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

wiffleballhero

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Mar 28, 2009
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Sparx ice skate sharpener. Not having to drive 25 mins round trip and have an unpredictable wait for a sharpening is great.
Talk to me about this one.

I've considered buying one of these and paying it down by doing skates for guys on my team, or maybe talking my team into buying one together. How idiotproof is the sharpening?
 
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Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Talk to me about this one.

I've considered buying one of these and paying it down by doing skates for guys on my team, or maybe talking my team into buying one together. How idiotproof is the sharpening?
Everyone I know that has one loves it and claims it is idiot proof (and if you knew these guys you'd agree)

Maybe 4-5 years ago (could have been longer- time has no meaning here in the endless loop of March of 2020) I was at the Chowder Cup having beers upstairs when the guys who designed it (or a similar one) came around trying to get people to try it and invest. A friend of mine who played at MIT got involved and was lent one about 6 months later for her tournament. I lost an edge early in a game and she took my skate and threw it in there...20+ minutes later my skate was ready. I have been against it ever since, but that's just me. Everyone raves about them.

I bought a Wissota 911 slightly used about a year ago and it's awesome. I like having the manual control over it, though there is room for human error (as I've learned). With two kids and myself playing (and I'm kind of OCD about my blades), it's a great investment.
 
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OilCanCoulter

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Aug 8, 2005
785
The Chocolate City!
Talk to me about this one.

I've considered buying one of these and paying it down by doing skates for guys on my team, or maybe talking my team into buying one together. How idiotproof is the sharpening?
One of the parents on the 16U team I coach has one and he brings it to every game (runs it on the tailgate of his truck). Seems like it is pretty easy to use and once you are comfortable with it you can start tweaking around with different cuts. I was going to buy one last fall, but he showed up and started sharpening all the kids skates, so I didn't need to. Will definitely grab one after our season is done.
 

wiffleballhero

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How long do the grinding discs last?

Fake edit:
I'm pretty seriously considering this now. Until I became a "gravel in the shoulder" kind of guy, I was really into stringing my own tennis racquets and this is exactly the kind of move I could nerd-out on. The tennis stringer paid for itself a bit quicker though.
 
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wiffleballhero

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OK, so no Sparx for me yet.

My regular skate sharpening dude moved to Wisconsin (better beer league hockey I guess?). So I ended up finding a new guy that my teammates are pretty high on for sharpening. And he talked me into the Flat Bottom V this afternoon.

Should be interesting to see how it goes. Living in a post vaccine world, I've started skating again and I have a game tomorrow night.

I got a 100/50 flat bottom V the other day from the guy who sharpens the Caps skates. The difference was noticeable. I was able to get into and out of sharp turns quickly, and I had an extra 2+ mph on my top end speed (according to the hockeytracker app). It's only been one game, but it's probably something I'll stick with.
If I could get this result I would be delighted. I wonder, have you stuck with this? Do other people have this too?
 

tonyandpals

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Mar 18, 2004
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Picked up a Sparx in Octoberish. With 3 kids skating and me on the ice 4+ hours a week or so, plus the backyard rink time for all of us, it was well worth it. The BYR eats them up. Pop them in the sparks, done in 3-5min. Most important factor for me was the time it was saving and everyone being on a different set of hours for their skates. Pick up a few team sharpening here and there. Charge baked goods or $5, their choice.
 

wiffleballhero

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Just a note - with the FBV, you can’t use those quick re-edgers. So once you blow an edge you need a whole new sharpening.

Enjoy!
I am worried that there has to be a catch.

Why isn't everyone already using this cut? Am I going to end up having to get my skates sharpened dramatically more? I skated off the ice thinking it is crazy that I've been using a regular hollow my whole life. It was that dramatic a difference (it was really exactly like the advertising copy: way better, easier glide while also having a completely responsive cut).
 

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SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
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Oct 25, 2007
12,280
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I am worried that there has to be a catch.

Why isn't everyone already using this cut? Am I going to end up having to get my skates sharpened dramatically more? I skated off the ice thinking it is crazy that I've been using a regular hollow my whole life. It was that dramatic a difference (it was really exactly like the advertising copy: way better, easier glide while also having a completely responsive cut).
As for everyone not using it - I think it's only really been gaining popularity the last couple of years.

I haven't noticed needing to sharpen my steel more frequently, but I also use Step Steel on my skates - so they hold their cut a bit longer.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
As for everyone not using it - I think it's only really been gaining popularity the last couple of years.

