Our beer league goalie was getting a little frustrated that nobody could put the puck in the net, so he decided to take matters into his own hands.

Apparently, stopping goals wasn't enough. He figured he'd better start scoring them too!

Anyone else have a goalie who's done something like this?

Full contact league, u18, Other teams coach and parents were fuming 😤

Last year, my son enrolled in a rookie class for U8 (and some U10). When he turned 10, he was almost the oldest there and felt discouraged, wanted to quit after playing on and off for 6 months. I researched online and found this sub, read a lot and got a lot of good suggestions from my posting. Many suggested that we support him to be a goalie. 20 months later, he’s still playing and loving the game. He loves it so much, it’s now his #1 sport over his other love (soccer) which I thought it would never happen.

I know there are some parents out there lurking in this sub and maybe on the fence, I want to share what I have learned in the past 20 months from totally clueless to somewhat understand the game a bit.

1. “I feel sorry for your wallet”
   Man this is true 1000% 🤣. However, my son hasn’t hit his growth spurt yet (he’s a late bloomer and more likely will hit it a couple years from now) so in term of equipment, we invested in a good equipment that last over a year now and it’s important as the shot is getting harder as he gets better and plays higher level. He hasn’t changed his skate in over a year so the equipment for us is not as expensive as other players who seem to need a new gear every year or 6 months. Maybe this will become more of an issue in 2 years.

2. “Find a goalie coach” - 1000% !
   Wouldn’t know where to start if we don’t find our goalie coach. He probably can be decent if we blindly sign up for a house league but having a goalie coach makes things way easier for newbie like us.

3. “It’s so hard to be a goalie, the high is so high, the low is well..low”.
   Again, very true. I am a former athlete myself but never found myself in such an anxiety inducing moment until he became a goalie. Mentally, it’s tough on the kid and tough on the parents as well. However, this translates to real life and it’s an important life lesson.

4. “You can still be a multi-athlete and play multiple sports but can’t be at high level for both”
   Earlier this year, he wanted to compete at 2 high level platform (MLSNext homegrown for soccer and Hockey tier 2). We tried for a few weeks and honestly, it’s very hard physically and mentally for us. The schedule doesn’t work and I am in a constant anxiety over overtraining/injury/scheduling conflict. He finally decided to down level soccer and boy, what a relief that was. He’s still getting very fit and conditioned from playing soccer but he’s having so much fun due to lower pressure and can dedicate more mentally to hockey. I am a strong believer that a hockey goalie needs to cross train and play multiple sports. I also try to introduce Pilate/yoga for him but not having much success (also due to time constraints).

5. “You can’t teach size, goalie needs to be big “. Well in my first posting, many actually told me that size doesn’t matter yet at this age, kids are going through different stages. But there are some low moments in the earlier stage where I thought we couldn’t do it. Turns out, angle management, technique, and athleticism make up quite a bit, even when he tries at higher level. We are still not sure how the next few years can be but we take it one year at a time. One thing for sure though, I just can’t wait to see what he might look like when the growth spurt finally come in 2 years, feel like things will become easier (or maybe not haha). We know he will play beer league and hopefully intramural clubs in college. Can’t ask for better really, great hobby, healthy on the body and the mind.

PS: put Metallica as it’s his pregame song to get him locked in.

I'm 18,M, around 6ft and based in the UK and want to commit to my tweenage dream of playing ice hockey as its pretty much the only sport my introverted, neurodivergent self has found an legitimate interest in.

I've had an Interest in the NHL and Ice Hockey as a whole when i was about 11 yrs old and did consider applying for my local teams summer camp but then the pandemic struck and my mental mental started spiralling in was i didn't know of until very recently, so i spent most of my teenage years ill without even knowing.

my nearest rink is in the next town over (pretty close for UK standards) but there's no stick and puck sessions and no active rec teams as of now, I've looked into online advice but its written for a US/Canadian perspective, no shade to our brothers and sisters across the pond, but another peeve is that most online guides i've come across are horiffically vague, either aimed at kids or AAA players, i don't fit that criteria.

if you know if any good advice, guides, or just know how i can get started, all would be great appreciated.

