Pandemic experiences part 2 – Lockdown 2.0

Between July and November life was pretty much normal. The only things that were missing from my day-to-day life was hockey at the weekends and Finnish School for the kids. Like mentioned in the last post, I had – by this point – gotten used to working from home.

With gyms open and being able to get on the ice regularly were a big help. I had just about gotten to the end of my regular workout routine by November when the rumours about a month long lockdown started to circulate.

Before long it was announced that the country would lockdown for a month to try and curb the rise in infections. My concerns here were not as great as with the first lockdown. The kids would be going to school as per normal and the only thing that I would miss out on was the gym and hockey. On both fronts it was a blessing in disguise as I had managed to pick up an injury that I wanted to heal up first.

Yes, life was dull with staying indoors, but because I was focused on recovery rather than yearning to exercise, it didn’t feel as bad. The other thing that was easier to process in Lockdown 2.0 was that it was only for a month. There was a clear end-date in sight. Through the various injuries and surgeries I’ve had, a month felt like a walk in a park.

By about midway through I was chatting with one of my teammates who gave me a code for an online portal of at home workouts. Think kind of like Netflix for fitness. As my injury had healed up, I started to do exercise at home. I’ve never been one for body weight stuff, but getting a sweat going on a daily basis felt good. Particularly as the weather was miserable and I didn’t really want to go running in the pouring rain. Doing these workouts brought some stability to life and helped with a routine becoming more than just a cycle of work, lunch, work, dinner, bed. Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely love what I do for a living, but I also love doing other things to keep myself active.

The way I approached the home workouts was that they would at least build a base of fitness when we got back to the gyms. You’d be surprised how much a four-week layoff will do to your fitness levels. Once gyms would open my plan was to do a workout at home during my lunch break and then workout in the evening.

As the above sentence might suggest, I was paying more attention to what I was eating. I had started to shift my focus to getting decent lunches in. During the first lockdown the problem was my lunch habits and the excess take-away meals. However, during Lockdown 2.0 I was able to start fixing some of the issues with lunches and start getting into better habits again.

Mental health was affected yes, but not to degree as it was for the first one. I think what helped was the brevity of the lockdown. Where I wasn’t a fan of it (I think my response to a tweet asking how do I intend to use the lockdown was to ruin my guts), settling into a routine was easier.

The other thing that I did through the second lockdown was that I actually cut down on my drinking. During the summer and the relatively normal life that we were able to lead at that point lead already reduced the amount I drank. This was largely down to the fact that I had those other distractions like the gym.

Emerging from lockdown, I started my normal workouts that I would do during the off season, again with the hopes that IF there was a season, I would be ready, but also because I’ve realised that the four month routine that I have works for me and I get good results out of it.

Despite going to the gym, there was something off. I felt lethargic doing the workouts. I pushed through them, but I didn’t have the same vigour and intensity as I normally like to train with. Part of it was probably that I was nursing my back still, but something just felt off.

Going through December, I was already hatching a plan as to what I’d do differently in the new year. I was prepared to miss a couple of days of exercise in because of Christmas and new years. After finishing my workout on the 24^th, I didn’t realise that it would be the last time that I’d be stepping into a gym for the foreseeable future. The government announced that the area where I live would go into Tier 4 on boxing day. For those not familiar with the UK tiering system, Tier 4 was effectively the same level of restrictions as the November Lockdown, so all non-essential stores and leisure facilities would shut down, but schools would remain open.

And with that announcement, it has been a over a month since I left the house to go anywhere.

I’ll go over my feelings of Lockdown 3.0 in the next post as there’s more to unpack here.

Trigger warning: This post will include some talk of politics.

From the Ashes I Rise

It has been a long time since I wrote anything on the blog (in fact last time was in 2017) but over the past month or so, I’ve had the urge to start up again.

Before we dive into the stream of consciousness, I feel like I owe you an explanation as to why the blog fell silent. The blog was started way back when as a way for me to analyse my performances in hockey games and how I can best develop as a player. It was an outlet to vent frustrations I had of myself and so on. Since then it evolved to talk about all things hockey and started to include product reviews, which I loved doing.

However, I thought that I would try and monetize the blog and draw an income off of it. This was ultimately its downfall. In fact, it seems it is a downfall of everything I think of monetizing. It didn’t feel natural anymore and started to transform into a full-time job with no pay next to my ACTUAL full-time job. As my job already involves a lot of writing and content editing, the last thing I wanted to do was write some more when I got home. I still love playing and absolutely miss being on the ice and with my team, but the blog was just that stretch too far to think of click baity articles.

The biggest reason was that, I had two young children that I wanted to spend time with and I wasn’t actually “living and breathing” hockey as much as I was before. I still have the kids by the way. It’s not like I sold them on eBay. The kids are bit older now and with the pandemic, I have a bit more free time at my disposal.

So I’m bringing it back. But this time, I’m taking no pressures over it, much like with my social media platforms. I’m not obsessing over readership numbers, I’m not stressing over a content schedule, I’m not going to lose sleep about how many clicks an article might drive. I’ll just write this as a personal thing as and when I feel like I have something to say and feel like writing.

I would love to do some more gear reviews in time, but those might be difficult as I’ve not kept in touch with the manufacturers in nearly 3-4 years. We shall see where we’ll end up with that.

In the main, I want to keep this as a journal about my progress again. I have a particular goal in mind that I want to achieve, and want to use the blog and my Instagram account as ways of tracking my progress and my thoughts throughout the journey.

So if you’re tuning back, welcome and sorry the blog fizzled out. If you’ve decided to move on to different content streams, no hard feelings. If you’re a new reader. Welcome.

Review: TRUE XC9 ACF Hockey Stick

TRUE has certainly raised its profile in the hockey market over the past couple of years. When we first tested its A6.0 and A5.2 sticks, the company has gone from a “new” player in the market to be seen as the future of hockey sticks and equipment in locker rooms across the globe. We say “new” because TRUE has been manufacturing shafts for a number of years, which have been used to win World Junior titles, Stanley Cups and World Championships.

The company definitely has pedigree in stick manufacturing and having recently acquired VH Footwear and relaunching it as TRUE, the company definitely has wind in its sails to take it to the next level, helped by a growing roster of players in NHL and other top leagues opting to use TRUE’s sticks, gloves and skates.

We have been testing the company’s latest flagship stick, the X-Core 9 ACF. We previously tested the first generation X-Core 9 stick and fell suitably in love with it. Whenever a company launches the next edition of a stick or any equipment, we want to know whether it is actually any better, or if it is just re-using old technology with new livery.

Look:

The XC9 ACF does get new look and it makes it look good. TRUE has improved the look of its sticks since the first generation A range. The stick has received new colours, whilst still maintaining its modern styling and the recognisable electric blue lettering. As always, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and since we’re really interested in the performance, we won’t spend too much time on waxing poetic about the looks

Weight:

The stick weighs 415grams, which is in line with most top of the range sticks on the market, including the Warrior Alpha QR that we recently tested. However, the stick feels lighter than its stated weight. This is due to the way the stick is balanced.

After having several different players pick up the stick they were all surprised by its weight and how light the stick felt on their hands. What we found with the overall weight distribution of the stick is that the swing weight is better and you are able to unload a shot easier. The low weight and the way it is distributed also helps with getting a quick release off of the stick.

Blade:

One of the biggest surprises of the stick has been the blade. The blade features the urethane insert we saw in the previous XCore 9 stick. The insert is designed to provide 30% more spin on shots. This was one of the features we loved in the stick. In terms of the performance of the insert, it still provides you with great spin on the puck and allows for a great feel. However, for the XC9 ACF, TRUE has re-engineered the blade

The XC9 ACF has a new blade that features TRUE’s Braided Rib Technology (BRT). This technology means that the blade is now more durable (We’ll come to that later), but it has also mean big improvements on the feel.

You get a “soft” feel from the blade but at the same time a feeling of utter durability. It is difficult to find ways to describe the “soft” feel of the blade. Wayne Gretzky used to sprinkle baby powder on his blade because he believed that made his passes softer. Well, the blade on the XC9 ACF is like that for passing, receiving a pass and shooting. The blade is definitely is one of the highlights of this stick.

While the blade gives you that nice soft feel on the puck, it is actually more durable and rigid than before thanks to the BRT technology we mentioned above. The technology consists of seamlessly braided tubes at the centre and bottom of the blade which reduces cracks in the blade. It was first introduced in the A6.0 stick and won us over when we tested the A6.0 last year.

The BRT technology also increases the strength of the blade. TRUE says the BRT blade is about 50% stronger in comparison to its Active Bond II blade. Additionally the BRT in combination with the X-Core technology provides you with that awesome pop-feel for longer.

Perhaps one of the biggest improvements we’ve noticed in comparing the XC9 ACF to the original XCore9 stick is that our shots feel more consistent that we are able to get the same velocity and get the shot to go to the same location more consistently.

Durability:

As for the durability: Hockey is a tough sport and sticks will break. That’s a fact. As our benchmark for durability, the XC9 ACF has to live up to the standard set by the previous XC9 stick. Our previous XC9 stick lasted a whole season in use. Our test sample gave up the ghost during the off-season when the blade developed a crack, following a player stepping on the blade. As the crack widened during use, the blade lost some of its rigidity. The stick is still intact, but the blade on the original XC9 is not so healthy anymore.

So a full season of use in training and games and only broke once someone stomped on it, it’s pretty good going.

We’ve used the XC9 ACF now for about two months in training and games. The stick is still intact and the blade has only scuff marks from pucks (due to the way we like to apply tape), but these are only cosmetic blemishes as opposed to something to be wary of. Otherwise, there is no chipping of any kind, or signs of wear and tear. The stick has been subject to blocking shots and couple of slashes in game situations, but as said, there are no chips or cracks.

