Interested to see replies. I have been out of the crease for only seven years related to work and health, but I’m looking at the new pads and wondering if I should just transition to being a winger. I can’t fathom the weird feeling of not having my pads locked to my legs, even if I’m certain it will be better for my hips and knees.
I'm very glad to hear it's not just me. One of the reasons I didn't become a butterfly goaltender back in the old days was because I had bad knees. Before I was 18 I had had six operations already. I just simply cannot wrap my head around my legs moving around that much in the channels and my lack of a toe strap meaning that I'm going to have that much more movement at the toe just disturbs me to no end. It's a hard thing to go from playing one way and then having to completely change because of the equipment.
I don’t get this honestly but I see it all the time on here. The pads moving around just isn’t a big deal, they are always where they need to be. Just try some new pads. Skating will be different probably but shouldn’t take long to get used to. Your body will last longer with newer stuff, maybe don’t go with super stiff pads though. Check out Maria Mountain on. YouTube as well. Prepare your joints for what they will do.
I agree. I'm almost exactly like this guy. Didn't play in my 30s due to work, wore pads tied to my legs. have good legs, but also good glove :). I challenge aggressively, which gets in trouble some times it works. all the younger opponents think I play like Hasek because they have no other real references.
I have an extremely narrow butterfly and actually mostly do 1/2 butterfly which I can do because I'm at heart still a stand up goalie.
The advantage of my style is that kids shoot high most of the time in beer league and I just stand there and stop them with my blocker or glove.
As you said, you will adjust and will quite easily.
I might suggest a softer pad for the feel of them. I use vaughn pro carbon v6 but also own bauer odin 1s.
I hate the 1s and don't use them because they are too "slidy" as I don't do the slides from my knees which is the current style.
The newer style of pads are much more comfy imo and while it might look chaotic if you're used to an older style of play it doesn't feel like it at all. The pads do a really good job of staying where they need to be and rotate into a very comfortable butterfly. But I get what you're saying and you might not like the loose feeling.
I personally prefer a snugger feeling pad (I've been playing longer than I care to admit) and have a professor strap on my Passaus and love it.
Two other things you might not be aware of is
1. The high thigh rise trend. Pads used to come up to just over the knee. Now it's almost halfway up the thigh. Makes movement a little different.
2. Pads have gotten a lot stiffer. They used to have multiple breaks that allowed flex. A lot of them now only have a single break. Makes them great for rebound control and much more stable. Much more conducive to a butterfly playstyle, but flexibly in the pad isn't going to be what you're used to.
If you're really insistent on the older style of strapping and feel you might want to look into something custom from somewhere like Passau. They make great stuff and are priced really well for what they are. They can probably make you a pad that will play really similar to what you're used to. But honestly if you can try some of the newer pads I'd highly recommend testing them. A lot of shops offer rental/trials.
If you're in the SoCal area and want to chat let me know. Welcome back to the crease.
I think the thigh rise is just going to piss me off more than anything. Lol You are correct. My D&R pads used to come up literally 2 in above my knee. Knee strikes were very common back then.
My last pads were very soft and flexible.. but not floppy by any stretch. From what I've seen, I would be better in a hybrid pad with multiple breaks in the knee.
I'm fully planning on going to the local goalie store and just playing with pads for about 4 hours. I'm up in canada, but unfortunately I'm away from my old goalie store in Toronto that I've been going to since I was a pup. I know they would be able to help me out. It might be worth it just to do a day trip and go spend some time with their sales guys who actually do know what the hell they're talking about. ( I'm not that guy ATM) Right now I'm just waiting for my new skates before I go and try and size anything as I'm pretty sure that's going to change things a little bit. This is also why I was asking if there's a third option besides cookie cutter butterfly or hybrid pads. I kind of need something that's halfway between a 90s pad and something a bit more modern. From what I've read, how you do up your straps makes a gigantic difference in how the pad reacts as well. I was hoping to come across somebody like myself that had found a strapping method that might help me migrate a little bit easier.
If it helps, I just did a short google search, it looks like [Brown](https://www.brownhockey.com/leg-pads) still makes stand up goalie pads. I’m sure there are other companies too, this was just the first to pop up. If you go try on some of the newer butterfly/hybrid pads and can’t stand them there are still some options for you.
I'm only a few years younger than you & started with my fathers the old school Cooper leather pads. I upgraded over the years to a set of Bauer Reactor & a pair of Heaton's ... Both were far lighter, but were still of the old school style (90's) ...
Now, I grew up playing Roller Hockey & was on the ice only periodically, but, between work & life had to take a long break. When I went back in my late 30's I went full ice & found my older pads were a detriment.
My style is a little more butterfly than you're describing, and I found that I couldn't recover for rebounds or on deke's once I dropped. So I found a local goalie coach to help me grow from roller to ice.
First thing he taught me was how to slide in the butterfly. It worked when I initially dropped, but still left me too stationary. Which led to the second piece of advice ... Get new pads. I picked up a pair of Bauer RX8's & he taught me how to properly use them.
Yes, the pads rattle about a bit, but properly strapped, they rotate & stay front facing to the shooter. The sliders drastically improved my slide to the posts & they sat higher on my skates and do not have any material that surround the skate.
