The sheer determination of following the pattern of up, step-step, fall-on-butt, roll-over, hands-to-ice-in-downward-dog, and back up, step-step, fall-on-butt...
Their determination is infectious.
It's a great moment for a parent.
There's something utterly magical about the clumsy wobbles, the laughter, and the determined little face brimming with concentration. As a parent, watching your child take those tentative first glides on the ice feels like witnessing a tiny explorer conquering a frosty frontier.
Sure, there might be a few spills and twirls that resemble a delightful mix of Bambi and a figure skater trying to find their groove, but in those moments, you can't help but beam with pride.
And that's what skating (dare I also say life) is about.
Fall on your butt and then get up!
But one thing that can hinder the joy of learning to skate is discomfort. Not the discomfort of a bruised buttocks, but the annoyance of uncomfortable feet in your skates. To ensure your little ones have the best experience on the ice, it's crucial to pay attention to the details, starting with their footwear. In this post, we'll explore the importance of selecting the right skating socks for kids and how they can make a significant difference in their overall skating enjoyment.
The most obvious point ever :)
But, it needs to be said!
Skating sessions, practices, games are a time investment by the parents. We've all been there where you get your child bundled up, they have to pee, so then bundled down and bundled back up again.
Once you get them out on the rink, indoor or outdoor, don't let uncomfortable socks cut the session short!
Investing in comfortable skating socks for kids is essential for preventing discomfort. Look for socks made from soft, moisture-wicking materials that keep little feet dry and comfortable.
Wet feet = cold toes.
Write that down.
Skating often involves sweating, and wet feet can quickly lead to discomfort and cold toes. Opt for skating socks with moisture-wicking properties to keep your child's feet dry and reduce the risk of irritation. Dry feet are not only more comfortable but also better insulated against the cold.
The right fit is crucial for skating socks.
There's a common misconception that putting on grandma's giant wool socks and jamming your child's foot into their skate will ensure their feet stay warm.
If your child can't wiggle their toes, you're restricting blood flow.
No blood flow means cold toes :(
Choose socks that provide a snug, yet comfortable fit to ensure optimal performance on the ice.
My son absolutely loses his mind if the toe seam on his run-of-the-mill cotton toddler socks aren't perfectly aligned with his toes :)
Granted, he's 2. And he has exceptionally strong opinions on life. But the point remains. Bulky seams annoy the heck out of kids when out of place.
Seamless socks provide a smoother and more comfortable fit, allowing kids to focus on their skating skills rather than foot discomfort.
OK. Fun colours aren't 100% necessary for optimal skating comfort.
But skating is supposed to be fun, right!?
Encourage your child's enthusiasm for skating with fun and colourful socks. Neon colours or the colour of your child's team or skating club will keep them fired up about getting out there on the ice.
There ya have it :)
If you're here, it hopefully means the days of watching your child learn the art of skating are ahead of you.
I sincerely hope you and your child enjoy the ride!
Final Takeaway: When choosing skating socks for your child or toddler, a proper fit and moisture-wicking materials will ensure optimal comfort and ensure an enjoyable skating experience. Also, don't be afraid to choose fun colours to encourage your child's enthusiasm.
Until next time...
]]>Sports have an incredible power to bring people together, inspire teamwork, and foster a sense of unity and camaraderie among nations.
Whilst we at Thinees are known for our gear relating to the wintry sports: hockey, figure skating, ringette, there is one such event that captures the world's attention like no other.
The World Cup of Soccer.
Right now, Australia is hosting this prestigious tournament, showcasing the best female soccer players from around the globe. As the excitement builds, we at Thinees have a sweet option for you to support and celebrate the participating teams. Enter the Canada and USA headbands, the ultimate accessory to show support for our beloved North American teams in the Women's World Cup.
The Women's World Cup of Soccer is a showcase of some of the most incredible athletes in the sporting world. It is not merely a competition; it is a platform that showcases talent, determination, and passion for the game. The participating teams represent more than just their respective countries; they represent the dreams and aspirations of countless young girls and boys who look up to these athletes as role models. It is only fitting that we rally behind them and show our unwavering support in every way possible.
One notable athlete still competing for the Canadian side is the timeless, freakishly-athletic Christine Sinclair.
Christine Sinclair is a living legend whose impact on the game of soccer in Canada is immeasurable. With a career spanning over two decades, Sinclair has not only become the face of women's soccer in Canada but also a role model and an inspiration for countless aspiring athletes. Born on June 12, 1983, in Burnaby, British Columbia, she took her first steps into the world of soccer at a young age, and little did the world know that this young prodigy would go on to leave an indelible mark on the sport.
Sinclair's accolades and achievements on the field are nothing short of extraordinary. As the captain of the Canadian women's national team, she has led her country to numerous successes, including winning back-to-back Olympic bronze medals in 2012 and 2016, as well as being an integral part of the team that clinched the 2010 CONCACAF Women's Championship. Her goal-scoring prowess is unparalleled, and in January 2020, she surpassed Abby Wambach (American soccer icon) to become the all-time leading goal-scorer in international soccer, an astonishing feat that solidified her status as one of the greatest players the game has ever seen.
Beyond her accomplishments on the pitch, Christine Sinclair's impact reaches far beyond the game itself. As a humble and respected leader, she has been a driving force in promoting gender equality in sports and advocating for increased support and recognition for women's soccer. Her dedication and perseverance have helped elevate the visibility of women's soccer in Canada and have encouraged young girls and boys to dream big and pursue their passion for the sport. Sinclair's legacy is not just about her incredible skills with the ball but also about her ability to inspire and unite a nation through the beautiful game, leaving an enduring impact on soccer in Canada (and the world) for generations to come.
At the age of 40, Sinclair is still dawning the Red and White for Canada, something simply inspiring and remarkable.
What a legend.
Thinees' Canada and USA headbands are more than just fashionable accessories. They are symbols of support and unity for the Canadian and American teams competing in the Women's World Cup 2023. Adorned with the national colours and emblems of these powerhouse teams, these headbands are perfect for soccer enthusiasts and fans looking to cheer their teams to victory.
As the Women's World Cup 2023 approaches, now is the perfect time to celebrate the beautiful game. By donning Thinees' Canada and USA headbands, you become a part of something larger – a community that celebrates the incredible talent displayed by female athletes.
The upcoming tournament promises to be a spectacle, filled with passion, drama, and unforgettable moments. So, get out there and support your team!
Until next time...
]]>It’s a major distraction.
And can make playing the game of hockey which is already quite difficult EVEN MORE difficult.
Wearing a headband under your helmet is a great way to prevent this from happening. Not only will a headband help to keep the sweat out of your eyes, but it will also help keep your hair out of your face. No sweat or hair in your face will allow you to focus more on the game.
You’ll also look cool.
Which, for this writer, is way more important than anything else :)
When it comes to the market on headbands, they come in a variety of styles, colors, and materials, so you can find one that suits your style and needs. Cotton is usually the most popular material, but you can also find headbands that are made of fleece or synthetic fabrics. There are also headbands with specific features, such as adjustable straps, extra padding, and moisture-wicking capabilities.
When you are looking for a headband to wear under your hockey helmet, make sure that it fits snugly so that it does not move around or slip off during play. If it is too loose, sweat can still trickle down your face. You should also make sure that the headband is comfortable and does not cause any irritation.
