What is Behind Bauer Photo?

At the top of the 4:00 p.m. hour on the east coast, Bauer Hockey posted a picture on their Facebook page. It appears to be a darkened silhouette of  New York Rangers backstop Henrik Lundqvist sliding in the butterfly across the crease in a darkened ice rink. Under Lundqvist, it has the tag-line of “Goaltending Will Evolve” with 2012 over it. With Lundqvist playing in the Winter Classic Jan. 2, it will be interesting to see if he plays the game in what ever new goaltending line Bauer will have to offer in 2012.

Back in November, we posted a preview of the upcoming Supreme Total One Custom Goal Pad. This looks like it could be the beginning of the market plan for this line that hits stores in the spring.

As a goalie, I will be paying special attention because I am in the market for some new goalie gear such as a blocker, glove and for the right price: pads. Check out the photo below and give your best hypothesis of what the symbolism means in the comment section.

 

View the Original article

Colton Orr Tebowing

Colton Orr, known more for racking up the fights and penalty minutes than anything else, now has a new claim to fame. On December 20th, at Leafs Nation Fan Night, it was Colton Orr who skated in alone during the shootout competition and beat goalie James Reimer. Orr followed his goal up with one of the best celebrations of the year as he got down on one knee and “tebowed” for the fans at the Air Canada Centre. Watch the clip of below and leave us a comment with your thoughts on his celebration. Does it beat out the sniper Artem Anisimov?

Tags: Colton Orr, Toronto Maple Leafs

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 21st, 2011 and is filed under Media. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

No comments yet. Cancel Reply Type your comment here

Hockey Gear

View the Original article

Easton Stealth RS Protective Shoulder Pads, Elbow Pads, Shin Guards

Along with the Easton Stealth RS Pants, we now have a great glimpse at the rest of the Stealth RS protective line, including Stealth RS shoulder pads, Stealth RS elbow pads and the Stealth RS shin guards. Easton has maintained the all black look for the new Stealth RS protective line, with yellow accents to go along with it. The new Easton logo is prominent on each piece of equipment, as they continue to enhance their brand with new gear.

Just like the Easton Stealth RS pants, the Stealth RS shoulder pads are going to be really light and are designed to provide the player with maximum mobility while wearing them. The adjustable bicep protectors will help to give you more range of motion when moving. The Stealth RS shoulder pads will also be using griptec to help keep the pads from shifting and moving around during and after collisions.

Easton’s Stealth RS shin guards look a little more on the narrow side, for players that prefer a lean shin guard over a bulky one. The Sling Tec technology will help to keep your shin distanced from the point of impact on the shin guard, while a removable liner will keep your lower legs comfortable. Like the rest of the line, expect these guys to be on the light and mobile side as well.

With the Stealth RS elbow pads, look for more of the same. You’re going to get a light, comfortable elbow pad that will provide great protection by dispersing impact over the entire pad.

Take a look at the Easton Stealth RS protective line below and let us know your thoughts. Will you be purchasing any of these in the near future?

View the Original article

Allstate All-Canadians in the NHLPA Experience

During the start of August, 2011, the NHLPA selected 42 of the best bantam level (1996) hockey players in Canada to participate in the Allstate All-Canadian Mentorship Camp. The young players were mentored by NHL stars such as Jason Spezza, Luke Schenn, and Jeff Skinner. Beyond that, former star Gary Roberts taught them all about important aspects of the game that not everyone thinks about such as nutrition and off ice conditioning or training. The four day mentoring camp culminated in a nationally televised game on TSN2.

If you missed the game back then, much like we did, check out this great behind the scenes look at the entire experience. You’ll see interviews with some of the future NHL stars, as well as highlights from the Mentorship Cup.

Tags: Jason Spezza, jeff skinner, Luke Schenn, Mentorship Cup, NHLPA

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 14th, 2011 and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

No comments yet. Cancel Reply Type your comment here

Hockey Gear

View the Original article

Patrick Kane Shootout Goal vs. Minnesota

It’s still early in the season, but I think we may have found an early favorite for shootout goal of the year. Last night, Patrick Kane dazzled and amazed fans with his shootout goal against Niklas Backstrom of the Minnesota Wild. Kane’s game winner saw him put his lightning quick hands on display as he deked back and forth several times before finally baiting Backstrom completely out of position and slamming the puck home in a wide open net.

Back in September, Patrick Kane said he was ready to elevate his game to the next level. With shootout goals like this one, it looks like he is well on his way. Take a look at Patrick Kane’s shootout goal vs. Minnesota below and leave us a comment with your thoughts.

Tags: Chicago Blackhawks, dangle, Minnesota Wild, Niklas Backstrom, Patrick Kane, Shootout

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 15th, 2011 and is filed under Media. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

2 Comments

#1 by Eddie on December 15th, 2011

Reply Quote

View the Original article

NHL 24/7: Rangers- Flyers Episode 1 Recap

With a couple weeks before the the 2012 Winter Classic in Philadelphia, HBO decided to bring back the critically acclaimed series 24/7. The behind-the-scenes show about the Flyers and Rangers shows you everything from life off the ice, personal interviews, and things you have never seen before.

The first episode is usually one of the good ones as it sets the table for what is to come over the rest of the series. It brings a brief overview from each team and what they have done over the course of the season as well as setting story lines to be played out prior to the teams meeting January 2.

From the Rangers aspect, we got to see bench boss John Tortorella drop a lot of F-Bombs in the first minutes. We also got to see some of the players speak about what it feels like to play for the Rangers. In their 85 year history you’d think the only moments the franchise has had was the Original Six days, burning the MSG mortgage in the Stanley Cup and the 1994 championship. Oh yea, that pretty much has been their history.

One of the mouthpieces I was looking forward to hearing, Sean Avery doesn’t take long to appear. He started the season in the AHL after getting cut in training camp but was brought to the big club via injuries. His off-ice camera time featured him at a  modeling shoot. Some guys are video gamers, others like to spend their off ice time with family or their foundation. Avery likes fashion and modeling.

Another cool moment was when some of the players took a group of underprivileged kids to see The Rockettes. Seeing the ladies after their show was quite lovely, as they would perhaps be the best eye candy all series long.

From the Flyers side, we had the opportunity to see them take on the Penguins in a natural rivalry game. The Flyers got the victory and we got to see them do a victory dance afterward (see Top Stars below). The player who stole the show was goalie Ilya Bryzgalov. His Russian accent  helps bring out his funny personality. He spent some of his solo time talking about the solar system, galaxies and Russian liquor with a trainer. Just like with Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk, you can’t understand every word he says. But you understand just enough to agree with what was being said.

The two toughest things to watch from the Flyers end was the interview with injured star Chris Pronger and Claude Giroux having his special season derailed by an accidental knee by Wayne Simmonds. Simmonds was avoiding Giroux, who was on the ice. Simmonds jumped over him and accidentally caught his knee on the back of Giroux’ head, causing a concussion. Just like what we have seen with Sidney Crosby recently, we really get an insight of his frail these top-notch athletes are.

 

Top Stars of Episode 1:

1. Ilya Brozgalov: When he talks, you listen. And when he talks, it’s usually pretty funny.

2. Wayne Simmonds: A player I have always liked back to his days in Los Angeles, showed some of his personality off the ice by visiting a new ice rink in the inner-city and appearing at an Ed Snider hockey clinic. It get’s ranked here as I have a personal friend who worked with the Ed Snider hockey group. It’s good to see players like himself do clinics for inner-city kids like I remember having former Detroit Red Wings appear at the rink I grew up playing at in Detroit. In addition, you can’t beat his dig at his former city when he said about Philadelphia “It’s a bit different than LA, obviously. It’s a way better hockey town.”

3. The Flyers dancing to Mac Miller’s “Knock, Knock“: It’s nothing like the Capitals fist pumping to “Beat That Beat Up” last year, but it’s still pretty funny to see how adult men can get down in their hockey gear after a win.

What I want to see next week? More Avery. I went into this thinking he’d be the Rangers show stealer, similar to how Bryz was this week. There’s still a few episodes left so there is still hope he’ll  be good for a quote or two.

Check out 24/7 Wednesday nights at 10:00 p.m. EST on HBO.

Tags: HBO 24/7, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers

This entry was posted on Friday, December 16th, 2011 and is filed under Media. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

1 Comment

#1 by Bill on December 18th, 2011

Reply Quote

View the Original article

Fantasy Friday

The Hotlist:

Wayne Simmonds (forward): Three goals and one assist over the last seven days. With injuries to Claude Giroux and Brayden Schenn, Simmonds will see more ice time and be counted on for increased production. Owned in a meager 17 percent of Yahoo fantasy leagues.

Bryan Little (forward): Three goals over the last seven days on 12 shots on goal. Little has 20 points in 31 games for the Jets, including four goals in his past five games.

Todd Bertuzzi (forward): Bertuzzi has one goal and three assists in the past seven days. More importantly, he plays on the top line with the red-hot Pavel Datsyuk. He has been a consistent 40-point scorer with Detroit, but he may pay short-term dividends if you grab him while he’s hot.

Matt Carle (defense): One goal, five assists and a plus-four over the last seven days. It was just announced that Chris Pronger will be out for the season thanks to concussion symptoms. Expect Carle to help fill the void on the blue line.

Michael Del Zotto (defense): Owned in only 40 percent of Yahoo fantasy leagues, Del Zotto posted four points over the past seven days and was plus-five while rifling off 11 shots and blocking 10. Del Zotto has nine points total over the last 10 games.

Between the Pipes:

It appears as if Luongo has reclaimed the number one spot in Vancouver, but Cory Schneider remains a viable threat for wins, goals against and save percentage when he plays. The Canucks are winners of seven of their last 10 games.