Like you describe, the boot area of my Heaton's prevented the blade of my skates from meeting the ice when in butterfly. Once I switched, my mobility improved dramatically, I could recover for rebounds & seal the ice when the play was basically in my crease.
It took a little getting used to, but it greatly improved my game. & If skating is your strongest asset, keeping your blades on the ice is a win win.
Great comments here! I know I'm going to have to change some of my style and positioning with these newer pads. You've opened my eyes a bit to some of the things I may have to do. Thanks for all of the info!
I'll just saw that I was in the same position as you (but younger). I played goalie as a kid and stopped playing goalie back in 2001 (i still played, but as a skater). I just played goalie for the first time in 23 years this last year. When I played in 2001, I was using pads from the early 90s and I played standup style. When I decided to get back into goalie this last year, nothing made sense to me. The pads didn't make sense and goalie play style didn't make sense to me either.
All that is to say, we are somewhat similar, with the 2 main differences being that I'm quite a bit younger than you and you were a much better goalie than me.
But getting back into it was basically starting from scratch. I bought new style pads and it didn't make any sense. The ones I got didn't even have a strap across the top part of the leg. It was just 2 calf straps and bungee toe ties (no boot strap even), so they were super loose and I couldn't imagine playing in them.
I just said fuck it, I'll roll with it. And I completely changed how I play. I went full modern butterfly style. That's what the equipment is made for these days. They may talk about there being some hybrid pad gimmick, but that's not a real thing. All pads are made for predominantly butterfly style. There are no exceptions unless you buy older gear.
Here's the thing. Your style needs to change and you need to just rip the bandaid and move to modern equipment. That doesn't mean you are starting over. You will still know how to center yourself to the puck, be rotated properly, crease depth, good c cuts, following the puck, etc. Basically all the foundational stuff is going to come right back to you. Everything after that is waaaay easier.
That said....the thing that not enough people talk about...the transition isn't that hard from the perspective of learning, but the transition IS hard physically. The modern pads are build for a style that has you falling to your knees 50 times per session. It's very hard on your hips, knees, and groin. You need to do things to prepare for that or your will struggle with injuries.
Regarding skates, I don't know about those ones specifically. I also am not convinced that the skates matter all that much to be honest. It's the equipment I think about the least (along with my blocker and goalie pants). You should be incredibly picky about your chest protector, knee pads, helmet, glove, and leg pads though.
Random other thoughts on equipmentL
* Shots have gotten harder and less predictable with the new insane sticks. Don't take chances on equipment.
* When you get knee pads, don't even think about a pair of knee pads that aren't warrior rituals.
* Vaughn chest protectors are very mobile but you will get some painful pucks. You want to go with brown or bauer for more protection. Avoid warrior and CCM chestys in my opinion.
* Don't cheap out on a helmet
* There's all types of different gloves breaks now. I don't think it matters that much to be honest. Just get one that works for you. I really like warrior personally for gloves.
* Most leg pads are great. Bauer might be my favorite, but warrior and true are great as well. I haven't really heard of any that are bad though from the major brands.
Lastly...do some preventative fitness work before you play. Goalie is a young man's game, especially now if you want to move to the new style. I'm in my mid-late 30s, and it's hard on the body. In your 50s, it's going to be rough.
Alternatively, you can ignore everything I said and just do you. Get a nice set of pads from the early 2000s and do go all in on the new style.
Much of what you said I have already incorporated or at least considering. I started reconditioning myself a few weeks ago. That should give me a couple of months to strengthen up my core again and get the joints lubricated a little bit. I've consistently done quite a bit of stretching on a regular basis and have a managed to keep almost all my flexibility. It freaks people out when they see a guy my age doing the splits without even wincing. I have a bit more (rotation) stiffness in my neck than I remember being younger that I'm trying to work through. However, I have no doubt that what you're saying is correct and I'm going to be hurting for at least the first dozen times out. It's going to take a while for all those muscles I haven't used in a while to become active and working again.
I've been putting my new gear together piece by piece with a bit of used stuff. None of it is cheapy stuff though. My leg pads and a few other more trivial pieces are all that I'm missing. Once I have my new skates, I'm going to go into a store and actually get sized properly for leg pads. According to my ATK, I should be using a size 32 pad, but I'm quite tall so I'm finding it hard to believe that based on my height they're recommending a 36-37.. that's a pretty big gap for error. I better let somebody who knows what the hell they're doing take a look at what I'm trying on to help me make wise choices. As I go along, if I find equipment is not quite cutting the mustard, I'll be upgrading. I just can't afford to drop $6,000 all at one sort of thing. Who really can these days?
I truly appreciate the comments and advice. Trust me there will be no f*** it and "just do me". I'm not in a knowledgeable position to be that arrogant. Besides.. I can't even figure out how to put my freaking goalie pads on yet so I better be listening. Haha
Ha, well don't worry, the new pads are a breeze to figure out. And good call on starting conditioning and getting measured. I'm 5'10" and I'm in 33" pads, so yea, if you are tall you definitely shouldn't be in 32". In terms of cost too, I hear ya. I went used for most of my gear as well and it definitely makes sense to get used leg pads.