Versus the original:

The XC9 ACF is definitely a step up from the original XC9. The blade is much improved and the stick borrows elements from the A6.0 stick. The A6.0 stick was great for shooting and this element is now more prominent in the XC9 ACF over the original XC9. The swing weight on the XC9 ACF we feel has improved markedly and in comparison to the original XC9, the shots come off the blade quicker.

Range:

What is new with the XC9 ACF stick is that it now encompasses an entire range. TRUE had established it’s A series of sticks and when the original X-Core 9 came out, it was just the X-Core 9 stick. Now you have a range that goes from XC9 ACF to XC5 ACF. This range should appeal to players from across the spectrum that want to experience the XC feel, but might not necessarily want to fork out for the top of the range stick.

This has been one of the positives in TRUE’s evolution, in that it continually evolves its product lines to cater for the requirements of different players.

The XC7 and XC5 feature a lot of the same technology that the elite level stick does. The XC7 weighs in at 455grams and XC5 at 495grams. In terms of the technology both sticks miss out is the Smart Flex from the XC9 and will have a bit more fibreglass inserted to provide added durability (and lower purchase price)

Competition:

How does the XC9 ACF stack up the competition in the market? The Warrior Alpha QX might be a touch a head of the TRUE XC9 ACF in terms of the velocity and power you get behind the shot, but when we compare it to the likes of CCM Ribcor Trigger 2 or the Warrior for that matter, we always come back to the same point; The blade and the versatility of the XC9 ACF is what makes this such a great stick.

Conclusion:

In short, TRUE’s XC9 ACF is for a player that wants a stick that provides them with great amounts of accuracy, quick release and supreme feel in one. It provides you with accuracy control and feel, just as the name suggests. Is it better than the Warrior Alpha QX we recently tested? Yes, we would say that it is better. In fact, we would go as far to say that it is the best stick available in the market now due to its versatility.

The XC9 ACF is a showcase of precision engineering and meticulous product development. This is why TRUE is heralded as the future of hockey equipment. There is a feel from the company that it does not churn out new product for the sake of churning out new product, but there is actually substance behind each new product launch.

In terms of price, yes the XC9 ACF is the flagship product of the XC range and therefore comes with the appropriate price tag, but in comparison with some of the Bauer sticks, you get more bang for you buck. At Hockey Monkey the XC9 ACF is priced around the same price as the Warrior Alpha QX, which we quite liked. So from a price point of view, the XC9 ACF is not the most expensive stick on the market.

Final thoughts: Like a car that always puts a smile on your face every time you drive it, the TRUE XC9 ACF gives you that feeling in a hockey stick. Two months in, and we can’t wait for training days and game days, knowing that we get to play with what is by far the best stick on the market.

 

#offseasonproblems

****This was written originally in July, but given issues with laptop I’m only publishing this no

Every day is arm day

w. The one thing that may have changed is the body fat %, as I’ve been mostly sitting in my underwear eating Haribo. Oh and I’ve started skating.***

So as we are hurtling towards the start of the season, I thought it’d be a good chance to update on the struggles that hockey players go through every summer, otherwise known as off-season problems. Summer is obviously a chance to take some R&R time from the game and kick

 

 

back, but it is also the time when you build the foundations for the year ahead.

I thought that after the season was over I’d give myself a good chance to rest and

Progress in mid July

recover, both physically and mentally. I had planned on a two week break once the season had wrapped up, but that didn’t really go to plan. I got bored after a couple of days and started doing light workouts and then after a week, I was fully vested into my off season workout plan.

 

In terms of strength and conditioning, I am using a program that I’ve used for the past two summers, so this is the 3^rd summer I’m using this particular routine. Last summer I added 3kg of muscle, so I thought that it’s the right program. Plus given the fact that I’m at 100% health and not having to contend with any injuries, I felt I’d be able to push harder at the gym.

 

I’ve not just been a meat head for the summer. I have spent time with my family too

Additionally to the program I’ve added few layers to it, to improve my grip strength as it supposedly helps with shot velocity (and who doesn’t want bigger fore arms) and speed workout which I’ve been carrying on in parallel to the strength and conditioning workout. Last season I felt that the strength and conditioning side worked well, but I wanted to add another level to training. With the league getting harder, it’s important to respond to the increase in competition in the right way.

 

The speed workouts really work on the ‘engine’ of the hockey player, so it’s focussed on the glutes, hamstrings, quads and core. That is where your speed is generated and given my history with back injuries the last two seasons, I felt that I need to improve this area in my body. Besides, who knows, maybe it will help me look better naked.

 

What has been different about the off season so far is that I’ve not really thought about

I also drove a bunch of fast cars. Didn’t get killed or kill any cars. 

hockey while I’ve been working out. I’ve been doing it because it has been fun and it has been a journey of self-discovery again. I’ve found that I’m able to push myself more and more and I’m actually finding enjoyment out of seeing that puddle of sweat by my feet at the end of the workout. I think, in comparison to last summer, I didn’t go to those levels with training.

