Tuesday, August 07, 2012
Cleaning Your Hockey Gear

 

There is nothing more unique to hockey than that fresh-out-of-the-locker room smell. While this stench can occasionally illicit incredible memories of game-winning goals and locker room celebrations, it is in no way an incredible thing. This smell is actually caused by bacteria that grow from the sweat, blood, common soil and other gross stuff that builds up on your equipment over time. If left untreated, these bacteria could potentially become very dangerous (not to mention the smell will only get worse). It can cause diseases and spread illness from player to player. Bacteria like to find cool, moist places where it can multiply and grow. While there are many professional cleaning companies that have expensive machines to clean your equipment and kill these bacteria, there are simpler (and cheaper) procedures that you can do at home that will help to reduce the risk of dangerous bacteria…and the smell. 
 
The first and most important preventative measure that you can do is to air out your equipment as soon as possible after playing. This means emptying out the entire bag and letting the equipment air dry. If you can hang equipment to allow better air access that is preferred but laying equipment on the ground in an area with good air circulation will work just fine. Dry off the blades and holders of your skates and take the inside liners of the skates out so that air can reach the inside as well. Regularly spray your skates with a disinfectant spray to kill bacteria. To disinfect your helmet, wet a towel with warm water and apply a small amount of soap or shampoo to the towel. Take this soapy towel and wipe down the helmet completely. Be sure to wipe down the facemask taking special care to clean the chin cup. We recommend using tear-free shampoo in case you are not able to wash off all of the soap residue and some gets in your face the next time you play and sweat (non-stinging eyes leads to more goals). After the soap is applied and scrubbed in, use another wet towel to wipe away all of the soap from the helmet.
 
Skates and helmets require special attention when it comes to cleaning and disinfecting. As for the rest of your equipment, we recommend you follow these 6 steps every week or so to reduce the risk of bacteria build up and to help with the smell. You will be soaking your equipment so it is extremely important that you plan ahead and leave enough time after the cleaning for your gear to dry completely before you have to use it again. Here are the 6 steps that we have found to work:
 
Step 1: Fill a bathtub or large sink (large enough to fit all of your equipment) about 1/3 of the way with hot water. You will be putting your hands in the water so make sure it is not too hot to touch. 
 
Step 2: Add about ¼ cup of laundry detergent to the tub as it is filling making sure that the detergent spreads and mixes into the water.
 
Step 3: Put all of the hockey gear (minus the skates and helmet) into the water. Be sure to dunk the gear so all of it is exposed to the detergent/water mixture. Let the gear soak for 30 to 45 minutes.
 
Step 4: Drain the tub or sink and clean out all of the soap. Rinse all of the equipment with clean, room temperature water to get all of the soapy residue off of your gear.
 
Step 5: Wring out any excess water and hang up all equipment to dry. Be sure to hang the gear in an area with good air ventilation so that it can dry in a reasonable amount of time.
 
Step 6: Spray and wipe down the empty hockey bag with a disinfectant spray. Make sure the bag and equipment are completely dry before re-packing your bag.
 
We recommend that you go through this process once a week or once every couple of weeks. Jerseys and socks can go in the washing machine but do not use the dryer in case of shrinking. Special attention will need to be given to jerseys and socks with logos or bright colors. Airing out equipment after every use is crucial as a preventative measure. Professional equipment cleaners are not necessary but usually have machines to kill bacteria and minimize smell. If your equipment is older and was not well-kept, this more intense method may be useful.
 
Hopefully these simple steps will lessen that smell that all non-hockey players complain about. We are sure that it will help to kill the bacteria on your equipment and, in the long run, will help to prevent sickness and diseases and keep you on the ice and playing the game we all love. 
 
Special thanks to: Hockey-University.com and LiveStrong for inspiration.

