Reebok 11k Goalie Chest and Arm Combo

Reebok 11k PRO Sr. Goalie Chest Combo - (Photo courtesy of hockeymonkey.eu)

Reebok 11k PRO Sr. Goalie Chest Combo - (Photo courtesy of hockeymonkey.eu)

Now this is a phenomenal looking chest and arm combo from Reebok, the 11k Sr. PRO model! The protection here will be second to none, and we’re very impressed with the design and materials used. Nicely done, Reebok!

- Your Friends at SportZone Canada

Mark Visentin - Team Canada World Junior Tournament goalie in his all-Vaughn gear, except for the Bauer RX10 glove (photo courtesy of zimbio.com).

Here’s a photo that illustrates exactly what we mean – Team Canada goalie Mark Visentin wears all Vaughn goalie equipment, except for his glove…Why? Well, as goalies on our team will tell you, a catcher is a very personal preference, since not every goaltender has the same size of hands, or the same preference pocket-wise, or strapping, or any number of other factors.

For the most part, goalies appear to have complete sets of gear, but we often wonder if that’s due to trying to make a fashion statement, or because the entire set is exactly what works best from a functional perspective?

Our point is this: If you can, try a few different pieces in a demo offering, or try on several gloves (I’m in the process of possibly switching from the Reebok Revoke/Premier 3 glove to either the Bauer RX10 or Bauer One100 glove, for example) in-store to get a feel for what really feels right.

Who cares if every piece isn’t the same brand, or even the same color? Hey – With you making the big saves, no one’s going to question you.

Goalies: Have the leadership to go your own way, and wear what you want.

- Your friends at SportZone Canada.

2010 Farrel Goalie Compression Shirt (courtesy of hockeygeeks.com)

2010 Vaughn Vision 9500 Pads (courtesy of hockeygeeks.com)

2010 Vaughn Vision 9500 Pads (courtesy of hockeygeeks.com)

2010 Vaughn 9500 Vision Glove (courtesy of hockeygeeks.com)

2010 Vaughn Vision 9500 Blocker (courtesy of hockeygeeks.com)

More awesome photos of the Vaughn Vision 9500 line, and the Farrell goalie compression shirt.

- Your friends at SportZone Canada

Bauer NME 9 Goalie Mask (Photo courtesy of photobucket.com)

We’ve all seen players and goalies who choose the best of equipment, only to have it fit incorrectly. When it comes to having yourself or someone in your family properly fitted for any type of sporting good equipment, SportZone Canada is here to make sure you know what you’re “getting into”.

Our staff have extensive experience at numerous levels of play in hockey, baseball and other sports as well. Second (and most important), we train our staff very comprehensively, so that they know every piece of gear like the back of their hands. The worst thing a player can do is have a poorly fitted piece of gear such as a goalie mask, and suffer a potentially career-ending head or neck injury as a result.

Come on in, call us, or visit us online so that our gear experts can make sure your measurements match up to the gear you’re investing in. Help us help you to be your BEST out there!

- Your friends at SportZone Canada

Bauer Reflex RX 10 Goalie Equipment at SportZone Canada. Our Inventory is MASSIVE!

There’s a ton of new Hockey (Goalie, especially) gear coming in this new year, so keep your eyes posted to our blog and website for the latest! We`re gearing up for another BIG Baseball season as well!

- Your friends at SportZone Canada

Happy New Year from your friends at SportZone Canada!

On behalf of all of us, we wish you the best of health and happiness in 2011!  Be sure to check in for all your sporting good needs!

- Your friends at SportZone Canada

SportZone Canada - Your Source For Insane Boxing Week Blowouts!

We’re at it AGAIN! Another Boxing week blowout is upon us!

Many of our specials are too low to advertise, so you’ve got to come in yourself and see what we mean! However, you can definitely visit us on-line at http://www.sportzonecanada.com or give us a call if you need something custom ordered! We’re pleased to announce that the 2011 Vaughn goalie line will be available in a few short weeks, so stay tuned!

Happy Holidays to you and yours, and let SportZone Canada show you why we’re quickly coming up the ranks in the world of hockey, baseball, lacrosse and other areas as well! Customer service means everything to us, and we love sports as much as you do, so we’ve got REAL passion for the equipment!

Sales are one thing, but keeping customers satisfied means just as much to your friends at SportZone Canada! Without you, we wouldn’t exist. For that, we thank you for the opportunity to serve your needs.

Stay safe, and may your holiday season be one of family, friends, and relaxation.