 

One philosophy that I’ve carried with me subconsciously, though, is that the off season is still competition. You are building for the season ahead, but you are also competing against your future team mates by wanting to be fitter than any of them and you want to make sure that you claim your spot on the roster. That is one of the reasons that hockey is such a fascinating sport. You compete all year round, in the summer, against your teammates and then you put all of that aside and you compete with those guys to help your team win. It is a never ending competition.

 

So what about the results from the training then?

 

Well, to the end of June, I had slashed my body fat % by 3% to get it sub 10% for the first time since before my back went. I’ve maintained the muscle mass that I had, but I feel quicker, if that makes sense? I’m yet to skate, but whenever I’m doing sprints, my legs feel lighter and I feel like I’m producing more power through my legs. One shall see when I hit the ice whether that feeling is all in my head, or whether it is all results.

 

The next steps are to start skating. Whenever regular training starts, I want to have the cobwebs worked out of the system. Simultaneously to this, I’m going to start working on some stickhandling stuff. I’ve got hands like cement blocks so if I can soften my touch a little bit that should all help. It will be interesting getting back on the ice. I’ve not skated since April, so I’m bound to be rusty as anything. It’s the first four sessions that are the worst and after that it starts getting easier.

 

Until it does, I’m dreading those four sessions.

 

First impressions: Warrior Alpha QX Stick

We had an opportunity to try the all new Warrior Alpha QX Stick recently. Similar to the QRL review last year, this is a quick overview of our thoughts on the new top of the line stick. The Alpha QX range replaces the outgoing Dynasty range of sticks. These first impressions are based on about 45 minutes of tinkering with it. The stick was tested in dry land conditions only and for shooting.

 

Upon picking up the stick it feels incredibly light. The stick weighs in at 410 grams, which isn’t the lightest stick on the market but on hands it definitely feels a lot lighter than it actually is. The stick is finely balanced and feels good on the hands. The one thing that we found a bit uncomfortable to begin with was the grip coating. It felt ‘stickier’ than other sticks that we’ve tested in the past, but this again is a matter of preference. Warrior says that this grip is to improve accuracy and control.

 

One of the other things we noticed when we first held the stick is that the contour of the shaft is also new and at first felt a little different to ‘conventional’ hockey sticks. The best way to describe the shaft and the contour is a mash between the old elliptical design on the Easton S19 and CCM’s Octo-Gun sticks. However, it isn’t as radical as those two.

Warrior says that this is to help with stick handling and shooting (we’ll get to that later). The Alpha QX is a low kick point stick and differs from the QRL in that the kick point is slightly higher. The aim has been to make shot release even quicker on the Alpha QX.

The stick that we tested was an 85 flex with W05 (Granlund) blade pattern, which has a 5 lie and a 9/16 heel curve. Normally we would prefer a 75 flex but the 85 flex stick gave us a good enough impression on what the stick is capable of.

 

We only tested the stick on dry land for shooting, but it did impress us quite a bit. One of the first things we look at in any stick is the feel for the puck how well the blade feeds back to the shaft/hands. On the Alpha QX the feel is what you would expect from a top of the range puck. You can stick handle comfortably knowing that the puck is on the blade and not having to spend too much time looking down to the puck.

 

Shooting is where the stick reveals its worth. You can comfortably release slap-shots and wristers and get the feeling that there is more ‘oomph’ behind the shot. We’ve experienced this with the likes of TRUE X-C 9 sticks. The stick is easy to load and especially using it for one timers (using a Hockey Shot Passing kit PRO) you can really unleash some heavy shots with the stick. Wrist shots feel like they come off the stick with ease and you can really tell the improvements made for quickening the release. In shooting, there wasn’t much of a wobble on the puck and it comes off clean from the blade.

 

There is a durable feel to the shaft. Thanks to an all new construction method, the stick is now stronger, which translates into your shooting confidence. You can easily lean into one-timers with the stick without the fear of the stick breaking. For example with the Sher-Wood Rekker EK-15, the stick feels just so light your natural instinct is to hold back a touch. Not so with the Warrior, you can lean into shots with your hearts content.

 

The big downside for the Alpha QX? The price. The stick is set to retail at $300/£200/€240, so it is not the cheapest top-of-the-range stick on the market. Then again, you do get a lot of performance for the money.

 

Conclusion:

Where our time with the stick wasn’t that long, it did provide us with a good idea of what the stick is capable of. The Warrior Alpha QX is a real shooter’s stick and we would love to do an indepth review of one on the ice to really put it through its paces, but just from dry-land shooting experience the stick is impressive piece of engineering.

 

The only things that we found bugged us slightly were the grip and the new shape of the stick, which with more time I’m sure would not be a massive problem. However, as said, at the moment, the only downside that we can see is the price tag of the stick. Yes you do get a high performance stick for that money, but it is a lot of money to invest in a product that is most at risk of breaking in the game of hockey.

