With the NHL lockout still underway you may be wondering what the players and more specifically the goaltenders are up too. Many of the NHL goaltenders we’ve come to love and idolize are now showing off their amazing skills overseas for teams I can barely pronounce and in leagues some of us have never even heard of. Some of these leagues include the KHL, ESBG, DEL, Czech Extraliga, and SM-Liiga.

Goaltenders currently playing in Russia’s (KHL) Kontinental Hockey League are Anton Khudobin of the Boston Bruins now playing for the Atlant Moscow Oblast, Semyon Varlamov of the Colorado Avalanche now with HC Lokomotiv, Ilya Bryzgalov of the Philadelphia Flyers is now playing with CSKA, Niklas Backstrom of the Minnesota Wild is now with HC Dinamo Minsk, Sergei Bobrovsky of the Columbus Blue Jackets is with SKA St. Petersburg, and Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators is with the HC Dinamo Minsk.

The Czech Extraliga hockey league currently has Michal Neuvirth of the Washington Capitals signed to the Sparta Praha, Ondrj Pavelec of the Winnipeg Jets is now playing with Bili Tygri Liberec, and Tuukka Rask of the Boston Bruins signed with HC Plzen.

San Jose Sharks goaltender Antti Niemi is currently playing for the Pelicans of the Swedish SM-Liiga hockey league.

Germany’s ESBG Hockey League signed both Rick DiPietro of the New York Islanders to SC Riessersee and Jonathan Bernier of the Los Angeles Kings to the Heilbronner Falken on Oct. 10^th 2012.

If and when the NHL comes to an agreement to end the lockout, most of the goaltenders will return to their NHL teams ready to put on a show.

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to the Limited Edition Bauer APX hockey stick! This bad boy has all the same specs and technologies as the original APX hockey stick, but with a blacked out color scheme. The large Bauer logo on the side of the shaft is in a bright pearl white, so it really stands out and looks sweet. The APX Limited Edition shaft has the popular TeXtreme® construction and Monocomp technology that makes this stick as lightweight and responsive as possible. The flex profile utilizes the premier dual taper for exceptional torsional deflection and shot control. The Vapor line’s signature Intelli-Sense shot technology provides for a “variable” flex point to allow for maximized loading for quick wrist and snap shots. The APX LE hockey stick comes in grip and non-grip, so be sure to pick one up at Ice Warehouse.

The holidays are here and so are the savings! From December 3rd ’til December 14th IW brings you the 12 Days of Savings. Here’s how it works: IW will post a new item on our 12 Days of Savings page at a deeply discounted price each day at noon PST. After the 14th we will keep all items on sale until December 31st or until they sell out.

On the 1st Day of Savings, IW will give to thee:

Ice: Easton EQ40 Ice Hockey Skates – $169.98

Originally priced at $350, similar to the Easton EQ50 Skates, the Easton EQ40 skates offer high level performance at a ridiculously low price. Check out the details at

http://www.icewarehouse.com/descpage.html?pcode=EQ40S .

Inline: Tour Thor GX7 Roller Hockey Skate – $199.99

Originally $299, the Tour Thor GX7 Skates are designed for the intermediate to advanced inline hockey player. Check it out at http://www.inlinewarehouse.com/Tour_Thor_GX7_Roller_Hockey_Skates_Sr_/descpage-82BL.html.

Day 2:

Warrior Diablo Hockey Stick – $99.97

Normally these sticks go for $199.99 and now that they’re 50% off there shouldn’t be a reason not to grab one. These are just a step down from the top of the line Warrior Widow and share many of the same features. Check out this bargain:

http://www.icewarehouse.com/descpage.html?pcode=WDO

Day 3:

Tour Dri-Corr Loose Performance Shirts – $8.99

Originally $24.99, these performance shirts will help keep you cool, dry and comfortable. Check them out:

http://www.icewarehouse.com/descpage.html?pcode=TDCSS

Day 4:

Ice: Battle Sports Hockey Impact Indicator – $39.97

Normally $129.99, the Impact Indicator will let you know if any incident leaves the player with a chance of a concussion. Check this safety device out:

http://www.icewarehouse.com/descpage.html?pcode=BSHI

Inline: Rink Rat Hot Shot Hockey Wheels – $5.97

These wheels usually go for $9.99 and at this new price these wheels are a must-have as they offer premier performance at an affordable price. Find more information on this wheel:

http://www.inlinewarehouse.com/Rink_Rat_Hot_Shot_Hockey_Wheels_2012/descpage-RHSOW.html