However, another goalie controversy appears to be brewing in Chicago. Ray Emery is winner of three straight games and will get his fourth consecutive start against the Ducks tonight. Remember, this guy backstopped Ottawa to the Stanley Cup Finals several years ago and won seven games in 10 starts for Anaheim last season. Keep an eye on this developing situation.

Tags: Bryan Little, Matt Carle, Michael Del Zotto, Ray Emery, Todd Bertuzzi, wayne simmonds

This entry was posted on Friday, December 16th, 2011 and is filed under Fantasy. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

No comments yet. Cancel Reply Type your comment here

Hockey Gear

View the Original article

Eric Staal trade could benefit slumping Hurricanes

In case you haven’t noticed, the Carolina Hurricanes aren’t doing too hot this season.

The team is 2-7-1 over their last 10 games and lingers near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. The team fired their head coach last week and then followed up that move by trading defenseman Tomas Kaberle to the Montreal Canadiens, a player they signed as a free agent over the summer to a three-year deal. With all this going on, it appears more and more likely that the Hurricane’s are gearing up for something big.

That something big could be an implosion.

View the Original article

HBO 24/7: Flyers/Rangers streaming on NHL.com

For those of you who don’t have HBO and missed out on the inaugural episode of this season’s HBO 24/7: Flyers/Rangers, the very first episode is now streaming from NHL.com in its entirety. In addition, YouTube has the entire episode posted in four separate clips. You can watch Part 1 of episode one from YouTube below:

Tags: HBO 24/7, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 18th, 2011 and is filed under Media. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

No comments yet. Cancel Reply Type your comment here

Hockey Gear

View the Original article

Easton Stealth RS Skate

We finally have confirmation of the new with the picture below. Coming from the latest Easton Hockey catalog, the picture showcases Easton athlete Zach Parise’s reaction to the Stealth RS skate. The black and yellow coloring on the Stealth RS skate match the rest of the Stealth RS line (stick, pants and protective), and looks similar to a picture we posted of what was said to be the Stealth 85S skates. However, the Stealth 85S we posted is beginning to look more like a prototype (you can see the tongue on the skate contains the old Easton logo, rather than the new).

While the s will not be ready for a launch with the rest of the protective gear, you can bet they’re going to be a pretty slick skate. Easton has been making strides with their gear as of late, and the release of a Stealth RS skate should help them even more. We will keep you updated with release date information as we find out more, but for now, check out the image below and let us know what you think of the Stealth RS skates.

View the Original article

Miken Razor Z9 Review: Initial Impressions

The following is a guest post written by Andy, who agreed to test the new Miken Z9 hockey stick for www.HockeyWorldBlog.com. Keep checking back for future posts from Andy regarding the Miken Z9 hockey stick as he continues to put it to the test!

Miken has been kind enough to send the folks at HockeyWorldBlog.com another stick to review

View the Original article

NHL Proposes New Realignment Plan

Love or Hate the proposal? Comment below.

Something that every Red Wings fans has desired: a schedule plan that decreases the amount of insane west coast trips the team embarks on every season. Most importantly, we will be seeing a true balanced schedule that the NBA has where every team will play a home-and-home against every team in the National Hockey League.

The NHL’s Board of Governors are meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. to discuss realignment and other topics. We have covered this meeting a few times in recent weeks. While this isn’t a perfect plan that every team will love, it is a plan that had it’s benefits and drawbacks for every team. Still pending Gary Bettman’s approval, this format will go into effect next season.

 

Here are the proposed Yet-To-Be-Named Conferences:

 

West Coast teams : Anaheim, Calgary, Colorado, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose, Vancouver Midwest teams: Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, WinnipegMid-Atlantic teams: Carolina, New Jersey, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, WashingtonEast Coast teams: Boston, Buffalo, Florida, Montreal, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Toronto

Some of the highlights:

Four conferences instead of two. Two teams will have eight teams while the other two have seven. They are based on region and geography.Designed to alleviate travel concerns Western teams had where they crossed as many as three time zones. Teams such as Detroit and Columbus frequently had games in Los Angeles, San Jose and Vancouver starting as late as 10:30 p.m. Eastern. The Red Wings and Blue Jackets will venture to western Canada and the west coast twice a season versus four they currently have.The schedule will also force every team to make a trip to California, Arizona, and western Canada. Something some Eastern teams do one trip per city every-other-year.In the seven-team conferences, teams would play intra-conference six times (three and and three away).In the eight-team conferences, teams would play each other five or six times on a rotating basis. Three teams play each other six times and the other four will square off five times. If you play a team six times one season, they will play them five times the following season.Similar to the Pre-Bettman NHL, the first round will be intra-conference the first two rounds. With the division champion playing the fourth seed and the second seed hosting the third. The third round will consist of the conference champions with the two teams left playing for the Stanley Cup.UPDATE AT 11:45 p.m. From Bob McKenzie (

View the Original article

Alexander Semin Trade Rumors Growing

Alexander Semin has been scrutinized a lot by the coaches in Washington this season, now the trade rumors are getting hot

As it turns out, Washington Capitals winger Alexander Semin does not have a shoulder injury. Instead, new coach Dale Hunter has told media sources that Semin has been a healthy scratch the past two games. Semin has been practicing with the team, so news of his scratches has put fuel on the Alexander Semin trade rumor fire that has existed for a while now.

One possible suitor for Alex Semin would be the Detroit Red Wings. Rumors have swirled in the past with Jiri Hudler or Dan Cleary being involved in a deal for Semin. Hudler has not been the same since his return from the KHL. His off-season training program this past summer has gotten him off to a better start than last year, but he’s still not quite the 60 point player the Wings had before he left. Cleary has been struggling this season as well, and could potentially need a change of scenery. His grit and work ethic would be a good addition to a Capitals club looking to build for the playoffs. This trade would suit the Red Wings nicely as it would give them a scoring threat with huge potential, in addition to being surrounded by a mature team with plenty of Stanley Cup experience. Semin could thrive playing alongside fellow countryman Pavel Datsyuk, and all he would have to do is find open ice and wait for the pass. Beyond this season, the Red Wings would have additional salary cap space free to either re-sign Semin, or pursue a bigger free agent such as Shea Weber or Zach Parise.

Another rumored landing spot is Los Angeles. The Kings, however, have much less cap space available currently. They would be forced to make a pretty bold trade in order to acquire Semin. Nashville has been included in rumors as well, and would add a great scoring threat to the team. They have plenty of cap space available. The New York Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes are being thrown into the mix too. The Islanders have a lot of young talent they could offer to the Capitals, but Washington is probably looking for players who can contribute to a long playoff run. The Hurricanes are in a similar spot with plenty of cap space, but not a lot in terms of trade bait.

While it seems the Caps would love to unload Semin sooner rather than later, his $6.7 million per season salary will make him difficult to trade. However, it is possible that the team could waive Semin in an attempt to remove his salary. If no other teams claim him, Semin would join the Hershey Bears in the AHL where his salary would not count against the big club.

Where do you think Semin will land? Leave us a note in the comments with your thoughts on his future.

Tags: Alexander Semin, Carolina Hurricanes, Dan Cleary, Detroit Red Wings, Jiri Hudler, Los Angeles Kings, Nashville Predators, New York Islanders, washington capitals

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

1 Comment

#1 by nick on December 6th, 2011

Reply Quote

View the Original article

Zach Parise Likely to Play Elsewhere

Zach Parise may be a New Jersey Devil today, but come trade deadline or free agency, expect him to be on the move.

New Jersey Devil fans have it tough, real tough. If it is not bad enough that the Devils are currently sitting 12th in the standings in the East, young superstar Zach Parise is likely to play for another team come trade deadline or in the off-season.

The Minnesota native Zach Parise is coming into his production years at the age of 27. Playing 7 seasons with the Devils, it is time for some new scenery. With a Silver medal under his belt from 2010, Parise wants a Stanley Cup ring, that of which the Devils won’t do for quite some time.

The Devils of old were once a powerhouse team. Hard hitting defender Scott Stevens, a younger Martin Brodeur between the pipes and head coach Jacques Lemaire made every team cringe. How the years have passed, as the Devils of new are nothing but a pushover. Last year the team missed the playoffs by 12 points. To this day the team is once again sitting on the outside looking in. An argument could be that they are only 2 points back from 8th, but the Eastern Conference is a tricky beast.

My how a few acquisitions, trades and years makes a difference. The Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs have surprised the hockey community as both are currently sitting in playoff spots. It seems Brian Burke’s master plan to take over the hockey world is finally taking form. (insert lightning/thunder/evil laugh now) On the flip side, the Washington Capitals, Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning, all three teams who made the playoffs last season, are currently on the outside looking in. The Devils competition is only going to get tougher.

Over a quarter way in, Parise has only 16 points in 25 games. His total is from a combined 7 goals and 9 assists, a rather poor total for such a player of his caliber. On top of that, Parise has a plus minus rating of negative 10, second to worst on the team, that of which belongs to Ilya Kovalchuk with a negative 11.

Devil fans enjoy the season while it lasts, despite the slow plummet to miss the playoffs yet again. Parise is on the move come trade deadline or free agency. If you are lucky another team will be offering a trade and you can get some depth and draft picks.

Tags: Brian Burke, Eastern Conference, Florida Panthers, Ilya Kovalchuk, Jacques Lemaire, Martin Brodeur, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Scott Stevens, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, washington capitals, Zach Parise

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 and is filed under Rumors. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

No comments yet. Cancel Reply Type your comment here

Hockey Gear

View the Original article

NHL realignment pros and cons

Now that the Board of Governors has approved a potential realignment plan for the NHL next season, the league is awaiting a vote by the Players Association before it can enact the plan and move forward with the fine-tuning. However, with the tentative plan in place, many questions are still being raised as to whether this is the best strategy for the NHL moving forward.

