By Paul Fricker
Monday, August 4, 2008
Starting this month we are adding an exciting new feature to goaliestore.com – Equipment Commentary by Paul Fricker.
My goal in adding this feature to goaliestore.com is to provide a valuable asset to our community and build on our already sizeable web content. Until this point, I was restricted to wearing the Miller line, for me to use any other brand would be like a Ford salesman driving a Chevy, and as such I was unable to provide goalies with that valuable other perspective.
My license to provide that other perspective comes from my past as a former high level player of the position, a designer and manufacturer of goal equipment, a full time goalie coach for 27 years, and current access to high level players.
Now that I have closed the manufacturing company, I have eliminated one potential conflict of interest I could have been accused of: conducting a reverse marketing ploy. Critics could have accused us of comparing another manufacturer’s product to our own for the purpose of elevating the Miller image by placing it beside a better known brand.
Each review will be conducted in three stages, with a fourth stage using contributions from other goalies.
The first stage is conducted from a former manufacturer and designer’s point of view: looking over the product with a trained eye, examining and commenting on features I found important when I produced gear. Reviewed features will include: cosmetics, graphics, symmetry, balanced weight, materials used, sewing skills, colour layout, how the product feels out of the box, how the product fits, bends, and flexes. I’ll take into account any features that make the product unique, and how those features function.
The second stage is wearing the product while I teach and work with goalies on the ice. This gives me an idea of comfort, break-in time, strap placement, wear points and the meshing of style and mechanics.
Stage three is shooting with the gear in my dryland training center with the puck machine and on the ice with players (defibrillator and certified medic standing by). This will give a better idea of the factors in category 2, as well as how the product performs when stopping shots, with rebound control, and will identify any blind spots in protection, coverage issues, and wrist and hand angles.
The last stage is to hand the gear off to a few of my students for their comments. I will use the services of a minor hockey goalie, an adult goalie, as well as a Pro, College, or Major Junior goalie. All the student reviewers will remain anonymous for a variety of good reasons.
Polling modern day, active players of different ages, skill sets, physical strength, styles and abilities will expand the perspective of the review and increase its relevance to a broad range of players.
First up in our Equipment Review: leg pads from manufacturer Pete Smith. I’m completing the first part of the review, so check the home page in the next few days.