- Your friends at SportZone Canada

Goalie gear has really evolved over the years.

While Koho goalie equipment appears to be morphing the past with the future in their 2011 gear lines, companies like Reebok, Vaughn and Bauer appear to be going into the future. Sure – the foams might all be similar, but how about the graphics on Vaughn’s new 9500 line, or the Reebok Larceny design? Perhaps I’m overreacting, and I hope so.

You see, I’m more of an ancient (note sarcasm) Reebok Premier III type of goalie myself, where the graphics were still very cool, but not some crazy “tribal” paint job like some appear to be today. Perhaps I’m a bit more conservative, but I want my gear to be graphically pleasing, yet striking to the eye as well.

By striking, I don’t mean some abstract cluster of splatters.

However, as I rant, I realize that goalies are indeed a rare breed, a bit of a mis-understood one as well. What works for one is certain death for the other. So I say this: Wherever goalie equipment is headed, there are enough goalies out there that we surely won’t buy a particular line of gear if we think it’s too bizarre or over-done in any way (graphics or padding-wise).

As we constantly evolve in the position, and as manufacturers continue to design and copy their counterparts to stay in the top group of the gear universe, you and I have to think for ourselves…Not buying what might seem “cool”, but investing in what will actually help to bring out the best that’s in each of us as goalies.

In this corporate world of smoke and mirrors, PLEASE, my friends: Do your homework, and try your best not to care what the next goalie thinks. After all, he or she isn’t the one stopping the puck for you.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

- Your friends at SportZone Canada

Vaughn 7900 Trapper (1-piece cuff is standard).

Vaughn 7900 Gloves

Vaughn 7900 Pads

Vaughn 9500 glove and blocker

Vaughn 9500 gloves

- Your friends at SportZone Canada

The New Vaughn 9500 Pads!

The New Vaughn 9500 Pads!

The New Vaughn 7900 blocker!

- Your friends at SportZone Canada

Koho 586 and 588 RPM Goalie

On behalf of your friends at SportZone Canada, we want to wish you a very happy and safe holiday season! Wherever you are, and whatever you do, stay safe, don’t drink and drive, and come visit us in-person or online very soon! We’ve got some end of 2010 clearance sales going on right now!

http://sportzonecanada.com

For young (and not so young) goalies all over the place, there’s a real dis-connect when it comes to their perception of goalie equipment, and the actual reality of what the gear is all about. This is common with all sorts of everyday items, whatever they might be –  Snow blowers, cars, computers, baseball gloves, school supplies, shoes, and about a billion other items out there.

For all you goalies, we’re going to quickly explain the difference between the three types of (catcher/glove/trapper/whatever term you like) palms available out there. Many can be ordered in whatever you prefer, as custom equipment is now available to the public more than ever before.

OK, so here you go:

1. “Game-Ready Palm”

- The easiest to close right out of the box…If you play a level of hockey that’s anything below (roughly) a 16-year old level of all-star, this should suit you beautifully. There are always exceptions (like that kid who’s a monster for his age, and shoots like a Jr. A player on steroids), but for the most part, this palm should be great. It will also give you the best chance to get a feel for the puck, handle the puck WAY better, and gain confidence.

2. Pro-Palm

This is the most common palm “level” for players from midget to the NHL, to be honest. You have a fabulous blend of protection and control with this level of protection. It will take a couple weeks (or more) to break in, but it’s very worth while to have the confidence to face those cannon shots with a pro-palm, and not even flinch.

3. Practice-Palm

OK – You ONLY need this level of (insane) protection if you:

a) Play in the big show (NHL/AHL/JR.A, even), or you

b) Need a glove to last you a decade or so, depending on your level/frequency of play.

I know, I know….”I want only the “best, most hardcore glove/palm out there, ’cause I’m a warrior in the nets!” is a mentality that is all too often contagious with up-coming teens in the world of goalie equipment…TRUST US – Do NOT fall into this trap, where you’ll end up paying a heavy price. Even the pros only use a practice palm glove for just that (practices), since they usually go through several sets per year due to their grueling schedule.

You’d actually be surprised how many NHL goalies don’t even use anything more than a pro-palm in games and practices!

So let this sink in if you’ve been anything like someone I know very well….Try on the pro-palm offerings at SportZone (or at your local store, then order from us online, since we’ll beat their price for you!), and you’ll quickly realize that perception isn’t reality, as is often the case in life.