Hockey fans began speculating and proposing possible realignment strategies long before the Board of Governors met in Pebble Beach, Cali., this week. The reason why there was so much speculation was because there was no single idea that solved all of the problems concerning every team and general manager in the league.

Detroit, Columbus, Dallas and Nashville all wanted to move East. However, teams in the West didn’t want to lose a team like Detroit, who draws an incredible amount of fans when they come to town. But if Columbus was moved to the East, it would be unfair to Detroit, who would continue to endure a heavy travel schedule playing out West during the regular season and playoffs despite being in the Eastern time zone, like Columbus.

Needless to say, in terms of a compromise for the league and all of the teams involved, the new realignment strategy is the most appealing option. That doesn’t mean it is a flawless strategy, though.

Probably the biggest

View the Original article

Blackstone Sports Announces Results of Two Year Long Study Into Flat Bottom V Technology

For those who are not familiar, Flat Bottom V (FBV) technology is a revolutionary new way of sharpening skate blades. The system was designed by Blackstone Sports and is said to give you enhanced glide on the ice, improved agility, and better control. NHL players all the way down to your weekly beer league skaters are all making the switch, and noticing a considerable difference as well. In fact, some players in our own HockeyWorldBlog.com league are using FBV and have noticed a tremendous difference in the amount of glide their blades give them now.

Today, Blackstone Sports has issued a press release containing the results of an independent study verifying the improvements offered by the FBV technology. Check out the full press release below for more information. Be sure to let us know in the comments if you have used FBV and what you think of it.

KINGSVILLE, ONTARIO

View the Original article

Miken MV5 Pro Radial Hockey Stick Review 2

Miken Hockey has given Hockey World Blog a stick to review. Despite being discontinued as newer twigs have come out such as the Miken Razor Z9, the stick is still able to be found in some stores at a reduced rate. Here is an updated review.

Stick: Miken MV5 Pro Radial

Weight: 488 grams

Curve/Lie: BP 40 (Easton Zetterberg, Bauer PM9, Reebok P34, and Warrior Savard)

Flex: 100

Price: $199.99 original price, $160-ish at Inline Warehouse

Aesthetics:

Although the new stick designs are coming out with a white-out finish on the bottom third of the stick, the matted black finish with red lettering and grey and white accents still is pretty eye-catching. The decals have held up well against the two-handers and shots, leaving the stick to look almost as good as new.

Performance:

The Miken MV5 Radial has taken some time to get used to. Feel, stiffness, etc… But I can say my learning process has ended and now I’m overall happy with the end product.

The stick was eventually cut down to the right size providing better stick-handling, all that goes well with the BP-40 curve. The round, slightly open blade allows for some pretty decent toe drags.

Passing seems to be pretty spot on, although making a high saucer pass does take some practice. The open toe leaves pucks coming off on an angle that is sometimes hard to collect for the target. Wrist shots follows the same pattern, coming of a bit wobbly instead of a solid shot. On the bright side, this all is mere player capability. Sure I’m an alright hockey player so some may be a bit cautious, but truth be, if I had my choice I would have chosen a different curve and all would be perfect.

The shafts low kick point is still kicking slappers without any loss of flex. This is good, however it does seem the breaking in takes a little longer time than previous sticks I have used. So a few more slapshots are needed a game, who’s complaining? Well, maybe the goalies as they go whizzing by.

Durability:

My initial concerns for durability have speedily faded. The toe has seen better days as there was a little opening that happened early on. Since though, the stick has not seen any more wear, even to the toe. I’m quite surprised as I did expect it to slowly break down and leaving me with a stick looking like one of those party favor clappers. Instead I am left with a one piece that feels indestructible.

Ending Notes:

I’ve played with the MV5 for over 3 months now on a constant basis. I have been quite pleased with the performance, with the ability to hit players at full speed with passes with relative ease. Wrist shots have seen better days but that is merely because of the blade itself. Slap-shots on the other side are still as strong as ever and accurate too with the dependable shaft. Speaking of strong, the stick is solid, so solid I don’t even carry a back-up most nights. It is made in America for all those looking to support the homeland (depending where you are from), as well as a good price point for the product. I would recommend picking up a Miken MV5 Radial and giving it a shot, just make sure you pick the blade of your preference.

Tags: Hockey Sticks, Miken, Miken Hockey, Miken MV5 Pro Radial, Miken Razor Z9, Review

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 8th, 2011 and is filed under Gear, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

No comments yet. Cancel Reply Type your comment here

Hockey Gear

View the Original article

Devin Setoguchi Placed on IR

The surprising Minnesota Wild has been dealt a blow as right winger Devin Setoguchi has been placed on the injured reserve.

The Wild has been a top story to follow this season as they are currently leading the Western Conference. With a record of 18-7-3 for a total of 39 points, it seems their playoff drought has finally come to an end. Minnesota’s last playoff appearance came during the 2007-2008 season where they lost in the first round to the Colorado Avalanche.

Setoguchi left in the first period of Tuesday’s game at San Jose with a lower-body injury. He is tied for a team leading 8 goals. Setoguchi has five helpers to put his point total to 13. Setoguchi has been averaging close to 17 minutes a game, a contributing part to the teams success. Still, Setoguchi has room for improvement with a team worst plus minus of negative 7.

The loss of Setoguchi will definitely hurt the Wild in their dominance of the West, but will they be able to hold onto their lead? Setoguchi’s injury is still unknown to be a lengthy or short one, but at the least, the winger will have to miss 7 days from being placed on injured reserve. The time off will see Setoguchi missing that of 3 more Wild games. The team plays the Los Angelese Kings tonight, the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday and the Winnipeg Jets next Tuesday. Tonight’s matchup will be a good test as the Wild will also be missing forward Cal Clutterbuck who is out with a thigh injury.

Tags: Cal Clutterbuck, Colorado Avalanche, Devin Setoguchi, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, Phoenix Coyotes, Winnipeg Jets

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 8th, 2011 and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

No comments yet. Cancel Reply Type your comment here

Hockey Gear

View the Original article

Easton Stealth RS Hockey Pants

After seeing a lot of success with the Easton Stealth RS stick, we are now getting closer to more stealth gear as they prepare for the release of the . The new Stealth RS pants, which will be available in both black and navy colors, are going to be really light weight and offer a lot of mobility. Nothing stands out aesthetically on the Stealth RS pants, besides looking stealthy. Easton has continued with the black and yellow color scheme first seen on the stick, offering a black liner with yellow accents. Expect a release date around April of 2012 for the Easton Stealth RS pants.

Let us know what you think of the new in the comments.

View the Original article

Easton Purchases MLX Skates Technology, Creates Easton Speed Institute

Easton Hockey had a big day today, as Easton-Bell Sports announced the purchase MLX Skate’s technology. This aggressive move by Easton Hockey will set them up for what they hope will be a more competitive future by combining their own developments with the innovation brought by MLX Skates. Read the full press release below for more details, and let us know what you think of this incredible announcement.

November 9, 2011; (Van Nuys, CA)

View the Original article

Tim Thomas Discover Card Commerical

The Boston Bruins are off to a rough start, to say the least, but that is to be expected after playing so long and winning the Stanley Cup, barely having any rest for the upcoming season. Currently 6-7-0 and 13th in the Eastern Conference, the Bruins finally have something to smile about.  Sure the 3 game winning streak  is worth mentioning, but we’re talking Tim Thomas’ Discover Card Commercial. Oh Peggy, how you make us laugh. Thomas is great as always, check it out below.

Tags: Boston Bruins, Discover Card, Tim Thomas

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 10th, 2011 and is filed under Media. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

No comments yet. Cancel Reply Type your comment here

Hockey Gear

View the Original article

Hockey Hodge Podge: College Edition

There has been some unfortunate and negative news coming out of the college hockey world in the first month-plus of the season. Here are some story lines that developed recently.

Alabama-Huntsville Drops Program

View the Original article

Brendan Shanahan is Busy Man in Preseason

NHL VP of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan has been a busy man so far this preseason. He has handed down several suspensions for illegal hits to the head. I believe he is sending a message to every player and every team that hits to the head will not be tolerated. No one is exempt from suspension, from Detroit soon-to-be-minor league player Brendan Smith to recently-suspended Clarke MacArthur. When a controversial hit is sent to his desk for review and suspensions are handed down, it won’t be a matter if someone will be suspended but rather how many games.

“NHL Rule 48.1 Illegal Check to the Head

View the Original article

Devils Strategically Name Parise Captain

Change that "A" to a "C" and what do we get? Still uncertainty on whether or not the New Jersey Devils can lock up Zach Parise at the end of his contract.

The New Jersey Devils have named Zach Parise their team Captain with Ilya Kovalchuk and Patrik Elias as Alternate Captains. Parise, who has played all 6 NHL seasons with the Devils, could be the face of the franchise for years to come. Or maybe not.

In the off-season Parise and the Devils had a shaky go at signing the young 27 year old to a multi-year deal. What looked like an inevitable arbitration hearing, the two sides finally agreed upon a 1-year, $6 million dollar contract. For Devil’s fans, this was a step in the right direction in keeping Parise long term. For all other hockey fans, it seemed likely Parise will become possible trade deadline bait in the upcoming NHL season and/or one of the top off-season free agents.  With the new Captaincy placed firmly on his chest, hockey fans are now left to wonder even more what the future holds for the star forward.

The Devils have named Parise Captain, for better or for worse, but in hopes of creating more of an emotional tie to the organization. In doing so, the team is hoping that they can avoid losing him to another team after his contract is up after this season. What surely is a ploy could very well come back and nip the Devils in the butt.

Not all players are cut out to be Captains, but that does not seem to be the case with Parise. Parise is a superstar and a genuinely good player with heart. When healthy, Parise can easily reach the 35

View the Original article

Fu Man Drew Workout With Drew Stafford

Yesterday, The Buffalo Sabres uploaded a nice behind the scenes video showcasing some of Drew Stafford’s summer training to prepare him for the upcoming NHL season. Watch Stafford perform some of his favorite exercises from the “Fu Man Drew Workout” video below. Be sure to keep an eye out for one of Buffalo’s young and talented defenseman to make an appearance in the video as well.

Tags: Buffalo Sabres, Drew Stafford, Tyler Myers

This entry was posted on Friday, September 23rd, 2011 and is filed under Media. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

No comments yet. Cancel Reply Type your comment here

Recent Posts2011-12 NHL Season Preview: Detroit Red WingsWarrior Koretex HelmetReebok 20k Ice Hockey Skates2011-12 NHL Season Preview: St. Louis Blues2011-12 NHL Season Preview: Columbus Blue JacketsEaston Stealth 85S Ice Hockey Skates2011-12 NHL Season Preview: Chicago Blackhawks2011-12 NHL Season Preview: Edmonton Oilers2011-12 NHL Season Preview: Colorado Avalanche CategoriesBehind the Bench (2)Fan Mail (1)Fantasy (35)Gear (115)Guest Article (7)Media (117)News (387)Power Rankings (34)Prospects (9)Reviews (15)Round Table (12)Rumors (29)Season Previews (95)Soap Box (97) Follow Us!

View the Original article

Hockey World Blog members grow moustaches for Movember

a charitable movement where men grow (or attempt to grow) moustaches in support of health and well-being in addition to cancer awareness and prevention in men.

As participants of the movement, each member of Hockey World Blog shaved his face and will spend the entire month of November growing and grooming his moustache. However, while we fully support men’s health issues, we have decided to throw our support behind another cause that hits closer to home.

In early 2005, Matt and Chris, two of the founding members of Hockey World Blog, were informed that their mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. After diagnosis, the doctors only gave her a few months to live. While she beat out the doctor’s initial estimations, Peggy Austin eventually lost her battle with pancreatic cancer in August 2005.

Over 44,000 Americans are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year. Of those, 94 percent will lose their battle within five years of diagnosis. A staggering 74 percent will lose their battle within the first year. The average life expectancy after diagnosis is just three to six months. Pancreatic cancer remains the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States largely due to the lack of effective detection tools that can be used to diagnose the disease in its early stages when surgery removal of the tumor is still a possible treatment option. According to the Hirschberg Foundation, despite these statistics, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) spent an estimated $97.1 million on pancreatic cancer research in 2010. This represented a mere 2% of the NCI’s approximate $5 billion cancer research budget for that year.

In support of this cause, the members of Hockey World Blog are asking for your donations. Every penny counts and even the smallest donation will support a great cause. So throughout November, we ask that our readers help us raise money to help raise awareness about pancreatic cancer and help fight this terrible disease.

Hockey World Blog will match the first $500 worth of donations made. So if our readers can combine for $500, we will match an additional $500 to donate a total of $1,000 to pancreatic cancer research and awareness. Hockey World Blog will also auction off memorabilia throughout the month of November with 100 percent of the proceeds going to charity.

Donations can be made to Hockey World Blog’s pancreatic cancer page at www.pancreatic.org/fund/hwb.

For more information on how you can participate or help our cause, please contact EB at EB

View the Original article

Bauer Nexus 1000 Ice Hockey Skates

Earlier in the week, we told you about a new line of hockey gear being released by Bauer Hockey, the Bauer Nexus product line. Today, we have our first glimpse of the new gear, as the were leaked out. As expected, the Bauer Nexus 1000 skates have a much more traditional look, with details a bit reminiscent of the old Bauer Supreme 8090 skates.  Of course, the Nexus 1000 skates will have all the top end features that you would expect from a pro line of gear. As far as fit goes on the Nexus 1000, you can expect a wider boot than the Supreme line, and it looks like its going to provide a bit more depth as well. Great news for fans who love Bauer products, but have feet that don’t quite fit the other two lines.

The Bauer Nexus 1000 skates will hit retail store shelves in June, 2012. Until then, check out the picture below of the Nexus 1000 and let us know what you think!

View the Original article

DJ Steve Porter to Appear on Hockey Night in Canada Saturday

Every now and then we have to throw a few words to those that make us move. No, I’m not talking makers of hockey skates, although we are appreciative, but the guys and gals who make the music that make us jump around. DJ Steve Porter will be appearing on Hockey night in Canada tonight.

A little PR about Porter:

Steve Porter founded his production company PorterHouse Media in 2009. In just the past two years, PorterHouse has been hired to create the 2010 NBA Playoff/Finalsmarketing campaign, E! Network promos for their award season red carpet coverage, and a weekly project withESPN’s

View the Original article

St. Louis Blues hire Ken Hitchcock

The St. Louis Blues juggled pieces of their lineup in the offseason in an attempt to get the right pieces in place and get back into the playoff picture. However, after a slow start this season where the Blues have amassed a meager six wins in 13 games and are second-to-last in the Western Conference, the team decided that their shakeup needed to continue and expand.

The team announced today that head coach Davis Payne was fired from the organization and Ken Hitchcock would immediately be brought in to replace him. The 40-year-old Payne was brought in as head coach in January 2010 and only coached the team for one full season in 2010-11.

“It’s shocking and it’s disappointing, but in the end, you’re responsible for all the areas of your hockey team,” Payne said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “There were pieces that weren’t firing on all cylinders and it’s under my umbrella of responsibility.”

The Blues had high expectations this season after adding veterans Jason Arnott, Jamie Langenbrunner and Scott Nichol to the lineup. While Arnott has delivered so far with eight points in 13 games, other Blues members are off to slow starts. Goalie Jaroslav Halak has just one win in seven starts for the Blues and forward Chris Stewart, who posted 23 points in 26 games after a mid-season trade last year, has just three in 13 games so far this season.

“I’ve had great success in working with top guys and getting them to play,” Hitchcock said in his press conference this afternoon. “I think there’s potential with a lot of guys to be top players here.”

Hitchcock last coached in the NHL for the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was let go by the organization in February 2010. This will be Hitchcock’s fourth NHL team after previously coaching the Blue Jackets, Flyers and Dallas Stars, who he coached to a Stanley Cup victory in 1998-99.

“I want us to be proud of the way we play the game,” Hitchcock said. “I think at the end of the day, I want people in St. Louis to say, ‘Man, that team plays the right way.’”

Hitchcock practiced with the team this afternoon. His first game behind the bench will be tomorrow when the Blues host the Blackhawks.

HWB is participating in

View the Original article

Miken Sports Forms Alliance with Brett Hull

Miken Sports, a subsidiary of global consumer products company Jarden Corporation and manufacturer and innovator of high performance sports equipment, announced today that it has formed a strategic partnership with iconic hockey figure Brett Hull.

The former NHL

View the Original article

Reebok 20k Ice Hockey Skates

The all new aren’t scheduled for release until April 2012, but we have a sneak peek below. The Reebok 20k skates will continue to use the Reebok pump technology, as well as the lace-lock system. The skate looks real sharp in black and shades of grey, with a much more subtle Reebok symbol on the boot that blends in nicely with the color scheme. Unfortunately we have no other information quite yet, but expect the Reebok 20k skates to be available in retail stores next April.

What are your thoughts on the new ?

View the Original article

Warrior Krown 360 Helmet

Warrior Hockey recently unveiled their new at the Let’s Play Hockey Expo in Las Vegas. Last month we brought you a picture of the Warrior Koretex helmet, but we have not heard much about it since. It appears the Koretex may have just been a prototype name. The Warrior Krown 360, however is the helmet we can definitely expect to hit retail stores in the not too distant future. What makes the Krown 360 helmet unique is it’s ability to further customize the fit to your head shape. Most helmets allow for adjustments to the length of the helmet, but the Warrior Krown 360 will allow you to adjust the width as well.

Most hockey pundits sounding off about the Krown 360 are not very pleased with its aesthetic appeal. Swagger has become an important factor for Warrior Hockey, and while players will pick up the new helmet simply because it is a Warrior product, others will opt for a more traditional looking helmet. Keep in mind, however, that the most important job for a helmet is to protect your melon. If Warrior has made any dramatic improvements in head protection, this may be a good pick up for players with a history of concussion.

Take a look at the new below and let us know what you think!

View the Original article

Reebok Ai9 Stick Review: Initial Impressions

Reebok has pushed forward in the hockey stick market with their latest release, the Reebok Ai9. With a blend of sick looks, new technology, and plenty of NHL stars backing it up, Reebok hopes to have one of the hottest sticks on the market with the Ai9. Thanks to Reebok, the members of Hockey World Blog were sent an Ai9 to determine if the stick will sink or swim in an increasingly saturated composite stick market.

Specs: Reebok Ai9, Griptonite Grip, Crosby curve, 85 Flex

Modifications: None

View the Original article

Easton E700 Helmet

Unveiled for the first time at the Let’s Play Hockey Expo in Las Vegas, Easton Hockey introduced their brand new . This new lid has a very stealthy look from the picture, and could even incorporate a matte black finish – which would be a cool new look for hockey helmets. The is scheduled to be released on December 1st, 2011, which is coming up quick. This could make for a great product to be added to those holiday wishlists. Unfortunately, not a whole lot of information has leaked out about the , but we expect to hear more shortly and will keep you posted. For now, check out the Easton E700 below and let us know what you think!

