scroll to the bottom of the page under the masks and you'll see a section for replacement cages.

http://www.hockeyservices.com/hockey/goal/mask.html

[whalercane]

nice- thanks.

[whalercane]

Update on my mask- as a few of you mentioned above, it didn't take me long to get used to the cert mask. Granted, that one pesky horizontal bar still runs through my line of vision (which is annoying as hell during faceoffs!!), but it's not a problem at all during the course of an actual game.

As a side note- I'd recommend this mask to anyone (Vaughn 7500 made by Eddy masks for Vaughn) for any level of roller hockey and up to mid-level ice hockey. I've taken a few serious shots to the mellon recently with no after effects whatsoever.

-Ryan