Review of Reebok A.i 9 Hockey Stick

Brand: Reebok
Name: Reebok A.i 9 Hockey Stick
Price: $229.99 on Hockeymonkey.com
Features:

Tactile Griptonite 

Pure Fiber - True one-piece construction

Mid Kick Point 

XLerated Blade 

2:1 Power Taper Ratio  

Review: The new Reebok A.i 9 hockey stick is the top of the line Reebok stick on the market at this time.  It is replacing the Reebok 11K hockey stick.  Reebok really stepped up there game with this stick. The A.i 9 is 10 grams lighter than the 11K and the A.i 9 is a true one-piece stick unlike the 11K.  The 11K has the appearance of being a one-piece stick, but it really is not.  Another cool feature about the A.i 9 is that it has a 2:1 Taper Ratio.  What this basically means is that one side of the stick is more durable than the other which gives the shooter that "snap" that they really want (it also makes the stick very durable).  I also really like the design of the stick considering Reebok usually does not change there design that often.

Rating: 9/10

Review of Bauer APX Hockey Stick

Brand: Bauer
Name: Bauer APX Stick
Price: $249.99 on Hockeymonkey.com
Features:

Patented dual density blade core

Intelli-Sense shot technology

Monocomp Technology

Pure Shot blade profile

Lightweight TeXtreme construction

Micro Feel II shaft dimension

Double concave walls

VAPOR premium dual taper

Review: I got this stick a couple of weeks ago and I really enjoy this stick.  Bauer gave this stick a new desgin which I think looks pretty cool.  The APX is a combination of the Bauer Total One and the Bauer APX.  This stick allows the shooter to get his/her hardest shot without sacraficing accuracy.  There is a downside to this stick though; IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE! This stick costs upwards $250.  Another downside to this stick is that it breaks very easily.  I had mine for about 3 weeks and it broke already! My friends have also had theirs break pretty easily.  A plus side to this stick is that you can really feel the puck "sling" off of your stick when you shoot the puck.  If you want to buy a stick from the APX series I would recomend the Bauer APX 7.0.  This stick is the exact Bauer Vapor X:60 with a new paint job.  It is cheaper and I think it is more durable.  The Bauer APX was a big let down for Bauer fans like me...

Rating: 7/10

Stealth RS Video Review!

 

Check out the YouTube channel: TheHockeyCorner7

Stealth RS Review (Video Review Coming Soon!)

Brand: Easton
Name: Stealth RS
Price: Aviable for pre-order on Hockeymonkey.com for $249.99
Features: Elliptical Profile
               Multi-Rib Blade Construction
               Kevlar Wrapped Shaft
               Low Kick Point
               Pro Shaft Dimensions
               Matte Finish Blade
               Optional Grip Coating

Review: Our good friends at Easton just sent us the NEW STEALTH RS! My first impressions of the stick was that it looks kind of like the old Nike sticks because of the design. The stick is all blacked out except for the parts that say "Stealth RS" and those parts are yellow.  The stick has the option of grip or no grip. The stick I have has no grip on it.  The sticks with no grip on them have a bunch of tiny little holes that enable your hands to slide really good on the shaft, I really like that! Another cool feature of this stick is the Low-Kick Point Flex. The stick flexes at an extremely low point in the stick which allows the shooter to get more of the "snap" on his/her shot.  I would recomend that you go up a flex when swithcing from Bauer, Reebok, Miken, Harrow, Etc. Those sticks have a higher flex point so when you switch over to the Stealth RS it will feel really "whippy" and "flexy." For example, if you use a 77 flex Bauer I would reccomend you use a 85 flex Stealth RS. One thing I did notice was that the first couple of shots I took with the stick I heard it cracking. Dont worry about that, In another review I read about the RS the guy said he experienced the same problem.  (Probably because the fibers have to expand from never being flexed before.) I really think Easton has stepped up their game in the Hockey Stick Maket and I like where they are going with this stick. This is one of the best sticks I have ever owned. 

Rating: 12/10

STEALTH RS IS IN!

This is the Easton Stealth RS!
Keep checking back for a review in the next couple of days!

Brand: Farrell
Name: Farrell H500 Professional Series Shoulder Pads
Price: $59.98 on Hockeymonkey.com
Features: Adjustable fit for arms and chest
               Modular construction
               Breathable design vents heat and wicks moisture away from clothing
               Lightweight (2 lbs!!!)
               Washable!

Review: The Farrell H500 are a relatively well kept secret. These shoulder pads are extremely different from your conventional shoulder pads. First off, you might notice that they look more like football shoulder pads than hockey shoulder pads. These shoulder pads use a micro-square technology that gives these shoulder pads there lightweight feel (2 lbs). Another advantage to these shoulder pads is that they dry out extremely quick. My old shoulder pads would take days to dry out, but these ones only take a couple of hours! The thing I like most about these shoulder pads is the fact that they are so light that it feels like I'm not wearing any shoulder pads. The new technology allows the shoulder pads to move when my body moves and I do not feel constricted like I do with normal shoulder pads. These are the best!!!

