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Sacha Treille Suspended Five Games for Headshot on Roman Starchenko

May 9

Posted by Matt in Media, News | 1 Comment

Another day, another headshot. This just goes to show that the lack of respect amongst hockey players isn’t just a problem in the NHL, it’s an issue at the international level as well.

On May 6th, in the matchup between France and Kazakhstan in the 2012 IIHF World Championships, France’s Sacha Treille made a nasty hit with his shoulder and elbow straight to Roman Starchenko’s head. The vicious hit sent Starchenko’s stick flying through the air, as he was knocked out immediately upon contact. Afterwards, his head bounced off the ice, surely causing even more damage. Starchenko was diagnosed with a severe concussion afterwards, and will more than likely miss the rest of the tournament.

Treille has been suspended by the IIHF for five games as a result of the play. ”(This) underscores the IIHF’s commitment to eliminate hits to the head and neck area,” the IIHF said when announcing the ban. Initially, the hit earned Treille a game misconduct and match penalty on the play – which results in an automatic one game suspension. Four additional games were then added by the IIHF’s discipline committee.

Take a look at the video below of Sacha Treille’s headshot on Roman Starchenko. Do you agree with this suspension? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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Dekree DC:300 Hockey Stick Review Update

May 9

Posted by Chris in Gear, Reviews | No Comments

Back in January, Dekree sent us a couple demo models of their new composite hockey stick, the DC300.  I used the stick for a few weeks during roller hockey games and then posted my initial impressions review, which can be found here. But this stick impressed me so much that I continued to use it and wanted to post an update to my initial findings after a good 10 to 12 weeks of solid use because this stick seems to only get better as time goes on.

Model: Dekree DC300

Flex: 90

Modifications: Cut down two inches

Durability:

One of the areas of focus that initially caught my attention was the durability of this stick. In my initial impressions review, I was most impressed with how well the stick held up after several weeks of usage. In fact, the shaft and blade still looked practically brand new. Check out the slideshow and video below to see photos of the shaft and blade.

After further long term testing of the stick, my opinion on the durability of the DC300 has not waivered at all. Outside of some minor bruising in the slash zone down near the blade, the shaft still looks practically brand new. The Kevlar reinforced slash zone really works well to help increase the stick’s durability. Similarly, the blade on the DC300 looks pristine and nearly flawless with no scratch marks or blemishes outside of a small chip on the toe. We’ve reviewed plenty of sticks over the years, and while many have scored well in durability and longevity, I don’t think any have come away from heavy use looking as good as my DC300 does.

The shaft still feels strong in my hands despite its light weight, and several blocked shots and good slashes on the shaft and blade have not set this stick back once. I got frustrated at a missed opportunity during a game recently and slammed the stick into the pipes of the goal, but the DC300 just took it and kept going. I looked afterward to see if I had even put a scratch on the stick and could barely find where I had made contact. In terms of durability, this stick will offer you a lot of bang for your buck.

Feel and Accuracy:

In my initial impressions review, I liked the feel for the puck that the light weight and balance of the DC300 offered, and I also had good accuracy with the stick as well. The only drawback at that time was that I had a difficult time elevating the puck more than about two feet with my slapshots, although any shots I did take were powerful.

Perhaps the DC300 just had a bit more of a break-in period, because about a week after posting my initial impressions review I began to notice the shaft “giving” a little more, allowing me to better place my shots – high and low. At first, despite being a 90 flex, I felt like the stick played closer to a 100 flex. Now, I feel like the stick has settled into a nice groove where it plays at a 90 like it’s supposed to. I still have trouble going top-shelf on my slapshots, but I’m definitely having an easier time lifting the puck after an extended break-in period.

Teammates have continued to comment on the power and velocity of my shots with this stick. I really like the way that the DC300 loads up the energy to produce powerful, fast shots. The stick features a carbon weave throughout the shaft and blade to provide a greater energy transfer to the puck while shooting – something that is definitely noticeable on slapshots. With the increase in power on my shots, this feature definitely gets the job done. Wrist shots are just as good, if not better, than almost any other high-end stick I’ve used. I wouldn’t say the DC300 has the same “pop” as some of the other higher-end sticks it competes with, but it certainly excels at providing the shooter with a significant amount of power.

Feel for the puck is excellent, especially in roller hockey where I have used the stick for the majority of my testing. The DC300 is very well balanced, allowing for good puck feel during stick handling and passing. As with my initial impressions review, I still find myself able to skate with my head up more and really feel the puck better on my blade when I am playing. Passing is hard, crisp and accurate. In terms of feel and accuracy, players of all levels will be pleased with the performance of the DC300.