I haven't noticed needing to sharpen my steel more frequently, but I also use Step Steel on my skates - so they hold their cut a bit longer.
This is a good call anyways but especially with the FBV. The biggest complaints I've heard about going FBV is that it can require more frequent sharpening becaise the edges can be brittle- when they go a little, they're gone. But the performance is worth it, especially if you have access to someone who can cut them.
 

wiffleballhero

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So the flat bottom V does not hold up as well, that is for sure. I've been wearing my old skates when not in games so the flat bottom v sharpening is three games and maybe, what, 40 shifts and the warm-ups in for usage and it really needs a new sharpening. I am wondering if I can hit those edges with a stone -- but not a 're-edger' -- to maybe get a little more out of them? It sort of stands to reason?

IDK, I don't usually get my skates sharpened every three skates, but I feel like the pusher sort of got me hooked on the product and now I can't face coming down off the high.

Edit: I may need to buy new steel. When I got my "new" skates sharpened for the first time last year my 'old' sharpener guy said, 'oh yeah, these are great skates, as good as the next few price points, but the steel on them sucks. You'll want to buy new steel at some point.' He might be right.
 

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SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
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Oct 25, 2007
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So the flat bottom V does not hold up as well, that is for sure. I've been wearing my old skates when not in games so the flat bottom v sharpening is three games and maybe, what, 40 shifts and the warm-ups in for usage and it really needs a new sharpening. I am wondering if I can hit those edges with a stone -- but not a 're-edger' -- to maybe get a little more out of them? It sort of stands to reason?

IDK, I don't usually get my skates sharpened every three skates, but I feel like the pusher sort of got me hooked on the product and now I can't face coming down off the high.

Edit: I may need to buy new steel. When I got my "new" skates sharpened for the first time last year my 'old' sharpener guy said, 'oh yeah, these are great skates, as good as the next few price points, but the steel on them sucks. You'll want to buy new steel at some point.' He might be right.
You may need new steel. I'm on month 3 or 4 of skating twice a week on the same shapening.

You can get step steel pretty cheap on Sideline Swap.
 

wiffleballhero

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You may need new steel. I'm on month 3 or 4 of skating twice a week on the same shapening.

You can get step steel pretty cheap on Sideline Swap.
I'm wearing Bauers so it seems that Step Steel is not an option anymore, unless I track down some used steel. I am looking at their "BladeTech" steel, but it all reads like ad copy mumbo jumbo to me.

edit: it does seem there are some options, but I am trying to figure all of this out (black steel, carbon, Canadian?). It is all Greek to me.
 
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Fred not Lynn

Dick Button Jr.
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Jul 13, 2005
5,253
Alberta
The actual makeup of blade material is way over-rated. Friction between ice and blade makes up a tiny component of actual resistance when you skate compared to air.

Wearing a tighter jersey and pants, and staying away from those big bulky old-school socks will help more than paying boatload for overpriced steel.
 

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SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
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Oct 25, 2007
12,280
Between here and everywhere.
I'm wearing Bauers so it seems that Step Steel is not an option anymore, unless I track down some used steel. I am looking at their "BladeTech" steel, but it all reads like ad copy mumbo jumbo to me.

edit: it does seem there are some options, but I am trying to figure all of this out (black steel, carbon, Canadian?). It is all Greek to me.
Huh? I have the Bauer 2S’s and MX3’s and have
Step Steel in both. What kind of runners are you using?
 

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SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
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Oct 25, 2007
12,280
Between here and everywhere.
The actual makeup of blade material is way over-rated. Friction between ice and blade makes up a tiny component of actual resistance when you skate compared to air.

Wearing a tighter jersey and pants, and staying away from those big bulky old-school socks will help more than paying boatload for overpriced steel.
lol, what?

Brand new Black Steel runs like, $130.
 

wiffleballhero

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I am apparently Bauer Lightspeed edge with the trigger release thingy. But I've been reading that CCM bought out Step Steel so it seems that their days are numbered for printing steel for Bauer?
 

wiffleballhero

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Why would they do that? Now they can make money off their skates AND their competitors brand.
IDK, all I know is that in poking around I can find all sorts of Step Steel options for CCM boots and not that many for Bauer. And then I read the bit about the buy out?

But I know nothing about what I am talking about beyond what I am piecing together this morning.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
8,232
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I’ve seen step steel for both, but that may change.

I find that step steel holds up better, and I’ve got skates with and without.
 

wiffleballhero

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The actual makeup of blade material is way over-rated. Friction between ice and blade makes up a tiny component of actual resistance when you skate compared to air.

Wearing a tighter jersey and pants, and staying away from those big bulky old-school socks will help more than paying boatload for overpriced steel.
I think the main issue with steel -- as I am running into -- is that lower quality steel simply needs to be sharpened more. And dull steel unambiguously impacts both edge work and acceleration. If I am paying $10 a sharpening after every three skates (as I am about to for the flat bottom V) new blades would pay for themselves pretty fast.
 

Fred not Lynn

Dick Button Jr.
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Jul 13, 2005
5,253
Alberta
lol, what?