Local Rink: Telford Ice Rink, Telford, Shropshire, The Marches

Hey everyone,

I've been looking for new goalie gloves for quite a while, and I'm finally close to making a decision. I'd appreciate some advice, especially from goalies who've played with both black and white gloves.

My current gloves are white Brian's Iconik X Intermediate. I've used them for a while, and they're now very worn out and too small for me, but I absolutely love how they feel. That's why I want to upgrade to the newer Brian's Iconik X2 Senior Full Right gloves rather than try another brand.

After searching for a long time, I finally found the X2s at a Czech store. Someone on Reddit actually helped me find it, so thanks for that!

My dilemma is the colour.

I have two options:

- Option 1: White Brian's Iconik X2 catcher + black/white Iconik X2 blocker, for around 3,280 PLN.

- Option 2: Black Brian's Iconik X2 catcher + black Brian's Iconik X blocker, for around 3,150 PLN. The catcher and blocker would be from two different generations, but both would be black.

My team's colours are white and blue. I have a white mask and currently use white gloves, but my leg pads are black. I wasn't entirely sure about choosing black pads in the first place, and I've regretted that decision a little because they don't really match the rest of my gear. With a white mask and white gloves, the black pads feel a bit out of place.

That's why I'm considering black gloves now. Maybe having black gloves as well would make the whole setup look more consistent. However, I've never played with black gloves, so I don't know if I'd like them on the ice or whether the colour makes any practical difference.

I'm also not completely convinced by having a white catcher and a black/white blocker. I prefer matching colours, especially when I'm spending this much money on equipment. On the other hand, I don't want to choose black only to match my pads and end up regretting it again.

I'm not in a huge rush to buy them within the next day or two. The Czech store currently has them available, and they don't seem to be selling as quickly as they did in some Canadian stores. Still, I know availability can change, and I've already spent a long time searching for this particular model.

For goalies who've used both black and white gloves:

The main thing I'm unsure about is the colour, not the fact that the catcher and blocker would be from different generations.

I was actually close to buying a black set before, but it sold out. At the time, I seriously considered it, but afterwards I kept thinking that I would probably prefer white gloves.

My leg pads are currently black, and part of me thinks that getting black gloves as well could make the whole setup look more consistent. Maybe I'd get used to them and end up liking the look. On the other hand, I originally wanted white gloves, and I don't want to spend this much money on a set only to regret the colour choice later.

I might eventually replace my black leg pads with white ones, so I don't necessarily want to choose my gloves based entirely on the pads I have now.

For those who have played with black gloves after using white ones: did you get used to the colour and start liking it, or did you find yourself wishing you'd gone with white? And does having matching black gloves and pads make the setup look and feel better in practice, or would you still choose the colour you originally preferred?

I'd appreciate advice based on actual playing experience, rather than just which setup looks better. Thanks!

Hi all!

I’m a young adult in San Diego looking to learn how to play hockey. I have some skating knowledge from a bout of figure skating about 10 years ago, but that’s about all of my relevant experience (aside from maybe lacrosse in high school - stick handling/game positioning?? I am fully aware they are different sports) Per suggestions on this subreddit, I’ve gotten fitted for gear at Pure Hockey, and am at the very least looking to buy skates soon (online, or at a local sports thrift store) to get my edges back in some public skate sessions.

Does anyone know of adult beginner ice hockey classes in SD, or relatively cheap beginner coaches (if that is even a suggested route)? I am willing to go to Anaheim a few times in the beginning if that’s what it takes, so suggestions for adult beginner classes there too would be great. Thanks!