Overall Impressions:

I’ve had the chance to use and review a lot of demo sticks through the blog, but for me, personally, the DC300 has become the new gold standard. It’s an all-around good hockey stick that couples a high level of performance and playability with a strong level of durability.

Dekree focuses their attention on adult rec league players, and I believe that is exactly who will benefit from this product. The durability will make players happy in the long run when they aren’t constantly shelling out money for new twigs, and players of all skill levels could benefit from the performance on shooting, passing and stick handling that the DC300 provides.

In addition, the stick not only competes with the higher end offerings of other manufacturers, but without the overhead costs that those other manufacturers incur, Dekree can offer the DC300 for a lesser, more affordable price of $200, whereas similar products would cost $250+ from other manufacturers. I’m very excited to see where Dekree goes from here and what they come up with in the future.

Interested in purchasing the Dekree DC300? Check them out online at www.dekree.ca! Have any more questions about this stick? Feel free to contact Chris on Twitter @HWBChris!

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NHL Photo of the Day

May 9

Posted by EB in NHL Photo of the Day | No Comments

Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images

One game last night and one team has advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. The New Jersey Devils squared off against the Philadelphia Flyers and beat them in their own house. Losing Claude Giroux to a suspension definitely hurt the team, but the blame has to fall on goalie Ilya Bryzgalov. In a do-or-die game, Bryzgalov tried to clear the puck that in the process, hit a charging Devils’ forward and bounced in the net. It was a poor play, but not as poor as his stats for the series. Bryzgalov allowed 16 goals in five games with a barely over .900 save percentage (.902%). That is the stats for one series, the combined stats for the playoffs are even worse.

The Devils on the other hand played a solid series, getting help from everyone on the team, especially veteran goalie Martin Brodeur. Brodeur turned 40 during this series, and is not showing signs of slowing down. It still could be his final year, so why not go out with a bang?

The Devils opponent has yet to be decided as the New York Rangers visit the Capital to play the Washington Capitals in game 6 at 7:30 PM EST. The series could very well go seven games, at least that is what non-Rangers’ fans would like.

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Giroux to Miss Game 5 After Zubrus Head Shot

May 8

Posted by Eddie in Behind the Bench | No Comments

The Flyers will have to play a critical Game 5 on the road without their best player after this hit Sunday night.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Claude Giroux dealt a big blow to his team heading into a crucial Game 5 tonight against New Jersey after Judge Brendan Shanahan ruled in his court that arguably the best player on the Flyers this playoff season must sit a game after a reckless hit to the head Sunday afternoon.

The blow came just at the end of the second period in a game that the Devils won to take a 3-1 series lead. Giroux, a first time offender in the NHL’s disciplinary system, connected on a shoulder-to-head check on Dainius Zubrus of the Devils. Zubrus was down on the ice for a short period of time but did get off the ice and finished the game.

While looking at the video, any official with a brain could have predicted Giroux would have done something stupid. It started earlier in the play when he was legally checked in front of his own bench. Sure the hands got a little high towards his face but it wasn’t anything worth calling a penalty. Giroux was angry and frustrated as seen in the video below.  Seconds later he’s venting his beef with the official and continued to do so when he turned his back towards the play to scream at the official. As seen, he was more focused on the no-call instead of his shift. He would have been better off getting off the ice at his bench and used the intermission to cool off. Instead, he decided to take out his anger on the first player with the puck he seen- Zubrus.

As an official, I’ve seen this many times at various levels (from the youth level to adults) where a player thought a penalty should have been called against the other team but since it wasn’t called decided to commit a penalty himself. Lesson for the youth hockey players at home: if you get slashed, hooked or checked and the official doesn’t call a penalty, let it go. If you can’t let it go, get off the ice and let someone else with a clear head skate. You don’t want to retaliate and cause your team to be the one that has to play shorthanded. In your case it would be two minutes while in the cause of Claude Giroux- missing Game 5 of the Stanley Cup playoffs when your team is down 3-1.

Game 5 is tonight on NBC Sports Network at 7:30 p.m.