Day 5:

Miken Pro Fit T – $59.97

The Miken Pro Fit T offers a traditional fit and an advanced level of protection. Check it out:

http://www.icewarehouse.com/descpage.html?pcode=MPFTG

Day 6:

Ice: Easton Stealth Comp Performance Longsleeve Shirt – $21.97

Stay dry and agile with the Easton Stealth Comp Performance Longsleeve Shirt.

http://www.icewarehouse.com/descpage.html?pcode=ESCS0

Inline: Tour Lionheart Pro Roller Hockey – $29.97

Originally $59.99, the Lionheart Pro Roller Hockey Pants offer great durability in a lightweight package.

http://www.inlinewarehouse.com/Tour_Lionheart_Pro_Roller_Hockey_Pants_Sr_/descpage-HPA62.html

Day 7:

Ice: Reebok 7K Goalie Masks – $189.97

The Reebok 7K goalie mask is similar to the 9K in various ways including the Carbon Composite Fiber / Aramid Fiber construction.

http://www.icewarehouse.com/descpage.html?pcode=GF7K

Inline: Labeda Goal Patrol Goalie Hockey Wheels – $1.49

These wheels are designed for outdoor (concrete or asphalt) play and will offer great durability and performance.

http://www.inlinewarehouse.com/Labeda_Goal_Patrol_Goalie_Hockey_Wheel_59mm_82A/descpage-LGPW.html

Goaltending has sure come a long way since the early days of hockey. The sport is more demanding, physically challenging and technology has pushed even the best players to continue improving. The main objective of a goaltender is simple, stop any pucks from entering the goal, thus keeping the opposing team from scoring. As simple as that may sound, goaltenders are constantly evolving their playing styles to stay competitive during the game. Goalie equipment continues to improve over time, getting lighter and more protective. These days, goaltenders have various styles of equipment to choose from depending on their playing style.

Standup goaltending is the oldest style of goaltending and has lost major popularity over the years. Standup goalies would make a majority of their saves standing up with their leg pads together and stick on the ice. As the name implies Standup Goalies would rarely go down partially because the lack of protection, especially for your head. Standup goalies relied on their outstanding reflexes and positioning but were highly susceptible to shots down low and lateral saves. Standup goalies would use kick saves to stop low shots and rely heavily on stick saves.

Butterfly style goaltending is very common these days being very accepted throughout the game. Patrick Roy is probably the most notable Butterfly net minder of all time, perfecting the technique and winning four Stanley Cups throughout his career. A butterfly goalie plays with their feet apart and bent at the knees allowing them to drop down to the ice stopping any pucks down low. The advantage of the Butterfly style is mobility and the ability to cover the bottom of the net quickly and effectively. Positioning is key to this style of goaltending, ensuring maximum net coverage.

Photo Credit Sports Illustrated

Hybrid goaltending is a combination of styles, taking the best of both Standup and Butterfly. Dominik Hasek is well known for his Hybrid style of play, doing what ever it took to make the save.  In general most goalies play some sort of Hybrid style, capitalizing on ones own strengths and weaknesses.  These days it’s less common to see a goalie playing strictly Butterfly or Standup.

Battlefly is the newest way to categorize goaltenders like NHL Stanley Cup Champion Jonathan Quick. Battlefly goalies basically use the same techniques as the Standup, Butterfly and Hybrid style goalies but blend them together, improving overall performance. One could say that Battlefly goaltenders go to battle, taking more of an aggressive offensive approach, challenging the shooter and doing what ever it takes to make the save.  Excellent skating ability, quick reflexes, extreme flexibility, and outstanding positioning allows the Battlefly goaltender to make incredible saves throughout the game.

Goaltenders are a breed of their own and even though many of the core techniques are similar no two are identical. The four playing styles listed above are a general outline and only through individual experience, strengths and weaknesses can a goalie master his or her own style.

Warrior is back at it, bringing back the old school.  The Remix Limited Edition gloves feature a vintage look with six classic NHL team color ways with the year they were brought into the league.  They feature the Chicago Blackhawks Circa 1926, Los Angeles Kings Circa 1967, Minnesota North Stars Circa 1967, Hartford Whalers Circa 1979, Colorado Rockies Circa 1976, and the Quebec Nordiques Circa 1972.  The gloves also feature the teams city and logo on the outside of the glove running down the pinky finger.