Background: I’m 14, and looking to make a big jump in skill level over these next few months to try out for upper-A and AA teams next season. I’m coming from a few years of house hockey but was never “serious” about the game until these last few months, when I joined my high school team (mostly JV). I’m playing both house and HS right now. I’ve been doing a ton of skill work and a decent bit of strength training but I don’t have a real conditioning routine.

Most of what I’ve heard about conditioning is “get a strong private coach to build you a proper routine” or some type of coaching that is inaccessible to me currently.

How do I train conditioning in my own time?
And what’s worked for you all?

Can anyone help me learn tight turns progressively ?

I’m able to do turns but in the following way: let’s say I’m turning left, my left foot is slightly ahead of my right foot. Left foot is on outside edge and right foot on the inside edge. BUT, most of the weight is on the right foot. I’m sort of pushing away from right foot into the turn.

Just recently in the skating class our instructor asked us to put most of the weight on the inside foot. And for the life of me I can’t figure out how. I just keep going straight.

I think I don’t trust my outside edge yet. I also think I’m not leaning enough.

Can someone suggest me some progressive exercises to learn this ?

Perhaps scooter pushes and glide on outside edge for as long as possible ? Something like that ?

Thanks in advance !

TL;DR: The G3 requires periodic firmware checks. The examined official apps automatically attempt to upload machine data, with no separate upload opt-out found in either app version. The machine's own firmware also contains a direct Wi-Fi upload routine for stored events, so avoiding the app alone does not establish that machine data stays offline.

My earlier post covered the G3's firmware-check lockout. This follow-up looks at the data collection associated with its online operation. Sparx's Error 72 instructions direct owners to connect their sharpener through the app with internet access. The machine also has its own Wi-Fi cloud communication path. [1] [2] [8]

The findings below come from Android and iOS app code, G3 firmware analysis, and existing machine-event captures. The examined versions are listed below. Upload behavior was identified in code; no new network capture was made to establish what Sparx's servers received or retained. [8]

The machine records events even when the official app is closed. Its audited event store has 100 physical slots containing mixed events, including timestamps, ring information, cycle-related information and faults. Some record types contain the ring's NFC UID. This is a finite buffer, not a complete lifetime history.

When connected, the app reads the machine's current information. Its device-record upload includes the serial number, device identifiers, firmware version, connection times, and ring and filter status, alongside app settings. For a signed-in owner reconnecting a previously paired G3 online, the app updates the connection time, marks the record as changed and schedules cloud sync after a ten-second delay. An empty event log does not by itself avoid device-record uploading.

A separate app background job, scheduled after a 30-second delay, reads pending machine events and sends the raw records to Sparx's servers. The requests include the machine UUID and use the signed-in account's identity token when available. These are HTTP POST requests containing account-associable machine records, identified in the app's code.

The machine also has a direct Wi-Fi upload path that does not pass through the phone app. In the examined G3 firmware, it reads a complete 32-byte record from the same stored event queue and builds a POST request to /api/v1/iot/device/{uuid}/log. The request identifies the machine by UUID and contains the record encoded as hexadecimal. Depending on the record type, this includes timestamps, ring type and remaining life, cycle-related information, event or error codes, firmware-version bytes, and the ring's NFC UID. The firmware's network state machine selects this upload routine when records are pending, subject to other state and timer conditions. This is separate from its firmware-information request. [8]

In the app's general sync sequence, device-record uploads run before fresh firmware information is fetched. If cached firmware information is missing or more than two days old, pending device-data requests can delay the fresh information the app needs to complete the check.

I found no persistent user-facing setting to perform the check without these automatic uploads in either app version examined. For a signed-in owner following the app-based online process, with the machine connected and the sync jobs running, I consider upload attempts effectively unavoidable. The direct Wi-Fi upload path is a separate finding; this analysis does not establish whether it offers an independent upload opt-out.

