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Equipment: Returning to drop-in hockey

VanFan16

Registered User
Apr 4, 2013
4
0
Surrey, BC Canada
Hey guys, new to these forums, so I hope this topic is okay in here.

Anyway. I'm 30 years old, "grew up" playing roller hockey, and by that I mean I started playing roller hockey outside with friends at about age 8 or 9, with some ghetto roller blades. Played that for a few years until I was 13 or 14, at which point I joined a league at a local roller rink. Played there until I was 19, and I have to say I got pretty good. At least at the mechanics/fundamentals of hockey. I never had a powerful shot, I wasn't a goal scorer, but I had the fundamentals down, and I skated like there was no tomorrow. I continued to play a bit of drop-in for a few more years, very sporadically, but because of health issues I ended up losing a LOT of weight and was unable to keep up with the other people on the floor, so I stopped playing. When I was 22, I converted my awesome roller blades, which were made from a legitimate hockey boot and a roller blade chassis, into ice skates, and skated for the first time on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa. After I got home(I live in Surrey, BC), I decided to try drop-in ice hockey at the local arenas. I wasn't exactly a great skater, but I got the job done.

Long story short, my health has been very slowly improving these past few years(except for this February when my stomach exploded and I had to have surgery, story for another day though), so I've decided recently to try playing drop-in again. Mainly my question is about equipment. I currently use either an Easton aluminum two-piece stick with a sherwood(I think that was the brand of the blade) crossover 21 blade(I really like the curve is all), as well as a Easton carbon composite two piece stick with the same blade. Question is, does anyone know of a similar blade with a similar curve that I can possibly order online. And also, can anyone recommend a possible replacement stick that will last me a long time because A) I'm poor and B) even when I have money I'm too cheap to spend money on "frivolous" things. I don't really like the idea of buying a one-piece, but unfortunately that's all anyone sells now. I've tried getting blades for my sticks, but I can't find them anywhere at the moment. I haven't really looked that hard yet for it, so I may be able to find them somewhere, but I figured I would have to buy them online. I don't really *need* new blades for my sticks yet, but I figured I would buy them when I have the spare cash instead of waiting until I desperately need them, want to play, not have them, and have to scramble to find something to replace my sticks. And if you're wondering why I might possibly need 2 blades at once, it's mainly because I'm an idiot and tend to break my sticks in pairs. In the past I have broken one blade and then literally on the next shift have gone out and broken my second blade as well.

I have other questions about equipment as well, but I figure this post was long-winded enough as it is, so I will leave that for a follow-up. Thanks for any future input.
 
Check out Jarick's stick guide up top, some good info there.

To give you a short answer to your long question (sorry, but I'm one of those 'to-the-point' guys), you'll definitely find that lower end sticks will last longer than your higher end equivalents due to the greater amount of the tougher fiberglass in them. This is true of both low end 2 piece combos as well as OPS.

As such take a look at some clearance mid end or low end composites which should give you the best deals. Like you said, two piece will be harder and harder to find, so unless you are willing to look for such a combo, OPS would be the way to go.

Other than that, you haven't given us any of your preferences to help you make a recommendation.
 
I beleive Im familiar with the curve/blade youKve mentioned...if it is a crossover it was made by Koho and now made by CCM I beleive. You can still buy these although instead of the curve being '21' which used to be Jagr's curve now it is an Ovechkin curve I beleive. But if youre looking for a curve just look for something with a mid curve thats deep, prbly a 5 lie, and rounded toe. Best thing you could do it just get to a sporting goods store and try out a few curves to see what you like.

But like AIREYA said read all of the stickys at the top they are extremely thorough and will answer most if not all of questions...search function works great as well! Good luck and welcome!
 
Welcome!

Well if you could find a Montreal M95 in Euro curve that would be PERFECT. It's a wood blade with an ABS core in a similar curve to the Jagr Crossover. But it was discontinued several years ago. Just keep your eyes peeled.

What kind of blades were you breaking? All Crossover?
 

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