Wearing a headband under your hockey helmet is an easy and effective way to keep sweat out of your eyes so that you can focus on the game. With the right headband, you can be comfortable and have a clear vision during the game.
That’s our goal at Thinees with our new headband collection. Our 92% Polyester 8% Spandex blend offers a great combo of softness and stretch. It’s available in a variety of colors and offers the following:
Anywho, we'd be delighted for you to try one out!
As of right now, you can use promo code BOGOHEAD2024 to get 50% off any headband with the purchase of any Thinees product!
Annnnnd, you can use this promo code for multiple headbands on the SAME order! Woo hoo!
Until next time...
]]>While fit and comfort both apply to figure skates and hockey skates, in that, feeling good in your skates is always what’s going to matter most. There are some slight nuances to look for when comparing a good sock for hockey skates vs a good sock for figure skates.
Jump to:
What sock you choose to wear in your hockey skates will ultimately come down to personal preference. That is, you’re most likely going to wear whatever sock you feel most comfortable in.
Skating socks preferences for hockey players can mostly be put into 4 categories:
Usually for skaters who like more of a cushion in their skates.
Usually for players who like to have more feel in their skates.
The guy or girl who will happily wear wool socks, cotton socks, leather socks and still go out and play the exact same game regardless.
Who needs socks?
Just put your bare flipper in there and let it rip.
Even though we’re talking about skating socks, the barefoot option is quite popular amongst hockey players. But the debate about wearing socks vs going barefoot in your skates has more consequences than simply the preference or comfort of the skater.
So let’s dive into that topic.
Remember how we said your sock choice will ultimately come down to personal preference?
Well, we may have slightly lied.
Depending on who foots the bill for your hockey skates, their personal preference might be to not have to buy you new skates every season.
If you’re one of those hockey players who prefers to go barefoot in his or her skates, you’re more than likely going to be needing new skates sooner than the skater who wears socks in their skates. Additionally, your skates may stink. Like really stink.
This is where a super thin sock can be really useful.
Verdict: A good skating sock for hockey skates will come down to the skater’s preference. Thicker for skaters who want more of a cushioned feel in their skates. Thinner for skaters who want more feel in their skates. For skaters who like going barefoot, consider a super thin sock to give a similar barefoot feel, but increase the longevity of their skates.
While fit is important in hockey skates, fit is absolutely paramount for figure skates. If you’re able to fit thick socks into your figure skates, chances are your skates aren’t properly sized.
Here are some key points to keep in mind when choosing the right skating sock for figure skates:
You shouldn’t be able to fit a thick sock comfortably into your figure skate. If you can, chances are your skates aren’t properly sized. Additionally, a thinner sock will give you more feel in your skates. It’s no secret that the ability to accurately feel your edges on the ice is an absolute must for any figure skater, especially competitive ones.
A thinner sock will give more feel.
And that’s a good thing :)
You need socks that won’t bunch up around your feet or around your ankles. This is a key for better comfort, but also for better control and performance. So find a sock that fits your foot and ankle snug.
The less seams, the better. Similar to a sock that doesn’t bunch, seamless socks allow you to have a better feel in your skates. Better feel equals better performance.
Verdict: A good sock for figure will not be too thick, since that could mean your skates aren’t sized properly, and are preferably fitted and seamless for optimal feel and comfort.
What do you look for in a skating sock?
Let us know in the comments below.
Until next time...
]]>And oh, there are plenty directions they can go.
The exposure of Montreal Canadiens' franchise goalie and team stalwart Carey Price has been the burning topic of discussion as there have been several debates as to whether taking on the 33 year old netminder and his 10.5MM cap hit for the next 5 seasons makes sense for a franchise starting from scratch.
Alexander Volkov (F) — The start of a common trend. Volkov is set to make $925,000 in 2021-22 and can allow the Kraken to make some bolder moves.
Christian Fischer (F) — Starting with some real bangers eh!? There's nothing sexy here. So go cheap with upside. Fischer did pot 15 in 79 GP in 2017-18. That's something I guess.
Connor Clifton (D) — Love the player. Love the age. Love the position. Has also learned from many studs who came before him.
William Borgen (D) — I considered Jeff Skinner here. No I didn't. Lighten up, this is supposed to be fun. Borgen is another cheap, upside play. Moving along.
Mark Giordano (D) — Big dollars ($6.75MM next season). But it's for one year. It's a great investment for a new franchise to bring in a Norris trophy winner who, in the worst scenario, is a dressing room mentor. But this could easily be a great flippable deadline asset for a team looking to stockpile assets. My bet to be the franchise's first captain.
Jake Bean (D) — A player GM Ron Francis should be highly familiar with as he selected him 13th overall in 2016. The Carolina defense has been crammed for many years and this could be a chance for Bean to shine.
Nikita Zadorov (D) — The big Z. He needs a contract but could instantly become a crowd favourite with his 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame and tenacious game. He's a bully.
Joonas Donskoi (F) — I'll stomach the Landeskog argument if the Kraken actually think they could sign him. I personally don't think that's happening. So take a guy with some offense.
Max Domi (F) — I don't love the contract and perhaps not even the player. But there's intriguing upside with Domi and he's shown elite playmaking ability. It's feasible the Kraken will take a shot here on Domi if they believe yet another change of scenery (his 4th team) will tap into his potential.
Jamie Oleksiak (D) — One of two UFAs I selected. There wasn't a ton to pick from in Dallas so this could be a play by Seattle to lure in a solid top-4 D who's been playing out of his mind in Dallas the last couple of seasons.
Troy Stecher (D) — A depth guy from the West Coast (Richmond, BC) who's got one year left at 1.7MM. He's a nice player who won't tie the Kraken up financially.
Jujhar Khaira (F) — There were nights when Khaira seemed like the only noticeable player not named McDavid or Draisaitl for the Oilers. Granted that doesn't say a lot, but Khaira brings center ice depth and some jam.
Chris Driedger (G) — This one seems all but done as the Kraken seem to have agreed to a three-year deal with Driedger. It's a excellent start in net for the Kraken, but don't think this precludes them from taking another goalie (SPOILER ALERT!).
Austin Wagner (F) — Speed. That's all.
Kaapo Kähkönen (G) — Cheap contract. Huge upside. Goaltender depth is never a bad thing for any franchise. A bit of a head-scratcher that he was left exposed, but the Kraken will take the Finnish prospect.
Carey Price (G) — Let's go! I think Montreal overthought this one and might end losing their best player because they think Seattle doesn't have the stomach for the contract (10.5MM AAV over the next 5 seasons). Fun fact, Carey Price is the same age Marc-Andre Fleury was (33) when he was taken by the Vegas Golden Knights in their 2017 expansion draft. How did that work out? Different styles, yes, and it's been conveniently leaked that Price might need hip and knee surgery, but if I'm Seattle, I don't care. Get healthy, Carey. And in the meantime, we'll sell a boatload of jerseys and ignite a fanbase with a hall-of-famer.
Calle Järnkrok (F) — Part of me wanted Ryan Johansen here. But the production just hasn't justified the contract. Järnkrok tied for the team lead in goals last year, albeit with 13.
Andreas Johnsson (F) — Speed kills. He's also familiar with head coach Dave Hakstol who knows Johnsson's skillset well. He's should get top 6 (top 3?) minutes and PP time. This could be big for Johnsson.
Kieffer Bellows (F) — Oh how I wanted Jordan Eberle. And I supposed the Kraken brass will give him some consideration, but the smart play seems to be the high-upside Bellows.
Colin Blackwell (F) — Cheap depth (the common theme) and showed some chem with Strome and Panarin. Not a ton of options in the Big Apple so Blackwell's the play.
Joey Daccord (G) — Anyone who watched Chris Tierney last season should know that the skating just isn't there anymore. So I just don't buy the concept that he's a flippable asset at the deadline. Daccord offers the organization goaltending depth with some legit upside.
Robert Hägg (D) — There will be some JVR buzz here, but I'm opting for a cheaper D option in the former 2nd rounder Hägg who brings some serious physicality to the blueline.
Zach Aston-Reese (F) — Another affordable, depth winger who could be part of a shutdown line. Won't set the fanbase into a frenzy, but a solid player.
Dylan Gambrell (F) — He's born in Washington! It has to happen. Can play up the middle and has some thump.
Vladimir Tarasenko (F) — This is a homerun for Seattle who will be in desperate need of star-power and offense. Tarasenko's that guy.
Yanni Gourde (F) — The contract is so-so and I highly considered Alex Killorn here, but bringing a two-way center with a couple of rings is a huge plus for the Kraken. They won't have the luxury of slotting him like the Lightning did, so it will be interesting to see how Gourde pans out in a situation where he's going to have to play higher in the lineup.
Pierre Engvall (F) — Lot's of Alex Kerfoot chatter here. But to me, Engvall is the play. An elite skater, cheap contract ($1.25MM in 2021-22), and proved he could play a 3rd line shutdown role for the Leafs last year.
Antoine Roussel (F) — Might be questionable to some, but I'll take some 4th line thump. Potentially a movable asset the deadline for a team looking for some sandpaper.
The Golden Knights are exempt from the expansion draft thanks to a deal they struck with the league when they came into the NHL prior to the 2017-18 season.
George McPhee is a boss.
Brenden Dillon (D) — The contract is a bit chunky but you can't pass up a top 4 defenseman.
Dylan DeMelo (D) — See Dillon, Brenden. Different players but similar mindset from management. Building out a defense core is much more challenging than an offensive group. DeMelo will bring a lot to this group.
Forwards
Johnsson (NJ) - Domi (CBJ) - Tarasenko (STL)
Järnkrok (NAS) - Gourde (TB) - Donskoi (COL)
Engvall (TOR) - Khaira (EDM) - Aston-Reese (PIT)
Roussel (VAN) - Gambrell (SJ) - Wagner (LA)
Fischer (ARI) - Blackwell (NYR) - Volkov (ANA)
Bellows (NYI)
Defensemen
Giordano (CGY) - DeMelo (WIN)
Dillon (WAS) - Zadorov (CHI)
Oleksiak (DAL) - Clifton (BOS)
Hägg (PHI) - Stetcher (DET)
Bean (CAR) - Borgen (BUF)
Goaltenders
Price (MTL)
Driedger (FLA)
Kähkönen (MIN)
Daccord (OTT)
Projected Cap Hit: $66,324,999
The cap hit at seasons end based on the previous single day rosters and assuming the current roster remains the same until the end of the season.
Projected Cap Space: $15,175,001
The projected cap space value is the difference between the cap ceiling and the projected cap hit. If the projected cap hit is greater than the cap ceiling due to long-term injury relief, the projected cap space is $0.
Special thanks to CapFriendly for their Expansion Draft Simulator.
What say you!?
Did we absolutely nail this expansion draft? Or is this just complete nonsense!?
Are you shaking an angry fist in the air yelling where's James van Riemsdyk!?
Let us know what you think in the comments.
Until next time...
]]>Whether you're an aspiring pro, casual men's / women's league hockey player, a ringette ringer, or you just like to put on a pair of blades and let it rip, we've put together a fitting guide to help you find your hockey skate size and, hopefully, a fresh new pair of blades. There's a lot of info here, but all you need to know is your shoe size.
You do know your shoe size, right?
While no player wants to be uncomfortable on the ice, we also don’t want to be constantly breaking the bank on new pairs of skates simply because we didn't take the time to find the right size skate. For parents out there, while I’d always recommend you take the advice of your retail associate at the local skate shop, always make sure your child gives you the honest thumbs-up before pulling the trigger on a new set of skates. Additionally, it never hurts to have a guideline before going into the store.
EDIT FOR 2023: Right, some of you don’t go into stores anymore! For you bold ones out there who dare to purchase hockey skates online without trying them on, this guide will hopefully be of some help. But remember, this is a guideline. We always recommend actually putting the skates on your feet before you go ahead and purchase them.
We've broken the guide down focusing on the three most common skate brands: Bauer, CCM, and Graf. Remember, this is purely a guide. We always recommend trying on your hockey skates to make sure the fit is perfect before purchasing as skate sizing will vary by manufacturer. We've also included some general tips for finding your skate size and some fitting checks which can help ensure you nail your skate size.
Hockey skates run big.
What the heck does run big mean?
It means that, generally speaking, your hockey skate size will be about 1 - 1.5 sizes smaller than your shoe size (US) for men and 2.5 - 3 sizes smaller for women. This means that if you buy a pair of hockey skates that are the exact same as your shoe size, you're going to be swimming in those skates.
And that's not a good thing.
So "run big" refers to the idea that your hockey skate size is actually bigger than it's suggesting. This will give you a good starting point for skates to try on as, like we mentioned above, you do know your shoe size, right?
When fitting a child for youth skates, we can use the same rule as above (about 1 - 1.5 sizes smaller than your shoe size). However, to accomodate for growth, we can go up a half size in the skates, if the fit makes sense. Be careful though. A skate that's too large for the child can result in blistering (too much foot movement within the skate) or just be too much skate for the child to handle on the ice.
Tip #1: Hockey skate sizes are approximately 1 to 1.5 sizes smaller than your shoe size for men and 2.5 - 3 sizes smaller for women.
Once you've got a general idea of the range of size of skate you'll be looking at, let's figure out some ways of determining if, in fact, we've found a good fit for us. The next tip to remember is when we put our foot into our hockey skate, our toes should just barely touch the toe cap when the skates are unlaced.
Wait, doesn't that mean our skates will be too small?
No. It's important to remember that, once we lace up our skates and stand up, our foot will sit back into the skate, giving us a perfect amount of space between our toes and the toe cap of the skates.
Tip #2: When you put your foot your skates, your toes should just barely touch the toe cap.
We've now figured out how to check for fit in the toe of our skates, but what about the heel? Our next tip is straightforward. In the heel of the skate, allow for a maximum of ¼" of space. A skate that has too much room in the heel will result in to much movement within the skate. This means less comfort, less control, and potential blistering.
Tip #3: Allow for a maximum of quarter inch (¼") space in the heel of the skate.
The next part of fitting our hockey skates is finding the proper skate category based on our foot dimensions. They way we properly fit our skate, from a length / width standpoint, is finding our skate width ratio.
What on earth is a skate width ratio?
Don't worry, we're not talking advanced trigonometry here. (soh-cah-toa anyone?)
Finding your skate width ratio is simply taking the length of your foot divided by the width of your foot. Once you've got this ratio, you can put yourself into one of three categories of hockey skate fits.
The categories are:
As a quick example, my foot is 26cm in length and 11cm in width. So my skate width ratio is 2.36 (26 divided by 11). This puts me in the High Volume hockey skate fit category. So when looking for skates, I'm going to look for wider models.
Tip #4: Dividing the length of your foot by the width of your foot gives your skate width ratio.
Once we've determined the category of skate we fit into, let's see how manufacturer's classify their skates based on fit. While the way a manufacturer classifies the fit of a skate may vary, the common rule used by skate manufacturers is: skate width size D is a standard width skate size (Medium Volume) and skate width size EE is a wide width skate size (High Volume).
Here's a general idea of skate widths used by manufacturers:
Skate Width | Skate Fit |
---|---|
C | Narrow |
D | Standard |
R | Wider than D |
E | Wide |
EE | Widest |
Back to the example of my skate size. While I profile as High Volume skate fit based on my skate width ratio, I could also opt to try a Medium Volume skate sized width EE. This is where the variances of skate manufacturing comes into play as well as the different lines of skates each brand offers.
As we go through the skate size chart of each manufacturer, we'll be sure to touch on the nuances of how their skate width classifications work.
Tip #5: D (standard) and EE (wide) width sizes are the most commonly used amongst hockey skate manufacturers.
Now that we have a general understanding of the skate size we're looking for, let's go through some of the main hockey skate brands to determine our sizing in that particular brand.
Popular skate lines: Bauer Vapor, Bauer Supreme, Bauer Nexus
Remeber how we were talking about skate fit categories above?
With Bauer hockey skates, their three main skates lines Vapor, Supreme, and Nexus each represent a skate fit category.
What's more important is, within their skate lines, they also offer D and EE widths. This means the size gap between Low to Medium Volume (Vapor to Supreme) and Medium to High Volume (Supreme to Nexus) is less significant. It gives you, the consumer, plenty of options to ensure your getting the best skate fit.
Bauer Skate Size | Shoe Size | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
US (Mens) | US (Womens) | EU | UK | |
6.0 | 7.5 | 9.0 | 40.5 | 6.5 |
6.5 | 8.0 | 9.5 | 41 | 7.0 |
7.0 | 8.5 | 10.0 | 42 | 7.5 |
7.5 | 9.0 | 10.5 | 42.5 | 8.0 |
8.0 | 9.5 | 11.0 | 43 | 8.5 |
8.5 | 10.0 | 11.5 | 44 | 9.0 |
9.0 | 10.5 | 12.0 | 44.5 | 9.5 |
9.5 | 11.0 | 12.5 | 45 | 10.0 |
10.0 | 11.5 | 13.0 | 45.5 | 10.5 |
10.5 | 12.0 | 13.5 | 46 | 11.0 |
11.0 | 12.5 | 14.0 | 47 | 11.5 |
11.5 | 13.0 | 14.5 | 47.5 | 12.0 |
12.0 | 13.5 | 15.0 | 48 | 12.5 |
12.5 | 14.0 | 15.5 | 48.5 | 13.0 |
13.0 | 14.0 | 15.5 | 49 | 13.5 |
14.0 | 15.0 | 16.5 | 50 | 14.5 |
15.0 | 16.0 | 17.5 | 51 | 15.5 |
Bauer Skate Size | Youth Shoe Size | ||
---|---|---|---|
US | EU | UK | |
1.0 | 2.0 | 33.5 | 1.5 |
1.5 | 2.5 | 34 | 2.0 |
2.0 | 3.0 | 35 | 2.5 |
2.5 | 3.5 | 35.5 | 3.0 |
3.0 | 4.0 | 36 | 3.5 |
3.5 | 4.5 | 36.5 | 4.0 |
4.0 | 5.0 | 37.5 | 4.5 |
4.5 | 5.5 | 38 | 5.0 |
5.0 | 6.0 | 38.5 | 5.5 |
5.5 | 6.5 | 39 | 6.0 |
Bauer Skate Size | Kids' Shoe Size | ||
---|---|---|---|
US | EU | UK | |
*Youth Shoe Size | |||
6.0 | 7.0 | 23.5 | 6.5 |
7.0 | 8.0 | 25 | 7.5 |
8.0 | 9.0 | 26 | 8.5 |
8.5 | 9.5 | 26.5 | 9.0 |
9.0 | 10.0 | 27 | 9.5 |
9.5 | 10.5 | 27.5 | 10.0 |
10.0 | 11.0 | 28 | 10.5 |
10.5 | 11.5 | 28.5 | 11.0 |
11.0 | 12.0 | 29.5 | 11.5 |
11.5 | 12.5 | 30 | 12.0 |
12.0 | 13.0 | 31 | 12.5 |
12.5 | 13.5 | 31.5 | 13.0 |
13.0 | *1.0 | 32 | 13.5 |
13.5 | *1.5 | 33 | *1.0 |
Popular skate lines: CCM Jetspeed (formerly CCM RBZ), CCM Tacks / Super Tacks, CCM RibCor
Similar to how Bauer skate lines follow a specific skate fit category, CCM hockey skates range up the volume profiles, offering different width options for each line. Like Bauer, this ensures you, the consumer, have plenty of options to ensure you're getting the best fit for you.
Like we mentioned above, just because you might profile as a Medium Volume fit, doesn't mean you couldn't wear a Low Volume skate with a wider width. In this case, a CCM RibCor with width EE.
CCM Skate Size | Shoe Size | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
US (Mens) | US (Womens) | EU | UK | |
6.0 | 7.5 | 9.0 | 40.5 | 6.5 |
6.5 | 8.0 | 9.5 | 41 | 7.0 |
7.0 | 8.5 | 10.0 | 42 | 7.5 |
7.5 | 9.0 | 10.5 | 42.5 | 8.0 |
8.0 | 9.5 | 11.0 | 43 | 8.5 |
8.5 | 10.0 | 11.5 | 44 | 9.0 |
9.0 | 10.5 | 12.0 | 44.5 | 9.5 |
9.5 | 11.0 | 12.5 | 45 | 10.0 |
10.0 | 11.5 | 13.0 | 45.5 | 10.5 |
10.5 | 12.0 | 13.5 | 46 | 11.0 |
11.0 | 12.5 | 14.0 | 47 | 11.5 |
11.5 | 13.0 | 14.5 | 47.5 | 12.0 |
12.0 | 13.5 | 15.0 | 48 | 12.5 |
12.5 | 14.0 | 15.5 | 48.5 | 13.0 |
13.0 | 14.0 | 15.5 | 49 | 13.5 |
14.0 | 15.0 | 16.5 | 50 | 14.5 |
15.0 | 16.0 | 17.5 | 51 | 15.5 |
CCM Skate Size | Youth Shoe Size | ||
---|---|---|---|
US | EU | UK | |
1.0 | 2.0 | 33.5 | 1.5 |
1.5 | 2.5 | 34 | 2.0 |
2.0 | 3.0 | 35 | 2.5 |
2.5 | 3.5 | 35.5 | 3.0 |
3.0 | 4.0 | 36 | 3.5 |
3.5 | 4.5 | 36.5 | 4.0 |
4.0 | 5.0 | 37.5 | 4.5 |
4.5 | 5.5 | 38 | 5.0 |
5.0 | 6.0 | 38.5 | 5.5 |
5.5 | 6.5 | 39 | 6.0 |
CCM Skate Size | Kids' Shoe Size | ||
---|---|---|---|
US | EU | UK | |
*Youth Shoe Size | |||
6.0 | 7.0 | 23.5 | 6.5 |
7.0 | 8.0 | 25 | 7.5 |
8.0 | 9.0 | 26 | 8.5 |
8.5 | 9.5 | 26.5 | 9.0 |
9.0 | 10.0 | 27 | 9.5 |
9.5 | 10.5 | 27.5 | 10.0 |
10.0 | 11.0 | 28 | 10.5 |
10.5 | 11.5 | 28.5 | 11.0 |
11.0 | 12.0 | 29.5 | 11.5 |
11.5 | 12.5 | 30 | 12.0 |
12.0 | 13.0 | 31 | 12.5 |
12.5 | 13.5 | 31.5 | 13.0 |
13.0 | *1.0 | 32 | 13.5 |
13.5 | *1.5 | 33 | *1.0 |
Popular skate lines: Graf PK (Peakspeed) Series, Graf G Series
With regards width, Graf uses a slightly different notation when classifying the width of their skates.
Here's a chart of how Graf widths work:
Graf Skate Width | Skate Fit |
---|---|
N | Narrow |
R | Standard |
W | Wide |
W+ | Widest |
Graf Skate Size | Shoe Size | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
US (Mens) | US (Womens) | EU | UK | |
6.0 | 7.5 | 9.0 | 40.5 | 6.5 |
6.5 | 8.0 | 9.5 | 41 | 7 |
7.0 | 8.5 | 10.0 | 42 | 7.5 |
7.5 | 9.0 | 10.5 | 42.5 | 8 |
8.0 | 9.5 | 11.0 | 43 | 8.5 |
8.5 | 10.0 | 11.5 | 44 | 9 |
9.0 | 10.5 | 12.0 | 44.5 | 9.5 |
9.5 | 11.0 | 12.5 | 45 | 10 |
10.0 | 11.5 | 13.0 | 45.5 | 10.5 |
10.5 | 12.0 | 13.5 | 46 | 11 |
11.0 | 12.5 | 14.0 | 47 | 11.5 |
11.5 | 13.0 | 14.5 | 47.5 | 12 |
12.0 | 13.5 | 15.0 | 48 | 12.5 |
12.5 | 14.0 | 15.5 | 48.5 | 13 |
13.0 | 14.5 | 16.0 | 49 | 13.5 |
13.5 | 15.0 | 16.5 | 50 | 14.5 |
14.0 | 15.5 | 17.0 | 51 | 15.5 |
Graf Skate Size | Youth Shoe Size | ||
---|---|---|---|
US | EU | UK | |
1.0 | 2.0 | 33.5 | 1.5 |
1.5 | 2.5 | 34 | 2 |
2.0 | 3.0 | 35 | 2.5 |
2.5 | 3.5 | 35.5 | 3 |
3.0 | 4.0 | 36 | 3.5 |
3.5 | 4.5 | 36.5 | 4 |
4.0 | 5.0 | 37.5 | 4.5 |
4.5 | 5.5 | 38 | 5 |
5.0 | 6.0 | 38.5 | 5.5 |
5.5 | 6.5 | 39 | 6 |
Graf Skate Size | Kids' Shoe Size | ||
---|---|---|---|
US | EU | UK | |
*Youth Shoe Size | |||
6.0 | 7.5 | 23.5 | 6.5 |
6.5 | 8.0 | 25 | 7.5 |
7.0 | 8.5 | 25 | 7.5 |
7.5 | 9.0 | 26 | 8.5 |
8.0 | 9.5 | 26.5 | 9 |
8.5 | 10.0 | 27 | 9.5 |
9.0 | 10.5 | 27.5 | 10 |
9.5 | 11.0 | 28 | 11.5 |
10.0 | 11.5 | 28.5 | 11 |
10.5 | 12.0 | 29.5 | 11.5 |
11.0 | 12.5 | 30 | 12 |
11.5 | 13.0 | 31 | 12.5 |
12.0 | 13.5 | 31.5 | 13 |
12.5 | *1.0 | 32 | 13.5 |
13.0 | *1.5 | 33 | *1.0 |
13.5 | *2.0 | 33.5 | *1.5 |
You've now picked out a pair of hockey skates that work for you. You love the look, the price (hopefully), and they're feeling good on your feet in the store.
Here's a couple more quick fit checks you can perform to ensure you've got the right pair of skates for you.
If there is more than a finger-width of gap in your skates, chances are they're too big.
The ankle of the skate should be stiff, especially for experienced skaters. A little flex is OK for newer skaters, but if the skate drastically folds in, it likely won't make for a good skating experience for any skater.
We hope you find this guide useful when you're navigating through the hockey skate world.
Once you find the perfect skate that's comfortable for you, go find yourself a comfortable skating sock to match it!
Until next time...
]]>For those of you who aren’t great with numbers, if you were felling lucky in Sin City and wagered $100 on Vegas when the odds were at their peak, you’d be taking home a lofty $50,000 should they cap off their Cinderella run against the Washington Capitals (Game 1 on Monday, May 28 at 8:00 p.m. ET).
To be fair to oddsmakers, the Golden Knights are the first expansion team in all of sports to reach the championship round since the 1968 St. Louis Blues. And the 1968 Blues road to the Stanley Cup comes with a few asterisks. First, the NHL expanded from it’s “Original Six” teams to twelve teams (California Seals, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and the aforementioned St. Louis Blues). Now, while the league doubled in size, the Blues were still only competing against 11 other teams, as opposed to the Knights jockeying for position with 30 other clubs. Finally, because of the league expansion, the NHL playoffs expanded from 4 teams to 8 teams which had to include 4 expansion teams. The expansion teams would playoff against each other (the West Division) before meeting an Original Six opponent (the East Division) in the Stanley Cup final. A bit of an easier path to the Stanley Cup finals than the Vegas Golden Knights had, you might say.
The Blues won the West Division and were subsequently swept by the Montreal Canadiens 4‑0 in the 1968 Stanley Cup final.
Needless to say, the Vegas Golden Knights historic run is one that might never be seen again, in any professional sport. And in our modern day of crazed Netflix binging or reality TV obsession, it’s almost a guarantee some sort of documentary, reality show, or, perhaps, Hollywood movie is created to relive Vegas’ underdog run to the Stanley Cup.
With the latter in mind, let's be bold and cast the stars of this yet-to-be-made but sure-to-be-epic-sensation Hollywood movie. Once upon a time, we casted the ultimate all-hollywood hockey team, so we consider ourselves vets at this.
Drum roll please.
Every one of these cheesed-up Hollywood sport classics revolves around a coach overcoming some sort of adversity to lead his/her team to the promise land. I can just see the opening scene with Gerard Gallant being left outside the Florida Panthers team bus (in the pouring rain, of course) after getting unrighteously canned. You know Tony Hopkins will deliver the heart-breaking sadness in that scene.
Tell me I haven’t lost you already…
Let’s see if The Pianist can go from tickling the ivory to stacking the pads. I'll guarantee he can nail Fleury’s heavy francophone accent with his acting prowess but question whether he'll require a stunt-double to make some acrobatic saves. I have faith. Besides… the next best casting I had was David Schwimmer. So be thankful for my choices.
Even though Vegas has no captain, these films need some sort of wily vet to lead the pack. Think of Engelland like our John Biebe of Mystery Alaska. Shia might have to hack on a few to get into character, but he’s got the beard game covered.
And that’s what this is about.
Beard game.
The architect. We can’t have a movie about an expansion franchise of castaways-turned-cup-contenders without zoning in on the mastermind behind it all. I’m sure George would approve of his casting. I wish Don Draper was playing me in a movie… Sigh…
I know what you might be thinking. Reaves is a fourth liner who just crashes and bangs! But this is Hollywood. What better storyline is there than a midseason acquisition who just puts opponents through the boards? And c’mon. This casting is too easy. Reaves may as well just go out and Rock Bottom someone during his first shift in the Stanley Cup finals.
Oh the villain! You didn’t think I was going to go there, eh? Every Hollywood script needs a good villain. It's tough to envision the charismatic Ovechkin being portrayed as a bad guy, but in Hollywood anything is possible. And Renner can pull this off. Grow out his flow a bit, up the beard game, and we might be onto something.
He just looks like he’s got a bullet from the top of the circle.
Oh what could have been. You should have been the lead role, James! Now you’ve been relegated to comic relief. Let’s hope for Vegas' sake that there’s a lot of Adam Carolla at the end of this movie.
“Drive ‘er MacGyver!”
I actually know nothing about Lucas Till except that he’s the new MacGyver and he’s blonde and pretty.
Ugh. Get out of my movie Chris Pine.
Maybe this is Chris Kattan’s big break to get back into mainstream Hollywood?
Probably zero percent chance Gyllenhaal would sign on to be the eleventh lead. But whatever, Jake. Don’t be selfish and ruin my movie.
This is kinda like in the days when you’re convincing a friend that his fake ID looks like him. I don’t care. I want Jim Bowers in my movie.
There ya go This Is Us crazies…
So whaddaya think!? Is this movie an instant classic or a straight-to-dvd total bust?
Let us know in the comments or rate the movie on Rotten Tomatoes (hint: there is no movie on Rotten Tomatoes).
]]>No problem!
We at Thinees are proud to announce the launch of our new Store Locator! Our Store Locator helps you find a retail store near you that carries Thinees socks. Simply enter your address into the search bar and voila!
We are extremely proud to be in over 150 retailers across North America! If you are a store owner / manager and have interest in carrying Thinees in your store, please contact us.
We'd like to thank all of our Thinees fans for their continued support. We look forward to continually improving our product and delivering you the ultimate comfortable, near-barefoot skating experience.
]]>The NHL’s decision to not allow their players to partake in the upcoming 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea was a gut-punch to all hockey fans. Not only do the players, themselves, miss out on the honour to represent their country, we, the fans, miss out on watching the best players in the world go toe-to-toe on one of the grandest hockey stages.
And that stinks. Why Gary!? Why!?
But life goes on I suppose…
For the sake of “what if”, we at Thinees have decided to project the Olympic Roster for the USA if the NHL was going to South Korea. Usually at this time of year, there would be a lot of chatter about the powerhouse Canadian roster and seemingly always underachieving Russian squad. And rightfully so. Canada is always the favourite to win gold and the Russians always seem to look unstoppable on paper.
But this year, the American squad might have been the most intriguing to project. I’d even go as far to argue that the Americans could have been a dark horse to win gold. With an influx of American youth making noise in the NHL the last few years, the United States could have put together a roster worthy of competing with all the international heavyweights.
Now, could this roster defeat a Crosby / McDavid led Canadian squad?
Maybe not. But we think this roster would have made some noise in PyeongChang.
The roster we’ve assembled consists of 13 forwards, 7 defensemen, 2 goalies, and 3 taxi squad players, totalling 25 players. According to IIHF rules, a maximum of 20 players and 2 goalkeepers can be dressed and on the game sheet for an international game. Spoiler alert: The roster we've assembled has only 10 returning players out of 25 from the 2014 USA Olympic Team. That could support our theory that there is a surge of youthful American talent bursting onto the NHL scene, or it could make us totally nuts with our projections.
Either way, let’s dive in!
Despite us flapping our gums about all the new youthful talent the US would be getting, Patrick Kane is still the American staple and is automatic first liner. Auston Matthews will soon make his way into the Crosby / McDavid argument of the NHL’s best player. At just 20 years young, the Toronto Maple Leaf star would have been heavily relied on to lead the Americans on both ends of the ice. Paired up with Kane and Johnny Gaudreau (the leading American scorer at the time of writing), this line would have been able to match up with any line in the Winter Olympics.
Compared to the other powerhouse countries, the Americans are a bit shallow at centre. However, Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel are a pretty darn good 1-2 at centre ice. Much like Matthews, Eichel (21 years) would be another young gun the USA would have had to rely on heavily. Having a guy like Phil Kessel on his line who brings a winning pedigree (back-to-back Stanley Cups) along with plethora of points (10th in NHL scoring at the time of writing) would bring some steadiness to the line. Additionally, Anders Lee, who’s 20 goals is currently third in the NHL, would give Eichel another triggerman to feed.
At 31 years old, Blake Wheeler would be one of the older Americans on the team but he seems to be getting better with age. His 38 points rank him 2nd amongst American skaters and his leadership would be much welcomed for the young American team. His linemates Vincent Trocheck (24 years) and Brock Boeser (20 years) are both currently on a point-per-game pace.
The inclusion of Matthew Tkachuk on the team might raise some eyebrows. But it can’t all be about scoring. Tkachuk brings some much needed sandpaper to the team and, with 19 points in 31 games, can still be relied on to contribute offensively. Joe Pavelski is having a down year but still provides experience and substantial offensive upside. Nicknamed T.J. "Sochi" for what his high production at the 2014 Winter Olympics, T.J. Oshie adds a bit more experience to the youthful Americans, despite not having his best offensive season this year.
Another youthful, up-and-coming offensive weapon the American team could turn to if their other options fail. At just 19 years old, Clayton Keller has already proven he can score at the NHL level. Perhaps that success could be replicated at the international level.
Youth and Experience. Seth Jones (23 years) is probably the best American defensemen and Ryan Suter (32 years) is the most steady. Together, these two would have logged heavy minutes against the oppositions top lines.
The 2015-2016 runner-up for the Calder trophy and the most coveted defensive free agent in 2017 make up the second unit for the Americans. Gostisbehere brings more of an offensive mindset while Shattenkirk provides a more well-rounded approach.
Another young buck, Noah Hanifin (20 years) pairs with NHL veteran John Carlson (27 years) to round out the final pairing for the USA.
Another 20 year old for the up-and-coming Americans. Already in his young career, Zach Werenski has proven to be an elite offensive defensman in the NHL. In addition to his offense, Werenski has proven to be tough to beat in one-on-one matchups.
Goaltending would have been the least of the American’s worries in South Korea. Jonathan Quick is probably their best option. He’s having another great season in the NHL and has a history of winning. Cory Schneider is a world-class option should Quick falter.
If Zach Parise was healthy, he'd most likely be somewhere in the top 2 lines for the Americans. But even though he's not, the US selection committee would most likely keep him on the taxi squad in the event he became healthy enough to suit up (at the time of writing, he's currently practicing with the Wild, indicating he's not far from a return). Another youthful option for the Americans is Jake Guentzel. Already with a Stanley Cup ring, Guentzel is yet another rising American star, and is probably a starter on some depth charts. John Gibson could be used interchangeably with Schneider, as the 24 year old is every bit as talented.
Forwards
Gaudreau - Matthews - Kane
Lee - Eichel - Kessel
Wheeler - Trocheck - Boeser
Tkachuk - Pavelski - Oshie
Keller
Defensemen
Jones - Suter
Gostisbehere - Shattenkirk
Hanifin - Carlson
Werenski
Goaltenders
Quick
Schneider
Alternates
Parise
Guentzel
Gibson
So what say you!? Did we absolutely nail this roster? Are you shaking an angry fist in the air yelling where's James van Riemsdyk!?
Let us know what you think in the comments.
Until next time...
All roster shots were taken from https://www.hockey-reference.com.
]]>You want the control and feel of going barefoot in your skates. So you do it. You scrap the socks and go au naturel in your blades because, at the end of the day, you want to perform and feel as comfortable as you can on the ice. Hockey, figure skating, speed skating, whatever the sport may be, you can’t be distracted with uncomfortable feet.
I get it.
Growing up in a small Canadian town, I was predisposed to play hockey as a young lad. My thoughtful parents ensured I wore the thickest, bulkiest, cotton socks in my skates. Like any good parents their hearts were in the right place. I mean, they can’t have their little guy’s toes getting cold during 5am practices. And Iet's be honest, when I was really young I didn’t care about the socks. Heck, does a 10 year old actually care about anything?
We’ll save that discussion for another time.
By about age 12, however, I discovered the liberating feeling of going sock-less in my skates. It just felt right. I felt like I had better control over my stride and which made my game better (At least it did in my head).
But then there was the downside.
A few months into my barefoot expedition, my skates began to stink.
Badly.
Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I probably wasn’t the best caretaker of my skates. I could have aired them out better or taken better measures to calm the stench. But I think I would have been delaying the inevitable. The entrapment of my bare feet in a leather boot began to slowly wear out my skates. They were rotting.
Now, remember that I’m only 12 at the time so I can’t say that I was really upset. Or cared at all. My parents, however, were none too pleased. As almost all parents know, hockey equipment costs and hockey league fees add up pretty quickly. So the idea of replacing skates every six months wasn’t something they were keen on.
I mean you could spend $200 - $500 on skates or about $9 for a six pack of cotton tube socks.
Do the math. My parents certainly did. And my preference for wearing no socks in my skates was shot-down by the parental trump card, which can be played an infinite amount of times FYI.
So this begs the question? What are the alternatives? If bare feet rots your skates and tube socks are just aren’t your thing, what options do you have?
I think you know where I’m going with this.
SPOILER ALERT. I’m a brand advocate for Thinees. I’m assuming you knew that. I mean we’re friends (right?). I don’t want there to be any secrets between us.
But here's what I'll say as honestly as I can:
Thinees socks give you the closest barefoot skating experience without actually going barefoot in your skates. Period.
Also, you get the added benefit of:
There you have it.
There's also a wide variety of colors to choose from, if you're into that type of thing.
Now, if you are serious about finding skating socks that are perfect for you, I implore to look around, ask some friends, and try out different options.
Keep in mind what site you're reading on. But also keep in mind that we're friends too. ;)
Until next time...
]]>Perhaps it was your linemate, your son or daughter, the guy who couldn't be bothered to come back into his own zone, let alone air out his gear, or maybe you’ve had to accept the unfortunate reality that you are that guy / girl in the dressing room with other-worldly stinky skates. Ugh, you're the stinky kid.
Now just so we're on the same page, hockey players and smelly equipment go together like steak and potatoes, like peanut butter and jelly, like peas and carrots (Forrest Gump?). I get that. So moderately poor smelling equipment won't turn many heads in the dressing room. But rotten smelling skates can propel the accepted, ripe smelling hockey equipment from “just the normal hockey stink” to a category 5 reek fest. And no one wants to be the stinky kid. Or be the parent of the stinky kid. Or have to sit beside the stinky kid.
So let's get to the source of the problem, what makes your skates stink?
The short, simple answer is: sweat.
Did you know your feet have over 250,000 sweat glands? When you confine those glands in a leather boot for a few hours at a time and engage in physical activity, your feet are going to sweat. If the sweat isn’t properly ventilated or wicked away from the foot, bacteria begins to form. And this bacteria stinks. It accumulates on your feet and eventually gets transferred to your skates. When you let this bacteria fester in your skates, you become the guy or girl that no one wants to sit next to in the dressing room.
Aside from the social hit you’ll take for having skates that reek, the bacteria which causes the smell is also the culprit which breaks down the fibres in your skates, also known as rotting. So it's really a lose / lose situation. You have unpleasant smelling skates and you’ll need to replace them sooner than you’d like. And skates aren’t cheap.
What are some solutions for stinky skates and bad foot odor? Here are 4 options you have to help keep your skates smelling fresh and clean. Well, fresh and clean in hockey player standards.
Keep your feet clean. If your shoes smell, and you take your smelly feet directly from your smelly shoes and put them into your skates, guess what’s going to happen? So try and keep your foot hygiene up to par. Practice giving your feet a good scrub in your morning shower and your after-hockey shower. This is extra important for people who like to go barefoot in their skates as there is no layer to prevent bacteria from transferring from the foot to the skate.
Air out your skates. Bacteria grows in moist environments. If you’re one of those people who just keep your equipment in your bag and throw it in the garage after hockey, then chances are your skates are going to stink. Heck, if you do that every time, all of your equipment is going to stink. When you get home after hockey, take a few minutes to spread your equipment out in the garage or a rec room. Some will go as far to put their skates over a vent to ensure there is no moisture or festering bacteria in there. I won't argue with that method.
Wicking socks. Get yourself a pair of Thinees hockey socks. Seriously. Do it. One of the most effective ways to combat sweat building up in your skates is to wick it away. Wicking socks, like Thinees, help push moisture away from your feet so it can evaporate, rather than stay on the foot and begin cultivating into bacteria.
Baking soda. Giving your skates a dose of baking soda after each game or perhaps even nightly can help reduce the smell of your skates. Baking soda works as a drying agent to prevent the festering of bacteria in wet skates.
You can also combine all of these solutions into the ultimate, skate odor defense. Doing so will almost guarantee you'll be "not the stinkiest guy in the room". And that's important.
So, whatcha think? Do you have any solutions not mentioned above? Let us know about them in the comments section.
Until next time…
]]>To give you a quick summary of what we're doing here, we've compiled a complete 23-man hockey roster made up of fictional characters from your favorite hockey flicks and tv shows (hint, hint). We're talking 12 forwards, 6 defencemen, and 2 goalies. We also threw in 3 healthy scratches for good measure.
Reader be warned, some of these picks are outside-of-the-box. Some will enlighten you. Some will anger you. If you are able to guess all 23 players before reading the blog post, then we at Thinees officially deem you a hockey movie genius and we bow to your greatness.
Players are revealed in traditional lineup order. That is, forwards are listed line 1 to line 4. Defensive pairings are stacked by pairings 1 to 3. The starting goalie and backup goalie follow next, with 3 healthy scratches rounding out the roster. To complete this hockey movie character Mona Lisa, we added a head coach and two assistants.
Don't worry, at the end of the article there's a commenting section where you can voice your praise (or vent your disdain) with the roster we put together.
Speaking of which, I highly recommend you read this list with a group of pals because this fake roster was created to spurn discussion and heated debate. I will forewarn you that not everyone will agree with the complete roster. In fact, I guarantee no one will agree with every single selection.
But that's what makes it fun, right?... right?