 

Living off of hockey pt1: Cross Check Clothing

Cross Check Clothing has been producing Hockey inspired lifestyle apparel since 2012. Here’s a pic of me at the gym in one of their sleeveless tops

In a new series of posts, we will explore how people make a living out of hockey, not as players, but through various different ways. The saying goes that “hockey gives you a lot”, but how does that extend to those that are not players or work for a team. The aim of the series is to explore the impact hockey has had on people on a personal level and how it has helped them shape a business and a career on the edges of the game.

 

The first look at how Hockey has enabled a business is to look at Cross Check Clothing, a UK based hockey inspired lifestyle apparel brand, set up in 2012. Since inception, Cross Check has garnered a steady following and a loyal fan base from the UK hockey scene as well as abroad.

 

But how did the brand’s owner and creator Pete Weeks get into hockey and what made him start his own apparel company? A company that “does it for the kicks”, as Pete himself puts it, but at the same time churns out quality apparel and contributes to the visibility of hockey on the streets.

 

“I had an early introduction to hockey through family and I picked it up again when my step-son was five years old. He had developed an obsession with the NHL video games and we decided to take him to a game to see what he made of the sport in real life.”

 

Those who have followed Cross Check Clothing from its early days, will know that from those early days of taking his step son to games, it has become a regular occurrence to Pete and his family.

Please visit our sponsors for awesome hockey related swag.

So if hockey served as a way to spend time with family, where did the inspiration for hockey apparel come from? As Pete explains, he saw a niche in the market “I was shopping for hockey wear for my step-son and found that other than a few uninspiring North American brands, or NHL team wear, there was little in terms of what acknowledged hockey in the UK. After the initial idea I sat on it for a few months and decided to take the plunge.”

 

It might be safe to say that setting up a company to serve a niche in a niche sport is a risk, but was it a daunting experience? “I knew a fair bit about setting up businesses and how to go about getting stock and growing the name, it was a case of putting it all in place,” Pete explains. “I wasn’t nervous about the start-up, I was excited about the launch and cracking the whip on the design team and suppliers to get the stock in.”

 

“The first time I really started to panic was after a few weeks. We’d only had an order for about £3 and I started to wonder if we’d sell anything,” Pete explains. “Thankfully, we made some good friends early on who are still big parts of the brand and helped push us forward”.

 

 

But where does the inspiration come from. Pete says that Cross Check Clothing has similar aspirations as Vans and Quicksilver, brands that used to be rooted in skateboarding and surfing respectively, but have in the course of time appealed to a much, much wider audience. Is Cross Check looking to get to a similar level as these brands? “The merchandise we put out is lifestyle wear, so we aim for designs that we see anyone wearing,” Pete explains.

 

But what attracts people to the game? For Pete, the story is familiar to many who come to hockey games. “I think it’s the atmosphere at games, especially after a series of big hits, or a fight,” he explains. “I love the way momentum can shift in a game so quickly when players step up and it means you always have something to cheer for, even if the score of the game isn’t going your way.”

 

Additionally, the physicality and the demands of the game get a lot of respect from Pete. “When you see players throwing themselves in front of pucks and getting smashed into the boards night in, night out, it takes a lot and I have a huge amount of respect for that,”

 

A sampling of the Cross Check Clothing shirt collection

From working with Cross Check Clothing for the past two seasons, one of the things that appealed to the undersigned was the way the brand operates. It is very down to earth and personable. Everything the company does has a personal touch to it, whether it is the signed card with every delivery or their presence in social media. That is also true in the interactions. You know you are dealing with real people who really care deeply about what they do and the community within the game.

 

“Thankfully we’ve always been supported on everything we’ve done, which has allowed us to work on better products and much wider range. Every penny we make is re-invested back into the company to keep regular and better products coming out.” Pete explains the philosophy of the company.

 

But what of the future? Five years in to the journey of the brand, a fair share of ups and downs, but it is still going strong. What is the future for the company? “Be the headline sponsor of the NHL,” Pete says, laughingly. “To be honest we want to continue to grow with the friends we’ve made. Maybe in the future we will look to take the brand a bit further a field and meet some new exciting people in the process.”

 

 

So, that’s a story of a growing lifestyle brand that has its roots in the game of hockey in a nutshell. The journey Cross Check Clothing has been on has been quite extraordinary in the sense that they have continued to evolve and improve in what is a niche market, reaching people beyond hockey. The genuine attitude of the company towards their products is paramount to its success and the people in the UK hockey community certainly have embraced the brand. 

 

Their story is bound to continue for years to come.  

 Visit the Cross Check Clothing store at: https://shop.crosscheckclothing.co.uk/ 

Championship; two-years to date

Today is two years ago since we won the double (league and playoff) titles. What started off as a torrid season and not having won a single game to December, we had a great second half of the year, where we won 11 straight games on our way to the double.