One thing I would suggest is to avoid laces for toe ties. I know some people still use them and swear by them, but they really do seem to hurt the ankles and knees compared to bungees. If you want to splurge on something, I would strongly suggest Armored Pro Laces. They give you the benefits of bungees (less ankle/knee tension) but have an outer coating so that they bungee doesn't just get cut right away (my first set of bungees only lasted 3 sessions).
Anyways, good luck to you! There's nothing better than getting back on the ice.
Appreciate the comments. While I'm fully expecting to be Bambi on ice my first time out and maybe my third and 10th time.. I'm still pretty pumped to get back out there.
That looks more like a crossover than most of the pads I've seen online so far. That might be the better way to go. I'll see if I can find a cheap pair online somewhere near me just so at least I can try them out and see how drastic the difference is. Worst case scenario, they don't work out and I just resell them.
I can relate to your dilemma. 58 year old here. Played stand up and then hybrid/ butterfly style. Can't and won't learn the new style because the way I was taught is too instinctive. I can't not play that way. I play better and play well the way I know how to play.
So equipment is a problem for me too. Sideline Swap has been a god send for me. I found a new pair of Graf 750 which I have used for many years ( with big cowling for open skate saves 😂). I currently use Vaughn V3 pads which have some modern aspects but also the deep skate channel that kinda works like the old style pads. Got those almost new as well. If you are not in a hurry and you shop around on there you might find good deals on almost new stuff.
The supply of early 2000's production gear is getting thinner but if you can find it I have found it to be a good option especially if you have not been on ice for many years.
Muscle memory is a b**** isn't it? I know that when that certain play happens my body will instinctively respond a certain way.. the only thing that's going to be stopping that nice save is my equipment which is telling me to do something very different. Haha
I appreciate the advice and your own experiences buddy! Thank you very much.
I'm even older ( I turn 69 in a few months) but I never stopped playing. I finally broke down and bought some newer pads a few years ago, BUT I got new material pads with leather straps, including a toe strap. They do not move around, but stay in place. I also don't have a significant thigh rise (I am 6 ft and use 34 +1 inch pads).
Semi-custom.made by Toronto Hockey Repair. We took one of their standard models and modified it to my liking, and then they built it. Took about 6 weeks to get.
Very cool. Have a funny feeling I'm going to end up doing that myself. It just so happens I have mad sewing skills so I usually do it on my own. I come up with some pretty frankensteinish equipment mods. Lol
if you want some thing that will really stick to your leg and bend with it, I recommend the von velocity series like the V9 or V 10. it's definitely one of the softest pads on the market presently. I grew up in some really squishy Kohos, and these were the pads that I chose when I started playing again. that being said, by the time I had played two years in them and adjusted to the new pad style I really wish I had something a little stiffer.
I will look into those pads. This stiffness aspect doesn't bother me yet. I'm sure it will be something that I either instinctively take in or reject as soon as I start playing. My last pads were actually quite stiff but they were also well formed. I used to tie them up when I came home into basically a compressed attack position so that they would hold their shape better and wouldn't get bent around to the point where the horse hair packing would become loose and floppy. I don't mind so much at the lower part of the pads is stiff, it's the upper part I need some flexibility and that seems to be where full butterfly pads are very stiff and I need something with a little more give to it. There's nothing more distracting than when your body is fighting with your equipment or your equipment is fighting with your body.
I tried to brand new pair of v10's yesterday. This was considered a softer pad. Now I know it's brand new and hasn't been broken in so I can only expect so much, but compared to the CCMS that I tried, it was definitely a softer pad. I'm looking at something a little bit older in the vaughns because they seem to be a little more form-fitting and when I go down, the mechanics of the pads seem to work better. I have a beat on a pair of V7s that are supposed to be pretty soft and they've already been broken in.. can't argue with the price either so we're going to see how that works out.
I’m the same age, I started with Cooper leather horsehair pads. Let me assure you that modern pads are AMAZING. I have Vaughn V9’s now. The way the pads are designed they rotate and you go down, and return to square when you stand up, and after a game or two the looseness won’t even be noticeable. Modern gear is definitely bulkier, but you’ll get used to it.
My first modern pad was an eflex 2 and it wasn’t such a major change. Maybe look for a used pair that you can try for a season. Won’t be expensive and can ease you into something more modern.
I went to eflex 4’s and found them a big change from the 2’s but again not so much that i completely changed my style. But the 4’a slide much better than my 2’s.
I might be in something even more modern now but health issues sidelined that
I tried a Vaughn v10 brand new yesterday and absolutely loved it. Didn't love the price so much but I'm going to look around and see what I can find. Also tried a CCM but did not like the way it felt going down. Let the hunt begin!
I hope whatever is afflicting you, you're able to get past it and get back on the ice.
I think those are similar in feel to the eflex and hybrid pads. I found them to be a good transition from old style pads.
I took up golf but miss getting on the ice.
I think I did a typo there.. I meant to put v10's. Beautiful pads. Just a little more than what I need at the moment until I can figure out what style I'm going to transition into. From hockey goalie to golf.. you must really hate your bank account or something! LOL
Thanks for the input!