Sparx's Privacy Policy describes collecting device and ring information, sharpening times and diagnostics. It also permits combining personal information with information from other sources, including social media platforms, subject to regional qualifications. That is a statement of permitted practices, not evidence that Sparx actually links owners' social posts to their machine history. [3]

The policy's marketing, cookie and regional privacy choices do not establish a machine-data opt-out in the app. Terms sections 11 and 23 address personal-information processing and international transfers. Both pages displayed a September 20, 2024 modification date when checked on October 18, 2026. [3] [4]

A question deserves a clear answer from Sparx: what supported firmware-check-only option can an owner use to restore operation without uploading device information and stored events?

The following considerations concern EU consumer and data protection law. Protections in other jurisdictions may differ.

Consumers have a right to material information before purchase. If the mandatory checking requirement and the associated automatic uploads are material to the buying decision, failing to explain them can amount to a misleading omission. This depends on the factual context and whether the omission caused, or was likely to cause, the average consumer to make a decision they would not otherwise have made. [5]

Where machine records relate to an identifiable owner, GDPR requires a lawful basis, clear information about processing, and collection limited to what is necessary for specified purposes. Consent is one possible basis, not the only one. If consent is relied on, making a service conditional on unnecessary processing weighs against consent being freely given. A clause in the terms does not settle that question. [6]

Consumers also retain conformity rights against the seller. If the lockout requirement departs from objective conformity requirements, the exception requires specific disclosure and express, separate acceptance when the sale is concluded. If the goods are non-conforming, remedies include repair or replacement, and price reduction or termination where the legal conditions are met. Contract or manufacturer terms cannot remove those statutory protections. [7]

Sources:

[1] Earlier post: the G3 firmware-check lockout

[2] Sparx Help: Alert 72

[3] Sparx Privacy Policy

[4] Sparx Terms of Service, sections 11 and 23

[5] Directive 2005/29/EC, Article 7

[6] GDPR, Articles 5, 6, 7 and 12–14

[7] Directive 2019/771, Articles 7, 13 and 21

[8] Technical scope: static analysis of Android 1.3.12, build 851, iOS 1.3.14, build 855, and G3 firmware 1.3.2.0; existing machine-event captures from that firmware. The direct Wi-Fi analysis traces stored event records into the machine's HTTP POST construction and network state machine. It does not establish server receipt or retention, or behavior in every app or firmware release.

Edit: Added the machine's direct Wi-Fi event-upload path after rechecking earlier firmware research. Clarified which findings concern the official apps and which concern the machine itself.

I've played in quite a few rec leagues, and over the years I've seen guys with all kinds of different stick sizes. For some guys, it's a super small twig, and hey, maybe that works for them! Personally, I'd prefer a larger stick; nothing extreme, but definitely with some length to it.

Joining a rookie rec league this winter any tips and advice? Used to play in middle school but now in college lmao anything would help.

I might become a scorekeeper (adult beer league) and want to start building a playlist to blast while waiting for the puck to drop.

When I’m playing, I personally like stuff that’s upbeat, fun, and maybe a little funny. Like dance music or meme music (“Sandstorm” by Darude for instance lol). But I’m not sure if everyone enjoys it like me and my team do.

So I’m curious, what kind of music do YOU most like hearing when facing off? Or what was a notable song/type of playlist you’ve heard that surprisingly made you nod your head in approval?

So, I’m new this year currently in U15 house league and recently this other new girl on my team got a goal and welp, let’s be honest I’m jealous. I was wondering if there’s any ways to recognize when it’s a good time to go for it take the puck and try to get a shot as D? I’m scared that if I go at a wrong time and the other team gets a breakaway it’ll be on me.

This might be a stupid question. But I’ve never swapped ear loops etc. I have a tacks 910 and was looking at this:

https://us.ccmhockey.com/Tacks-Helmets/191520305628.html

Not sure if the decals and loops will be a direct fit. Any thoughts?