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Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Bauer Nexus Protective Line

Kyle Stevenson, Pure Hockey Marketing

 

Bauer’s new protective line for 2012 is the Nexus 1000 series. This line was designed 100% based on customer feedback to Bauer, from pros all the way down to beginners. They wanted more classic, wider-fitting protective equipment, so Bauer went and designed the Nexus line, which is a volume fit all the way through, from the shin pad, the shoulder pad, and the elbow pad. It features Bauer’s new EPP foam construction, which is a lightweight EPP foam and posesses superior impact-dispersion properties compared to previously used foams, while still being lighter. The Bauer Nexus 1000 Shoulder Pads feature that lightweight EPP foam and they designed the chest panels to be in different pieces, so it won’t be one big piece. This won't restrict your movement, but will still be very protective. They have the poly bicep guard, which has a nice hard plastic for impact absorbance, so if you take a slash or a hit from some dirty hacker, it’ll be nice and protective for you. The shoulder caps are anatomically designed, which means they are designed to match the shape of your shoulder, so they will sit more flush and be a lot more comfortable. They also won't sit too high or look goofy. The back pad, along the spine and down and through the abdomen by your kidneys, will feature that same lightweight EPP foam, with poly inserts all over them for a little bit more protection. Finally, the inside of the entire pad features Bauer’s THERMO-MAX+ liner which will wick away moisture keeping it nice and light during the game. 
 
Next up is the Nexus 1000 Elbow Pad. This elbow pad features Bauer’s anchor strap and it’s a really comfortable strap that holds dow nicely, it’s adjustable and not at all like the pads that have the straight sling in them that you’re sliding your arm through with no adjustment. Very nice and comfortable. It has that lightweight EPP foam and poly insert on the forearm wrap, and then it’s a hard plastic, covered elbow cap. Again, this features Bauer’s THERMO-MAX+ liner to wick away moisture and keep you nice and dry and cool down during the game.
 
The Bauer Nexus 1000 Shin Pad features an anatomical design in their shell. It’s has a poly shell up in the knee and down in the shin. The shin has some slight little ribbing to it which will provide a little bit stronger of a structure and allow for it to take a little bit more of a beating. On the back is the calf wrap, with lightweight EPP foam and a poly insert just for a little bit more protection. Similar to what you saw in the elbow pad, it has this kind of anchor strap – it’s called the shin sling, which will be a little bit more comfortable strap to keep your shin pad nice and tight to your leg. This pad also includes the stretch Velcro straps - what Bauer added is adjustability; there are 2 different spots you can put it in for each strap, one higher and one lower. It’s just going to be a little bit more of a comfort thing and you can customize the fit a little bit more. On the inside, it’s got a pro mesh liner, which actually is completely removable.  It’s a really breathable liner, and it’s also nice, you can take that thing right out and throw it in the wash and your bag won’t stink quite as bad as normal. This pad is actually very similar to something I was wearing for a long, long time, the old Bauer Vapor 10 shin pads, which I was wearing when it was the top model pad. It’s got that nice wide fit, a very similar design on the shell, and it sat back on my knee very well, a nice wide surface for shot blocking. I just loved those pads and this pad really reminds me of those old Vapor's, especially that really breathable liner and it’s got a nice hold in the knee. This pad, like I mentioned with the whole Nexus line, was designed by basically player requests. And this what all the players were looking for, something that fit like that old classic style shin pad, a little bit wider face, a nice deep fit and that’s what they did for the Nexus 1000 shin pad.
 
So that was the Nexus 1000 line, and for those of you interested in that, you may also be interested in the Nexus Pro line, it’s exclusive to Pure Hockey. It shares most of the same features as the Nexus 1000, with the nice limited edition black color. As you can see, it’s got the same adjustable straps, removable liners, anchor straps, the shoulder pad has the same thing, it’s got that triple bicep pad, so again, the Nexus 1000 line, and the Nexus Pro line, available at Purehockey.com and all Pure Hockey locations. 

Here's a video we did recently, so you can see the Nexus 1000 line with some close-ups. Let us know if you have any questions!
 
 

 


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Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Bauer Vapor X6.0 Composite Stick

Bauer’s Vapor X 6.0 Stick is the third stick down in the Vapor line from Bauer for 2012. It is behind the APX and the 7.0. Like those two sticks, it features Bauer’s Intelli-sense shot technology for flex profile, and basically what that means is that depending on the shot you’re taking and where your hands are placed, it’s going flex a little bit differently. Taking a slapshot, it’s going to load up and give you a little extra power in that shot; in a snapshot or a wristshot, it will give you a quicker release.