Brand new Black Steel runs like, $130.
Dr. G.J. van Ingen Shenau of the Free University Amsterdam did research in the 80s...and this was one of his conclusions.

He’s the guy who did the research that led to the development of the klap-skate that changed long track speed skating...so he’s pretty credible.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Dr. G.J. van Ingen Shenau of the Free University Amsterdam did research in the 80s...and this was one of his conclusions.

He’s the guy who did the research that led to the development of the klap-skate that changed long track speed skating...so he’s pretty credible.
I think the issue here is that the step steel hold up better, requiring less sharpenings, rather than it improves performance.
 

RIFan

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Jul 19, 2005
3,087
Rhode Island
Anyone have any experience with Marsblades? Things are looking good to get vaccinated before the summer league starts and I'm anxious to get back on the ice. Hoping to get in at least a little skating shape and not have a total loss of already suspect skills when I get back.
 

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SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
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Oct 25, 2007
12,280
Between here and everywhere.
Anyone have any experience with Marsblades? Things are looking good to get vaccinated before the summer league starts and I'm anxious to get back on the ice. Hoping to get in at least a little skating shape and not have a total loss of already suspect skills when I get back.
I have the Marsblades O1's and I love them. If you're using them to work on fundamentals and conditioning, they're an awesome resource. Don't get them (get the R1's) if you're planning on using them for actual rollerhockey.

I got my pair after hip surgery and my Doctor didn't want me getting back on ice, but was ok with me working on conditioning using similar motions. I'd go to our local tennis court with a couple of cones and work on figure 8 drills, crossovers, forwards to backwards, etc. It's a pretty good comparison to ice, minus stopping. Stopping is going to be a bit harder.
 

RIFan

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Jul 19, 2005
3,087
Rhode Island
I have the Marsblades O1's and I love them. If you're using them to work on fundamentals and conditioning, they're an awesome resource. Don't get them (get the R1's) if you're planning on using them for actual rollerhockey.

I got my pair after hip surgery and my Doctor didn't want me getting back on ice, but was ok with me working on conditioning using similar motions. I'd go to our local tennis court with a couple of cones and work on figure 8 drills, crossovers, forwards to backwards, etc. It's a pretty good comparison to ice, minus stopping. Stopping is going to be a bit harder.
Definitely looking at the O1's. I have a school across the street that has a newly paved back lot that is always empty. I know from experience that my back kills me after any time off ice, not to mention how the legs feel. From reading the reviews I think if I'm investing that much in an off-ice skate it's worth also getting some roller hockey knee and elbow pads since hitting the pavement is likely while getting used to them.
 

wiffleballhero

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Definitely looking at the O1's. I have a school across the street that has a newly paved back lot that is always empty. I know from experience that my back kills me after any time off ice, not to mention how the legs feel. From reading the reviews I think if I'm investing that much in an off-ice skate it's worth also getting some roller hockey knee and elbow pads since hitting the pavement is likely while getting used to them.
At the start of the pandemic I made this move to solo roller hockey at the abandoned tennis court, some of which I documented in this thread. My two, mostly obvious, cents:

1. Buy a $12 'mylec' plastic blade and put it on an old stick because whatever you submit to the asphalt is going to get trashed.
2. I took to wearing kneepads (just construction style), leather gloves and elbow pads. The leather gloves and knee pads were vital because I took some skin off without them and then the hard plastic on the knee pad helped me slide through a couple falls where I otherwise would have lost skin.
3. I got some bauer inline skates that were in essentially the same boot as my skates. I was happy with that and the price point was not near the Marsblades which seem like they are really for competition? IDK? If you are just trying to get back in skating shape, you might save a few bucks there, and get the same boot as whatever you use on the ice.
4. I moved through all sorts of puck options and settled on something called the "proguard" which is a slightly bevelled puck with sort of 8 raised half circles on each side. It tended to respond pretty close to the response of a real puck and was not too bad in terms of bounce or roll. I was briefly hot on the heavy, small stick handling balls but they break and are so small that they go through chain linked fence. One good shot into anything hard and it is gone. (edit: 4a. playing with a regular street hockey ball or anything else sucks because they are all too bouncy and too light. I briefly used a field hockey ball in desperation, but it was a bit much).
 
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Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
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Jul 15, 2005
14,465
Gallows Hill
I play men’s league ice and roller (indoor), and try to get similar skate boots for each. Right now I’m using Bauer RS Inline skates. They’re very good for the price point (you can get them for $170 on Hockey Monkey right now), and they are literally the same boot as the ones on my Bauer Supreme ice skates.
 

RIFan

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Jul 19, 2005
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Rhode Island
I’m looking at the Marsblades because of the rocker base that really forces you to get more in ice skating posture. I already get into a bad habit of getting too upright at time and don’t want to develop more bad habits with traditional roller blades. Going off of what others have told me rather than my own experience. The good thing is I have a fitness credit through my company healthcare that will cover a good portion of the skate.

I’m definitely waffling on dumping that kind of money on the Marsblades and focusing on hockey skills or going cheaper and making it more about conditioning.
 

TFP

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We are back in action tonight. I'm simultaneously excited and terrified for my legs and lungs.
 

RIFan

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Jul 19, 2005
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Rhode Island
Signed back up for the summer league that starts in 2 weeks. I am also terrified for what that means for my legs and lungs. Hoping that I don’t puke in my mask.
 

wiffleballhero

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Mar 28, 2009
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Hey Everybody,

I'm going to be trapped at my in-laws in southern NH in a week or so and I am looking for some drop in hockey, ideally in the Concord/Manchester/Nashua corridor (I'll be in Weare, for a sense of geography). It also seems that my summer might be pretty heavily focused there (FIL health issues) so I'd like to bring my gear and have a skate I could find. Any help?

Thanks in advanced.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
After 5 years my co-Ed team finally won in our Burlington VT tournament this weekend. We finally showed up in the finals, which as we all know can be a tough game on a Sunday morning.

I spent most of the weekend shirtless, talking shit, drinking copious amounts of good tequila, and chain smoking cigarettes.

I love playing hockey.
 

wiffleballhero

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Mar 28, 2009
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After 5 years my co-Ed team finally won in our Burlington VT tournament this weekend. We finally showed up in the finals, which as we all know can be a tough game on a Sunday morning.

I spent most of the weekend shirtless, talking shit, drinking copious amounts of good tequila, and chain smoking cigarettes.

I love playing hockey.
Congratulations! Fantastic.

I wish I had known. I’m nearby in the summer and this year I have my gear in VT. (Playing some good drop in in Waterbury VT). Tournaments are fun.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Congratulations! Fantastic.

I wish I had known. I’m nearby in the summer and this year I have my gear in VT. (Playing some good drop in in Waterbury VT). Tournaments are fun.
because of COVID they were only able to get the st mikes rink and the Waterbury rink so we had to travel down there twice…I like the rink but not the drive from bvt
 

changer591

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Jul 19, 2005
968
Shrewsbury, MA
Question for you folks...I've decided to hang up my goalie skates and have some really old goalie equipment (we're talking about some Heaton leg pads I bought back in college like 20 years ago). Is it worth finding some place to donate them? Or is there even a market for me to get a few hundred bucks from Craigslist? I don't want to just toss it all in the trash, but it's time to big them farewell since I haven't played goalie in probably 5 or so years.
 

changer591

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Jul 19, 2005
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Shrewsbury, MA
To be honest, I'd rather just donate it to some used sporting goods store or to a needy family...partially because I don't need the money and also partially because I'm too lazy to figure out a reasonable price to sell this dust covered stuff.
Anyone know someone who is interested in old goalie equipment suited for someone around 5'7" (I'm short).
 

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SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
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Oct 25, 2007
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Between here and everywhere.
To be honest, I'd rather just donate it to some used sporting goods store or to a needy family...partially because I don't need the money and also partially because I'm too lazy to figure out a reasonable price to sell this dust covered stuff.
Anyone know someone who is interested in old goalie equipment suited for someone around 5'7" (I'm short).
Depending on where you're located - USA Hockey has a program for disabled veterans (USA Warrior Hockey) that's always looking for donations. We get a lot of people coming in who haven't ever played hockey, or haven't played hockey in 20+ years and are looking to start again with people of similar backgrounds.

If you let me know where you are, I can set you up with a local contact. There's teams literally all over the country.
 

changer591

Member
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Jul 19, 2005
968
Shrewsbury, MA
Depending on where you're located - USA Hockey has a program for disabled veterans (USA Warrior Hockey) that's always looking for donations. We get a lot of people coming in who haven't ever played hockey, or haven't played hockey in 20+ years and are looking to start again with people of similar backgrounds.

If you let me know where you are, I can set you up with a local contact. There's teams literally all over the country.
I'm in Shrewsbury, MA...I'd be happy to get rid of this stuff to someone that needs it.
 

wiffleballhero

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Mar 28, 2009
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So I am thinking of switching to a girdle.

I'm curious about the collective wisdom on this move. I hate my pants -- bulky, heavy and they either cinch up too tight or they feel like they are falling off. And, to make matters worse, they are indestructible. With everything else I'll sort of upgrade when, you know, it feels like I can make a wear and tear case for moving on. These pants will outlive me. I hate them. So, I've been thinking that I might like a girdle -- more streamlined fit, less bulky, less weight.

Besides it being $150 I don't need to spend, what am I missing?