When I first pulled them out of the package and tried them on, I  felt that they fit a bit tighter from the palm to the back hand than most traditional fitting gloves like the Bauer 4-roll Pro and the CCM 4-roll Pro ll.  They did loosen up a bit and break in after about the 5th time using them but were still tighter and stiffer than the other’s.  One thing I really liked about the gloves is that they are extremely lightweight but very protective and they offer a lot of mobility in the wrist area.  I have not experienced any restriction at all in that area.

I also like the Authentic Pro Palm Warrior gave this glove.  You don’t get the best stick feel through the palm but it is extremely durable and very comfortable.  The liner is also very comfortable and it wicks away moisture pretty good but because the palm is a bit thick it tends to retain a little more sweat than others but that is expected from a traditional pro palm.

Overall I do like that these gloves are lightweight yet very protective.  And  you get a great range of motion in the wrist area.  The only issue I had with these gloves is that they fit tighter and stiffer than most traditional gloves.  Other than that I liked these gloves and recommend them to anyone that likes a traditional fitting glove .

Available at Inline & Ice Warehouse.

It’s that time of the year around the Warehouse where sneak peeks are coming out left and right. Well here is the exclusive sneak peak at the 2013 Tour Fish BoneLite Pro skate. This bad boy is going to be headlining the 2013 Tour Skate line with the BoneLite 750 and Bonelite 725 following suit with somewhat similar designs like the BoneLite Pro.

The Fish BoneLite Pro skates are going to come in two color schemes. The first one is dark themed; black quarter package and black Labeda Eviction frames with bright green accents. The second color scheme looks like it will be a “limited edition” colorway; whited-out quarter package and whited-out Labeda Eviction frames with bright green accents as well. Sitting inside of the Eviction frames regardless of color, there is four Labeda Addiction wheels with new Bevo Gold 9 bearings. The all-white look seems as if Mission might have rubbed off on them, nonetheless it’s an aggressive clean look. Using history as a reference, the intricacies of the stitching on the quarter packages raises some questions about durability but only time will tell.

For 2013, Tour went a new direction with the liner and tongue construction. The tongue uses a nice HD foam insert for protection but they redesigned the tongue’s shape in order to flex and move better than previous models. The eyelets were also moved forwards in order to get a better “wrap” around the ankle. The liner got a nice upgrade with the Accu-Aire liner that increases ventilation and breathability throughout the boot. Working together with the Accu-Aire Liner, the addition of lower heel vents should help increase the ventilation a good amount as well.

Look out for more information and details on these Fish BoneLite Pro Skates as well as the BoneLite 750 and Bonelite 725 coming soon to InlineWarehouse!

I was a little skeptical about the RBZ when it first arrived on the market for a lot of reasons.  TaylorMade had never ventured into the hockey industry before, CCM previously failed to impress me in the stick department, the hollow blade may be hard to adjust to, and more. When CCM sent us the RBZ prior to its release, we product tested it and I was able to shoot with it. The thing that got hooked me was the pop of the stick. The RBZ’s tagline really captures the essence of the stick: “Strap a Rocket to the Puck!”

CCM’s Power Swing technology creates a fine tuned weight and flex distribution providing a faster swing for unbelievable puck speed. On top of this, the 4 speed channels and hollow blade construction that make up the SpeedBlade technology (TaylorMade contribution) give the blade very powerful pop. Every wrist and snap shot I take comes off the stick accurately and a lot more power than I usually get with other sticks.

Another contributing factor is the Variable Kick Point. The flex point changes depending on your hand position, so no matter where your gloves are placed you’re stick will flex at the optimal point. This differs from Bauer’s Intelli-Sense technology found in the Vapor Line because Bauer’s flex uses only two different flex points; whereas the RBZ can flex all throughout the stick, making it perfect for all kinds of shots.

Originally I was worried about the hollow blade because I expected it to be hard to control or feel the puck. The first time I used the stick I was pleasantly surprised. Not only was the feel incredibly, the puck didn’t bounce erratically off the stick or even deflect poorly at all.

The only complaint that I can find with this stick is that it only comes in the grip option. Other than that, I highly recommend this stick to anyone and everyone.

Available at Inline & Ice Warehouse.

Sher-Wood’s releasing a new line of goalie sticks this December called SUPERLIGHT. The new SUPERLIGHT goalie sticks offer innovative features combined with hybrid technology and lightweight materials including high modulus carbon fiber. Sher-Wood’s SUPERLIGHT goalie sticks have a new thin blade design that significantly improves the goaltenders feel for the puck and the addition feel improves a goalies game around the net. A common problem with composite sticks is that they sometimes become soft in the paddle portion of the stick. Sher-Wood addresses these issues by running the shaft through the paddle, down into the heel. This technology allows goalkeepers to achieve optimal responsiveness and performance. Sher-Wood’s new SUPERLIGHT goalie sticks will come in 4 models, the SUPERLIGHT SL700, SUPERLIGHT SL750, SUPERLIGHT SL800 and SUPERLIGHT SL825. The model number on the SUPERLIGHT goalie stick indicates the weight of the stick in grams.

Let’s take a closer look!

The SUPERLIGHT SL700 is constructed from a super lightweight high modulus carbon fiber giving goaltenders excellent stiffness and strength without the additional weight. The paddle uses injected polyurethane foam reinforced with fiberglass and carbon fiber as well as a carbon channel that runs across the paddle adding to the ultimate stiffness.

The SUPERLIGHT SL750 shaft is constructed from carbon fiber and the blade / paddle is constructed with reinforced fiberglass and carbon fiber.  A carbon fiber channel crosses the paddle portion adding to the overall stiffness and prevents the stick from becoming soft over time. The paddle injected polyurethane foam is Taking most of the shot impact vibrations is the injected polyurethane foam

The SUPERLIGHT SL800 shaft is constructed with an aspen wood core, covered with a double birch lamination and reinforced with vertical fiberglass and carbon fiber. To help with dampening the shot vibrations, injected polyurethane foam is used in the paddle and is covered with fiberglass and carbon fiber. The combination of materials used on the SL800 offers excellent stiffness and overall durability.

The SUPERLIGHT SL825 is built similar to the SL800 but instead of using vertical fiberglass and carbon fiber, they are using vertical birch slat lamination to achieve the stiffness. The paddle is injected with polyurethane foam and is covered with fiberglass.

For more information on Sher-Wood products or any of our goalie equipment products make sure to check us out online at Inline and Ice Warehouse.

A couple of the guys from the IW crew went to the Let’s Play Hockey convention a couple weeks ago to check out some new equipment and the Revision Variant Plus roller hockey wheels caught their eye.  So let’s take a sneak peek!

Revision has made some great improvements based around the original Variants making the Variant Plus wheel a top performer out on the rink.  Revision used a new and improved urethane on the outside of the wheel making them the fastest wheel on the market without sacrificing any durability.  At the Narch Pro Skills Competition, the fastest skater and runner-up were both flying around on the Revision Variant Plus wheels.  The Variant Plus went forward with the Torus Technology providing you with both maximum grip and speed with the different layers of urethane.  Revision improved the Torus Technology by designing a new and cleaner shape giving you more of a maintained roll and wheel flex control with your stops and cuts.  The inner Torus ring is made out of a higher rebound material than the original Variant wheels giving you even quicker starts, stops, and  turns.

The Revision Variant Plus wheels are the official wheel of the 2012 Narch Pro Champs, Revision Vanquish and the 2012 IIHF World Champs, Canada.  These guys took home the bacon while rolling on this great wheel.  It will not be hard to spot these bad boys either with a very cool, bright, look so keep your eyes open for the Revision Variant Plus roller hockey wheels rolling in very soon.

Hey there everyone, it’s the “sneak peek” season around The Warehouse and that’s just what I have for you today! I’d like to introduce to you the CCM RBZ 60 Stick. This new addition to the RBZ line has some of the same features found on the flagship RBZ stick with a few exceptions.

Like the RBZ, the RBZ 60 will have the completely unique “custom” kick point. This means wherever your lower hand loads the stick, the stick will flex at that point unlike anything else out. The IntelliSense Technology in the Bauer Vapor sticks are the closest thing to this custom kick point, but Bauer only achieved it by predetermining the Vapor sticks to flex near your upper hand instead of a variable kick point like the RBZ’s. This variable kick point makes this stick ideal for any player; from the quick wrist/snap shot style to the more powerful slap shot/one timer style.

As for the shaft, the RBZ 60 has less concave side walls (almost straight) than the original, so it will have a more traditional feel. The graphics are nearly identical, so you get top-notch graphics (and specs) at a great value. At this price point, it might be hard to beat the combination of lightweight feel and solid performance that the RBZ 60 stick has to offer. These bad boys will be ready to ship on November 16^th, so be sure to pre-order ahead of time at Inline or Ice Warehouse so you’re the first one to have it!!