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NHL Photo of the Day

May 8

Posted by EB in NHL Photo of the Day | 2 Comments

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Here to zero, Joel Ward of the Washington Capitals who scored a series winning goal against Boston in game seven, took a double-minor in the final minute of regulation. The Capitals, up 2-1 against the New York Rangers, lost the lead after Brad Richards netted the game tying goal to send the game into overtime. Overtime started, Ward still in the box, Marc Staal netted the game-winning goal to put the Rangers up 3-2 in the series and heading back to Washington for game 6.

Phoenix Coyotes have made it to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history. Lead by Captain Shane Doan and a supporting cast consisting of brick-wall Mike Smith, the Coyotes defeated the Nashville Predators 2-1 in five games. The Predators never seemed to get going against the Coyotes, leaving many fans wondering what caused the wheels to fall off. The Coyotes advance to play against Pacific Division rival the Los Angeles Kings.

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Hockey News Update: Coyotes, Gillis, Giroux

May 7

Posted by EB in News, Soap Box | No Comments

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

A couple of headlines buzzing around the media today that have rather significant impacts. The Phoenix Coyotes tentative deal, General Manager Mike Gillis’ extension and Claude Giroux suspension.

Starting with the Phoenix Coyotes, the saga that never ends, the team has a tentative deal. Commissioner Gary Bettman announced that the league has come to a tentative  agreement on new ownership. The ownership, Greg Jamison, former Chief Executive Officer of the San Jose Sharks. Jamison is currently minority owner of the Sharks, and per terms of an agreement, will sell his shares of the Sharks. The sale will require approval of Glendale city council. The NHL community hopes that the two sides come to an agreement because we are tired of hearing about it.

Western Conference regular season champions Vancouver Canucks early departure from the playoffs generated a lot of buzz around General Manager Mike Gillis and his job security. Gillis can sleep sound, for now at least, as the team has extended his contract. Terms were not disclosed, but hopefully he has a non-fire clause unlike Ron Wilson, former Head Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. With that agreement handled, terms of Head Coach Alain Vigneault is still up in the air. When asked if he would like Vigneault to return as Head Coach, Gillis replied, “He’s done an excellent job, and he’ll obviously be the first thing on the agenda once I have an opportunity to execute on the plan we have.” Reading between the lines, someone needs to take the blame for the failure during playoffs.

Heart and soul of the Philadelphia Flyers Claude Giroux will be watching game 5 from the press box. After a late hit on New Jersey Devils Dainius Zubrus that targeted the head, law dog Brendan Shanahan came down with the hammer. Giroux initially thought he would not be suspended, calming he is not a dirty player, but unfortunately for him, his plea fell on deaf ears. Game 5 will be played in Philadelphia, a tough house to win in for the road team. The series is still very much alive.

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Coyotes Take 3 – 1 Series Lead Over Predators

May 7

Posted by EB in News | 2 Comments

John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images

In what has been a surprising series, but then again a surprising playoffs, the Phoenix Coyotes have taken a 3 – 1 series lead over the Nashville Predators.

The Coyotes, Pacific Division Champions, could have seen an entirely different landscape for the playoffs. In the final month of the regular season, the Coyotes were in a dogfight for first within their division. The San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings and even the Dallas Stars were a part of this four-way battle that had everyone in the hockey community paying attention. The Coyotes narrowly took first place within the division, 1 point over second (Sharks) and 2 points over third (Kings). The Sharks were knocked out of the first round against the St. Louis Blues, who as of late, looked nothing like their dominating selves in the first round. The Kings on the other hand have knocked out first place Vancouver Canucks and now swept the previously mentioned not-looking-as-good Blues. Could the Coyotes still have advanced if they placed differently at the end of regular season? Perhaps, but their home ice advantage has been pivotal in the second round.

The Predators matched up against the never-to-be-understimated Detroit Red Wings. Detroit broke a most consecutive home game record during the season but stumbled towards the end of the regular season. Still, the Wings are a playoff team. The first two games in Nashville were split, Red Wings’ fans optimistic heading back to Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. Nashville silenced a fan base, winning games 2 and 3 in Detroit, taking a 3 – 1 series back to Nashville. The Predators defeated the Wings in 5 games, advancing to the Conference Semi-Finals for their second time in team history.

Last year the Predators advanced to the second round for the first time in team history but lost 2 – 4 against the Vancouver Canucks. Despite losing, Nashville fans were excited that their team is on the right track. This year, knocking out the Detroit Red Wings to advance to the first round, fans have become hungry for more.