- Your friends at SportZone Canada

Farrell Goalie Compression Shirts and Shorts - At SportZone Canada http://www.sportzonecanada.com

We’re VERY excited about filming regularly updated videos that will give you detailed descriptions of hockey, baseball, lacrosse and a ton of other equipment and accessories in 2011! – We’ve scoured the internet, looking at all the other videos we could find, and we’re absolutely confident that we’ll raise the bar when it comes to making you feel like you’re right here in person!

As the SportZone team member writing this blog entry, I know first-hand how it can be trying to get a feel for a glove, a set of pads, a new stick, or new skates through watching a video. Granted – it can be a challenge, but with SportZone’s YouTube videos, we’re going to go all-out to provide you with the inside-out reviews on all the latest equipment!

I happen to be a goalie, and I’m VERY passionate (some would say obsessed) with comparing all the brands of goalie and hockey gear, but our team also has baseball, lacrosse, figure skating, uniform/clothing and other “gurus” who are just as excited to share their knowledge as I am! That’s the great part – You don’t have someone who puts you to sleep through their lack of enthusiasm in a video…We want YOU to know everything we do, so that you’ll be a satisfied customer – better yet, a teammate in the SportZone family.

All that said, it comes down to one thing: Treating you like we would want to be treated!

That is our mission. No hype, no fluff – just pure, honest passion for sports, and the gear that goes with it.

- Happy Holidays from your friends at SportZone Canada!

A part of our Reebok goalie glove and blocker section at SportZone Canada.

The team at SportZone Canada was thinking about how we can offer MORE to our valued customers, and those of you who don’t know us too well. Would you like to see contests to win free gear? How about more product demos in video, so you can see EXACTLY what you’re getting with the new Vaughn goalie equipment line of 2011?

There are so many ideas that came to us, but we figured that our most important team member (you) should have a direct say in what you want to see us offer in this blog, on our website, and in our superstore!

Contact us by coming to the store, calling us toll-free at 1-888-785-9818 and let us know what we can do for YOU. After all, we’re out to be the best sporting good store on the globe when it comes to amazing customer service!

- Your friends at SportZone Canada

You truly can’t argue with statistics, especially when it comes to National Hockey League (NHL) goalies themselves! We received this reality check a couple of days ago, and it speaks for itself. As a goalie myself, this really hit home!

Here’s the message we received:

I recently received these stats and thought I would share them with you.

These are current as of Nov.24, 2010

Enjoy !!

8 out of top 10 goalies in NHL wins wear Vaughn…

T1.  Neuvirth – 12

T1.  Price – 12

T3.  Howard – 11

T3.  Quick – 11

T6.  Thomas – 10

T6.  Bryzgalov – 10

T8.  Lehtonen – 9

T8.  Ward – 9

Top 5 goalies in NHL save % wear Vaughn…

1.  Thomas – 954%

2.  Pavelec – 939%

T3. Price – 932%

T3. Backstrom – 932%

5.  Quick – 931%

Top 6 goalies in NHL GAA (Goals Against Average) wear Vaughn…

1. Thomas – 1.49

2. Quick -1.90

3. Pavelec – 1.93

4. Price – 2.05

5. Niittymaki – 2.07

6. Backstrom – 2.11

… Enough Said.

So there you have it, folks. Whatever equipment you use, whatever you prefer and however you feel about the Vaughn line of goalie equipment, you really can’t argue with these statistics. The proof IS in the pudding.

- Your friends at SportZone Canada!

Happy Thursday, everyone! We’ve got some BIG news to share with you today:  We’ve kicked off our annual holiday goalie equipment sale!! This one is truly massive, since you take 20% off of the final price when you buy any three goalie items (Pads/Chest/Blocker/Glove/Mask/Pants)!

Come on down to our renovated store (it’s a LOT bigger now) and see for yourself, or shop on-line with us! Whichever you prefer, we’re here to provide first-class customer service!

Need a CUSTOM order? We can do pretty much anything you want!

Come on in (or on-line) today!

http://www.sportszonecanada.com

Just a small portion of SportZone Canada's goalie equipment inventory!

We’re happy to announce that we’ve joined the blogging world to help people everywhere! Whether you’re from Canada or any other country, we aim to provide you with the best customer service!

Looking for Hockey, Baseball, Skating or many other types of sporting gear or clothing? – We’ve got you covered!

We do custom orders, and we’ve got nearly a half-million dollars in (Hockey) goalie equipment! Come and check out our massive, newly renovated store or visit us on-line today at http://www.sportzonecanada.com !