View the Original article

Bauer Supreme Total One NXG Ice Hockey Skates

In April, 2012, Bauer will release their newest skate, the Bauer Supreme Total One NXG ice hockey skate. We brought you a sneak peek at a prototype version of the 2012 Bauer Supreme skates back in July, but now we’re looking at the final design of the skate.

You can see in the picture below (courtesy of HWB fan Tyrone, thanks bud!) that a few concepts from the prototype made their way into the Bauer Supreme Total One NXG skates, but we’re still not clear on all the features. The Total One NXG will definitely be a step up from the original Total One skates, which were released in Spring, 2010.

What are your thoughts on the new Bauer Supreme Total One NXG skates? Will you be willing to shell out some coin  to pick up a pair when they are released?

View the Original article

Penguins to Host 2012 Entry Draft

The season has just started and we are already thinking about next year.The NHL has announced that the CONSOL Energy Center, home ice to the Pittsburgh Penguins, will host the 2012 Entry Draft.

The first round will begin on Friday, June 22. Rounds two through seven will be hosted the day after.

The entry Draft has turned into quite an event with the NHL Network in the States covering the event. Analysts, hosts and the like all chip in on who will be drafted first, why a team should pick Player A over Player B, and so forth. Interviews with the shell shocked rookies are always nice to see also. A nice reminder that hockey players are the best and most down to earth athletes around.

Ray Shero, Penguins GM had this to say about the event.

“What you are going to see here are future star players. You’re going to see broadcasters, general managers, and scouts.” Shero said. “It’s also a great day for the fans. They can see the next up-and-coming players and interact with a lot of different people.”

Shero also noted.

“There will be over 350 scouts in attendance and these guys work over 363 days a year over these two days, so it’s a very important time for the scouting staffs around the NHL.”

To this day I have yet to see an Entry Draft, but, it is definitely on my bucket list. Maybe once the Detroit Red Wings finally get a new arena, cross your fingers that day comes sometime soon, they can play hosts. If so, I’m definitely getting tickets.

Any readers attended an Entry Draft it be nice to hear about your experience. Feel free to send pictures to eb

View the Original article

Fox and DirecTV in Money Fight: Viewers Ultimate Losers

Beginning Tuesday, you might not have some of your favorite channels if you are a DirecTV subscriber.

Hockey fans: be prepared to pack patience starting tomorrow as you can potentially lose your Fox Regional Sports Networks because News Corp (FOX) and DirecTV is in the middle of a heated rights fees dispute. Just like we seen with DirecTV and Versus two years ago that began in September and ended in March, this one might take a while to resolve.

And not only will you lose popular channels like your Fox Sports (insert city or region here), but you will also lose channels like FX, SPEED, and Fox Soccer. Those channels (alone with FS Detroit) compromise 80 percent of my television habits between Premier League soccer, Formula 1 racing, and shows like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The League.

In reading articles and press releases from both sides, the Fox side of the issue is rebutting the claims that DirecTV is making  that Fox wants a 40 percent increase in carriage fees. FOX appears to have strong demands that DirecTV simply isn’t going stand up for. Part of my wants to believe they will have they will have it resolved because sports fans and television watchers will be in a compete outrage if they lose their favorite sports teams. As a subscriber to NHL Center Ice, I am feeling screwed because I paid a good amount of money for the service and if I lose games because of this for a substantial amount of time I should get some money jack. I know this happens often with television networks and the cable providers. In the end, the ones who are getting screwed are the customers who want to watch their favorite teams and shows without having to pay an arm and leg to do so.

This will also affect not only residential subscribers, also will be affected in the 19.4 million subscribers are bars, restaurants and business who depend on sports being shown on their televisions to bring in fans to watch their favorite team play.

If you want to do something about this issue, see the websites above and voice your opinion to both FOX and DirecTV. For additonal information, check out this article printed in the Los Angeles Times.

This entry was posted on Monday, October 31st, 2011 and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

No comments yet. Cancel Reply Type your comment here

Hockey Gear

View the Original article

Easton Stealth RS Hockey Gloves

Easton Hockey is currently featuring a picture of the new on their Stealth RS micro-site. The gloves, in all black with white accents, look pretty fresh. The Easton text is printed out diagonally on the cuff, which looks slick and new. Typically, we see the brand name printed horizontally on the cuff. The are likely to hit the market in April 2012, along with perhaps the rest of a new Stealth protective line.

Take a look at the picture of the new Stealth RS gloves below and share your thoughts!

 

View the Original article

Easton Stealth RS Review: Initial Impressions

Easton continues to make impressive strides with their sticks as they look to make light weight, yet durable models to satisfy the needs of players of every caliber, and the Easton Stealth RS appears to be no exception. Tons of buzz surrounded the stick in recent weeks leading up to the anticipated release date this past weekend. Thanks to Easton hockey, the members of Hockey World Blog were able to secure a Stealth RS to determine if the product can deliver on the hype.

Specs: Easton Stealth RS, Grip finish, Iginla curve, 100 Flex

Modifications: Cut two inches off the butt of the stick

Appearance and Design: Plainly put

View the Original article

2011-12 NHL Season Preview: Chicago Blackhawks

Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews will lead the offensive attack for the Chicago Blackhawks in 2011-12

Key Offseason Additions: Steve Montador, Dan Carcillo, Andrew Brunette, Jamal Mayers, Ray Emery

Key Offseason Losses: Brian Campbell, Troy Brouwer, Chris Campoli, Tomas Kopecky,

Last Season Ranking: 8th in the West

Offense: The Chicago Blackhawks offense hopes to build on a productive season in 2010-11 and return this year with a bit more pop. Blackhawks captain, Jonathan Toews, along with winger Patrick Kane, both look to increase their output this season. Kane, specifically, has been saying this off-season he wants to take his game to another level. After a 15 point drop in production last season, you have to assume that Kane is looking to break the 90 point mark and help lead his team back to the playoffs.

Another huge bonus to the squad will be a healthy Marian Hossa. He posted 57 points in a mere 65 games last season, and if healthy, can contribute roughly a point per game to the Blackhawks potent offense. A full season by Hossa could also mean the difference between barely making the playoffs and perhaps winning the division.

Additionally, Patrick Sharp will continue to be a goal scoring threat for the Blackhawks. Sharp lead the squad in goals last season with 34, and will look to improve on his point totals after a career-high 71 points last season.

New to the offense are Andrew Brunette, Dan Carcillo, and Jamal Mayers. While Brunette will be expected to contribute heavily, look for Carcillo and Mayers to provide a physical presence above anything else.

The Blackhawks have a few young guys rounding out the offense. Be sure to keep an eye on Michael Frolik and Viktor Stalberg this season, as both have a tremendous upside. Bryan Bickell and Dave Bolland will be counted on to provide additional depth scoring as well.

Defense: The departure of Brian Campbell places even more importance on Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, who will lead the Blackhawks defense this season. Both defenseman were huge on the power-play last season, and will continue to hold the blue line on the PP again in 2011-12.

The addition of Steve Montador on the blue line will add some veteran depth for the Blackhawks. He’ll be a great compliment to some of the young defenseman on the squad, such as Niklas Hjalmarsson, Nick Leddy, and Sami Lepisto. Hjalmarsson should see upwards of 20 minutes per game this season, being used in more and more situations as he continues to gain experience.

Goaltending: After the Marty Turco experiment failed last season, the Blackhawks went with rookie Corey Crawford in goal. He played well enough to earn the starting job, and helped Chicago nearly come back from an 0-3 start against Vancouver in last season’s playoffs. Crawford returns this season with the number one spot from the beginning.

In an interesting scenario, however, the Blackhawks chose to sign Ray Emery in the off-season. He’s currently competing with Alexander Salak for the backup job, but you have to imagine he has his eyes on the starting role as well. Last season, after returning to game action with the Anaheim Ducks, Emery won his first six starts, before finishing the season 7-2 with a .926 save percentage and 2.28 goals against average. Emery is looking to prove everyone wrong and earn a starting spot in the NHL again, and Chicago could be the place if Corey Crawford begins to stumble during his sophomore campaign.

HWB Playoff Prediction: Playoff bound. The Blackhawks have what it takes to make it into the playoffs, and could earn another division championship if key players, such as Marian Hossa, stay healthy. Having their best players on the ice for 82 games will be the difference between a potential division win and barely sneaking into the playoffs.

Tags: Andrew Brunette, Brent Seabrook, Chicago Blackhawks, Corey Crawford, Daniel Carcillo, Duncan Keith, Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa, Michael Frolik, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Ray Emery, Steve Montador, Viktor Stalberg

This entry was posted on Monday, September 26th, 2011 and is filed under Season Previews. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

No comments yet. Cancel Reply Type your comment here

Recent Posts2011-12 NHL Season Preview: Detroit Red WingsWarrior Koretex HelmetReebok 20k Ice Hockey Skates2011-12 NHL Season Preview: St. Louis Blues2011-12 NHL Season Preview: Columbus Blue JacketsEaston Stealth 85S Ice Hockey Skates2011-12 NHL Season Preview: Edmonton Oilers2011-12 NHL Season Preview: Colorado AvalancheFu Man Drew Workout With Drew Stafford CategoriesBehind the Bench (2)Fan Mail (1)Fantasy (35)Gear (115)Guest Article (7)Media (117)News (387)Power Rankings (34)Prospects (9)Reviews (15)Round Table (12)Rumors (29)Season Previews (95)Soap Box (97) Follow Us!

View the Original article

Video of the Day (9/7/11)

  Ice Hockey Warehouse showcasing Reebok's new Ai9 stick! This will be Reebok's top stick in their new "AI" line coming out October 15th! Looks great!