Unfortunately for the fans, two players, Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostisyyn were not as hungry. The two players, after a suspected late night on the town but a confirmed  breaking of team rules, the two were benched for game three. The Predators went on to win game three, leaving Head Coach Barry Trotz in a darn-if-you-do, darn-if-you-don’t decision to play one or both of the players in game four. The decision to not play both players may later be looked upon as a poor one, as game four went to the Phoenix Coyotes.

Coming into game five the two teams are hungry; one to advance to compete against a division rival that will surely be a great series to watch, while the other to build upon last year’s success. Nashville is expected to have both Radulov and A. Kostistyn in the lineup while the Coyotes will be missing defenseman Rotislav Klesla due to suspension. Klesla boarded Predators’ Matt Halischuk in game three.

By far, the Coyotes have the advantage, having two of the three home ice games if the series goes to seven games. With last year’s Stanley Cup Champions’ Boston Bruins coming back from a 3 – 0 deficit, anything is possible. Game 5 will be played tonight at 10 PM EST time at Jobing.com Arena. Expect a whiteout with loud fans, especially after news that a new ownership is set to keep the team in Phoenix.

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NHL Photo of the Day

May 7

Posted by EB in NHL Photo of the Day | No Comments

Noah Graham/NHLI via Getty Images

Recapping this weekends action, the Phoenix Coyotes have gone up 3 – 1 after defeating the Nashville Predators in game 4 of their series. The series heads back to Phoenix where Predators’ Head Coach Barry Trotz is expected to play suspended/benched Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn.

Eastern Conference leaders’ New York Rangers are a bit dumbfounded as the Washington Capitals are the team that just does not go away. A new Head Coach, a new philosophy, Alexander Ovechkin playing another 15 minute-ish game, and the Capitals have tied the series at two a piece.

The New Jersey Devils are turning some heads, currently up 3 – 1 against the Philadelphia Flyers. Not many would have predicted this series to go as it is currently going, but hey, it’s not over until Kate Smith sings.

Big/surprising news out of the Western Conference as the 8th seeded Los Angeles Kings have swept the 2nd seeded St. Louis Blues. The Blues, who dominated the San Jose Sharks in the first round in five games were nowhere to be found in the second round. That is of course, because the Kings played exceptional hockey. A healthy team combined with depth and talent makes for a Stanley Cup contender. Needing only 9 games to get to the Western Conference Finals, the Kings have become a frontrunner in the West.

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U.S. Tops Canada at World Championships

May 6

Posted by Matt in News | No Comments

Team USA 2012Jack Johnson was the hero in overtime Saturday as his second goal of the game helped the United States top Canada 5-4 at the World Championships. Johnson’s goal came 1:47 into the extra session, and marks the first time the U.S. has beaten Canada in the World Championships since 2001.

The American squad, now fielding a 2-0-0 record in the tournament, opened the scoring when Jim Slater blasted a shot past Canadian goalie Cam Ward at 1:10 of the first period. It didn’t take long for Canada to tie the game, however, as John Tavares beat U.S. goalie Jimmy Howard at 6:38 of the first.

In the second, Jeff Skinner picked up his first goal of the tournament at 7:34 and put Canada in the lead 2-1. Only six minutes later, it was Jack Johnson’s first goal of the game which brought the U.S. back to a 2-2 tie. Despite the minimal scoring through two periods, the Americans had frequent quality scoring chances. Cam Ward made several outstanding saves, including a paddle save on Kyle Okposo which would have otherwise been a sure goal.

In the third, scoring opened up for both squads as they traded goals twice throughout the period. The U.S. jumped out to a 3-2 lead when Patrick Dwyer scored at 6:43 of the third. Evander Kane evened the score at 3-3 when he picked up a goal only three minutes later. Late in the third, at 16:19, Nate Thompson gave the Americans a 4-3 lead and had hoped they could hold on to the lead for the remainder of the game. Team Canada was relentless, however, and Duncan Keith ripped a slapshot that made its way through traffic in front to beat Howard with 1:39 left in the game.

While the score remained tied at the end of regulation, John Tavares took a penalty with one second remaining in the period. Team U.S.A used this penalty to their advantage, along with a fresh sheet of ice to start overtime, and kept the puck moving quickly in the extra period. While Canada almost killed it off, Jack Johnson pulled the trigger and buried his shot at 1:47 of overtime. Johnson now leads the team in goals in the tournament with three.

