Dave using Wall mask

Another goalie nerd style spot from this season gone, was Brighton's Dave Bockett-Pugh switching helmets to a Wall mask. One of the remaining helmet-cage-combo (wearing dudes HCCWD as they call it in ice hockey), along with Tommy Alexander and James Bailey (right now I think they're the only ones in men's national league play that use the setup, but as always I could be gone), he switched to an Obo helmet, and then onto the Wall mask.

As far as I know, Wall is being sold through Mercian, or bought up by Mercian, after the company stuttered with their flat pad release that was ahead of its time and then struggled financially. It is interesting to see a hockey company buy into using mask designs and modernise, with hockey goalies now almost all wearing mask designs from junior upwards. The Wall design itself has smaller sightlines and visual space due to the design, so it would be interesting to see what impact that has on a goalkeeper's peripheral vision and their save making (not sure how you would analyse that).

With Chris Borsoi having left for East Grinstead to compete with Paddy Smith, Dave made the starting position his own again and I'm sure will look for a strong season again this September.

http://spactionimages.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/20170326-Southgate-v-Brighton-Hove/G0000dba48NuRhl0/I0000Y0rhkReRw4Y/C0000nc8eSmhEQMA

Switching headgear wasn't the only kit change for him this season, seemingly ditching the elbow pads/tubigrip combo for no arm protection for arm movement and reaction saves.

Harris back in Obo kit

Although there haven't been too many kit changes to write home about over the past few months, it is worth noting that George Harris, Fareham's stalwart guardian of the cage, has switched back to using Obo foam. For the last few seasons he was wearing Mercian foam after a long preference for Obo. Interestingly Chris Hibbert made a similar switch back to Obo in his final season before retirement (having himself worn Mercian foam). What works for you is the most present motto for a goalkeeper and with Harris clearly happy in /obo, he's sure to be putting in some strong performances at Fareham to help out his team mates in their efforts to climb the West conference league table.

http://www.hockeyimages.co.uk/4m53906

Mason switches headgear

Gear sightings wise, Simon Mason has recently switched over from the helmet/cage combo he has been wearing for quite some time, back to a mask design. Mason has worn a mask style headgear previously, as with Olympic/international action during his time with England/GB back in the day, but it is of interest that he has made the switch, for the potential upgrade in protection. The mask itself is a Wall (poorly illustrated below, but you can just about make up the lettering. Interestingly, Wall is a popular ice hockey company for ice hockey masks based in Finland so how he came about to finding one such design is out there. It metaphorically makes sense given how much of a 'wall' he is for Guildford anyway!

http://www.wallmask.fi/en/

Pinner changing sticks at 'shuffles'

With a lot of goalkeepers mentioning the use of the stick for penalty 'shuffles', akin to that of Gucassoff's stick alterations, it's been interesting to take note of George Pinner changing to a longer goalkeeper specific stick at the 'shuffles'. Competing for England this weekend in some friendly games against Australia, it was obvious to see that he changed sticks for the shootout round. Finally a kit sighting worth mentioning (huzzah!), the stick can have its advantages at 'shuffles', with the extra reach and extra surface area for shot blocking during the 1-on-1's faced in the penalty round.


Pictures courtesy of Ady Kerry's great photography, illustrating the point.

http://adykerry.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/140524-ENG-AUS/G0000Xn9gKQZqEZI/I0000p85L3Noi3Ng/C0000qxh4OL1mRtA

It would appear that Edge are an Australian company, ironically, so not sure what the link is here, or whether Pinner managed to borrow one of the Aussie goalies' sticks!

Jenniskens also back in TK rhp

It's also worth making note of Mark Jenniskens switch back to the TK rhp after dabbling with the Obo Hi Control rhp. Jenniskens joined other Dutch international goalkeepers Stockmann and Blaak in using the glove for its larger blocking surface for shot stopping. But it looks as if Stockmann is the only goalkeeper of the four (Sam Van der Ven being Obo sponsored and always using the rhp!) to be still using the glove after having made the change himself. Obviously this is Jenniskens' last season playing at the elite level so it won't be possible to keep track of his kit set-up following the Euro Hockey League fixtures he is currently taking part in!

KO16 day 2: kit sightings

With the second day of matches at the Euro Hockey League taking place, there's been a few more kit changes standing out during the action. The P1 series which is starting to finally filter out into real world hockey after previews of the new designs at Christmas/New Year, seems to be the most obvious development.

• James Bailey has made the switch to the new P1 kit, making him the first English elite level goalkeeper to do so (as far as I can garner!), having been wearing his Softs in the final games of the national league season
• Bailey has also switched to the TK P1 Plus LHP, having used the standard TK LHP for pretty much his entire time wearing TK
• Gucasoff is still using the same set-up he has been during the Belgian playoffs (for a spot in the EHL next season no less); still preferring the Soft TK Plus LHP to the new P1 version
• Cologne's Aly is sticking to the TK Softs; no switch to the P1 range just yet!
• Pinner is sticking with his specially adapted England flag style Monarch GP01 leg guards and kickers!

Stubbings favouring GK stick for indoor hockey

Other than making the switch to wearing an ice hockey mask as a helmet for the indoor format, Canterbury's Diccon Stubbings was also the only goalkeeper about using a goalkeeper stick instead of his usual preference for an outfield version which he uses for outdoor competition. The GK stick, which offers a bigger surface area for blocking can be beneficial in indoor where it's more about getting more behind the shot, as well as the shape of the stick helping get an upright block when horizontal down low tackling or covering low in close. Whereas an outfield stick may be more likely to roll over,  Stuart Hendy will attest.

http://www.hockeyimages.co.uk/3f44576