Beer Leagues, Gear, and other Non-Pro Related Items

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
I used intermediates for a while because I’m 5’7” 160 and cutting down a senior 85 was giving me too stiff of a stick. The shot was nice, but they break too easily and the Verberos have a 70 (or maybe it’s 75, I forget) flex option that is good enough.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
I just bought a pair of Nikita Zaitzev's slightly used skates off Sideline Swap for $350. I found them because I wanted a weird size (6.5 E), and they popped up on my feed. Boot is Tacks AS1- best fit I've ever had, and the strange thing is he has over sized holders (size 8) on the boot. It was strange getting used to it at first, felt like I was wearing speed skates...been pretty positive for my C cuts though, but I'm still getting used to it.
 

LogansDad

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
29,053
Alamogordo
Scored my first goal last night in a 5-4 back and forth win. My line scored with 8 seconds left in the game to win it, too. So that was pretty awesome. Unfortunately, I only have 4 games and playoffs left with this team, as we are moving out of state in October, but we are moving somewhere else with a men's league, though I doubt it will be a rink quite as nice as the one I play at now.
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
14,462
Gallows Hill
Do any of you guys use Bauer Supreme or Nexus skates? I’ve got Vapors now and they kill my feet, especially the arches. I was told that Supreme is a better skate for flat foots like me. Anyone else have horribly flat feet, what skate works for you? I have Mission roller hockey skates that are very comfortable.
 

TSC

SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
SoSH Member
Oct 25, 2007
12,280
Between here and everywhere.
Do any of you guys use Bauer Supreme or Nexus skates? I’ve got Vapors now and they kill my feet, especially the arches. I was told that Supreme is a better skate for flat foots like me. Anyone else have horribly flat feet, what skate works for you? I have Mission roller hockey skates that are very comfortable.
I have a pair of the 1S’s and MX3’s from Bauer and they fit my flat feet way better than the CCM Jetspeeds I was using, for what it’s worth.
 

RIFan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
3,087
Rhode Island
Vapors are a narrow fit compared to Supremes and Nexus. If your flat footed you probably have wider than average feet and either of those might help. I have the opposite problem of high arches that don't collapse well. I went from a standard Easton width to CCM Supertack and even though I dropped down 1/2 a size the CCM's were wider and made a huge difference in comfort. I didn't know what it was like to skate without my feet killing me. You might also want to look at changing out your footbeds.
 

LogansDad

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
29,053
Alamogordo
I'm annoyed. We had our first playoff game Thursday night, went in as the 5 seed. I'm moving next month so it's the last chance I will get to play with this team. The team we were playing against was the 4 seed, but spent the first half of the season getting destroyed, before they got to add this one dude who was clearly above our league level.... to the tune of leading the league in points by 10 after not playing the first 11 games of the season.

So, he dropped a hat trick and an assist on us, while basically controlling play the entire game en route to beating us 6-3. On top of that, he spent the entire game whining about penalties and getting in the ref's faces (he's the first dude in the league I have shouted at after he scored, fell on his face and slid into me, knocking me over on top of him, then getting up and trying to get me called for a penalty), and, after his first goal, when we were up 1-0, skated past me slapping his stick on the ground like a giant douche, and I think my biggest regret of the season is not dropping a shoulder into him then and there.

To top it off, the 2 and 3 seeds both lost, and we beat the 1 seed all 3 times we played them this year, so the league was basically wide open for us.

Sorry for the rant, but I'm still pretty steamed about it.
 

TFP

Moderator
Moderator
SoSH Member
Dec 10, 2007
20,380
Won our summer league semifinal game in OT last night. Playing in the championship for our 3rd straight Westborough A League title on Thursday. Playing the team we despise who also despises us. It’s going to be an absolute battle.

3 straight would officially make us a dynasty.
 

TFP

Moderator
Moderator
SoSH Member
Dec 10, 2007
20,380
If anyone has a LiveBarn account the rink streams it on there - it's been quite humbling to watch myself on video, but it makes for good highlight video content.

And if anyone watches - I won't tell you what number I am until after the game.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
If anyone has a LiveBarn account the rink streams it on there - it's been quite humbling to watch myself on video, but it makes for good highlight video content.

And if anyone watches - I won't tell you what number I am until after the game.
He’s the short fat kid on D.

I do have live barn...not the same though. I want to feel the animosity in person.

Edit: for the record I’m also a short, fat kid on D, but I’m only about 70% of the player TFP is, so joke’s on me.
 
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TFP

Moderator
Moderator
SoSH Member
Dec 10, 2007
20,380
There are 5 people on my team shorter than me. And my jersey is pretty slimming.
 

TFP

Moderator
Moderator
SoSH Member
Dec 10, 2007
20,380
Dominant 5-1 win tonight and their goal didn’t even go in. A dynasty is born.
 

TSC

SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
SoSH Member
Oct 25, 2007
12,280
Between here and everywhere.
Dominant 5-1 win tonight and their goal didn’t even go in. A dynasty is born.
Nice man!

My B League team won 5-4 last night on a goal with 2.5 seconds left in the game. We had 5 forwards and 3 D, compared to the other team which had three full lines. The win advanced us to the Championship game next week.
 

wiffleballhero

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 28, 2009
4,529
In the simulacrum
I am considering picking up a stick with a 65 flex rating. For a really long time I've played with 75, and for years before that I played with 85, but those, in retrospect, felt way, way too stiff.

75 seems about right, but I wonder: I'm 5'9" and play with a stick -- now -- a bit shorter than would most people my height, cutting it so it lands at my shoulders when on skates. I think I want something more whippy? Is this worth taking a flier on or is 65 too flexy? FWIW, I play in a no slap shot league. How is this likely to go for me?
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
14,462
Gallows Hill
I am considering picking up a stick with a 65 flex rating. For a really long time I've played with 75, and for years before that I played with 85, but those, in retrospect, felt way, way too stiff.

75 seems about right, but I wonder: I'm 5'9" and play with a stick -- now -- a bit shorter than would most people my height, cutting it so it lands at my shoulders when on skates. I think I want something more whippy? Is this worth taking a flier on or is 65 too flexy? FWIW, I play in a no slap shot league. How is this likely to go for me?
I’m 5’ 10” and play with a 75 and I don’t cut it. If you’re cutting a 65 flex so it lands on your shoulder that should be fine.
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
14,462
Gallows Hill
Fine as in more whippy snap and wrist shots, or fine as in I'll not notice the difference except that it breaks faster?
There is always a higher risk of breaking sticks with a lower flex but you’re already using a 75, so 65 won’t make much of a difference there. It will feel slightly whippier. Keep in mind you gain 2-3 flex points for every inch you cut off, so if you’re cutting 6 inches off a 75 flex, it’s really a 90 when you’re using it. A 65 flex is an 80 with the same cut. Unless you’re hammering a lot of slap shots now, an 80 flex isn’t really a risk to break more than what you’re using now, and will feel looser. Now if you buy an intermediate stick that’s manufactured at a 65 flex at a shorter length, those you may have to worry about breaking a lot of those, since they’re literally designed for high school aged hockey players.
 

wiffleballhero

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 28, 2009
4,529
In the simulacrum
I'm switching to an 8' front and 10' back radius with forward pitch. We'll see how it goes. The rink I am skating at has ice like lumpy concrete right now because (I think) they are keeping it super cold to stay ahead of the humidity. Last time out I could barely get an edge to push off, and I have been thinking about giving it a go with a more severe forward pitch anyway. It is also a small rink so I have high hopes for how this is going to work out in the corners.
 

wiffleballhero

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 28, 2009
4,529
In the simulacrum
Way better. I liked it a ton, I might even go 7/10. But it is probably just about the change into a pronounced forward pitch. Way more acceleration. Worth it all the way.
 

PedroSpecialK

Comes at you like a tornado of hair and the NHL sa
SoSH Member
Dec 12, 2004
27,164
Cambridge, MA
Out of all of FMC, DCR, the new Wellesley rinks, Warrior Ice Arena, Bridgewater Ice Arena, and Canton Ice House, the only public stick time I'm finding on weekends is 6:30-8 AM in Bridgewater... everything else is weekdays, generally mid-day.

I get that the season's picking up again, but that seems kind of nuts

About 200 hours of public skate on weekends though :fonz:
 
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PedroSpecialK

Comes at you like a tornado of hair and the NHL sa
SoSH Member
Dec 12, 2004
27,164
Cambridge, MA
Wish I had the time / schedule consistency to commit to a league, or the ability to split from work mid-day to get ice but it ain't in the cards
 