Both teams will continue play on Monday, May 7th, as Canada takes on France and the Americans battle Slovakia. Both games will take place in Helsinki, and as we mentioned before, all games will be streaming live on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/icehockey

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Mission Axiom T10 Roller Hockey Skates Review

May 5

Posted by Matt in Gear, Reviews | No Comments

Mission Axiom T10 Revolt Roller Hockey SkatesFollowing our review of the Mission Axiom T6 skates, we were fortunate enough to receive a demo pair of Mission Axiom T10 roller hockey skates from our good friends at Mission for review. While I have had struggles with inline skates in the past, which has been documented, I’ve been feeling very confident about Mission’s skates since joining forces with Bauer and taking on a fit identical to the Supreme line of ice skates. But are the Axiom T10 skates worth their price tag?

Design & Construction:

The best way to describe the Axiom T10 skates is loud and flashy. Depending on your taste, this could make for a ridiculous looking skate, or a ridiculously sexy looking skate. In my case it’s the latter, and I believe this is the best looking skate Mission has ever created.

With a white boot, complimented nicely with flashy graphics and yellow laces, Mission has come a long way in terms of skate design. A common point made about white skates, or other white gear for that matter, is that you better have the skill to back up the flash. In the case of the T10, Mission’s premier skate in the current line, this still holds true. Mission, however, strategically releases their top-end skate in all white to compliment higher level players who are seeking a tougher and more rigid boot which can offer the performance benefits they desire.

The performance benefits can be achieved because Mission used high end materials on the Axiom T10 boot. The quarter package is constructed with a ultra-light and reinforced nylon tech mesh, similar to what you may find in a Bauer Vapor X7.0 or X60 skate. This material assists in providing the stability, support, rigidity and durability that an advanced player needs. In the rear, an anatomical one-piece heel structure offers additional heel support, while maintaining a light weight.

Inside the boot, you’ll find memory foam ankle pads for added comfort, and a brushed nylon liner. The tongue is constructed with perforated two-piece pro white felt, but also adds vents to help keep your foot dry and a VEX foam lace bite insert.

Beneath your feet, an aluminized glass composite out sole, and Mission’s patented magnesium Hi-Lo Vanguard frame. The Swiss LE bearings provide additional speed, and the Rink Rat Hornet Split wheels are the premier wheels in the Rink Rat line.

Fit:

Mission Axiom T10 Liner and Memory Foam Ankle PadsWhat really drew me toward the Mission line of skates is their new fit. Since being acquired by Bauer Hockey, Mission has given their skates the same fit as the Bauer Supreme series. With a medium-high volume, medium-wide heel pocket, and medium-wide forefoot and toe box, the Mission T10 simply fits a medium-wide foot perfectly.

Having a medium-wide forefoot, the Mission series offers an ideal fit for me right out of the box. Slipping the skates on feels much like putting on a great fitting pair of shoes, and the comfort lasts the entire time you’re wearing the skates. In addition, the memory foam ankle pads help provide additional comfort in an area that many people desperately need it. The best part, you receive the added comfort without sacrificing boot stiffness or fit whatsoever.

Surrounding my foot, the Mission T10 skates provide ample volume and a good feel. Not once have I had feelings of discomfort due to lack of space around my foot. Without even baking the skates, the Mission T10′s feel conformed to my foot and work as one with my foot throughout each and every stride. Energy transfer becomes that much easier with a skate like this which feels more like a part of your foot than an addition to it.

It’s worth noting that I typically wear a size 11 or 11.5 shoe, but depending on the brand I can even go to a 12. My current and previous ice skates have both been size 9.5, as were my old converted inline skates. However, after being sized up to a 10 in the Bauer Total One skates at the Bauer Experience, I decided to stick with that for the T10′s. While my toes fail to feather the toe cap when the skates are on, they do feel close to perfect on my feet.

My only complaint with fit may come in the toe box, to the left of my big toe. Despite feeling great on my feet, there seems to be a bit of extra space here which causes some rubbing throughout game play. Unfortunately for me, this has been a problem I have experienced with nearly every skate I have ever used and thus seems to be a personal problem and not a problem with the skates themselves. The only skates which don’t cause this rubbing are skates which are too narrow for my foot, and end up causing pain along the outside of my forefoot.

Performance:
As a player who always craves peak performance out of every piece of equipment, I was excited to get my feet into the T10 skates. To my surprise, there was no adjustment time or break in period to get used to the set up. Coming from years on a straight 80mm chassis, I was surprised this transition was so seamless. My thought process was that every new pair of skates would take some getting used to, but Mission has done an incredible job in making these skates ready for high level play right out of the box.

