The New STX Surgeon RX2 Hockey Sticks- Setting Out To Reshape The Game

In the modern era of composite hockey sticks there have been many innovations and changes. The one thing that has remained constant is the shape. For the most part the shape of sticks has been square or, more specifically, rectangular. STX is looking to change all that with the introduction of  the Surgeon RX 2 composite stick line featuring Puregrip Technology.

Puregrip Technology gives you an entirely new way to take control of the game. Its innovative, ergonomic design on the underside of the shaft fills the void in your hand left by a traditional shaped hockey stick. The angular shape on the bottom of the stick maximizes hand contact points for advanced stick control and quick, responsive play.

STX Surgeon RX2 Pueregrip Technology

It has the familiar square top, but the bottom is like nothing you've ever played with before. It's like the ultimate hybrid of a hockey stick and a lacrosse stick (STX being one of the leaders in LAX gear being completely coincidental). It has a great feel in the bare hand, but you really need to hold it with hockey gloves to fully appreciate just how different and comfortable this shape is. This unique ergonomic shape creates more contact points in the hand creating greater control.

Puergrip Technology for greater glove feel

The STX Surgeon RX2 sticks will be available on June 10th. Stop in and check out the shape of things to come!

Brian's and Their Custom "Goalies Only" Equipment Are Changing the Game

Brian’s has released the new Sub Zero 3 goalie line, and it is without a doubt one of the best goalie pad designs we have seen. The incredibly light feel, easy smart strap system and customization capabilities have all contributed to the rapid growth of the Brian’s brand. Their dedication to “Goalie’s Only” is evident in their high quality product. Below are some of the highlights:

Lightest Goalie Pad Ever

The new Brian’s Sub Zero 3 goalie pads are 10% lighter than the Sub Zero II, which was previously the lightest pad on the market. The thinner profile has allowed for a weight reduction, but the flat-faced design keeps the pad stiff.

Cutting Edge Design

The Brian’s Sub Zero 3 pads have ditched the leather straps for a smart strap system. The smart strapping system has made the goalie pad 100% adjustable, and allows the goalie to find the most comfortable feel for their game. The design also allows for a smoother pad rotation on the leg for butterfly goaltenders.

Customization Capabilities

The customization of the Brian’s goalie equipment is simply incredible. There is literally no custom design that Brian’s will turn away. The attention to detail is second to none, and the team at Brian’s is enthusiastic about new and challenging designs.

Fastest Growing Goalie Brand

Brian’s is without a doubt the fastest growing goalie company, and you will see it firsthand at the NHL level.  They have increased to an 18% market share amongst NHL/AHL goalies. Brian’s has a small company feel with outstanding customer service. Their dedication to serving goalie customers is unmatched, and has contributed to their incredible growth.

Don’t think you can afford the pro-level Sub Zero 3? Try the Brian’s Sub Zero 7.0 series. One of the best value pads currently on the market. We would put it up against many other companies’ pro-level pads. The stiff face creates an incredibly durable pad, at an affordable price.

Customize your next pair of SZ3’s —->Brian’s SZ3 Customizer

Below is a collection of some custom designs that we helped put together at Sports Etc, many of which that were featured as "pad of the week" on www.goaliesonly.com :

 

Paul Barbieri- Burlington High School

 

Sarah Foss- Northeastern University

 

Moe Bradley- UMass Boston

 

Tanner Jones- Virginia Tech

 

Dave Cunningham- Amherst College

 

Custom Brian's B-Star Vintage Pads

 

Shaughn Sargent

 

Ryan McConnell from Tufts University

 

Sihak Lee from BB&N School

 

USA Chest & Arm Pad

 

Custom Set for the Black Dog

 

Derick Roy- Northeastern University

 

Sean Cleary- UMass Lowell

Tips for a Harder Slap Shot

In hockey, there isn’t a much better feeling than completely getting into a slap shot and blowing it by a goalie. But like hitting a perfect drive in golf, ripping the perfect slap shot on the ice can be a matter of consistency- and many times slap shots can become very inconsistent. Here are some tips for improving the velocity and consistency of your slap shot:

Find the Right Hockey Stick

First and foremost, you want to find the perfect weapon that will help you achieve the hardest shot possible. Each player has a different body type and strength level, so you want to make sure your stick suits your game.