kenneycb

Hates Goose Island Beer; Loves Backdoor Play
SoSH Member
Dec 2, 2006
16,090
Tuukka's refugee camp
Had one of those classic NESHL games last night.
  • The team only had 7 guys and started chirping us from the faceoff for doing things like "take slap shots", "try", and "have more than 7 guys"
  • I got a matching with one of their guys (the captain - they also had 3 alternate captains, which seemed excessive) and once we got over the basic jawing of "F you" I was called in no particular order: a homo, like to suck cock, f****t, not from MA, pussy, Harvard boy, ACHA "All Star" (false) that never won anything at Harvard (true) and wasn't shit compared to his run at SNHU, and probably a few others
  • Said player then proceeded to get in a fight with our player five minutes later. This consisted of our player lifting his stick in front of the net and him dropping his gloves and throwing haymakers at our player's helmet/cage
  • Things calmed down a bit (still some jawing and them calling us "pussies for wearing cages" which is the ultimate "I'm not creative and want to feel good about myself" cop out...but whatever, I don't mind jawing) until at the end of the game when we scored with a second left when everyone was just ambling around the zone (douchily...but fuck this team) leading to a player on our team getting baseball-swing chopped in the ribs
I eagerly anticipate none of this being addressed by Paul.

Also we're in North of Boston for Thursday games and have a 10 PM game in Canton next Tuesday. Garage league.
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
14,462
Gallows Hill
Had one of those classic NESHL games last night.
  • The team only had 7 guys and started chirping us from the faceoff for doing things like "take slap shots", "try", and "have more than 7 guys"
  • I got a matching with one of their guys (the captain - they also had 3 alternate captains, which seemed excessive) and once we got over the basic jawing of "F you" I was called in no particular order: a homo, like to suck cock, f****t, not from MA, pussy, Harvard boy, ACHA "All Star" (false) that never won anything at Harvard (true) and wasn't shit compared to his run at SNHU, and probably a few others
  • Said player then proceeded to get in a fight with our player five minutes later. This consisted of our player lifting his stick in front of the net and him dropping his gloves and throwing haymakers at our player's helmet/cage
  • Things calmed down a bit (still some jawing and them calling us "pussies for wearing cages" which is the ultimate "I'm not creative and want to feel good about myself" cop out...but whatever, I don't mind jawing) until at the end of the game when we scored with a second left when everyone was just ambling around the zone (douchily...but fuck this team) leading to a player on our team getting baseball-swing chopped in the ribs
I eagerly anticipate none of this being addressed by Paul.

Also we're in North of Boston for Thursday games and have a 10 PM game in Canton next Tuesday. Garage league.
Was that the B/C league at the Everett rink? Tends to be a gong show over there most weeks from what I hear. I might know the guys you’re talking about. Never played in it because B/ High C is over my head but I’ve heard there’s a lot of shit heads in that league.
 

kenneycb

Hates Goose Island Beer; Loves Backdoor Play
SoSH Member
Dec 2, 2006
16,090
Tuukka's refugee camp
We do play at Everett occasionally but this was at Malden in the B League. Seemed to be a bunch of people in their mid to late 20s. Solid players but, holy hell, shut the fuck up and play. Don't think I've had a game this bad in my 10+ years there. Boy do I do hate this league.

And yeah, I probably chat a little too much out there myself because I find it fun but, shit, I'm not trying to actually fight or baseball swing people out there. Just want a workout, get out my competitive bug, and get to work the next day without any visible injuries or scars.
 

kenneycb

Hates Goose Island Beer; Loves Backdoor Play
SoSH Member
Dec 2, 2006
16,090
Tuukka's refugee camp
You've got to give it up for this line. That is hilarious. Until now I did not think SNHU even bothered with a campus anymore, let alone a hockey team. Maybe he played on their EA SPORTS! NCAA Hockey team.
That may have been my favorite part too, though my ego was certainly stroked with the Harvard comment. I don't care where you went to school or what you do because if you make fun of someone for that you're usually a shitty person. But he was bragging about winning regionals at SNHU and stuff from years ago. So good on him. It's led you to 10 PM at a shitty rink in Malden. Like pretty much all hockey does, regardless of the highest level you played.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Was that the B/C league at the Everett rink? Tends to be a gong show over there most weeks from what I hear. I might know the guys you’re talking about. Never played in it because B/ High C is over my head but I’ve heard there’s a lot of shit heads in that league.
I've gotten into two fights in my (prior) NESHL career- both at that rink. Also the only time I ever got ejected for 3 penalties (3rd was a gimmie, I plastered some kid in open ice, but he had it coming) was there. Bad Juju in that rink.

You've got to give it up for this line. That is hilarious. Until now I did not think SNHU even bothered with a campus anymore, let alone a hockey team. Maybe he played on their EA SPORTS! NCAA Hockey team.
I've skated with some dudes from SNHU who could really play. One was a guy who must have been 5'2", 240 with equipment that was falling apart...but he could really play. Still Kenney's point is true- dickbag still ended up in Malden at 10:00pm.