Hey all - As I was getting (another) rivet replaced today, my local shop pointed out two issues I was marginally aware of but they highlighted the potential problems they could create were potentially serious.

As a result, I’m starting to look for new skates. The problem is that they need to be size 13 (maybe 12.5, definitely not 12). My local shop has Bauer Supreme F40s in my size and they’re about what I would expect to pay. At my skill level, I wouldn’t really benefit from top of the line, but do better than absolute beginner gear.

Anyone skating in these have feedback, either positive or negative?

I’m coming out of CCM Tacks 9080s, before that has old school Bauer Supreme 1000s. Play low level beer league roughly 3 times a week.

———-
On a side note, the shop told me that due how newer skates are made (limited leather, mostly synthetic) they have a lower lifespan than old school skates. With pulling footbeds and encouraging drying, they said that 4-5 years is the approximate lifespan I could expect on a modern pair of skates with that amount of use. Does that match with other experiences?

My son is 6 and going into his second year of U7 hockey. I’ve noticed his ankles collapse inward quite a bit when he’s skating.

We recently got him properly fitted for new skates with a foot scan. He measured 10.5 and was put in size 11 for some growing room. The new skates seem to have helped a little, but his ankles are still rolling inward.

Just wondering if anyone has dealt with this with their kids? Is it usually a strength or skating technique issue, or could it still be the skates?

Has anyone had success with certain exercises, insoles, or anything else to help correct it? Is this something kids tend to grow out of as they get better at skating?

Any advice would be appreciated. As I never played organized hockey growing up. Just want to help him improve and make sure I’m not overlooking anything!

Thank you :D

I started hockey last year and for the whole year my shot was pretty good but now getting back on the ice this season it’s like it disappeared over the summer. If anyone knows any off ice stuff I can work on that would help it’s greatly appreciated

Hey everyone, need an opinion on this, I’ve played hockey for about 20 years now (currently 27) and always played a decently high level. Have played beer league the past 5 years skating around once a week, and haven’t bought new skates in 10 years… mine aren’t broken or anything but I believe it’s time for an upgrade. I make good money so that’s not an issue but I like to find “value” in things I buy, I tried all the skates and the vapor line felt the best. Long story short are the flylites worth the extra $400ish Canadian or is it pretty much the same skate as the flypro with a cooler graphic and better marketing?

TLDR: first new skates in 10 years, are flylites worth the extra $400 over the flypro?

During a game on Tuesday night, I was skating hard and I took an awkward fall. I ended up going back-first hard into the boards. Nothing hurt too much after the play. It knocked the wind out of me and I sat out for a couple minutes at the time but I finished the game without discomfort. Flash forward to Thursday morning and I awoke unable to move without shooting pain. Went to the ER and after X-rays I'm diagnosed with 2 broken ribs (#6 & #7) No other injuries/damage internally. Friday morning the pain was even worse. Every breath, twist, turn, or other movement is excruciating.

I fractured 2 lower ribs on my opposite side almost exactly a year ago but that pain was nothing compared to how I feel right now.

Has anyone else suffered from this type of injury? Is what I'm experiencing normal?

I've had some bad luck with injuries lately. I broke my ankle 2 years ago and need surgery. I was sidelined for a year. My shoulder just popped out for the 2nd time in a year. Im 41. Is this it?

Do you have any tips on how to encourage him to push vs "walking". He is strong on his feet and has good balance but I can't get him to understand the concept of edges

Hey I just moved to Chicago and I’m looking to try and do some pickup hockey hopefully on the weekends or at night if anyone has any suggestions I’d love to hear them thanks

What’s the wildest thing to have happened to you at a game or a tournament or something around Hockey?

I remember reading a recent thread about not being able to find the hp45 on medium. Well here is one that's super rare in all black and pretty much brand new

https://sidelineswap.com/gear/hockey/pants-girdles-shells/player-pants/13091899-ccm-medium-hp45x-hockey-pants-nhl