3 on 3 Studio Ice session - 2011-05-21

I really love doing 3 on 3 or 4 on 4. That is how I learned how to play inline hockey, so it just seems a lot more simple to me. I don't get a chance to do it often, so when a friend asked me if I wanted to do this, I didn't even hesitate. I should have though because it means I would be playing three nights in a row.

I'm not going to beat around the bush, I was awesome. I played better than I thought I could. It seemed that I was able to just dictate the pace of the game. I know it is studio ice, but if I can go from one goal line to the other, it is going to make me feel really good. I played again with a player from the Ironman tournament who I really like playing with. It seems if I can hit him with a pass, he always gets a decent scoring chance off.

I had one play where I picked up the puck in the slot, and skated around a defensemen who poked it lose, but I was able to kick it back up into my skates and keep going, through the other defense's legs and then I scored. I didn't realize I did it until someone told me that I did it. I never try that sort of thing because it just never works for me.

So why so different? I can think of a variety of reasons. I got my skates sharpened and for the first time in a year, they feel like they were sharpened the way I like them. Despite going to the same place that always used to do them, they've felt different every time. I switched the pattern on my stick from the Sakic to the Igilna. I did it for a few reasons. I knew I'd be playing defense and the square blade is better for board work, and I haven't been happy with how I've been handling the puck lately. Of course the biggest difference is the studio ice. It doesn't take very long for me to get up to speed, so a few strides and I'm at the other side of the ice. Very different, but it requires a lot of stopping and starting. It was good for endurance, and I felt outstanding after the skate.

Get a similar pattern on your new stick

To me the pattern on your stick is what you're buying. If you don't like it, you're not going to like your stick. So when I got very used to a specific pattern, I didn't want to sway from it. It was the Lemieux pattern by Nike, PM66.

Eventually they phased that pattern out and ended up on the Easton Sakic, which I now enjoy. It's really nice for wrist shots, round on the toe for some good stick handling and resembled the old Lemieux pattern.

I came across a site that will help you find similar blades on different sticks. For example, if I liked the Sakic pattern, but wanted to use a Bauer stick, I could switch to the Naslund pattern which is somewhat similar.

Very cool stuff.

Rbk 6K shaft w/ Easton SE Pro Hybrid Blade

During my injury time, I did some cleaning and I realized that I break a lot of sticks since I started playing more frequently, and I switched to the S7. I also noticed an older shaft I had purchased sometime back that I wanted to try. It is an old RBK 6K shaft with the sharkskin grip. Basically, it is a normal shaft, but with a very textured grip - like sand grains right in the paint. I've never seen anything like it, and that is why I wanted to try it. I've always had an issue with my hand sliding on the stick in ice hockey. In inline, I never had a problem though. I attribute it to the moisture that comes with playing on ice.


I ordered an Easton SE Pro Hybrid Blade, and put it in over the weekend. It is very bottom heavy, as expected with the two piece stick, and putting a hunk of wood in it. I'm ok with that though. I used to play inline with a similar setup, and I really enjoyed it. I'll enjoy the money I'll save too.
I haven't played with it yet, but I plan on trying it out soon. A lot stiffer than the S7, and significantly heavier too.

We'll see how it goes.