A bigger/stronger individual should be using a higher flex stick to get the most power from their shot (something in the 85-110 range; 67 for an intermediate). A player of smaller stature or strength should use a “lighter” or lower flex hockey stick (something in the 75-85 range; 60 for an intermediate).

Zdeno Chara stands 6′ 9″ tall and uses a stiff flex of over 130, which helped him achieve the hardest shot ever recorded.

Nathan Gerbe in contrast to Zdeno Chara, is the smallest player in the NHL at 5′ 5″. He uses a much lighter flex on his stick (something in the 67-77 range).

Another added benefit, which can help add velocity to a player’s shot is choosing a “grip” hockey stick. The tacky grip allows you to keep your bottom hand firmly planted on the stick, while taking a shot. This is important because it ensures that there is no slippage of the hand. When the bottom hand slips during a shot, the player loses power that is needed to “load” the stick for a shot.

Longtime NHLer and shooting coach Scott Bjugstad has been advocating grip sticks for some time now. When we met him at an Easton hockey expo, he explained that a huge amount of velocity can be lost on shots when using a non-grip stick.

Have the Proper Technique

When taking a slap shot you want to make sure you attack the puck properly. The puck should be placed towards your back foot. The stick should hit the ice a few inches behind the puck, so you can really “lean” your body into the shot, which in turn allows the stick to flex and “load” for the shot.

Drive the blade of the stick through the puck striking it between the middle/heel of the blade. As you follow through, the puck will naturally roll towards the toe of the blade, which provides extra torque and spin of the puck increasing the velocity even more.

Striking the ice a few inches behind the puck allows the “load” and “flex” of the shaft, which creates all the power behind the slap shot.

Practice Makes Perfect

It may seem obvious, but players like Alex Ovechkin didn’t just become one of the best pure shooters in the NHL by accident. It takes practice. Grab a stick, a sheet of practice ice, and a bucket of pucks- find a spot in your driveway or basement- and shoot. The more you shoot, the more consistent shot you are going to have. Sidney Crosby shot pucks every single day at his parents washing machine in their basement. Find a method of practice that works best for you and work hard to improve your game.

A Guide to the Recommended Skate Sharpening Radius

For most hockey players, skate sharpening is typically a matter of personal preference. Some players like to be able to dig into the ice for a firm "bite" or "grip", while some players like a more shallow hollow for a better "glide" along the ice. There is generally no right or wrong skate sharpening radius, but below are some general guidelines to skate sharpening:

Forward/ Defenseman

The most common skate sharpening radius we see for ice hockey players is a 1/2" inch or 5/8" inch cut.  The 1/2" radius would be our typical recommendation because it is the perfect blend of "glide" and "bite." Some players opt for the 3/8" cut, but you are definitely sacrificing some "glide," which can in turn affect your overall speed on the ice. Likewise, players that choose the 3/4" cut can really sacrifice their "bite," which can negatively affect quick cuts that are so common in the game of hockey.

Our recommendation: 1/2" or 5/8" inch radius.

Goalie

We see the biggest variety of skate sharpening cuts when dealing with ice hockey goalies. Generally, we find that the more experienced goalies opt for a very deep cut, like 3/8" inch. This allows the goalie to really dig into the ice, and slide post to post to make reactionary saves. Sometimes this can be a difficult radius for inexperienced or younger goalies because there is too much bite, which leads to their goalie skate getting caught underneath them, often tripping them up when sliding post to post. For this reason, we recommended that a more inexperienced goalie choose a 1" cut, so it as an effortless glide going from post to post.

Our recommendation: 3/8" or 1/2" for the experienced goalie, 1" for the inexperienced goalie.

Figure Skating 

Figure skaters generally like a better "glide" along the top of the ice, so we typically see a 1" cut to maximize a smooth glide. When a figure skater wants to dig into the ice, they do so with their toe pick, so a sharper edge is not necessarily paramount.

Our recommendation: 1" inch radius. 

Seasonal Sharpening

Sometimes the time of year can play a factor in which radius hockey players choose. In the warmer summer months, the ice gets softer, so many players elect for a duller cut to avoid digging too much blade into the ice.

Likewise, in the winter months, when the ice is harder, players often opt for a sharper cut that is more capable of digging into the ice.

Our recommendation: 1/2" inch radius in the winter. 5/8" radius in the summer. 

Below is a chart that outlines recommended skate sharpening cuts: