With Sherwood’s factory in Strathroy, Ontario closing, it was inevitable for goalies like Martin Brodeur to make a switch in equipment brands next year. The mystery was to which brand? MartinBrodeur30.com recently unveiled Marty’s new Vaughns for this upcoming season.
The blocker features a classic waffle board pattern and the glove looks to have an offset T pocket and angled two piece cuff.
The pads share the same vintage look. They have the single break below the knee and angled inside boot.
It will be interesting to see how much Sherwood product will still be in the NHL from this moment forward. It is very rare for Asian manufactured goaltending equipment to surface in the NHL so it’s only a matter of time before Sherwood’s other endorsed athlete, Craig Anderson, will make the switch to something else. The ever popular Sherwood 9950 foam core sticks will move production out of Canada as well. While many pros may still prefer foam core over composite, many companies do not offer it at the retail level anymore and Sherwood seems to be continuing this trend.
The Stealth RS is Easton’s latest top end glove in their line up. This glove caters to players who prefer a an “in-between” fit; one that is not too loose like a traditional glove but not overly tight like many of the anatomical offerings on the market.
We are reviewing the Pro version of the glove so there will be some differences in the materials used between the retail model. The materials used in the entire glove (shell, liner, gussets, palms) are not the same but the overall shape remains similar minus the custom cuff.
Those who are familiar with the Pro Stock Easton E-Pro 4-Roll glove will recognize many of the materials used in this Pro RS. They share the same silver Bio-Dri liner, nylon shell and nash gussets/palms. The retail RS comes with the new Dri-Lex liner, nylon/synthetic shell, all new AX Suede palm and gussets. Mid-density foams and PE inserts are found throughout both versions and help make this glove very lightweight.
So how does the glove fit? It is tight throughout the fingers and in the back of the hand. The cuff flares out for added wrist mobility. I would compare it to the fit of the Bauer Vapor series but a bit more snug in the fingers.
(Pictured above: the same Nash palm and gusset you find on most pro stock Easton E-Pro hockey gloves). I’ve never had an issue with these palms crusting up or piling too much. They are thin enough to give an excellent stick feel but because of this, durability may be an issue if you’re particularly tough on your palms.
The Easton RS is unique in the way it has three piece index, middle and ring fingers. Opening and closing the hand feels very natural and comfortable with this design. I am able to get a better feel of the stick compared to many of the competitors’ gloves with only a 3 piece index finger design. This is my favorite feature of the glove.
The cuff is angled; a design similar to the old Jofa gloves. It has plastic inserts throughout. The lock thumb is also pretty beefy but not to the point where it is uncomfortable to use.
The palm side of the cuff is cut very low. It has a huge E-Pro influence and I prefer this type of cuff over the stock retail one.
The retail model of this glove is currently retailing for $149.99US. Not that many pro players are using this glove quite yet so it makes finding a pro version quite difficult.
The Easton Stealth RS is a very comfortable and mobile glove. Those who like the fit of Bauer’s Vapor series will feel right at home with these as well. Sadly, it’s not the prettiest glove in the world but what it lacks in looks it makes up in performance and fit.
Pro Helmet Decals is a company based in Ocala, Florida that specializes in high quality decals. They currently supply these decals to professional sports teams in the MLB, NHL, NCAA and the general public like you and I.
Any design ranging from a single strip to a custom die-cut design can be created. The decals are also very affordable; especially with no artwork or set up charges.
The Philadelphia Flyers are among one of their most well-known clients.
The decals you see on my helmet are the same ones the Flyers use on the ice. They are very thick unlike some of the decals I’ve used that are marketed as “On-Ice Decals” available in most hockey shops. The quality is there to withstand the temperatures of a hockey rink and will not peel.
Your design can be as simple as a typeface enclosed in a rectangle or a more custom shape like the majority of the logos you see below. A variety of different fonts are also available for numbers. These will definitely increase your team’s professional look.
The print quality is excellent. The colors are very bold and vibrant while the lines remain crisp and precise.
If you or your team are looking for a way to increase the visual appeal of your helmet I would highly recommend Pro Helmet Decals.
They also make a variety of more sport-specific decals made for the baseball and football market. Check out their products on their website at www.ProHelmetDecals.com
With the Winnipeg Jets inaugural season done, the remaining equipment is now available for sale through Play It Again Sports Winnipeg.
The list below lists some of what they have available during their pro stock stick sale. If you’re not in the Winnipeg area you can contact them by phone (204 256 1115) or email (playitagainwinnipeg@gmail.com) with any questions you may have or to place an order.
Greg also sent us an inventory list of their most recent equipment drop of sticks, skates and a little bit of goal. Pants, gloves, helmets and other protective are expected to arrive after development camp in July.
(Click on the image below to enlarge)
Please note this is NOT a complete list of their inventory, just their pro stock sticks and their latest drop. If you are looking for anything else please contact Greg from PIAS Winnipeg directly. Be sure to share your pick ups with us!
We’ve been getting lots of emails and comments regarding when specific NHL teams sell equipment to the general public. We have compiled a list of when and where this equipment can be purchased but keep in mind not all teams sell to the public and things may change from season to season. The majority of teams will not sell year round, only once a year.
Play It Again Sports Winnipeg has received another shipment of used Atlanta Thrashers gear.