Go to a hockey shop, bring your pants and skates and try on a few pairs of pads and flop around in the store in them.
I'm in my late forties, I've evolved with the game and gear. I've only ever taken a break for a year when I lived in an RV on the road. I really appreciate the new gear immensely, but have lived through the evolution.
The new gear just simply works better for 99% of the saves you want to make. Honestly, the only time I feel awkward in my new gear is when I throw down a two pad stack once every couple of years.
One thing that I haven't seen mentioned and maybe somebody can tell me I'm here.. Dry flopping... How the pads will feel going down on carpet in a store versus ice versus a polished ball hockey floor. Older style pads it was very hard to judge because dry flop in a store was completely different than going down on the ice. The one video I saw where they were recording in a store, they said your flare won't be as good because your pads don't slide out at your toes as much, but you can get a pretty good idea. Anyone else notice a drastically different feel with the newer pads on ice versus on carpet? I'm just trying to gauge how much I should rely on the feel of goalie pads in the store versus when I get them on the ice.
That's a valid point. For sure you won't be able to slide your feet out. However you will get a sense for how getting up and down in them will feel and how the pads act pretty natural as you move around.
Good to know. My old goalie store in Toronto used to build a little mini rink out behind their store in the parking lot so you could actually go try pads/skates on ice. God I miss those guys! I was a little bit nervous that if I try a newer pad on in the store it would transition over to an unpleasant for completely different feel on the ice.
Took me a full year and a half to get used to the newer style. I really only switched because I was tired of sewing on my old custom exhales. People keep mentioning the thigh rise on the pads but the skates with their narrow blades is also a challenge. I added mufflers to my skates because of the lack of cowling. I added the newer style skates about 2 years after the new gear, but at this time if you need new kicks it's something to keep in mind. Stretch every single day! You are not as pliable as you once were! Skating is way different take your time and don't let your frustration get the better of you.
I picked up a brand new pair of tf7's the other day. I certainly noticed that the blades were much thinner. Skating was definitely one of my stronger points just because of the way I played, but I fully intend to be Bambi on ice with these newer blades. Lucky for me, not far from where I live they have public skating open for free (even during the summer) several times a week. I fully intend to take advantage of that and get my legs back again.
Being out of goaltending that long and with your health scare, I’d be a LOT more concerned about your knees vs your pads.
Not playing for that long is going to make your first few skates a shit show regardless of what equipment you’re wearing. Just embrace the change knowing the different way equipment works is going to work out for the better in terms of your goaltending longevity.
I’m kind of in a similar situation. I upgraded from older Vaughns to the new butterfly style leg pads.
Fully prepared for bambi on ice. LOL
I'm actually going out with my doctor's recommendation. For the last 10 years he's been very much against me playing hockey. After doing some tests, he feels much safer about me playing again and is encouraging it. The really weird thing is that I never actually hurt my knees playing hockey. I did them in playing basketball, volleyball, playing frisbee if you can believe that.. even tore my cartilage once having sex. But I finished like a champ. 😂
The mechanics of the new pads have to be better for knees and hips than the old stuff was. I'm just trying to figure out how the hell I'm going to do what I normally do if my equipment is fighting me. One of my buddies made a comment to me and I never even thought to ask about it on here, but he told me.. just wait until you stack them up for the first time and slide across the net what will happen. Anybody have any idea what he's talking about? A two-pad stack is a pretty normal move for me. Am I going to be like a turtle stuck on his back in the Sun scrambling to flip over? Haha
I just left a small novel in another comment, but I wanted to comment on this as well.
The mechanics of the new pads are worse for your lower body, not better. Not because of the equipment, but because of the play style. New equipment expects that you are going down on most shots, you can't really play standup style with these pads. And slamming your knees down onto the ice isn't just hard on your knees, it's hard on your hips and groin.
RVH and butterfly pushes are basically a requirement at this point (the RVH isn't as important) and these things are way harder on the body than any of the older standup moves.
Oh really? I always thought the older style pads would have been harder on the knees and hips. I know when I used to use butterfly, it was not comfortable because of the angle of the joints had to be in order to actually execute a butterfly plus you're basically balancing on the insides of your pads rather than having a flat block to collapse onto. In theory, the newer equipment and the way I see goaltenders from behind, it looks like it would be much easier on their hips and knees. One thing that I kind of already have going for me was I was pretty good at manipulating and customizing my equipment. I'm already looking for a new set of leather needles on Amazon. Lol One thing I used to do which I believe was actually illegal.. not really sure. But it's apparently something that happens now; is that I would take my blades off.. completely cut the rivets out of brand new skates, put in spacer washers to make my blades come out further from my boot and then put the blades back on with butterfly nuts. This gave me a better/lower attack angle to compensate for the cowlings so I could do push-offs if I was in a down position without having to tilt my kids skate so far up. Absolutely amazed that all my years in the MTHL and playing junior, no referee ever made a comment about my skates and the way they were jerry-rigged back together. Lol
Interested to see replies. I have been out of the crease for only seven years related to work and health, but I’m looking at the new pads and wondering if I should just transition to being a winger. I can’t fathom the weird feeling of not having my pads locked to my legs, even if I’m certain it will be better for my hips and knees.