From my the beginning of my first shift with the T10′s on, I could tell something was different – good different. I seemed to skate with an extra jump in each stride, and really zip around the rink. In fact, my colleagues here at Hockey World Blog even mentioned on multiple occasions how I seemed faster while skating, and quicker in getting to loose pucks. I seemed to have the extra step on opponents, allowing more loose puck battles to go in my favor. Additionally, the flashy design seemed to provide some game time support. One opponent even said to me, “it’s not that I let you skate by me over and over, it’s just that I got caught staring at your skates.”

Mission Axiom T10 Vanguard Frame and Composite Outsole

Where I did notice a set back in my first skate was with wheel performance. The Rink Rat Hornet Split wheels, which come stock on the T10 skates, are definitely different than the Labeda Addiction and Dynasty wheels which I’m used to. During my first game, there were multiple times where I slid and fell while trying to stop. I couldn’t get the traction I needed, even on a floor which is grippier than most. The issue seemed to resolve itself, however, as time went on. It seemed that the new wheels were slick on the outside and really needed some wear on them before seeing the performance benefits. A couple of games later, and the sliding I experienced at first was a thing of the past which led to increased agility.

Coming from a straight 80mm chassis, my game has always been more focused on speed. However, the Mission T10 skates have really shown me the benefits of having a Hi-Lo Vanguard set-up. My last time using this set-up was with the original Mission Boss skates, and they did nothing for me in terms of agility. The T10 excels in agility though, allowing me to make more efficient cuts and stops – even at top speeds. Having the confidence to make quick cuts at full speed makes dangling opponents easier as well. I now pay more attention to defenseman crossing over as I skate in on them, knowing I have the agility to take advantage of that and leave them behind with a quick deke or cut.

In terms of skating and stride, the T10 skates are great, but I do have a couple a minor issue. When moving to a pro level ice skate, one of the greatest things I noticed was the energy transfer. Instead of just skating, I could feel the power and energy from each stride going through the outsole and down into the blade and ice. Due to additional components on roller hockey skates, the feel you get just isn’t the same. The energy transfer is still there, and it’s still powerful due to the materials used in the outsole, but the feel does get lost a bit with the addition of wheels, bearings and frame. Unfortunately, this is an issue that there may not be a resolution for in roller hockey skates.

The greatness of the skating and stride comes in the same area as Bauer Supreme skates. One of the things I lacked in my previous pair of inline skates was a truly great forward flex. The Mission T10 skates have a tremendous amount of forward flex with each stride, leading to an incredible feel. Additionally, there was no sacrifice of stiffness in the quarter package to achieve that kind of range of motion. While there are skates that are stiffer, and wrap around your upper ankle more (Bauer APX), the Mission T10 skates provide a near perfect stiffness level for roller hockey. On ice, I would prefer a stiffer boot because I find it helps me with edge work, but that’s just not as necessary with my roller stride and skating style.

Inside the boot, Mission’s brushed nylon liner is not only comfortable but also does a better job in keeping the boot dry than some of the competition. While I wouldn’t mind seeing Bauer’s hydrophobic liner in their next line, it’s not imperative to making the T10 a great skate.

Rounding out the performance of the Mission Axiom T10 review, I wanted to briefly touch on protection. Within the first few games using these skates, I somehow managed to block more shots with my feet than normal. For the purpose of this review, it turned out to be a blessing. Fortunately for my foot, the boot provided more than ample protection from every shot I faced. There were blocks on the toe box, inside of the foot, and outside as well, but not a single shot phased me. Our testing skates are very much recreational, and so each time I would have the shooter ask me if I was okay after blocking the shot. Of course I was perfectly fine, and could reply telling them I hardly felt a thing, which is great. While I didn’t take any heavy slapshots to the foot, I can be confident from the shots I did take that I would be no worse for wear if it were to happen.

Overall Impressions:

At $649.99, this obviously isn’t a skate for every player out there. It is, however, one of the best roller hockey skates ever made and easily the best pair of inline skates I have ever used. Depending on the shape of your foot, it seems the only competition this skate has in the advanced to pro level market are the Bauer APXR skates. From the flashy design, to the high-end components and materials, the Mission Axiom T10 skates are a no brainer if you have the coin to back it up.

Interested in picking up a pair of Mission Axiom T10 inline skates? Head over to Inline Warehouse where they are currently selling for $649! Have any additional questions? Feel free to keep the conversation going by leaving a comment, or by sending a tweet to @matthwb or @hockeyworldblog.

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