 

It is difficult to put into words what the title felt like at the time when it happened. It had been a personal goal to win it for a number of years, and in the moment when the final buzzer went, the feeling was simply indescribable. However, as strange as it may sound saying it now, in the mixture of jubilation, there was a feeling of emptiness. Having set upon a path to step up from rec-hockey to play in a league again, the single aim was that I want to win a championship. After achieving it, it was weird feeling to have and it took a few weeks to process.

 

What made the title special was that I got to share it with a great bunch of guys. There were several team-mates that I had shared a journey with, from being the punching bags of the league and losing all but one game, to going to win the title. It was a special moment to be able to share. However, what made the title even more special was that we achieved it without a home rink to play out of. We came close the season before finishing 3^rd in the league with only two points separating us from the title.

 

I remember the first leg more clearly, but the second one is a bit hazy, mainly because the events of the game were overridden by the realisation that we had finally done it. I remember there was something like 7 seconds left on the clock when there was a face off in our zone, but once the puck was cleared I was hugging Adi on the bench and after that… it was helmet, gloves and stick in the air and get into mobbing Dibble in the net.

 

Not everyone gets to experience it in hockey, or sports, but it was special. Sure it wasn’t the Stanley Cup or anything, but for me, it was a big deal. And I believe it was a big deal to the fans of the team as well.

 

Last season, we weren’t able to defend the title and didn’t make the play-offs and this season just gone, we made it to the semi-finals. Looking back on photos from that day, just re-affirms to me that I still want to win and it is still the reason why I suit up.

A tribute to Hayley Wickenheiser

Hayley Wickenheiser announced her retirement from hockey a few days ago and while it is ‘easy’ to admire all of her achievements on the ice, be it in the form of medals, championships, goals, or points, her importance to hockey in general goes far beyond the numbers.

 

Wickenheiser first came to my attention in 2003 as she signed a professional contract to play in the Finnish Division Two. Even before her debut in Finland, Wickenheiser had put up an impressive run of titles from World Championships and Olympic games (four world championship titles and an Olympic Gold from 2002 and silver from 1998). Obviously, with her playing came massive media attention and her every move and stride was covered to great detail in the Finnish press, which gave me, albeit living in the Netherlands at the time, a chance to follow her progress.

 

Wickenheiser was highly touted during the 1998 Winter Olympics where Women’s hockey made its debut and not wishing to take anything away from the game, it really put women’s hockey on the map. I remember that in school the ’98 Nagano Olympics drew such a following, particularly in hockey that on many occasions teachers would just put the games on, whether it was the men or women playing.

 

What makes Wickenheiser’s career extraordinary is that she remained a part of the Canadian team from age 15 (1994) all the way to her retirement. It speaks volumes of Wickenheiser’s talent and leadership, considering how the game has evolved. In fact, such was her talent that Bobby Clarke, team Canada’s GM at the Nagano Olympic games invited Wickenheiser to participate at the Flyers rookie camp in 1998 and 1999, a feat only a handful of players have achieved since.

 

Wickenheiser’s accolades include being named on The Hockey News’ Top-100 influential people in hockey in 2011, but again, her determination and drive should place on a list of top-100 athletes world wide. Her achievements can often be over-looked, but what she has achieved and persevered is truly astonishing and worthy of the recognition.

 

For me, Wickenheiser and her achievements go beyond hockey. She serves as an inspiration to always better yourself and challenge yourself to do more. Her time playing in the men’s leagues shows the commitment needed. Her tenure at the Finnish leagues were not merely a PR stunt, but a legitimate pursuit to compete at a higher level and against (perceived) tougher opponents. Yes, there were the worries of whether she would be able to compete in the more physical men’s game, but Wickenheiser put up 4 points in 12 appearances for HC Salamat at the Suomi-Sarja level and further 7 points in 11 play-off appearances the same year.

Part of her hockey legacy will be that of a pioneer that has placed an ever increasing focus on the women’s game. Whether it was watching Olympics in the UK, Finland or the Netherlands, all the broadcasters always highlighted the importance of Wickenheiser to the Canadian national team, but also to hockey in general.

 

If Nagano Olympics were the international show-case for women’s hockey, it was Wickenheiser who legitimised it, if the women’s game ever needed legitimising. She was the first female player, whose name you could throw into a conversation and people would know about her and her achievements. I do not wish to sound sexist, but Wickenheiser and her drive did the same for women’s hockey that Gretzky did to hockey and the NHL on an international level. Both names are synonymous to hockey and deservedly so. Hayley Wickenheiser’s legacy in hockey will be immortalised by her achievements, but also for serving as an inspiration for generations of both women and men in hockey.

Bauer/PSG Bankruptcy

Performance Sports Group (PSG), the parent company to brands such as Bauer and Easton has filed for bankruptcy. In the wake of the news, there were some on social media that were hoping for cheaper equipment and those with legitimate concerns if the brands would disappear. One thing is for certain. The Bauer brand is highly unlikely to disappear.  It is still one of the most recognised and widely used hockey brands out there and the brand alone is worth a lot of money. Whether it will result in cheap equipment… that is unlikely. More on that later.