Down in the blade, it features that same Aero Foam technology that you see in the APX and the 7.0. It’s a lighter foam inside, a little bit stronger and will provide a little more feel back on the puck when you’re stickhandling. The connection from the shaft to the blade features Bauer’s Pure Shot blade profile. And what that is, a thickened connection in the hosel, going from the shaft to the blade to strengthen the connection point. That’s going keep the blade from flexing back on shots and deflecting off, and keep the blade nice and square to your target. Along the same lines here is the Vapor Premium Taper, which is a secondary taper along the top and the bottom of the shaft, and what that does is that it will strengthen it out, reduce the torsion of deflections so the blade stays square.

Up in the shaft is the Microfeel II shaft, which is the same as found on the APX. It’s a little bit round in the corners, double concave on the front and the back of the shaft, just for a little bit more comfort and a little more control, and to strengthen the stick. This one has the Grip Tack finish, for a little bit more grip on the stick. The Bauer Vapor X 6.0 stick available at Purehockey.com and all Pure Hockey locations.

 


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Friday, August 31, 2012
Helmet Fitting

 

Hockey Helmet Fitting
By Kyle Stevenson, Pure Hockey Danvers

In recent years, it has become increasingly evident how devastating head injuries can be in hockey or any sport. Most players and parents are more aware than ever of the dangers of concussions and head injuries in the game of hockey. The first thing to know is that there is no such thing as a perfect, or totally injury proof helmet. They unfortunately do not exist. Hockey is a contact sport and the risk is always present. In the past few years however, technology has drastically improved and players are more protected than ever before. Although, like any other item of protective equipment, there is a hierarchy of models. The key to being as protected as possible is not simply buying the helmet with the biggest price tag, it is having a comfortable, snug, and properly fit and adjusted helmet. This is why our employees and all of at Pure Hockey will always work with our customers to find the best helmet for each individual player.

As companies work hard to reduce weight, increase protection and enhance performance, helmets can be generally categorized by the type of foam that they are lined with and the shell type.

Foam Types
Dual Density Foams - These helmets have soft foam against the head of the player, and a thinner, slightly harder foam layer against the helmet’s shell.  Generally speaking, these helmets tend to be more comfortable, but are simpler and don’t absorb as much energy on impact as more advanced helmets do. Examples include:

EPP Foam - Expanded polypropylene or EPP foams as they are commonly known, are found in many advanced level helmets. This material is that same hard, black Styrofoam looking material that is found in bicycle helmets. In hockey helmets, there are usually covered with a layer of memory foam pads for additional comfort. Examples include:

One helmet that doesn’t fit within either of these two categories is the Cascade M11 helmet and its update, the M11 Pro which contains Cascade’s signature Seven Technology.

A brand new elite-level helmet on the market currently is Easton's E700 helmet. The E700 feels odd when you first put it on, because it's super-lightweight - but make no mistake - it is highly protective. Easton put a lot of time into the research, design and and testing the new E700. Easton introduces the Giro system with this helmet, allowing for improved protection and stability internally by wrapping the head in relation to the helmet. This system also allows for on-the-fly tool-less adjustments.


Getting The Right Fit
Unlike most other pieces of equipment, for the most part, helmets have a single run of sizes. For example, helmets have Small, Medium, Large or Extra Large; versus Elbow pads which have Youth Small, Medium, Large,  then the same for junior and for senior. Almost all hockey helmets on the market today have some form of size adjustment. Generally speaking, most helmet sizes run right into the next. So a Small helmet, expanded to its biggest adjustment, will be very similar in size to a Medium helmet (of the same model) closed down to its smallest adjustment.

The simplest way to fit a helmet is to first estimate the correct size, expand it as large as it will adjust to, and place it on your head. Slowly adjustment the helmet smaller until it is snug on your head. The helmet should be snug and should not move around, but not too tight to it is uncomfortable. Be sure the helmet does not move around when you move your head. You will also want to wear the helmet for a few minutes to be sure there are no pains or pressure points on your head. Once you have the helmet snug, secure and comfortable, you’re ready to skate.


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Friday, August 31, 2012
Pure Hockey In-Store Services

 

 

Pure Hockey is dedicated to providing customers with the most knowledgeable and helpful staff when it comes to helping our customerspick out new hockey equipment. Our #1 goal is helping you keep your current gear in the game and performing at its peak level. There’s nothing worse than missing a shift or even an entire hockey game to try to fix a skate issue, or worse, equipment failure costing your team a play or a goal. 
 