Posted byHyo Jun Baekat2:47 PM

View the Original article

Dynamo Minsk puts on Memorial for recent tragedy.

"0" allowfullscreen>

Article can be found here... http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Video-Dynamo-Minsk-8217-s-hockey-funeral-for-L?urn

View the Original article

Dynamo Minsk puts on Memorial for recent tragedy.

"0" allowfullscreen>

Article can be found here... http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Video-Dynamo-Minsk-8217-s-hockey-funeral-for-L?urn

View the Original article

Easton Stealth 85S Ice Hockey Skates

A pair of unreleased popped up over the weekend, and are looking pretty sexy. The new skates, which carry the same sort of stealthy black and yellow look as the Stealth RS hockey stick, are presumed to be a prototype pair, with the design near final. The new Easton Stealth 85S skates, if the name is to hold true, feature a mostly black and grey boot, with yellow accents near the bottom front. They are featuring the Easton Razor Bladz II holder as well as Easton steel. If the picture is correct, the Easton Stealth 85s hockey skates weigh in just under one pound eleven ounces, or about 765 grams for one skate.

Take a look at the pictures below and let us know what you think of the . Will they help Easton gain market share for skates?

View the Original article

Warrior Koretex Helmet

Warrior Hockey is on the verge of releasing a new piece of protective equipment, the . In the photo below, you can see Brooks Laich giving the a try. The new helmet looks a bit on the smaller side, but appears to be well ventilated to help keep your head cool during game action. I’m not sure that I really like the look of the Koretex helmet, but protection is what matters most. This helmet has been years in the making, so I’m sure the team over at Warrior Hockey has done an incredible job with R&D to be able to put a new helmet on the heads of NHL players. Keep an eye on Warrior guys this upcoming season to see how many adopt the new .

View the Original article

Peter Mueller expected to return from injury

After sitting out all of last season with a concussion sustained during the first pre-season game of the season, The Denver Post is reporting that Colorado Avalanche forward Peter Mueller appears to be healthy, fit and ready to play.

“I’m excited to be a hockey player again,” Mueller said Wednesday. “Obviously, I’ve had concussions in the past and it’s something I have to deal with, but right now everything is in the right direction. Everything is pointing forward. I’m excited that it’s all behind me.”

The 23-year-old has been skating regularly and will partake in team physicals in mid-September for on-ice clearance. As long as all goes well, Mueller should be back in the lineup for the Avs when they open their season on Saturday, Oct. 8 at home against the Detroit Red Wings.

Mueller will also take extra precautions against sustaining another concussion this season. He will sport the new Easton S19 Z-Shock, a one-piece hockey helmet that Easton claims exceeds minimum safety regulations by as much as 40 percent. Mueller will also sport a tinted visor to help minimize the effects that bright lights can have on concussion victims.

“Sometimes I feel like I’m in ‘Top Gun’ out there with the tinted visor, but it’s been great and a very comfortable helmet to wear,” Mueller said of the new Easton helmet.

While news of Mueller’s imminent return should pay dividends for the young and highly talented Colorado Avalanche squad, it will also come as good news for Fantasy Hockey players looking for a quality sleeper this year.

Mueller never really seemed to live up to his full potential with the Phoenix Coyotes, who drafted him 8th overall in 2006, but he showed that potential after getting traded to the Avalanche in 2010 where he promptly posted 20 points, including nine goals, in 15 games before being sidelined with the first of two concussions that kept him off the ice for the better part of a year.

Several players around the NHL are still sidelined by concussion symptoms

View the Original article

College Hockey Landscape Changes Again

So far in the year 2011, college hockey has been shaken up more than the Shake Weight. The conference hit hardest was the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). It had members Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State announce plans to depart the conference in 2013-14 to form the Big Ten hockey conference with Minnesota, Wisconsin and 2012-13 newcomer Penn State.

View the Original article

Coyotes and Flames Swap Forwards Stempniak and Langkow

In a late-off season trade, the Calgary Flames and Phoenix Coyotes worked together to trade right winger Lee Stempniak and center Daymond Langkow. The trade is contingent on Langkow passing a physical in Phoenix.

Stempniak will be taking his talents north of the boarder for the second time in his career. He spent parts of the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons with the Maple Leafs, where he scored 25 goals and 26 assists in 123 games. When interviewed about the trade, he took a small yet yelling jab at Phoenix when he said to the Flames official Twitter feed ”You want to play in a place where hockey matters. You love being in a market like that. I’m so excited to come to Calgary”.  While with the Coyotes, he played 100 games and recorded 56 points since coming over late 2010. Financially, he is set to make $1.9 million while with the Flames. Look for him to fill several roles for Calgary as he has the potential to score 20 goals when healthy. He scored 19 last season in 82 games. His career high is 27 goals with St. Louis in 2006-07.

Calgary got much needed help on the wing with the addition of Stempniak as they have struggled to generate offense and score goals despite having prolific scorers Jarome Iginla, Alex Tanguay and Rene Bourque. They lost depth at center in the trade, but they will be $3.5 million under the salary cap after the trade according to capgeek.com. They will have the ability to acquire another player via free agency or trade if necessary during training camp and during the season.

Phoenix is looking to verify that Langkow is healthy heading into the final year of a contract that will pay him $4.5 million this season. He has missed more than a full calendar year and more games than an NHL regular season, 88 games in all, with a neck injury he suffered on March 21, 2010 in Minnesota. Langkow missed the final 10 games of the 2009-10 season and the first 78 of the 2010-11 season before returning on April 1 in St. Louis.

Langkow wanted to wait until he was 100 percent healthy before returning to play because he cared about his healthy and family before returning until hockey. After six years of service in Calgary, he returns to the city he called home from 2001-2004, the three seasons before the lockout. In 2001-02, he led the team in points with 62. That season also ended a run of five playoff appearances in their first six years in the desert with a first round loss to San Jose. He scored 52 points in each of his next two seasons with the Coyotes. In addition to having the trade completed pending a physical, he had to waive his no-trade clause in order to make the deal happen. He said he did soon after Calgary General Manager Jay Feaster informed him of the potential deal, and added that playing with Coyotes captain Shane Doan was what got him excited about playing in the desert.

 

 

Tags: Calgary Flames, daymond langkow, Lee Stempniak, Phoenix Coyotes, trade

This entry was posted on Monday, August 29th, 2011 and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

1 Comment

#1 by Miles Anthony on August 29th, 2011

Reply Quote

View the Original article

Sherwood Nexon 12 Hockey Stick

Sherwood Hockey looks like they are putting forth a solid effort towards gaining stick market share with the release of their latest twig, the . The Sherwood Nexon 12 will be the top of the line stick in their brand new Nexon line, and is already being endorsed by players such as Bobby Ryan of the Anaheim Ducks.

Sherwood is describing the Nexon 12 stick as being a true one-piece stick, using the same fibers from the toe of the blade all the way to the butt end of the stick. It’s also going to feature spear shaft construction, which will provide an enhanced low kickpoint. Beyond that, it appears as if you’ll find a lot of specs similar to other one-piece hockey sticks such as being light weight, maximizing energy transfer, great feel of the puck on the ice, and a great feel in your hands as well.

They really nailed the look of the Nexon 12 grip version, featuring a black shaft with blue accents. It looks great standing all by itself in the corner, and would look even better flying around the rink in your hands.  The clear version is a bit more plain, however, with a traditional black and white color scheme.

Through November 9, 2011, the only place you can purchase the Sherwood Nexon 12 will be Pro Hockey Life retail stores  in Canada, or on their website ProHockeyLife.com. The Nexon 12 will only set you back $189.99, which is a modest price these days for a one piece stick. In mid-November, you can expect the Sherwood Nexon 12 to make its appearance in other retail stores in your area, as well as online.

Take a look at the new below and let us know what you think. Are you willing to give a Sherwood stick a shot over today’s popular brands like Bauer and Easton?

View the Original article

2011-12 NHL Season Preview: New Jersey Devils

Key Offseason Additions: None

Key Offseason Losses: Brian Rolston

Last Season Ranking: 11th in the East

Offense: With recent headlines of, “Devils Sign 12 Players, Mostly Minor Leaguers”, you begin to wonder what the organization is thinking to turn this sinking ship around. Oh, that’s right, the team will heavily rely on Ilya Kovalchuk and his 15 year, $100 million dollar deal.

Kovaluchuk is coming off of a down year with only 60 points in all. The plus side, a 60 point season for many players is a good

View the Original article

Marc Savard will miss 2011-12 season

After playing in just 25 games last season, Boston Bruins center Marc Savard will miss the entire 2011-12 season due to lingering symptoms from several concussions sustained over the last two seasons.

View the Original article

2011-12 NHL Season Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins

Key Offseason Additions: Steve Sullivan

Key Offseason Losses: Max Talbot, Michael Rupp, Alex Kovalev

Last Season Ranking: 4th in the East

Offense: The Penguins showed resiliency last year despite an injury-riddled season and it appears as if the team will start the season shorthanded again without center Sidney Crosby. However, many forget that Evgeni Malkin was plagued with injuries last year finally resulting in knee surgery that ended his season in February. The good news is that Malkin looks strong and healthy and appears eager for the upcoming season. And the Penguins will need him.

View the Original article

My stupidity hits an all time high.

  I was going to take this time to write about the Bauer Experience but unfortunately I left my phone in the back seat of my friend's car. My phone had all the pictures that I had taken of the Experience Tour, along with pictures of the massive Thurman burger that we feasted on afterwards. He said he'll send the phone tomorrow, so I should have it by Thursday, at which point I will post about the Bauer Experience (just a few days late). Sorry about that!