In this shipment are:
80+ pairs of gloves
20+ pairs of pants
180+ sticks (including Bauer APX and Easton Stealth RS!)
Protective (shins, elbows)
Skates
Goalie equipment
Check out some of the photos!
Please contact Greg from Play It Again Sports Winnipeg at playitagain@mymts.net should you have any questions about the gear/pricing or if you want to place an order. Be sure to tell them -M from ProStockNation.com sent you!
Below is what they received. Please note that stock is moving quickly so these numbers are always changing!
– M
Condition: 1 = Little wear; 2 = Average wear; 3 = Heavy wear
Rick Nash, Matt Stajan, Marc-Andre Bergeron, and Kyle Quincey. What do all of these NHL players have in common? Their glove of choice is Winnwell.
Being a Gold Medal winner, 4-time NHL All-Star and Captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets hockey club, Rick Nash has been heavily courted by different companies to endorse their products. Yet, he chooses to sport Winnwell Pro Stock Hockey Gloves.
Here is a glimpse of Rick’s 14″ pro gloves. Over the next couple of weeks I will be using this glove and checking in with updates.
These are made of nylon and have plastic inserts everywhere like you would expect from most pro gloves nowadays. All of the graphics and text are embroidered. For players who don’t like overly loose (think traditional 4-roll) or tight (newer anatomical style) fitting gloves these are in the middle. The blooming style cuff also increases wrist mobility.
What I liked right off the bat was how the thumb was constructed. The white bit you see sticking out is a plastic insert which offers protection from hacks and slashes. The thumb is allowed to move freely unlike some gloves that will basically have one large piece of plastic from the cuff to the tip of the thumb, restricting movement.
The three piece index finger is another feature we like that more and more companies are also incorporating, but mostly into their more anatomically fitting gloves.
The palms and gussets of the glove are made of you guessed it, Nash leather (pardon the pun.) An unique feature about these palms are the seamless transitions between the palm and gussets on the inside of the pinky and index fingers which are key areas for wear and tear.
The inside of the glove is lined with Winnwell’s Cleansport NXT liner (more information available on their website: http://www.winnwellcleanhockey.ca/cleansport.php.) The NXT extends all the way from the cuff through to the fingers and I actually prefer these types of liners because they are generally softer than what is traditionally used and I don’t get any uncomfortable scraping on my knuckles.
I weighed these gloves and compared them to another pro glove I had sitting in the office with nash palms and gussets…
Winnwell Pro Stock: 639g
RBK Pro 4-Roll: 702g*
*The RBK has had the inner padding and a part of the cuff removed so technically it will weigh a bit more than 702g.
For those of you still looking to purchase a Canucks jersey the counterfeiters have finally caught on. They used to make knockoff jerseys in size 48 (Reebok does not make a Reebok Edge jersey in 48, just 46 or 50) and that was one of the easiest tell-tale signs but it appears size 46 fakes are now surfacing.
Here’s a few pictures from a Craigslist Ad…
Notice how it’s the same ugly knockoffs from before. The white on the collar is way too thick, the color of the jersey is still slightly off and the outline around the Orca logo on the front is too big.
The shoulder patches still aren’t the correct shape and the lettering/numbering on the back is the wrong font.
Remember, if the price is too good to be true it probably is. If you are unsure please drop us a line and we can help you out.
Sorry for the short hiatus. I was in California last week and stumbled upon this LHS (Local Hockey Shop) through @Projekt29 on Twitter while I tried to hunt down a Bauer HS22 Pro Straight Visor (you can no longer find these in Canada… only the RBE I and the new HS23.)
On my way to LAX (that’s the Los Angeles Airport for those unfamiliar) I made a pit stop here to check it out. Run by Jake Pote and his staff, Jake’s Custom Pro Shop is the place to find hockey equipment. Like the name says, they do custom work. If you need new palms on your gloves, want the cuffs shortened/extended, change the holders on your skates, the list goes on, bring them by and Jake will do it right.
Not only do they carry retail equipment but they also sell Pro Stock gear directly from the LA Kings! Sticks, gloves, socks, helmets, goalie gear, you name it, they probably have it. The staff are very knowledgeable and I had an awesome time just talking to them about equipment. If I didn’t have a flight to catch I could have chatted them up for the rest of the day.
If you are in the LA area, check them out at:
630 N. Sepulveda Blvd.
Suite 13A
El Segundo, CA 90245
You can also give them a call at (310) 322-5253 or visit their website at www.JakesHockey.com
Whether you are looking for game used equipment for your personal collection or simply looking for pro gear to play with, Jake’s is your place. Don’t forget they also do alterations and custom work, you won’t find that at the big box stores!
Oh, and that visor I never did find it. I went to three different shops that day and everybody was sold out of the HS22 Pro Straight Clear. The closest I found was the Mirrored one, but wearing one of those is the same as painting a big target on your back.
After being eliminated by the Nashville Predators the Ducks announced their Fan Appreciation Sale (which includes Equipment) will take place this Saturday.
The Ducks Team Store at Honda Center will be holding its annual Fan Appreciation Sale this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A discount of up 50% off will be offered on select merchandise, with game-used equipment at the lowest prices of the season.
For more information, call the Team Store at (888) 438-2505.
I will be in California this weekend… perhaps I will make the trip to the sale.
Professional Use Only, No Warranty. 