Our staff is here to make sure your gear is never something you need to worry about when you hit the ice. Our team is highly trained on how to execute repairs and consulting customers on how to properly care for and maintain their equipment to keep it performing at its best for a longer period of time. Our staff is never here to sell you on unnecessary repairs, but to advise you of the options and recommend the best one for you. 
 
The following services are offered at all of our store locations… 
- Skate Heat Molding
- Skate Stretching
- Skate Punch-outs
- Rivet Replacements 
- Holder Replacements
- Steel Replacement
- Skate Sharpening 
Pure Hockey staff are trained in all aspects of skate sharpening and are tested for recertification twice per year.
 
On top of the services offered above at all of our store locations, the following additional services are available at the following locations:
 
- Flat Bottom V Sharpening
 
- Custom Skate Radius Profiling, performed by an extremely accurate, computerized profiling machine
 
So be sure to stop in to our store locations not only for the best selection of new equipment, but for the highest quality service, sharpenings and repairs!

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Friday, August 31, 2012
Buying Hockey Skates

 

 

The Pure Hockey Skate Buying Guide
By Jordan Lalor (Pure Hockey Marketing) and Mitch Donahue (Manager,  Pure Hockey of Dover NH)

At Pure Hockey, we know there are a lot of things to consider when choosing the skate that’s right for you.  Looking at that wall with 50+ skates on it should bring joy, not anxiety.   If you walk into any Pure Hockey location there will be a trained employee eager to properly fit you, but it wouldn’t hurt for you to have a general idea of what you want. Hopefully this guide will give you some added wisdom next time you’re in the market for a fresh pair.

Sizing & Fit
A proper fit should be your primary concern when shopping for skates as skate sizes are not universal and all manufacturers (CCM, Bauer, etc) size differently and will certainly fit differently than a size 9 shoe.  Skates run large, we recommend dropping down about 1 ½ to 2 sizes from your shoes. 

To find the ideal length, tie the skates and stand up.  You should feel your toes lightly touching the toecap of the skate.  It may seem small, but if you bend your knees you should feel your toes slide back as your foot is held in place by the heel cup.  If the heel slides upward, it’s likely too big.

Growth  
Concerned about your child’s growth?  Skates these days are made to last, but you should anticipate buying skates prior to each season.  By compensating for growth and buying bigger skates, you will inevitably hinder your little one’s development.  Trust us, you are better off buying a mid-priceline skate that fits now instead of a high end skate that will fit next year. 

Quality & Skate Makeup
Quality wise, there are four major characteristics of a hockey skate that influence its price: weight, stiffness, moisture management, and blade quality.  While you may certainly spring for a high-end skate at any level, what you “need” is essentially dictated by your level and frequency of play.
     
To beginners or occasional rec-league players, we advise you to look at a mid-to-low priceline skate, with a softer boot, which gives you more mobility and makes them easier to break in.  At this stage in your game, the additional coordination from a soft boot is worth the added weight and lack of moisture management. 

Recommended Beginner Skates:
- Bauer Vapor X 3.0
- CCM U+04
- Reebok 12K
- Easton EQ30

- Bauer Supreme One.5

- Bauer Nexus 400

 


Intermediates, there is an assortment of mid range skates to choose from.  A mid-price skate is made with lighter, stronger materials resulting in a stronger, lighter, quick drying skate that is easily affordable. 
   
Recommended Intermediate Skates:
- Bauer Vapor X 5.0
- CCM U+10
- Reebok 14K
- Bauer Nexus 600 LE

- Reebok White K

- Bauer Supreme One.7 

From travel leagues to the pros, elite skates are designed for the elite players. These skates use the newest and most advanced materials available to make the skate extremely light, stiff and very hydrophobic.  The skates at this level are made from fully heat moldable materials to ensure a great fit for maximum performance and quick break in time.  You truly get what you pay for.
 
Recommended High-End Skates:

- Bauer Vapor APX
- CCM U+ Crazy Light
- Reebok 20K
- Easton RS

- Bauer Supreme TotalOne NXG

- Bauer Nexus 800 and Nexus 1000

 


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