  I had a fun time though at the Bauer Tour, and got to try on the Bauer APX skates, X:60 gloves, the Bauer 9900 helmet, and the Total One stick. Like I said, more to follow after I get my phone back!Posted byHyo Jun Baekat4:04 PM

View the Original article

Video of the Day (8/17/11)

  Today's video of the day features Gongshow Gear, and Derek Roy! This is the first in a new series called "Gongshow Hockey Shacks". It takes you on a tour of Derek Roy's summer cottage! I really liked how the video was set up, and it's pretty cool that you get to see what it's like to be in the NHL!



Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v

View the Original article

Video of the Day (8/18/11)

  This video was really creative! They recorded themselves playing some pond hockey, ripped the audio off of some SC hockey highlights and... voila! Enjoy!

Posted byHyo Jun Baekat1:19 PM

View the Original article

Video of the Day (8/19/11)

  Today's video of the day was shot at the NHL Research and Development camp. The shooter is Andreas Athanasiou a LW from the London Knights of the OHL. The first shot is dirty, reminds me of the video of the day a couple of weeks ago. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v

View the Original article

Have any ideas? You can help me out!

  If you have any ideas on improvements for the blog, or something that would make the blog look better, don't be afraid to comment on this post or message/tweet me on Twitter! Suggestions would really be a help! Also, if you come across a video that you feel could be a "Video of the Day" make sure you get me that link! If I decide to pick that video, I'll make sure and give you a shout out.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/DropInBlog
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Drop-In-A-Hockey-Blog/240375712647530Posted byHyo Jun Baekat3:27 PM

View the Original article

Video of the Day (8/20/11)

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Google BuzzLabels:Videos/Media0comments: Post a Comment

Newer PostOlder PostHomeSubscribe to:Post Comments (Atom)

View the Original article

Video of the Day coming later... in the meantime...

  Make sure and head over to KuklasKorner and read up on the NHL 12 Demo coming out tomorrow! Blogger Doug Miller has been covering all the breaking news on the release of the demo, as well as the new features of the game and what will be included in the demo. Go check it out here!
  Make sure and vote in the Question of the Week on the right hand side of the blog!Posted byHyo Jun Baekat1:02 PM

View the Original article

Video of the Day (8/22/11)

  An oldie. But a goodie.
I probably watched this video when it first came out... ages ago. But it's still hilarious!



"I'll show ya hockey ya hoser!"Posted byHyo Jun Baekat1:30 PM

View the Original article

Video of the Day (8/23/11)

  Today's video makes you wish NHL season was on us faster! I can't wait... also all the clips featured in the video are 100% HD which is really nice! Also some great highlights in there as well.

Posted byHyo Jun Baekat12:55 PM

View the Original article

I'm sure most of you know already but...

  The NHL 12 Demo was released this morning! Doug Miller of KuklasKorner has been restlessly pushing out updates on the features of the demo, as well as posting as soon as the demo was released! Links below!

Demo being released: http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/nhl_12_demo_now_available_for_download_xbox_350/

Features that will be included in the Demo:
http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/nhl_12_demo_preview/

Make sure and check out the demo, and vote in the poll!Posted byHyo Jun Baekat1:10 PM

View the Original article

Video of the Day (8/24/11)

Hilarious parody of the ESPN Sportscenter commercial, done by a local station for the 2010 Olympics.

And if you see any videos that you think should be the "Video of the Day" make sure and tweet me a link, or write it on the Facebook wall!


Posted byHyo Jun Baekat1:49 PM

View the Original article

Green Biscuit Training Puck Review

Green Biscuit Training Puck

Like most hockey players during the summer, our recent focus has been on training and improving our skills. The perfect way to improve your game on the ice, is to train off the ice. With the help of the Green Biscuit, and the team over at HockeyShot.com who graciously sent us one to review, we’ve been able to put this training puck to the test to see if it handles as described.

If you’re not familiar with the Green Biscuit puck, it is an off-ice training hockey puck that will help you and your friends or teammates develop passing and stickhandling skills that will blow your competition away.  The Biscuit weighs about an ounce less than a hockey puck but with the added friction from the concrete or asphalt it acts just like the real thing on ice.

The rink we play on outside has a painted concrete surface, where you typically need a ball to practice stick handling. Immediately after I began skating with the Green Biscuit, I noticed the performance benefits that it offered over a traditional roller hockey puck on outdoor surfaces. The Biscuit moved quickly and fluidly as I handled it back and forth, without ever slowing or stopping like I expect with other pucks. The only time I ever noticed an issue is if I moved the puck back and forth too fast. Sometimes, under those circumstances, the puck would roll up on to its side. This was not a huge issue for us, however, and rarely did we ever stick handle fast enough to make it happen.

Once we began passing, I fell in love with the Biscuit even more. Short passes, quick passes, long passes, saucer passes, or any other type of pass we attempted, went off without a hitch. Even the speed of the pass was just as you might expect playing ice hockey or indoor roller hockey. Being able to pass this easily on an outdoor surface allowed us to run some great passing and skating drills with ease. One in particular that some skaters might find effective would be simply skating with the puck while keeping your head up. You can easily feel the Green Biscuit on your blade and knowing the puck isn’t going to randomly stop on you makes running these types of drills a lot more fun and less frustrating.

Durability of the Green Biscuit is honestly where I expected to be disappointed. However, after about ten hours of actual use on the rink, I’m still not seeing an noticeable difference in performance. You can see the puck itself is picking up some nice scratches from sliding, but nothing has broken it. We have actually been pretty rough on the puck too, making some hard passes off of the boards, as well as long and high saucer passes. The only thing we haven’t done is shoot the puck. For obvious reasons, when you see the two-piece puck, you’re not going want to try taking shots with it. It simply isn’t manufactured to take a beating like that.

Overall, we’re really pleased with performance and durability levels provided by the Green Biscuit training puck. You’ll find that if you’re trying to improve your stick handling or passing while on an outdoor surface, the Green Biscuit is the perfect puck for you. At only $10.95, the Green Biscuit at HockeyShot.com is a must have training product. If you want to grab one for yourself, head over to HockeyShot.com.

Tags: Green Biscuit, Green Biscuit Training Puck, Review, Training

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 17th, 2011 and is filed under Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

No comments yet. Cancel Reply Type your comment here

Recent PostsSabres Home Renamed First Niagara CenterBlake Wheeler’s Winnipeg Jets Hockey PantsMiken MV5 Pro Radial Hockey Stick ReviewWill Sidney Crosby be ready for training camp?NHL R&D Camp: What Could Work in NHLHow Stiff is Your Shaft?Andreas Athanasiou Shootout Trick Shots at the NHL R&D CampDavid Perron to Miss Training CampBeer League Belly Buster CategoriesBehind the Bench (2)Fan Mail (1)Fantasy (34)Gear (110)Guest Article (7)Media (113)News (375)Power Rankings (33)Prospects (9)Reviews (15)Round Table (12)Rumors (29)Season Previews (67)Soap Box (97) Follow Us!

View the Original article

Sabres Home Renamed First Niagara Center

In the modern age of sports arenas and corporate sponsorship, buildings change names all the time. Gone are the days of arenas and stadiums known as the Garden, the Forum, the Palace and Pacific Coliseum. There are three NHL arenas (Joe Louis Arena, Madison Square Garden, and Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum) that do not have a sponsored name on the arena. Now you have fancy sponsored names such as Jobing.com (a job/career search engine) Arena, St. Pete Times (a newspaper) Forum, CONSOL Energy (a coal mining company) Center, Rogers (a communications company) Arena, and you can add First Niagara Center to that list.

The building in Buffalo formerly known as Marine Midland Arena and HSBC Arena kept their name in the banking family as First Niagara Bank has a 15-year agreement to have their name on the arena. First Niagara purchased HSBC Bank USA, which caused the arena name change. It had been called HSBC Arena since 1999 when HSBC acquired Marine Midland Bank, which had their name on the arena from its inception in 1996 to 1999.

The move comes during a busy 2011 in the Buffalo organization. The team was purchased by Terry Pegula in the early stages of the year, and he has led a complete overhaul of the franchise and front office in an effort to make the team better and to strive for a deep run in the postseason. Pegula owned a natural gas company that was sold for $4.7 billion. In addition to buying the Sabres for $189 million, he donated $88 million to Penn State University for the development and construction of a 6,000-seat ice arena set for completion in 2013 when Penn State will add men’s and women’s ice hockey as a NCAA-Division I varsity sport.

According to a story first posted in the Buffalo News, the head folks at First Niagara thought about renaming the arena First Niagara Auditorium. It would have been a homage to the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, the home of the Sabres from 1970-1996. While that would have been sweet for Buffalo natives, First Niagara Center sounds better off the tongue, and it also allows fans to already come up with jokes along the lines of “The Sabres finally got a F’N Center, just not the kind we wanted”.

Tags: Buffalo Sabres, First Niagara Center, Penn State University, Terry Pegula

This entry was posted on Friday, August 26th, 2011 and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

1 Comment

#1 by Chris on August 26th, 2011

Reply Quote

View the Original article

Beer League Belly Buster

Going pro was never an option, instead a life of beer leagues is what’s left. Staying true to the name, you do tend to pound some beers from time to time with your friends. It doesn’t help that you never get younger, your metabolism slows, and you have more important things to do then workout for hours a day. The end result, a nice round beer belly, one the ladies laugh at, the one that leaves you feeling pretty crappy.

Yes, that’s me, and most likely you as well. I’ve decided to change my habits to get not only a better body, but most importantly, improve my hockey game. I’m no doctor, no nutritionist nor a personal trainer, but here are some things that have worked for me and could possibly work for you. I challenge all beer league-rs to make a commitment to improving their health and their skill.

