Goalie "Cat Eyes" cages

[hckygoalie31]

Hello all. If you're a goalie, you know how hard it is to see out of the HECC approved regular cages. I'm in need of a new "Cat Eyes" cage for my helmet, but it seems that no one carries them anymore due to the fact that HECC will not approve them. The welds can actually break (which happened to my last one). Does ANYONE know where I can get a "Cat Eyes" cage for a Brian's Type 3 helmet? It seems the only manufacturers that do make them now is ITECH and Eddy but I need one for a Brian's helmet. Thanks!

[slapshot09]

I know hockeymonkey.com and I think hockeygiant both carry cateye cages, Im not sure if they fit a brian helment but the cages are sold seprate.

[MBurke]

My best piece of advice is to go to www.goaliestore.com's bulletin board and ask the same question - the guys on there know everything and I'm sure you'll be able to either find a Brian's cateye or something that is the same size and will fit your mask.

Mike Burke
Commissioner
Eastern Collegiate Roller Hockey Association
http://www.ecrha.net

[yokes]

I have the same helmet and found dead ends everywhere. After two years sucked it up and went with new eddy and love it. All my helmets are done by Doug at Wzlhed.com, he might be able to find you something you like.

[columbus_RHstar]

My dad's a goalie and prefers the cats eye since that's what he grew up with. He mentioned needing another one the other day, try www.hockeygeeks.com thats where he got his last one.

[hckygoalie31]

yeah, Yokes...kinda hard to get them. I DID find one (finally) and it is a Brian's Cat Eye from Brian's themselves...but it's the last one Brian's had. They will not make cages anymore. I'm guessing it's because they could be possibly sued if a shot goes through the cage.
My last cage I took a good hard shot from point blank and it busted 5 of the welds on my cage. So I can see their point.

A time has come to make a decision to get a new helmet...after this cage breaks.

[RichardGraham]

Hi hckygoalie31,

Can you imagine playing in the NHL in the old days, WITHOUT a mask? Those guys were both courageous and plain nuts at the same time!

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

[mudbug615]

Try Sportmask.com he might be able to make a cage for you

I use his Pro Glass VE with a Cheater cage and Maltese Ver.1 Gel

[hckygoalie31]

Richard...I think the only good thing about not wearing a helmet in those days is that you don't get the ringing in your ears for a couple hours after a slapshot. You just get knocked out cold.

You're right...they were nuts.

[hckygoalie31]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I've checked everywhere and I FINALLY found a Brian's Cat Eyes cage that fits. It had to be ordered through Brian's. They had only one left and no other cages will fit this type of helmet anymore.

Which in short means that when this cage gets bent and the welds break (like the last one)...then it will time to get a new mask and sell the old one.

Again, thanks for all the help!

[missionhockey21]

I dont think many kids back then actually wanted to be a goalie after they saw an extemley hard shot hit a goaltender with no mask.

[hckygoalie31]

When I was 6 years old...I was kinda FORCED into being a goalie.

I was scared out of my mind going into net. You're right...kids were scared out of their minds watching goalies without masks getting their chicklets knocked out with a puck. I know I was when I played my first season. It was all I could think about!

The original goalie's mom wouldn't let him play because it was "too rough". So, me being the smallest, slowest and just wanting to be on a team...the coach put these leg pads on me. They literally came up past my waist almost to my chest.

And, since I basically spent most of the time on my back on the ice anyways...he figured I'd probably end up being a semi-decent goalie.

I posted 20 straight shutouts. All I did was lay there!

What comes around goes around. 23 years later...and I can't even buy a shutout.

[missionhockey21]

When we made my little brother play goalie when he started to learn to play hockey, he used my brothers old pads that went up past his waist too. A six year old in 28' pads, it was hilarious looking.

[hckygoalie31]

Heehee...another funny thing about being so small and playing goal when your 6 years old. When you turn your head too fast, you end up looking out of the earholes in your mask!

The pads I used...not too sure how big they were, but I do know that when I went down and tried to get back up, the pads would hook on to the bottom of my chest protector. It was like I was the hunchback of notre dame.

I'm just happy I'm big enough now that my equipment actually fits. I got the Cat Eyes Cage...won't take long for the welds to break. So I may end up putting up another post just to find out what the best helmet in the market is.

Thanks guys!

[missionhockey21]

That would be one unforunate nickname for a little kid to get stuck with, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame."