My old Canadian made CCM Tacks 252 skates gave out last Sunday. The plastic blade holder broke probably due to age and wear and tear. I don't remember a unusually hard shot or anything. It is about $80 for new blades and blade holders and then they have to be riveted on the skate boot. The skate boots are in fine condition. But I figured it was more economical to get new skates. I should be getting CCM 652 Super Tacks next week. I hope they are not made in China, but since they only $180, they might be.

Nike bought Bauer and I avoid their products because of their abuses on their third world labor forces.

What skate size do you wear?

For close to nothing, I got some Bauer 3000's, Composites, and 7000's. I just bought the 7000's, and I hate the new fancy schmancy look and feel to skates. I'm looking to get rid of those first, and I'm asking my brother to scour Darien, Twin Rinks, and other stores for some first generation (pre-Reebok Pump) Tacks.

As for the 7000's (which I spent $399 on just a season or two ago) or any skate, they're now made cheaper in price and quality to the point where I'm about to blow another 2-300 to buy pro-level skates. I feel like I'm skating with a McDonald's Supersize Soda with Orange Slice.

I don't know how prices go, but I did my own blade bit a while back, it cost about 15 for each TUUK Custom+, and then another 15 per blade, so that came to $60, and I riveted it myself... although, those 652's are looking pretty nice compared to the 252's you've been beating on.


edit-
... I can't believe that I'm only 20-somethin, and I'm already saying they don't make 'em like they used to...

[This message has been edited by slayr420 (edited 10-13-2001).]

Vintage stuff is always the best. http://discussanything.com/Ubb/wink.gif

I wear 11.5 in CCM's. I went to Darien Ice Rink and all they had in size 11.5 were some $400 crazy looking Nike's that I couldn't get my foot in. Just too narrow a boot. I am a little afraid if these new CCM's are made in China they will be cut smaller and I'll have to send them back.

Check out this place for stuff. http://www.greatskate.com/

They have CCM Original 652 Tacks for $200 at Great Skate.

Did you use a regular rivet gun device from the hardware store? The cheapest setup from Great Skate is $32 for a pair of TUUK blades and $38 for a pair of TUUK holders and $13 for 20 steel rivets.

I don't know about the rivet bit, I took it over to a friend's house, and he did it for me.

As for the stuff, try hockey1.com which is the South Windsor arena's hockey store (If you haven't been there in person, you're missing out, its like CompUSA for hockey.) and also 1800faceoff.com. Search those places for TUUK, and they individually sell the plastic boot (per skate) and the blade too. I think they'll be around $30 for that one skate. As for the riveting, you could probably try it with a regular rivet at the local hardware store, they'd do it for free.

Slayr: What kind of gloves are you using? I got some old crappy nylon Louisville TPS that are too loose. Out of curiosity I tried on a leather version Vaughn a few years ago and they fit great. Back then, if the gloves cost more than $100 they wer usually real leather. Now gloves cost more than $100 but aren't made with real leather apparently. Maybe the imitation leather is better?

Well, my favorite gloves were leather... they're those old Sherwood ones from like 1993 that every player in the world had. Then I bought some nice Ferland ones (because Claude Lemieux of the Devils had them) which lasted me a couple years, and then I sold those to get my current 96-97ish Easton Gel Air's... I wish you could try them on, they're like the first gloves I've had where the fingers are independent... meaning, I can give the finger to my opponents with ease.

Again, "...ain't as good as they used to be" goes again. My brother got a good deal at Darien with his team on the Nike gloves... blech. I hate the things. I also see him constantly trying to steal mine... at least the thief has good taste.

LOL http://discussanything.com/Ubb/wink.gif

I just went out and bought all new equipment in May. BIG time dollars. I skated for 3 weeks, then got ill.
I am going to start again soon, to start my comeback ala Lemieux. I havent been in a league for 3 years but Im in better shape now than I was 3 years ago. 20 lbs + less. And Im on the Stairclimber every day.

I bought the CCM 801 (I think) tack. They were the top of the line for them. It has the graphite/kevlar footbed. They're incredible. The fit is unreal although Im still in the break in process.
The Jofa equip is really good and protective.
I tried some of that Nike stuff on, hated it.


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War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.
--John Stuart Mill--

Shaddup Powerboss, leave hockey to us northerners.

The UPS just dropped off the goods. They look much better than my old ones and are a lot lighter.

Bill: I realize you didn't wear them that much, but did the new CCM's stretch a little after use? I am a little worried mine are a slightly too tight, but I guess that internal padding will compress as it conforms to the foot.

Bill and Slayr: Do you guys use socks or go barefoot in the skates?

Hey, if we want to get really technical, I was more of a northerner than most here.
Oshawa Ontario Canada.
But that was many years ago...

Well, I wore them 3 or 4 times, then got them baked in their special ovens. That seemed to help a lot.
As far as stretching, Id say its pretty minimal, they are pretty rigid, but they have/will stretch a bit.

Socks, always. Thin socks. Tried barefoot but didnt like it.
You?

Have you guys tried the graphite sticks?
Im still getting used to it, my slapshot is ALL over the place right now.
I havent decided yet, I just may go back to my Sherwood 5030 BC,

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War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.
--John Stuart Mill--

I've always tried to go barefoot, but it just didn't work out. Snout, I don't know how you wear in skates, but my trick is to put on some high socks, dip them in the shower or something to get them soaked, then tie your skates as hard as you can without losing circulation (losing circulation is better, but losing a foot isn't). Just put some plastic skate guards on, or the sock ones if you've got carpeting, and walk around for the night. The wet sock should be so soggy that it bonds to your foot kinda like a wet tshirt bonds to wimmen, and it'll get the inside soggy and simulate a long sweaty game.

Sticks... I tried the aluminums when Easton first came out with them, wasn't too impressed. I broke a few blades, and although it was cheaper in the long run, it just didn't shoot as fast as my other sticks... and for the graphites... <shrug> eeh... the player of the game would get awarded a Montreal 99 stick, I won a few and never really liked them. The only one I did like was a stick by Christian, don't remember the model number, but it was black, with a blue and yellow webbing look to it. I had to give it up after I got called for an illegal curve in two consequtive games, and I didn't even torch it, the curve came like that.

My favorite stick was the old black/orange/white Montreal 88, which is now called the 8814. I can't even begin to tell you how much flex I got out of those. Even though stiffer is probably better, I got incredible shot power and accuracy out of my shots, including the backhand (the flex is actually a good thing). I bought 5 of them a year or two ago, and my stupid ass left them in my basement, so they're all damp and minutely warped (taped all 5 together).