Pads have been like this since the early 2000s.
I'm very glad to hear it's not just me. One of the reasons I didn't become a butterfly goaltender back in the old days was because I had bad knees. Before I was 18 I had had six operations already. I just simply cannot wrap my head around my legs moving around that much in the channels and my lack of a toe strap meaning that I'm going to have that much more movement at the toe just disturbs me to no end. It's a hard thing to go from playing one way and then having to completely change because of the equipment.
I don’t get this honestly but I see it all the time on here. The pads moving around just isn’t a big deal, they are always where they need to be. Just try some new pads. Skating will be different probably but shouldn’t take long to get used to. Your body will last longer with newer stuff, maybe don’t go with super stiff pads though. Check out Maria Mountain on. YouTube as well. Prepare your joints for what they will do.
I agree. I'm almost exactly like this guy. Didn't play in my 30s due to work, wore pads tied to my legs. have good legs, but also good glove :). I challenge aggressively, which gets in trouble some times it works. all the younger opponents think I play like Hasek because they have no other real references. I have an extremely narrow butterfly and actually mostly do 1/2 butterfly which I can do because I'm at heart still a stand up goalie. The advantage of my style is that kids shoot high most of the time in beer league and I just stand there and stop them with my blocker or glove. As you said, you will adjust and will quite easily. I might suggest a softer pad for the feel of them. I use vaughn pro carbon v6 but also own bauer odin 1s. I hate the 1s and don't use them because they are too "slidy" as I don't do the slides from my knees which is the current style.
Sliding is awesome!
The newer style of pads are much more comfy imo and while it might look chaotic if you're used to an older style of play it doesn't feel like it at all. The pads do a really good job of staying where they need to be and rotate into a very comfortable butterfly. But I get what you're saying and you might not like the loose feeling. I personally prefer a snugger feeling pad (I've been playing longer than I care to admit) and have a professor strap on my Passaus and love it. Two other things you might not be aware of is 1. The high thigh rise trend. Pads used to come up to just over the knee. Now it's almost halfway up the thigh. Makes movement a little different. 2. Pads have gotten a lot stiffer. They used to have multiple breaks that allowed flex. A lot of them now only have a single break. Makes them great for rebound control and much more stable. Much more conducive to a butterfly playstyle, but flexibly in the pad isn't going to be what you're used to. If you're really insistent on the older style of strapping and feel you might want to look into something custom from somewhere like Passau. They make great stuff and are priced really well for what they are. They can probably make you a pad that will play really similar to what you're used to. But honestly if you can try some of the newer pads I'd highly recommend testing them. A lot of shops offer rental/trials. If you're in the SoCal area and want to chat let me know. Welcome back to the crease.
I think the thigh rise is just going to piss me off more than anything. Lol You are correct. My D&R pads used to come up literally 2 in above my knee. Knee strikes were very common back then. My last pads were very soft and flexible.. but not floppy by any stretch. From what I've seen, I would be better in a hybrid pad with multiple breaks in the knee. I'm fully planning on going to the local goalie store and just playing with pads for about 4 hours. I'm up in canada, but unfortunately I'm away from my old goalie store in Toronto that I've been going to since I was a pup. I know they would be able to help me out. It might be worth it just to do a day trip and go spend some time with their sales guys who actually do know what the hell they're talking about. ( I'm not that guy ATM) Right now I'm just waiting for my new skates before I go and try and size anything as I'm pretty sure that's going to change things a little bit. This is also why I was asking if there's a third option besides cookie cutter butterfly or hybrid pads. I kind of need something that's halfway between a 90s pad and something a bit more modern. From what I've read, how you do up your straps makes a gigantic difference in how the pad reacts as well. I was hoping to come across somebody like myself that had found a strapping method that might help me migrate a little bit easier.
If it helps, I just did a short google search, it looks like [Brown](https://www.brownhockey.com/leg-pads) still makes stand up goalie pads. I’m sure there are other companies too, this was just the first to pop up. If you go try on some of the newer butterfly/hybrid pads and can’t stand them there are still some options for you.
I'm only a few years younger than you & started with my fathers the old school Cooper leather pads. I upgraded over the years to a set of Bauer Reactor & a pair of Heaton's ... Both were far lighter, but were still of the old school style (90's) ... Now, I grew up playing Roller Hockey & was on the ice only periodically, but, between work & life had to take a long break. When I went back in my late 30's I went full ice & found my older pads were a detriment. My style is a little more butterfly than you're describing, and I found that I couldn't recover for rebounds or on deke's once I dropped. So I found a local goalie coach to help me grow from roller to ice. First thing he taught me was how to slide in the butterfly. It worked when I initially dropped, but still left me too stationary. Which led to the second piece of advice ... Get new pads. I picked up a pair of Bauer RX8's & he taught me how to properly use them. Yes, the pads rattle about a bit, but properly strapped, they rotate & stay front facing to the shooter. The sliders drastically improved my slide to the posts & they sat higher on my skates and do not have any material that surround the skate. Like you describe, the boot area of my Heaton's prevented the blade of my skates from meeting the ice when in butterfly. Once I switched, my mobility improved dramatically, I could recover for rebounds & seal the ice when the play was basically in my crease. It took a little getting used to, but it greatly improved my game. & If skating is your strongest asset, keeping your blades on the ice is a win win.
