Just a quick post about an equipment sighting, possibly one of the first for the new season. You can see more on Hockey Images; I had hoped to get along to the East Grinstead home game but in the end life conspired against me, so no such luck to use some photos of my own!
So, it appears that Jamie Cachia of Sheffield Hallam is trying out the new Monarch GP01 rhp (right hand protector/glove) given its crossover qualities, merging the flat held stick with the Obo hi control and other tube style gloves and the new blocking rhp with a larger surface area for save making opportunities, in a different style than Mercian's new cross-continental shot blocking one. It's an interesting conceptual design given what it offers in comparison to its competitors in the goalie kit industry. He used to wear the TK rhp for its ground work capabilities and hybrid options for getting more behind a raised shot at hand or more height, as David Kettle does, but then switched to the Obo hi rebound last season (I think! Having experimented with it at international level practise games). This could be given his Obo sponsorship possibly, although a lot of companies are relaxed with their approach to kit allowances to suit the goalkeeper's style and needs, as is a gift really for elite level athletes looking for financial etc. sport given the cost of hockey kit, in a bespoke sort of way, as Nick Brothers and others have played in). And this allows him to play in a strong hybrid style that is appropriate to the way he plays, and has come to define how he plays and thus plays so well (not fixed in a particular system of playing or thought).
The new rhp design is based around a glove that can block like the Obo hi rebound, but also one that can be used for strong stick tackling and stick clearances, when diving in or sliding along the pitch to get the ball off an attacker. This then allows more of a hybrid style, making it easier to "log" or go down for barrier saves, but also to block from the glove from a standing position away to the right, without having to bring the left hand across or possibly over rotate with disastrous consequences. It offers the best of both worlds potentially, that goalkeepers want to be able to do everything possible technique and saving wise, otherwise requiring a distinct change in technique, which is difficult for those "old dogs" that don't want to learn new tricks and are used to making saves automatically in a certain sort of way! It will be interesting to say what it plays like (will try and get my hands on it at some point to review it!). And given its stylistic features that offers the goalie these things.
And you can find more info and images on the Monarch site:
So, it appears that Jamie Cachia of Sheffield Hallam is trying out the new Monarch GP01 rhp (right hand protector/glove) given its crossover qualities, merging the flat held stick with the Obo hi control and other tube style gloves and the new blocking rhp with a larger surface area for save making opportunities, in a different style than Mercian's new cross-continental shot blocking one. It's an interesting conceptual design given what it offers in comparison to its competitors in the goalie kit industry. He used to wear the TK rhp for its ground work capabilities and hybrid options for getting more behind a raised shot at hand or more height, as David Kettle does, but then switched to the Obo hi rebound last season (I think! Having experimented with it at international level practise games). This could be given his Obo sponsorship possibly, although a lot of companies are relaxed with their approach to kit allowances to suit the goalkeeper's style and needs, as is a gift really for elite level athletes looking for financial etc. sport given the cost of hockey kit, in a bespoke sort of way, as Nick Brothers and others have played in). And this allows him to play in a strong hybrid style that is appropriate to the way he plays, and has come to define how he plays and thus plays so well (not fixed in a particular system of playing or thought).
The new rhp design is based around a glove that can block like the Obo hi rebound, but also one that can be used for strong stick tackling and stick clearances, when diving in or sliding along the pitch to get the ball off an attacker. This then allows more of a hybrid style, making it easier to "log" or go down for barrier saves, but also to block from the glove from a standing position away to the right, without having to bring the left hand across or possibly over rotate with disastrous consequences. It offers the best of both worlds potentially, that goalkeepers want to be able to do everything possible technique and saving wise, otherwise requiring a distinct change in technique, which is difficult for those "old dogs" that don't want to learn new tricks and are used to making saves automatically in a certain sort of way! It will be interesting to say what it plays like (will try and get my hands on it at some point to review it!). And given its stylistic features that offers the goalie these things.
Following link is a great vlog style review from Josh Olphin (who is a Monarch sponsee) who is at Sheffield Hallam (and might be the missing link as to this change: who knows!
And you can find more info and images on the Monarch site:
It will be interesting to see how things progress over the course of the season in terms of what use Jamie plays in and the use and technical approaches can get out of the new glove versus what he is used to, and see how it gives an extra dimension to his game. Chris Hibbert at Southgate quickly changed back to his Obo hi rebound rhp after making the switch to all Mercian foam and didn't go back. So it's food for thought and will be interesting to keep tabs on over the course of the new season.
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