Rating: 10/10

Reebok 11K Helmet Review

Brand: Reebok
Name: Reebok 11K Helmet
Price: $149.99 on hockeymonkey.com
Features: 5-Point Safety System
               Floating Liner
               Microdial II
               New Reebok Shell
               EPP Floating Liner
               Subshells
               Fit Clips

Review: The new Reebok 11K helmet is Reebok's top of the line helmet. One thing they did to this helmet was they changed the design a little bit. The only change they made was they put a slot on the front part of the top of the helmet. When I first put on the helmet it felt weird because I am use to wearing a Bauer helmet. As the helmet was on my head I got used to it and it is very comfortable. One thing I am hesitant on is the protection the helmet offers. The shell of the helmet seems thinner than the Bauer and you can bend the plastic which I don't think is a good thing... Also I know a lot of kids who have gotten concussions wearing a Reebok helmet. I guess I will wear it this season and I will wear it till I get a concussion.

Rating: 7/10

Bauer APX Skate Review

Brand: Bauer
Name: Bauer APX Skates
Price: $799.99 on Hockeymonkey.com
Features: Bauer Alive Composite Upper
               Hydra-Max 2 Liner
               Form Fit 3 Tongue
               Footbed With Ergotoe Protection
               TUUK Fusion Runner Technology
               Ankle Padding
               Thermoformable

Review: The Bauer APX skate is a great skate but it comes at a cost. You have to be willing to shell out $800 if you want to own a pair of these top of the line skates. My first impression of these skates was that they were a little to flashy for me, but as you look at them the look grows upon you. The whole boot is practically made of composite materials which makes it more durable but it also makes it harder to break in the skate which can be frustrating to some players. Once the skates are broken in they work very well and are for the more advanced hockey player.  If you want to own the APX skate but don't have the funds I suggest you look at the Vapor 7.0 through the Vapor 1.0. The Vapor 7.0 is a little bit cheaper but is not made of the same materials as the APX and is heavier overall.  The lower the number on the skate the less quality you are going to get.  Overall I love the APX and I would recommend it to anyone!

Rating: 11/10

Donskov Strength and Conditioning

This is where I train. Donskov Strength and Conditioning baby!!!

Easton EQ 50 Hockey Stick Review

Brand: Easton
Name: Easton EQ 50
Price: $209.99 on Hockeymonkey.com
Features: Visible Focus Weight Technology
               Customizable Weight Cap
               Kevlar Wrapped Shaft
               Multi-Rib and Micro-Bladder blade
              
Review: I received the Easton EQ 50 from our friends at Easton. This particular stick is a Left-Handed, 100 flex (they were out of 87 flex), Taylor Hall curve. The Hall curve is almost the exact same as the Kane curve. After using the stick the first thing I realized was the weight at the bottom of the stick. They did this on purpose to balance the stick out better and give the puck-handler a better feel for the puck.  I personally like the weight at the bottom of the stick because it gives me a better feel for the puck but I know a lot of people that don't like it. The stick is very durable from what I can tell from the first couple days of using it. Most importantly, the stick is very light and feels good in my hands. It has square dimensions which I like and this particular stick has grip on it which I like a lot. The Easton EQ 50 is a great stick and fits the more advanced hockey player who is looking to have a better feel for the puck and looking for a harder, more accurate shot.

Rating: 10/10

Update

Followers of THE HOCKEY CORNER,

Please bear with me as I am out of town and will be reviewing some new equipment when I get back.

300 PRO Hockey Glove Review

Brand: Harrow
Name: 300 PRO Hockey Glove
Price: $88.00 on Harrowsports.com
Features: Couldn't find any specific features on the Harrow website...

Review: The 300 PRO Hockey Glove is the standard hockey glove. What I mean by that is that there are not any special features. This glove would be fine for a beginner hockey player or maybe a younger hockey player but definitely not for the older hockey player. The glove is not durable and the palms ripped within a month. They were our team gloves this year and out of the 18 guys on my team 16 guys had ripped gloves by the end of the season. One cool thing about these gloves is that they are extremely customizable. We had our team color and logo on the gloves this year. (I would put a picture up, but threw the gloves away a long time ago.) I was not a big fan of the gloves but liked how customizable they were.