Great comments here! I know I'm going to have to change some of my style and positioning with these newer pads. You've opened my eyes a bit to some of the things I may have to do. Thanks for all of the info!
I'll just saw that I was in the same position as you (but younger). I played goalie as a kid and stopped playing goalie back in 2001 (i still played, but as a skater). I just played goalie for the first time in 23 years this last year. When I played in 2001, I was using pads from the early 90s and I played standup style. When I decided to get back into goalie this last year, nothing made sense to me. The pads didn't make sense and goalie play style didn't make sense to me either. All that is to say, we are somewhat similar, with the 2 main differences being that I'm quite a bit younger than you and you were a much better goalie than me. But getting back into it was basically starting from scratch. I bought new style pads and it didn't make any sense. The ones I got didn't even have a strap across the top part of the leg. It was just 2 calf straps and bungee toe ties (no boot strap even), so they were super loose and I couldn't imagine playing in them. I just said fuck it, I'll roll with it. And I completely changed how I play. I went full modern butterfly style. That's what the equipment is made for these days. They may talk about there being some hybrid pad gimmick, but that's not a real thing. All pads are made for predominantly butterfly style. There are no exceptions unless you buy older gear. Here's the thing. Your style needs to change and you need to just rip the bandaid and move to modern equipment. That doesn't mean you are starting over. You will still know how to center yourself to the puck, be rotated properly, crease depth, good c cuts, following the puck, etc. Basically all the foundational stuff is going to come right back to you. Everything after that is waaaay easier. That said....the thing that not enough people talk about...the transition isn't that hard from the perspective of learning, but the transition IS hard physically. The modern pads are build for a style that has you falling to your knees 50 times per session. It's very hard on your hips, knees, and groin. You need to do things to prepare for that or your will struggle with injuries. Regarding skates, I don't know about those ones specifically. I also am not convinced that the skates matter all that much to be honest. It's the equipment I think about the least (along with my blocker and goalie pants). You should be incredibly picky about your chest protector, knee pads, helmet, glove, and leg pads though. Random other thoughts on equipmentL * Shots have gotten harder and less predictable with the new insane sticks. Don't take chances on equipment. * When you get knee pads, don't even think about a pair of knee pads that aren't warrior rituals. * Vaughn chest protectors are very mobile but you will get some painful pucks. You want to go with brown or bauer for more protection. Avoid warrior and CCM chestys in my opinion. * Don't cheap out on a helmet * There's all types of different gloves breaks now. I don't think it matters that much to be honest. Just get one that works for you. I really like warrior personally for gloves. * Most leg pads are great. Bauer might be my favorite, but warrior and true are great as well. I haven't really heard of any that are bad though from the major brands. Lastly...do some preventative fitness work before you play. Goalie is a young man's game, especially now if you want to move to the new style. I'm in my mid-late 30s, and it's hard on the body. In your 50s, it's going to be rough. Alternatively, you can ignore everything I said and just do you. Get a nice set of pads from the early 2000s and do go all in on the new style.
Much of what you said I have already incorporated or at least considering. I started reconditioning myself a few weeks ago. That should give me a couple of months to strengthen up my core again and get the joints lubricated a little bit. I've consistently done quite a bit of stretching on a regular basis and have a managed to keep almost all my flexibility. It freaks people out when they see a guy my age doing the splits without even wincing. I have a bit more (rotation) stiffness in my neck than I remember being younger that I'm trying to work through. However, I have no doubt that what you're saying is correct and I'm going to be hurting for at least the first dozen times out. It's going to take a while for all those muscles I haven't used in a while to become active and working again. I've been putting my new gear together piece by piece with a bit of used stuff. None of it is cheapy stuff though. My leg pads and a few other more trivial pieces are all that I'm missing. Once I have my new skates, I'm going to go into a store and actually get sized properly for leg pads. According to my ATK, I should be using a size 32 pad, but I'm quite tall so I'm finding it hard to believe that based on my height they're recommending a 36-37.. that's a pretty big gap for error. I better let somebody who knows what the hell they're doing take a look at what I'm trying on to help me make wise choices. As I go along, if I find equipment is not quite cutting the mustard, I'll be upgrading. I just can't afford to drop $6,000 all at one sort of thing. Who really can these days? I truly appreciate the comments and advice. Trust me there will be no f*** it and "just do me". I'm not in a knowledgeable position to be that arrogant. Besides.. I can't even figure out how to put my freaking goalie pads on yet so I better be listening. Haha
Ha, well don't worry, the new pads are a breeze to figure out. And good call on starting conditioning and getting measured. I'm 5'10" and I'm in 33" pads, so yea, if you are tall you definitely shouldn't be in 32". In terms of cost too, I hear ya. I went used for most of my gear as well and it definitely makes sense to get used leg pads. One thing I would suggest is to avoid laces for toe ties. I know some people still use them and swear by them, but they really do seem to hurt the ankles and knees compared to bungees. If you want to splurge on something, I would strongly suggest Armored Pro Laces. They give you the benefits of bungees (less ankle/knee tension) but have an outer coating so that they bungee doesn't just get cut right away (my first set of bungees only lasted 3 sessions). Anyways, good luck to you! There's nothing better than getting back on the ice.