Set a Goal

Sounds pretty simple, but like work, life and everything, if you don’t have a goal in mind you don’t know where you are going. A proper goal improves motivation, and in a grueling process such as working out and getting into better shape, you’ll need all you can get. Goal setting is pretty logical when you think of it, but most people do it wrong.

The first thing is to figure out the big picture goal, what you’re end result will be. For me, I set a goal of losing weight, 36 pounds to be exact. Note, whatever you choose, it needs to be able to be measured.

Once you figure out the big picture goal, you then break that goal down into smaller targets to reach your big picture goal. How much you want to break it down is up to you, but refrain from so small as a daily measurement, or so large as only a monthly measurement. Humans need feedback, how much is up to you. For me, I hop on the scale weekly, with the target of losing 2 pounds a week.

The last step is to achieve your targets. Know that you will hit some tougher times than others, so if you do not hit your target one week, it does not mean you are a failure. Pick it up and push yourself hard the next week and get back on track. In the words of Batman Begins, a young Bruce Wayne is talked to by his Father,

View the Original article

David Perron to Miss Training Camp

David Perron will not be ready for the start of the 2011-12 NHL Season

While a lot of focus this off-season has been put on whether or not Sidney Crosby will return from his concussion, we forget that there is another talented youngster who has been sidelined since last November due to concussion symptoms. David Perron was on the receiving end of a blindside hit from Joe Thornton on November 4th, which caused the concussion. Perron continued the game, even contributing a goal in the Blues 2-0 victory, but missed the following 72 games of the season.

On August 3rd, St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong announced that Perron would not only miss training camp, but the start of the 2011-12 regular season as well, due to his ongoing concussion symptoms. He has made improvements, however, which is a great sign with something as serious as a concussion. The talented young winger “took a big jump a few months ago,” Armstrong said of his progress.

David Perron was expected to take on a large role with the Blues last season, after netting 20 goals and adding 20 assists in the 2009-10 season. In the 10 games Perron did play last season, he posted seven points on five goals and two assists. Expectations for him will be just as high once he returns to action. However, the Blues took some action this off-season by adding Jason Arnott, Jamie Langenbrunner, and Jonathan Cheechoo to the line-up.

While Blues fans continue to patiently wait for Perron to make his return, Bruins and Penguins fans do the same with Marc Savard and Sidney Crosby, respectively. Savard is still experiencing concussion symptoms from separate hits by Matt Cooke and Matt Hunwick. Crosby, on the other hand, has returned to the ice to skate and train by himself, but has not been cleared for contact drills.

The seriousness of these long term concussion injuries really brings to focus, once again, the extent of punishment for blindside hits to the head. Should the hitter sit just as long as the injured player, or is a shorter suspension more appropriate? Companies such as Reebok can enhance the levels of head protection like they did with their new Reebok 11k helmet, but when someone takes advantage of you with an unnecessary hit to the head, there’s only so much even the best helmets in the game can do.

Tags: David Perron, Doug Armstrong, Jamie Langenbrunner, Jason Arnott, Joe Thornton, Jonathan Cheechoo, Marc Savard, Reebok, Reebok 11k Helmet, Sidney Crosby

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 18th, 2011 and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

No comments yet. Cancel Reply Type your comment here

Recent PostsSabres Home Renamed First Niagara CenterBlake Wheeler’s Winnipeg Jets Hockey PantsMiken MV5 Pro Radial Hockey Stick ReviewWill Sidney Crosby be ready for training camp?NHL R&D Camp: What Could Work in NHLHow Stiff is Your Shaft?Andreas Athanasiou Shootout Trick Shots at the NHL R&D CampBeer League Belly BusterGreen Biscuit Training Puck Review CategoriesBehind the Bench (2)Fan Mail (1)Fantasy (34)Gear (110)Guest Article (7)Media (113)News (375)Power Rankings (33)Prospects (9)Reviews (15)Round Table (12)Rumors (29)Season Previews (67)Soap Box (97) Follow Us!

View the Original article

How Stiff is Your Shaft?

Just the other day I was getting my skates sharpened, and to kill the time, I headed over to the stick rack to check out some twigs. I haven’t really paid much attention to sticks over the last year and a half, I’ve had the opportunity to put the Blue Ice Nano Pro through the rigors which is holding up great, as well as having an old Easton that used to be a one piece turned into an indestructible two piece. While looking, my interest was peaked in seeing staff stiffness range in three increments; mid 70′s, high 80′s and low 100′s (depending on the brand). Of being of the knowledge stiffer is better, I have done some research to share with you.

View the Original article

Will Sidney Crosby be ready for training camp?

Will Sidney Crosby be ready for the start of training camp in just a few short weeks after missing the latter half of last season thanks to a concussion sustained in early January?

It’s still too soon to tell.

According to TSN, reports surfaced out of Halifax that Crosby cancelled on-ice training sessions at a local rink due to a recurrence of concussion symptoms, prompting many to believe that Crosby was forced to stop training until symptoms subsided. Crosby’s agent, Pat Brission, said that this was not true.

“Sidney hasn’t been shut down by anyone,” Brisson said. “He has simply adjusted his summer program accordingly to the different needs for the appropriate recovery.

View the Original article

Miken MV5 Pro Radial Hockey Stick Review

The kind folks over at Miken  have given HockeyWorldBlog.com a Miken MV5 Pro Radial Hockey Stick to review. Given that our team is working on a decent amount of reviews, and perhaps a little coaxing on my behalf, the team has decided to let me take the stick for some rigorous testing. Without further ado, here is my first review.

A little background knowledge is always a good thing. My previous stick that I was using was from the guys at Blue Ice Hockey, the Blue Ice Nano Pro. To say that I love the stick would be an understatement. A price point to fit every hockey players budget, a long with the durability and performance of top end sticks, really makes it tough for me to jump over to the Miken.

Miken’s roots began in baseball as they produced a high performance composite bat. Taking the knowledge learned from their research and development, mixing it with pro player advisors, Miken is now in the hockey game. Another little ditty for those who don’t know already, Miken is based out of Minnesota.  For hockey players in the United States, if you’re looking for American made you have found it. I personally may not be a fan favorite of local Wild fans, but hopefully after reading this review they might ease up on me a bit.

Stick: Miken MV5 Pro Radial

Weight: 488 grams

Curve/Lie: BP 40 (Easton Zetterberg, Bauer PM9, Reebok P34, and Warrior Savard)

Flex: 100

Price: $149.99 sale price right now / $199.99 original

Aesthetics:

A matted black finish with red lettering and grey and white accents. To say that it is eye catching is definitely an understatement. It is slick, it’s mean, and a big “Made in U.S.A.” is plastered on the back of the blade. What’s not to love?

Performance:

It’s hard coming from a stick you love and jumping right into another one. A lot of the stick is feel for a hockey player. Fortunately the Miken MV5 Radial eased the transition.

The shaft has a tapered design and a low kick point. From a shooting perspective, the stick has a good kick. Slapshots seem to come off the stick with a nice snap and wrist shots are pretty dead on with accuracy. I even have picked the top shelf on multiple occasions (and yes, I was aiming there).

From a puck handling perspective I’m still transitioning to the stick. Currently the Blue Ice Nano Pro is about a half an inch to an inch smaller. The longer length of the Miken at times makes it difficult to get some decent wood on one-timers. Oddly enough, and kind of contradictory to my last statement, my puck handling seems to have improved. I find myself not looking down as much, really being in tune with the feel of the puck to the blade of the stick. This is an added bonus that I was not expecting.

Durability:

If there is one thing I question about the stick is durability. Still way too early to really get a good feel for durability, but currently I have noticed a little opening on the toe of the stick. This, however, could be the result of anything be it someone stepping on the blade to an awkward poke check. It is something I am keeping note of an plan to report on in the future.

On a more positive note, I do have a fellow teammate who currently uses a Miken MV3 Pro. After some competitive play for about a month, he ended up snapping the stick in a game. He contacted Miken’s customer service and is not only having his stick replaced, but is actually being given an upgrade to the MV5 Pro Radial.

The two situations are an abnormal occurrence. The professionalism of the company and the customer service on the other hand is top notch solid.

Ending Notes:

I’ve played with the MV5 for about a half dozen times now be it in a league and some drop-ins. I’m liking what I am getting out of the stick so far, but look to continue to push it to the limits. I might knock of an inch on the stick to get a little better stick handling, but worry about the extra stiffness taking a hit to wrist shots. Overall with the excellent customer service, made in America, as well as a good price point for the product, I would recommend picking up a Miken MV5 Radial and giving it a shot.

 

Tags: Blue Ice, Blue Ice Hockey, Blue Ice Nano Pro, Miken, Miken MV3 Pro, Miken MV5 Pro Radial, MV3 Pro, MV5 Pro Radial, MV5 Radial, Nano Pro

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 24th, 2011 and is filed under Gear, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

No comments yet. Cancel Reply Type your comment here

Recent PostsSabres Home Renamed First Niagara CenterBlake Wheeler’s Winnipeg Jets Hockey PantsWill Sidney Crosby be ready for training camp?NHL R&D Camp: What Could Work in NHLHow Stiff is Your Shaft?Andreas Athanasiou Shootout Trick Shots at the NHL R&D CampDavid Perron to Miss Training CampBeer League Belly BusterGreen Biscuit Training Puck Review CategoriesBehind the Bench (2)Fan Mail (1)Fantasy (34)Gear (110)Guest Article (7)Media (113)News (375)Power Rankings (33)Prospects (9)Reviews (15)Round Table (12)Rumors (29)Season Previews (67)Soap Box (97) Follow Us!

View the Original article