I tried to express my thoughts on Twitter on the matter, but 140 characters makes that incredibly difficult. Firstly, PSG has filed for Chapter 11 protection in US, which prevents any of its creditors moving in on its assets (i.e. the brands) and it has already received an offer from its main investor to the tune of $575 million. If any other investor wants to join in on the party, their offer would have to match or exceed the offer put in by Fairfax Financial.

Whilst that puts a slightly more positive spin on the news, it is not all clear sailing. PSG said it will be re-structuring and what that usually means in business terms is consolidation of businesses. This is pure speculation, but it wouldn’t be surprising if other brands in the firms’ operation were molded into one (see what Reebok and CCM did recently with their equipment businesses), so in hockey for example we could see household names disappear. Don’t forget that PSG produces equipment for lacrosse and baseball for example, so they’ll need to look at the different brands at their disposal.

In terms of what this potentially means to Bauer is that the current three equipment lines could be trimmed down to one, or two at most. In the restructuring realm, it is not feasible to necessarily keep all three lines with associated R&D and production costs going. So what we could expect is that we will see technologies applied exclusively to some lines to be transferred across to future product line/lines. This applies to goalie equipment as well, where Bauer also has three product lines.

 

So what about that free and cheap equipment then? Not likely. Bauer’s parent is protected by Chapter 11, so its creditors can’t move in and start a fire sale on its assets. Bauer’s troubles aren’t the same as a sporting retailer going bankrupt. In a case of a retailer going bankrupt, they need to get rid of their stocks and usually the best way to do it, is to sell everything. Cheap. Bauer and other brands owned by PSG, will have sold stock to the retailers and the retailers then need to sell that and still turn a profit, or make margin on what they’ve paid Bauer. So PSG’s financial woes are unlikely to result in any flash sales of equipment. The latest when we could expect the price to come down is when Bauer and the other PSG brands start pushing the 2017 lines, which by and large should remain unaffected. The real ramifications of the financial trouble and its impact could be seen for 2018 product lines.

 

This is based on the fact that Bauer has already held its dealer day and unveiled its next years’ lines to its dealers who will have filled in estimates on stocks they would like. If PSG is able to keep its suppliers (the manufacturers and the supply chain for materials) happy, production of the new lines should be well underway already. Like said, if there’s any trouble, it’s not going to be seen until 2018 and beyond.

 

In a lot of ways what I see happening with Bauer right now is what happened with CCM a few years ago. Though before going any further, CCM benefitted hugely from Reebok buying the company in 2004. CCM had since then focused on developing its Vector line of skates and continued to put its efforts behind this single line of equipment (while Reebok was developing the likes of the K line, Ribcore, etc). The Vector line then eventually evolved into U+, which then evolved to RBZ to JetSpeed, until last year when CCM introduced the legendary TACKS line. Then in 2016, Reebok and CCM brought the hockey equipment business under one brand, transferring all of Reebok’s lines to carry the CCM name, with Reebok focussing on the performance clothing side of hockey. CCM now has the TACKS, JetSpeed and Ribcore skate lines, Quicklite and TACKS protective line and Ribcore, RBZ and TACKS lines of sticks.

So, in short, while the news from Bauer hasn’t been the best, it’s highly unlikely that the Bauer aficionados out there will have to stock up on their Bauer equipment as the brand is going to be around. However, what remains un-certain is whether Bauer will be able to carry all of its product lines. Chances are that things will go on with minimal change, though you could expect some areas be trimmed down

Review: TRUE A6.0 SBP Stick

When TRUE first let us test the original A6.0 and A5.2 sticks it was a revelation of what hockey sticks could and should be like. This was then followed by the X-Core 9, which we still view as one of – if not THE – best sticks on the market. TRUE has given us the A6.0 SBP to try and we’ve been finding out if it is the old A6.0 with a cherry on top or a complete overhaul.

The A6.0SBP does not come with TRUE’s X-Core technology but features other technologies in the blade that have been designed to make your shot harder. To benchmark this stick we’ve gone back to our original TRUE A6.0 review (a stick that was donated to a fan after winning the league) and Warrior Covert QRL. We benchmarked the QRL against the X-Core and found that the two sticks were pretty much on par with each other. Can TRUE pull one out of the bag and out-do the QRL?

In terms of TRUE’s tree-chart of sticks, the A series is aimed for providing Strength, Balance and Power (SBP) making it a shooter’s stick (think Bauer’s X1) and the X-Core series is aimed to provide accuracy, control and feel, with TRUE billing it as the playmaker’s stick.

Design:

In comparison to the Original A6.0 stick, the A6.0SBP is a flashier stick and has more design elements to it. It stays true to TRUE’s brand of using almost neon blue and grey design, which helps it stand out from the crowd. Like we mentioned in the Warrior QRL review, TRUE has always been more about performance than about the bling factor of a white stick with a fancy blade decal.