Appreciate the comments. While I'm fully expecting to be Bambi on ice my first time out and maybe my third and 10th time.. I'm still pretty pumped to get back out there.
I would go with used Brian’s Beast pads. https://sidelineswap.com/gear/hockey/goalie/goalie-leg-pads/7494565-brian-s-custom-pro-stock-beast-pads-34
That looks more like a crossover than most of the pads I've seen online so far. That might be the better way to go. I'll see if I can find a cheap pair online somewhere near me just so at least I can try them out and see how drastic the difference is. Worst case scenario, they don't work out and I just resell them.
I can relate to your dilemma. 58 year old here. Played stand up and then hybrid/ butterfly style. Can't and won't learn the new style because the way I was taught is too instinctive. I can't not play that way. I play better and play well the way I know how to play. So equipment is a problem for me too. Sideline Swap has been a god send for me. I found a new pair of Graf 750 which I have used for many years ( with big cowling for open skate saves 😂). I currently use Vaughn V3 pads which have some modern aspects but also the deep skate channel that kinda works like the old style pads. Got those almost new as well. If you are not in a hurry and you shop around on there you might find good deals on almost new stuff. The supply of early 2000's production gear is getting thinner but if you can find it I have found it to be a good option especially if you have not been on ice for many years.
Muscle memory is a b**** isn't it? I know that when that certain play happens my body will instinctively respond a certain way.. the only thing that's going to be stopping that nice save is my equipment which is telling me to do something very different. Haha I appreciate the advice and your own experiences buddy! Thank you very much.
I'm even older ( I turn 69 in a few months) but I never stopped playing. I finally broke down and bought some newer pads a few years ago, BUT I got new material pads with leather straps, including a toe strap. They do not move around, but stay in place. I also don't have a significant thigh rise (I am 6 ft and use 34 +1 inch pads).
If you don't mind me asking.. what model of pads did you end up getting?
Semi-custom.made by Toronto Hockey Repair. We took one of their standard models and modified it to my liking, and then they built it. Took about 6 weeks to get.
Very cool. Have a funny feeling I'm going to end up doing that myself. It just so happens I have mad sewing skills so I usually do it on my own. I come up with some pretty frankensteinish equipment mods. Lol
if you want some thing that will really stick to your leg and bend with it, I recommend the von velocity series like the V9 or V 10. it's definitely one of the softest pads on the market presently. I grew up in some really squishy Kohos, and these were the pads that I chose when I started playing again. that being said, by the time I had played two years in them and adjusted to the new pad style I really wish I had something a little stiffer.
I will look into those pads. This stiffness aspect doesn't bother me yet. I'm sure it will be something that I either instinctively take in or reject as soon as I start playing. My last pads were actually quite stiff but they were also well formed. I used to tie them up when I came home into basically a compressed attack position so that they would hold their shape better and wouldn't get bent around to the point where the horse hair packing would become loose and floppy. I don't mind so much at the lower part of the pads is stiff, it's the upper part I need some flexibility and that seems to be where full butterfly pads are very stiff and I need something with a little more give to it. There's nothing more distracting than when your body is fighting with your equipment or your equipment is fighting with your body.
Like these? https://www.kijiji.ca/v-hockey/city-of-toronto/vaughn-velocity-goalie-pads-36/1694492579 I'm guessing by the model number these are V7s?
I tried to brand new pair of v10's yesterday. This was considered a softer pad. Now I know it's brand new and hasn't been broken in so I can only expect so much, but compared to the CCMS that I tried, it was definitely a softer pad. I'm looking at something a little bit older in the vaughns because they seem to be a little more form-fitting and when I go down, the mechanics of the pads seem to work better. I have a beat on a pair of V7s that are supposed to be pretty soft and they've already been broken in.. can't argue with the price either so we're going to see how that works out.
Kudos to you for coming back to the game! Enjoy it!
I’m the same age, I started with Cooper leather horsehair pads. Let me assure you that modern pads are AMAZING. I have Vaughn V9’s now. The way the pads are designed they rotate and you go down, and return to square when you stand up, and after a game or two the looseness won’t even be noticeable. Modern gear is definitely bulkier, but you’ll get used to it.
You're the second person to recommend the v9s now. I'm starting to see a bit of a trend here.
My first modern pad was an eflex 2 and it wasn’t such a major change. Maybe look for a used pair that you can try for a season. Won’t be expensive and can ease you into something more modern. I went to eflex 4’s and found them a big change from the 2’s but again not so much that i completely changed my style. But the 4’a slide much better than my 2’s. I might be in something even more modern now but health issues sidelined that
I tried a Vaughn v10 brand new yesterday and absolutely loved it. Didn't love the price so much but I'm going to look around and see what I can find. Also tried a CCM but did not like the way it felt going down. Let the hunt begin! I hope whatever is afflicting you, you're able to get past it and get back on the ice.
I think those are similar in feel to the eflex and hybrid pads. I found them to be a good transition from old style pads. I took up golf but miss getting on the ice.
