Goalie Equipment

[Chitown_Brawler]

Looking for any info (good or bad) on goalie equipment. What's the best out on the market right now? What brands to stay away from? My brother is looking to get back into the sport (competitive adult leagues) and I told him I would help find some answers. Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks!

Jeff

[wordman8]

Hey Jeff,

I am a roller hockey goalie.

Last year (2004) 3 companies came out with a roller hockey specific goalie leg pad. They are extremely lightweight and much better suited for roller hockey than any ice hockey leg pads.

I own the CCM 10SR 34" and I paid Under $200 New.

Heaton Helite - $149 at Goaliemonkey.com

Mission also makes a roller hockey specific pad for under $200.

These type of leg pads will be half the weight of the ice hockey pads, and they are half the price. WIN WIN !!!

I prefer Brian's brand equipment for sticks, catcher, blocker, pants, etc. It can be very expensive, but it has very high resale value.

Don't go cheap on your helmet.

Skates, I use a HI-LO skate and I put all 47mm Hyper Goalie Wheels on them. It creates a natural "Rocker" setup and makes pivoting and goalie specific moves extremely easy. Try it.

Feel free to e-mail me direct about any goalie stuff.

[email protected]

[Chitown_Brawler]

Thanks for the input wordman, i will look into those brands you spoke about. If i have anymore questions, i'll email you directly. Thanks again!

[DannyG]

Uh, just to say "thanks!" and let you know, that there are dozens of us who would appreciate the information that you might exchange, so feel free to post the conversation, rather than just emailing somebody. As a league director, coach, player (forward, defender, and part-time goalie) I learn from every exchange on this message board. All information is generally helpful to a whole bunch of people...

As you learn, we all learn. If you would be so kind, keep sharing...

<font color=purple>DannyG</font color=purple>

[Chitown_Brawler]

Yea, you make a good point dude.

[wordman8]

Goalie Helmets can get very expensive.

A fantastic way to get a very solid helmet for less money is to buy a Cooper 2000 player's helmet and put a cooper HM30 Cateye Cage on it.

You can actually use any player helmet for roller, the cooper brand is just known for its ability to adjust to the exact size of your head. It has bolts so you can actually change the size of the helmet by sliding the front half and back half of the helmet further apart or closer together. (SWEET)

The cateye cage can be bought from several different places. You can even use a standard cage. Call the guys at Goalieheaven.com if you can't find something. They have everything.

The difference in price is pretty big, also it is not as bulky as a goalie mask and still provides plenty of protection for roller.

If you do want a traditional goalie mask... Goaliemonkey.com always has clearance masks.
Right now they have the mask I use -- an Itech 2000 special edition for $139. They have 10 different paint jobs to choose from. You could use this helmet to play ice hockey and it is very very solid.

Also Toronto Hockey Repair is an incredible source for information on Goalie stuff. Their website is Goalieheaven.com.

Cateye cage refers to the wire part of the mask that you look through. A standard cage is just straight wires and you are looking through squares. A cateye cage is a design that has bigger opening right in front of your eyes so you can see a little better. Most pro NHL goalies if not all have cateye cages.

I noticed some difference when I switched but nothing huge.

[wordman8]

I just remembered CCM also makes a new "Roller Hockey" Specific Catching Glove and Blocker.

They are from the same line as the 10SR leg pads. These again are extremely lightweight and extremely inexpensive.

They are much, much better for roller than any expensive ice hockey glove and blocker.

The model of the catcher is the CCM RGM 10 and costs $60 at icewarehouse.com -- it's about that price everywhere.

Again they are much lighter weight...(FASTER) than any ice hockey gear.

[FAfromCT]

I'm a goalie also and I have used a few diferent name brands of leg pads. I have used Bauer, Koho, Simmons, Boddam, Vaughn and Heaton. I can say that just about every kind of pad will work, just rub some wax (yes, standard candle wax) on the areas where the pad will hit the rink to slide easier. The new roller pads that these companies are making are not as thick and sturdy as the normal ice style goalie pads, but they have been made with some slick plastic side panels that slide easier over the roller rink surface. I am now using the Simmons Ultralights and I put wax on them every couple of weeks (not a big amount, just enough to feel with you hand a difference in the smoothness) and these pads are great. I actually find these pads to be the best pads I have ever owned and used. They are the same style and type as the Vaughn Velocities as they are a complete prototype of those pads, just with a few modifications.

Pads all depend on your style of play and your comfort preference. If you find that a standard pair of roller pads from CCM, Mission or any other company making them, then I would say use them. However, if you feel more comfortable in the real Ice pads, then get those. It is the individuals preference.

[wordman8]

Thanks for the tip about wax...

Could you describe exactly what you do to put the wax on the pads...

Do you heat it up, or just rub it on or what?

Robert

[SpiderRat]

DO NOT USE WAX!!!!!! If your an inline tender, the wax will cause your wheels to slip. You might as well pour water in the crease. What was he thinking! DO NOT USE WAX!!!!

Blah Blah Blah, Shoot the puck already

[SpiderRat]

ROBERT, STAY AWAY FROM THE WAX!!!!! Think about it, your wheels were designed to grip the floor, I prefer the RinkRat goalie wheel by the way, wax will not allow you to grip. That crease will be ruined for every tender after you. Take my advice.

Blah Blah Blah, Shoot the puck already

[wordman8]

Wax? I guess it would get a little messy -- and more important too slippery...

I use Hyper goalie wheels that are 76A Durometer, so they are pretty grippy.

Most people think you should get 84A or 88A or really hard wheels so you can slide your leg out for leg saves. I disagree, you need the grip to move into position first. That is much more important... being in position first.

[FAfromCT]

I have never had a problem with my skates sliding out on me when I used wax on my pads.........and I did play for the Thunder in the MLRH in their first yrs existence. If you only put a little amount on the side, just enough to barely see it at all, then that is enough. I use 76A wheels myself, I have played ice my whole life, and I find myself needing that extra slide from time to time from being use to sliding from the ice. I have never heard any complaints from other goalies either who have played after me of the rink being to slick from my pads having wax. Like I said, just a light amount........barely enough to see on the sides and knee roles on the front.

[Ferecito]

I am a goalie in ice hockey. I must say Koho/RBK rules. If you want a nice pad that's easy on the knees go get those. Or Mission Motion 2005's. although custom orders take awhile.

[goalieman293782]

I would say go with the mission motions or motion lites. I personally do not like to wear ice hockey pads on the roller surface because i think it cuts down on your lateral movement. With the motions and motion lites you can move laterally in the crease very well.. and even get some butterfly slides.