As with all design related things, the beauty really is in the eye of the beholder, but we really like the design of the A6.0SBP and would go as far as to say that it’s a handsome stick when you put it up against some of the others. You get a great combination of decals as well as the cool element of seeing the carbon fibre twill.

Feel:

When first holding the stick out of wrappers, it feels lightweight. The A6.0SBP is the same weight as its predecessor and ranks right up there with the Warrior, with both weighing in at around 400grams. Comparing the SBP to the original A6.0 it feels like the balance of the stick has been improved. The original A6.0 was a well balanced stick, but on the A6.0SBP the feeling of balance is better.

The lightweight construction of the stick makes it easy to use and stick handle, much like the Warrior QRL. However, in TRUE’s case we felt that we can get a bit more feedback from the blade and that the blade is more rigid than on the Warrior. This is thanks to the BRT blade on the stick (more on that later). Also the shaft of the stick feels that it gives you more.

This is in part thanks to TRUE’s SmartPly technology, the stick is well balanced and durable. The durability aspect is always key point to consider for any hockey player, but with the TRUE stick we’ve found that despite taking a few rather vicious hacks and slashes of the shaft it does last. However, as a disclaimer, it is always worth noting that virtually all sticks do break at some point. TRUE has done a great job in terms of producing a stick that goes that extra mile in terms of durability in a jungle of sticks waving at it.  

Shooting:

What we have found interesting in the TRUE A6.0SBP is TRUE’s Smartflex. The Smartflex technology allows for stiffness distribution from any shooting position. It feels almost like similar type of technology that CCM successfully used in its RBZ sticks and we really love it. The Smartflex is one of the real highlights of the A6.0SBP stick as it offers you almost a customised flex from the shaft.

In terms of shots, we were surprised at the ease of getting a decent shot off. Much like with the QRL that we tested, the TRUE A6.0SBP doesn’t need huge efforts to load for a quick wrister or snap shot. Thanks to the lightweight of the stick, you can get a better, quicker swing on your slapshots and much thanks to the flex of the shaft, they carry some immense power behind them.

In non-game situations and no goalie in net, it is easy to pick the top corners with this stick. In fact, what we found is that the shot almost automatically goes into that sweet-spot just where the cross bar starts to bend to the post. Sometimes even with hardly any load in behind the shot, it still amazes us just how much velocity you can get behind the shot with the A6.0 SBP.

Blade:

The blade on the original A6.0 was already amazing, but with the A6.0SBP, TRUE has made it 50% stronger than the A6.0. The blade features a Braided Rib Technology, which in essence means that the stick has seamless braided tubes running through the blade, making it stiffer. We have been using the stick now for good four to five months and the blade is still as stiff and responsive as it was the day we pulled it out of the wrappers.

In that respect TRUE has kept things the same and to this date, it is the only stick that feels newer for longer. For example, an X-Core 9 we used throughout last season still has the same performance as when first used, despite the several scuffs sustained in game play.

When we first reviewed the A6.0, we likened it to the Sher-Wood Rekker EK15, but in many respects TRUE has moved the game on from there. The A6.0SBP has maintained the great feel throughout our test period and is definitely one of the best sticks on the market in this regard. In game play and training the does provide you with the new stick feel – in terms of pop – for a long time. When you connect with a puck the shot has good velocity with it.

Conclusion:

The True A6.0SBP is not a mere minor improvement on an existing range of sticks. What TRUE has done is completely overhauled the popular stick and has made it even better and put more into it that delivers performance. When we originally reviewed the A6.0 we said that TRUE would be a name to watch and in the space of a few short years, we are more than confident in saying that TRUE has gone from a new comer to a company that produces perhaps the best sticks on the market.

So how does it compare against the Warrior QRL? Again this is a really close call, but we would say that the TRUE stick has the upper hand due to a few elements, mainly due to the BRT blade and the way the stick performs on the ice. The other elements that swing the vote TRUE’s way is the Smartflext technology and the price of the TRUE stick gives you slightly more that the QRL with not as much money.

In terms of overall performance, the A6.0 SBP is probably the best stick we’ve tested to-date. And that’s saying something as we absolutely love the X-Core, but the A6.0SBP has a slight edge over the X-Core. If other stick manufacturers weren’t worried about TRUE before, they better be now.

If anything negative has to be said about the stick (It’s grip coated by the way) it is the grip coating feels almost a bit too rubbery. It does give you good grip but to us, it’s almost too much grip.

While TRUE may not yet have as many NHL players using their sticks as CCM or Bauer, but the numbers are steadily growing (see Mitch Marner of the Maple Leafs recently picking up a TRUE twig). More and more players however, are discovering TRUE, which is good news for the company and the stick market, which risked being saturated by a few major players and faced lack of any real innovation. TRUE has been able to innovate with all of its stick launches and continues to produce the best sticks on the market.

Pros:
· Superb blade structure

· Great feel on the shaft and puck

· Shooting made easy

· Right price-quality point.

· Not a minor improvement over original A series, but a complete overhaul
Cons:
· Grip coating feels rubbery