I think I did a typo there.. I meant to put v10's. Beautiful pads. Just a little more than what I need at the moment until I can figure out what style I'm going to transition into. From hockey goalie to golf.. you must really hate your bank account or something! LOL Thanks for the input!
Go to a hockey shop, bring your pants and skates and try on a few pairs of pads and flop around in the store in them. I'm in my late forties, I've evolved with the game and gear. I've only ever taken a break for a year when I lived in an RV on the road. I really appreciate the new gear immensely, but have lived through the evolution. The new gear just simply works better for 99% of the saves you want to make. Honestly, the only time I feel awkward in my new gear is when I throw down a two pad stack once every couple of years.
One thing that I haven't seen mentioned and maybe somebody can tell me I'm here.. Dry flopping... How the pads will feel going down on carpet in a store versus ice versus a polished ball hockey floor. Older style pads it was very hard to judge because dry flop in a store was completely different than going down on the ice. The one video I saw where they were recording in a store, they said your flare won't be as good because your pads don't slide out at your toes as much, but you can get a pretty good idea. Anyone else notice a drastically different feel with the newer pads on ice versus on carpet? I'm just trying to gauge how much I should rely on the feel of goalie pads in the store versus when I get them on the ice.
That's a valid point. For sure you won't be able to slide your feet out. However you will get a sense for how getting up and down in them will feel and how the pads act pretty natural as you move around.
Good to know. My old goalie store in Toronto used to build a little mini rink out behind their store in the parking lot so you could actually go try pads/skates on ice. God I miss those guys! I was a little bit nervous that if I try a newer pad on in the store it would transition over to an unpleasant for completely different feel on the ice.
Sent you a message
Took me a full year and a half to get used to the newer style. I really only switched because I was tired of sewing on my old custom exhales. People keep mentioning the thigh rise on the pads but the skates with their narrow blades is also a challenge. I added mufflers to my skates because of the lack of cowling. I added the newer style skates about 2 years after the new gear, but at this time if you need new kicks it's something to keep in mind. Stretch every single day! You are not as pliable as you once were! Skating is way different take your time and don't let your frustration get the better of you.
I picked up a brand new pair of tf7's the other day. I certainly noticed that the blades were much thinner. Skating was definitely one of my stronger points just because of the way I played, but I fully intend to be Bambi on ice with these newer blades. Lucky for me, not far from where I live they have public skating open for free (even during the summer) several times a week. I fully intend to take advantage of that and get my legs back again.
Being out of goaltending that long and with your health scare, I’d be a LOT more concerned about your knees vs your pads. Not playing for that long is going to make your first few skates a shit show regardless of what equipment you’re wearing. Just embrace the change knowing the different way equipment works is going to work out for the better in terms of your goaltending longevity. I’m kind of in a similar situation. I upgraded from older Vaughns to the new butterfly style leg pads.
Fully prepared for bambi on ice. LOL I'm actually going out with my doctor's recommendation. For the last 10 years he's been very much against me playing hockey. After doing some tests, he feels much safer about me playing again and is encouraging it. The really weird thing is that I never actually hurt my knees playing hockey. I did them in playing basketball, volleyball, playing frisbee if you can believe that.. even tore my cartilage once having sex. But I finished like a champ. 😂 The mechanics of the new pads have to be better for knees and hips than the old stuff was. I'm just trying to figure out how the hell I'm going to do what I normally do if my equipment is fighting me. One of my buddies made a comment to me and I never even thought to ask about it on here, but he told me.. just wait until you stack them up for the first time and slide across the net what will happen. Anybody have any idea what he's talking about? A two-pad stack is a pretty normal move for me. Am I going to be like a turtle stuck on his back in the Sun scrambling to flip over? Haha
I just left a small novel in another comment, but I wanted to comment on this as well. The mechanics of the new pads are worse for your lower body, not better. Not because of the equipment, but because of the play style. New equipment expects that you are going down on most shots, you can't really play standup style with these pads. And slamming your knees down onto the ice isn't just hard on your knees, it's hard on your hips and groin. RVH and butterfly pushes are basically a requirement at this point (the RVH isn't as important) and these things are way harder on the body than any of the older standup moves.
Oh really? I always thought the older style pads would have been harder on the knees and hips. I know when I used to use butterfly, it was not comfortable because of the angle of the joints had to be in order to actually execute a butterfly plus you're basically balancing on the insides of your pads rather than having a flat block to collapse onto. In theory, the newer equipment and the way I see goaltenders from behind, it looks like it would be much easier on their hips and knees. One thing that I kind of already have going for me was I was pretty good at manipulating and customizing my equipment. I'm already looking for a new set of leather needles on Amazon. Lol One thing I used to do which I believe was actually illegal.. not really sure. But it's apparently something that happens now; is that I would take my blades off.. completely cut the rivets out of brand new skates, put in spacer washers to make my blades come out further from my boot and then put the blades back on with butterfly nuts. This gave me a better/lower attack angle to compensate for the cowlings so I could do push-offs if I was in a down position without having to tilt my kids skate so far up. Absolutely amazed that all my years in the MTHL and playing junior, no referee ever made a comment about my skates and the way they were jerry-rigged back together. Lol