I really don't miss the NESHL.
Nooooooo.

edit: I actually came here to humblebrag...been doing a pickup skate with a bunch of ex college guys, including a few D1 guys. Mostly late 30s and up, but it's a thrill for a bender like me to get to play with guys who really know how to play. One of the guys that's been showing up just finished a season in Europe and has 300+ games in the American League, so he's fun to skate with (or against). Coming out of the Dzone, I made a pretty nice area pass for some fast kid to run onto- it was a pretty sweet pass, through a few sticks and into the right spot for a slow developing rush. right as I let it go, I heard the AHL dude from the bench whistle out with a "nice pass bud," and that's probably the highlight of my 35 year ice hockey career.
Of course the kid who I passed to goes down and roofs it with the between the legs shot, so there was no other acknowledgement of my brief shining (one time) moment of glory.
 
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Lupe Whalewatch

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
3,164
Worlds End
Had one of those classic NESHL games last night.
  • I got a matching with one of their guys (the captain - they also had 3 alternate captains, which seemed excessive) and once we got over the basic jawing of "F you" I was called in no particular order: a homo, like to suck cock, f****t, not from MA, pussy, Harvard boy, ACHA "All Star" (false) that never won anything at Harvard (true) and wasn't shit compared to his run at SNHU, and probably a few others
Did you play at Harvard? Ever do their Sunday am skate at Bright center? I was a regular in that one for many years, and still play in it when I can depending on my youth hockey schedule. Its an awesome skate.
 

kenneycb

Hates Goose Island Beer; Loves Backdoor Play
SoSH Member
Dec 2, 2006
16,090
Tuukka's refugee camp
I did not. I went to BC. Where we did go to Nationals twice. But I'm not going to be bragging about that. Hence, I found me and my other Harvard teammates never won shit to be quite comical.

If the skate is all ex-Harvard / friends of Harvard hockey players, that sounds amazing. Always fun to play with higher level players (assuming you aren't dragging the skate down) and you're significantly less likely to get into any shit. At least in my experience.
 

Lupe Whalewatch

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Lifetime Member
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Aug 1, 2006
3,164
Worlds End
I did not. I went to BC. Where we did go to Nationals twice. But I'm not going to be bragging about that. Hence, I found me and my other Harvard teammates never won shit to be quite comical.

If the skate is all ex-Harvard / friends of Harvard hockey players, that sounds amazing. Always fun to play with higher level players (assuming you aren't dragging the skate down) and you're significantly less likely to get into any shit. At least in my experience.
Got it. And yeah, its a great skate. I've been doing it for almost 20 years, and to your point there has never been any shit out there at all. Its more or less invite only, so while people play hard, its basically all friends, or friends of friends. It has gotten younger, and much faster, while I have gone in the opposite direction, so my days there are certainly numbered being on the wrong side of 40. There have been a few BC guys of my generation, so guessing we may have some friends in common.
 

PedroSpecialK

Comes at you like a tornado of hair and the NHL sa
SoSH Member
Dec 12, 2004
27,164
Cambridge, MA
Have you looked into StinkySocks? The whole concept is centered around no-commitment hockey.
Def need to check into this and show at a couple when I have some time this winter. Are folks generally in the C-D league range? I was able to not make a fool of myself at one of the Friday Babson pickup games so I should be OK in that environment
 

tonyandpals

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Mar 18, 2004
7,856
Burlington
Def need to check into this and show at a couple when I have some time this winter. Are folks generally in the C-D league range? I was able to not make a fool of myself at one of the Friday Babson pickup games so I should be OK in that environment
They are pretty good about their leveling for the general skates. If you pick a C/D skate it will be a good mix, but typically guys playing at the right level. Their tournaments tend to be a a little off. I feel their C/D tourney plays at high C. But it's really a good way to get some consistent ice while being able to choose your level. Go here and you can filer by level on the right hand side: http://secure.stinkysocks.net/NCH
 

tonyandpals

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Mar 18, 2004
7,856
Burlington
May take the plunge on a Superdeker this Christmas as I have two kids (9+5) playing now. Anyone go down that road yet?
 

Foxy42

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 1, 2002
3,654
nyc
May take the plunge on a Superdeker this Christmas as I have two kids (9+5) playing now. Anyone go down that road yet?
I got one for my son (8, just started mites) and he loves it. It’s been great for his stick handling. Definitely worth the spend. Try purehockey on Black Friday. Heads up that they were sold out everywhere last December. I assume they have plenty of inventory now, but I wouldn’t wait.
 

Foxy42

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 1, 2002
3,654
nyc
My 8 yo is having trouble learning to elevate his wrist shot, even off a mat (no skates). Any suggestions out there?
 

tonyandpals

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Mar 18, 2004
7,856
Burlington
My 8 yo is having trouble learning to elevate his wrist shot, even off a mat (no skates). Any suggestions out there?
We worked on it all summer, but I felt like we really couldn't replicate the on ice conditions. It just starting coming in the last few weeks to my 2010 (first year squirt, only his 2nd year playing). Basically told him any down time while he is waiting for his shift in practice or in line on a drill he needs to have a puck on his stick and handling it. It's crazy how night and day it's been in the last two weeks or so. Coaches pulled a few of the kids with weaker shots aside and worked on positioning. Puck even with the back foot. Start it on the heal and and follow through low while rolling off the toe. I think just the repetition along the boards giving them those few pointers was the key. Backfoot/heal/follow low/toe.
 

tonyandpals

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Mar 18, 2004
7,856
Burlington
I got one for my son (8, just started mites) and he loves it. It’s been great for his stick handling. Definitely worth the spend. Try purehockey on Black Friday. Heads up that they were sold out everywhere last December. I assume they have plenty of inventory now, but I wouldn’t wait.
Thanks. Was going to pull the trigger on BF if there was a deal. Hopefully we don't run into the inventory issues of the past years.
 

wiffleballhero

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 28, 2009
4,529
In the simulacrum
Beer League hero last night!

Scored on the face off drop -- one timed the drop. Five hole. I'm not sure the puck even hit the ice out of the refs hand. Goalie was just not set for the shot and the other center didn't have the line to the goal blocked at all. I try that move whenever I get a chance, but the goalies always at least block it when it is on net, so that was a thrill. When I got back to the bench my team was like, "great, now you're going to keep doing that shitty move for the next five years."

Also, as a short guy, the 65 flex has been good!
 

Monbo Jumbo

Hates the crockpot
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 5, 2003
25,231
the other Athens
Couple of things here:

1) Monbo- don't ever stop giving updates about your brothers. They are my idols.
Update.

I checked in with my brother Robert last week. He's the younger of two (now 78.) Seems he needed two elective surgeries. One on his hand that he said was relatively minor and the other a sports hernia. So being the crazy man that he is, he schedules them on back-to-back days and doesn't tell either doctor about the other procedure. He did this to minimize his time off the ice. "Like a prison sentence, I'm serving the terms concurrently" he said. "I'll be back on the ice a week from Wednesday." At that point the conversation went where it always goes, to him complaining that his mother-in-law isn't dead yet. She's 102.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
We worked on it all summer, but I felt like we really couldn't replicate the on ice conditions. It just starting coming in the last few weeks to my 2010 (first year squirt, only his 2nd year playing). Basically told him any down time while he is waiting for his shift in practice or in line on a drill he needs to have a puck on his stick and handling it. It's crazy how night and day it's been in the last two weeks or so. Coaches pulled a few of the kids with weaker shots aside and worked on positioning. Puck even with the back foot. Start it on the heal and and follow through low while rolling off the toe. I think just the repetition along the boards giving them those few pointers was the key. Backfoot/heal/follow low/toe.
I teach the weight shift from back to front as well, and tell them to really “throw” the puck forwards.

Beer League hero last night!

Scored on the face off drop -- one timed the drop. Five hole. I'm not sure the puck even hit the ice out of the refs hand. Goalie was just not set for the shot and the other center didn't have the line to the goal blocked at all. I try that move whenever I get a chance, but the goalies always at least block it when it is on net, so that was a thrill. When I got back to the bench my team was like, "great, now you're going to keep doing that shitty move for the next five years."

Also, as a short guy, the 65 flex has been good!
I did this once and somehow the two teams were sharing a shower. Ended up in at the same time as the goalie, who was less than impressed. Pretty sure he gave me the full spread cornhole shot on purpose.


Update.

I checked in with my brother Robert last week. He's the younger of two (now 78.) Seems he needed two elective surgeries. One on his hand that he said was relatively minor and the other a sports hernia. So being the crazy man that he is, he schedules them on back-to-back days and doesn't tell either doctor about the other procedure. He did this to minimize his time off the ice. "Like a prison sentence, I'm serving the terms concurrently" he said. "I'll be back on the ice a week from Wednesday." At that point the conversation went where it always goes, to him complaining that his mother-in-law isn't dead yet. She's 102.
That’s a hockey player. Wish him luck in his surgeries.