Without further ado, let's reveal the All-Hollywood Hockey Team presented by Thinees Performance Socks.
Talent over star power. Connor Banks may not be the first name you think of when assembling an All-Hollywood roster, but his talent is unquestionable. Squaring off against the New York Rangers, he proved he can play and excel at the highest level. He's also an elite skater, which is the norm for most Mystery players.
Mystery, Alaska (1999)
The name Charlie Conway would probably be the first most think of when talking about The Mighty Ducks movie series. Conway may have been the best leader on those Duck teams, but was he the most skilled? Not even close. Banks is hands-down the most talented player to come out of the Disney series. Let's remember how big of a laughing stock District 5 was before Adam Banks came on board.
The Mighty Ducks (1992), D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994), D3: The Mighty Ducks (1996)
Perhaps his spot on the first line will come with heavy criticism, but the former number two overall pick in the NHL draft is as talented, if not the most talented, as any player on the fake squad. He's a proven producer when he has protection in the lineup, and on this fake team, he has plenty of that.
Goon (2011), Goon: Last of the Enforcers (2017)
The skill, speed, and deadly handsomeness of Dean Youngblood make him an automatic for this list and probably should be a first-liner in the eyes of many. Throw in the fact that he's shown he's not afraid of a dust-up and this guy is an All-Hollywood stud.
Youngblood (1986)
The non-fighter on a squad heavy with bruisers, Ned Braden was the Chiefs leading scorer and best player. Similarly to his role on Slap Shot, Braden can continue to focus on scoring, as there is enough muscle in the bottom six of this fake team to do the heavy lifting.
Slap Shot (1977)
Who!? A relative unknown in hockey movie circles, this might be a name that absolutely no one mentions (or knows). But don't be fooled. A controversial switch from hockey to figure skating may sour Dorsey's selection for many, but I don't care. The former team USA captain has talent comparable to any of our fake hockey stars, so he's on the team.
The Cutting Edge (1992)
The hockey player turned chicken farmer turned hockey player will be a selection known by only the fiercest (or oldest) hockey movie buffs. The downside to Hanson's game is that he's shown he doesn't really like hockey, but rather what hockey can provide him. Nevertheless, he's skilled enough to anchor the 3rd line. And, oh yeah, it's John Freaking Wayne.
Idol of the Crowds (1937)
The Icelandic beast Gunnar Stahl is the first heel character to break the roster. Even more so than Adam Banks, this isn't the first name you think of when taking about The Mighty Ducks movie franchise, but his raw skill and booming shot put him on the squad.
D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994)
Similar to his linemate Hanson, Sean Linden comes with a checkered past (betting on games) but an NHL skillset. When his head is in the right place, Linden brings some serious skill and sandpaper to the 3rd line of our fake squad.
Slap Shot 2: Breaking the Ice (2002)
Stability, toughness, and leadership is what Reggie Dunlop brings to the fake team. With his fist-first linemates, you'll need someone on this line who can actually play hockey.
Slap Shot (1977)
I can already hear the criticism pouring in. How on earth is Ross Rhea on the team ahead of Doug Glatt!? It's simple really. If we can agree the two gladiators are equally tough (which we may not agree), Rhea has experience at the highest level and skates exponentially better than the bambi-footed Glatt.
Goon (2011), Goon: Last of the Enforcers (2017)
Easily one of the most feared tough guys in the game, Ogilthorpe belongs on any fourth line that is built to irritate, instigate, and intimidate.
Slap Shot (1977)
A lockdown, physical presence is a need for any fake team's blueline. Tree Lane is just that, as his size and willingness to inflict pain on his opponents makes him a key cog for the squad. There is some offensive upside here too.
Mystery, Alaska (1999)
The Mighty Ducks' star brings a booming shot and a street mentality to the rink. While his first pairing designation may be controversial, he's had enough success in his young career to give the selection committee confidence that he can handle top pair minutes for the fake team.
The Mighty Ducks (1992), D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994), D3: The Mighty Ducks (1996)
Along with Dunlop, John Biebe brings a wealth of experience and necessary leadership to the All-Hollywood squad. A great puck mover, Biebe is an asset to any powerplay and should be able to get the puck to the team's offensive powerhouses.
Mystery, Alaska (1999)
Before choosing a life of crime to follow in his father's footsteps, Doug MacRay was on the fasttrack to professional hockey. Life choices aside, that type of mentality might make him the hidden gem on a team filled with household names.
The Town (2010)
A chirping genius and a great locker room presence, Reilly of the hockey TV show Letterkenny is a perfect fit for the All-Hollywood squad. He's a mediocre talent, but his jam and willingness to get into his opponent's head make him an asset to any fake lineup.
Letterkenny (2016-)
A controversial selection, the ungodly clapper and the wildman toughness gives Happy Gilmore the final spot in the starting lineup. His skating ability is highly questionable and puck handling ability is non-existent, but the fire and commitment is there.
Happy Gilmore (1996)
Perhaps the most quotable guy on the team, Denis Lemieux also possesses high-end skill and a fierce attitude. You can never go wrong with a French-Canadian goaltender.
Slap Shot (1977)
She possesses an elite glove hand and knack for making the big save. There were quite a few tenders who could have cracked the list, but it's Gaffney's intangibles that secured her roster spot.
D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994), D3: The Mighty Ducks (1996)
The Captain of the Hamilton Mustangs brings a plethora of leadership and talent. He's a big dressing room presence and will surely be involved in any fake team hazing rituals.
Youngblood (1986)
He's a liability on the ice, but he's an absolute banger who epitomizes the "ferda" mantra. The debate of whether he should be a starter over Rhea or Ogilthorpe will be never-ending.
Goon (2011), Goon: Last of the Enforcers (2017)
A stabilizing, punishing force on defence, Huey Hewitt makes the fake team as the seventh defenceman. He probably should be ahead of Happy Gilmore on the depth chart, but what's the fun in that?
Youngblood (1986)
The ultimate underdog who always seems to pull out the big win, (sigh, cheesy Disney). But I want the guy who defeated Jack Reilly and Wolf "The Dentist" Stansson. Period.
The Mighty Ducks (1992), D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994), D3: The Mighty Ducks (1996)
"This is not baseball!" Did I forget a word? The Goon coach is a total dandy who knows how to manage egos.
Goon (2011), Goon: Last of the Enforcers (2017)
A former All-Star with the New York Rangers and has the ability to deliver riveting pump-up speeches. I want that guy behind the bench.
Youngblood (1986)
So, what did you think of our list? Are you absolutely appalled that Charlie Conway didn't make our roster? Were you secretly hoping that Most Valuable Primate: Jack made the team? Do you want to bean us in the head with a beach ball for not allocating 3 roster spots to the Hanson brothers?
Leave us a comment in the section below with your thoughts on the roster. Tell us who we missed or who you think should absolutely not be on the team.
We hoped you enjoyed the Ultimate All-Hollywood Hockey Team presented by Thinees Performance Socks.
Until next time...
]]>I personally feel that the pros are downright obvious. But let's go over them anyway.
Zero.
Dress socks in the office aren't appreciated nearly as much as they should be. Really, unless a lad is sitting down or walking with a lengthy stride, you might not get a glimpse of what he's sporting down there. Regardless, if you get a glimpse of a bold, flashy color when your office mate is walking by you, I guarantee he'll go up a notch in your book.
See "Pink Socks at the Rink - Cons".
Good talkin' to ya.