Rating: 6/10

Bauer X:60 Skates Review

Brand: Bauer
Name: Bauer X:60 Skates
Price: $359.98 on Hockeymonkey.com
Features: Hydra-Max Liner
               Form Fit 2 Tongue
               SuperFit + Footbed
               Heel Support
               Ankle Padding
               Blade Holder and Runner

Review: The Bauer X:60 hockey skate is the perfect skate for anyone. It is comfortable, durable, and it looks cool! If you want to buy this skate then now is the time to buy it. Bauer just released its newest hockey skate, the APX skate, so the Bauer X:60 skate will be a lot cheaper than it was just a couple of weeks ago. The X:60 is pretty much the same thing as the new APX skate and the only differences that a player will notice is that they look different. The X:60 skate is probably the most comfortable skate on the market and one of the safest. I have taken numerous shots off of the skate and although it stings for a minute the boot of the skate keeps me from breaking my foot. One complaint that I do have is that the outside of the skate gets beat up pretty quickly (puck marks, paint chips away, etc.) Other than that the X:60 is the perfect skate for anyone.

Rating: 8.5/10                                                                                                                                               

                                  

Bauer 9900 Helmet Review

Brand: Bauer
Name: Bauer 9900 Hockey Helmet (above picture is combo helmet)
Price: $189.99 on Hockeymonkey.com
Features: FXPP Liner
               Bio-mechanical Shell
               Poron XRD Technology
               Slow Memory Comfort Foam
               Ventilation Ports
               Microban Antibacterial Protection
               Tool Free Size Adjustment

Review: If your looking for a helmet that will offer the best comfort without sacrificing safety then look no further. This is hands down the most comfortable helmet and safest helmet on the market today. The Poron XRD Technology (which is specific to BAUER) can dissipate 90 percent of force on impact. I have a lot of friends who like the Reebok helmets but a lot of those same friends end up with concussions. I've been noticing a pattern, those of my friends who wear Bauer helmets are less prone to concussions than my other friends who wear different types of helmets. This is a great helmet but a little pricy, but you cant put a price on safety.

Rating: 10/10

Bauer Total One Stick Review

Brand: Bauer
Name: Bauer Supreme Total One
Price: $229.99. on Hockeymonkey.com
Features:  Power Core 3 Blade
               Square Dimensions

               Monocomp Technology 
               TeXtreme Carbon Fiber
               Amplified Mid-Kick Flex

Review: I got this stick a month ago and it has quickly become the best stick I have ever had. I will admit, it took a week or two to get used to the square dimensions that the Total One has. A great thing about this stick is amplified Mid-Kick flex. This type of flex on the stick makes the top end of the stick softer and easier to flex while making the bottom part of the stick stiffer and harder to flex. This technology gives the shooter more power when shooting and it makes the stick more durable so that it will not break as easily. This is a great stick and would recommend it to anyone.

Rating: 9.5/10

Bauer 4 Roll Gloves Review

Brand: Bauer
Name: Bauer 4 Roll Gloves

Price: $110.00 on Hockeymonkey.com
Features: EPP Foam
               Unique 2-piece Free Flex Thumb
               Pro Nylon Shell
               2-piece segmented fingers
               Thermo Max Liner
               Soft CLARINO Palm

Review: The Bauer 4 Roll Gloves are a great pair of gloves for any type of hockey player. The 4 Roll Gloves give the player wearing them maximum comfort and maximum protection available on the market today. Whats great about the 4 Roll Gloves is that they are extremely durable. Durability is important in gloves because now a days with gloves being so expensive your going to want a pair of gloves that will last you a long time. I have had these gloves for 6 months now and they are great. The palms are very durable which is good because one place gloves will start to wear out in is in the palms. Most gloves after about 6 months will start to rip in the palms and that will make it uncomfortable to shoot and pass. Another unique thing about the 4 Roll Gloves is that the glove is very customizable and it looks cool in any colors. Great glove for any player but on the higher end of ones budget.

Rating: 9/10

USHL VS. CHL

This is a very touch subject for most 15 or 16 year old hockey players in the United States and Canada. The USHL (United States Hockey League) is based out of the mid-western United States. The CHL (Canadian Hockey League) is based out of all of Canada. The CHL is broken down into 3 sub leagues. The WHL, OHL, and the QMJHL. The WHL is based out of Western Canada, the OHL is based out of Ontario, and the QMJHL is based out of the Province Quebec.

The CHL is considered professional hockey because all the players in the CHL are payed to play for their team. The USHL is still considered amateur because the players are not payed to play. This is where the major conflict comes in. Players have to decide whether or not they are going to take the college route or the CHL route. If players decide to take the college route than the USHL is the best option for them because it is the best amateur league in North America. If players decide they want to take a risk and go to the CHL and try to make it to the NHL than they cannot go to college and play hockey because the NCAA considers players in the CHL to be professional.  Now saying that, it doesnt mean if you go to the USHL you cant make it to the NHL, because you can! If you go the USHL route, your path to the NHL will be different from a kid who goes to the CHL because you will be able to develop your skills in college while the kid who went to the CHL will be developing his skills in the minor leagues or maybe in Europe.

With all that being said, each leagues has its pros and cons. The CHL produces more NHL players than the USHL does at this point in time, but the USHL gives a kid the chance to get a college scholarship and get an education. At the end of the day its your decision but make sure you go some place where you are happy and will do well.