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.

Carr switches gloves

In another gear change sighting for national league goalies' set-ups this season, Oxted's Carr has switched things up with a change in hand protectors. Sporting the new D3O powered Monarch LHP rather than Obo glove, he seems to have his style a tiny fraction in letting the glove do more of the work with the greater rebound as the D3O springs back/reforms as the shot rebounds. His RHP selection is pretty much the same, sporting the RHP+ model, with the back partially removed for more wrist control and movement. You can note this in the picture with the use of the thumb strap.

Interesting to note that Monarch have worked on a strap that goes through and around the foam insert protecting the back of the wrist...

Stubbings switches to Obo foam

For me, the most interesting kit change for national league goalkeepers so far this season, has been Diccon Stubbings' switch from TK foam to Obo. From what I know, ever since his time with Holcombe, Diccon has always worn TK at this level and made use of a style that matches the Dutch reactive stand-up approach, compared to the sliding offered from Obo's pads and aggressiveness without losing recovery time or control of the slide.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/12608538@N03/8089774733

Stubbings has already started making use of the larger blocking surface on offer with the Obo Hi Rebound glove and made a stirling save against Canterbury with the surface area getting behind the percentages and low flick at a key short corner against Surbiton but unfortunately was let down by his (absent defence) and the redirect off the save going straight to a free Surbiton player to put the ball into the net.

It will be interesting to see how and if Stubbings makes changes to his technique and play style, if at all, with the new kit and how he will go about making diving saves as he has done already with the large blocking style of the Obo glove. 

http://hockeyimages.co.uk/4s56166

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!

Hibbert back in Obo

Going back the action photos of this weekend's game between Southgate and Holcombe, Chris Hibbert has made the switch back to Obo. The game itself, which could be the all-deciding game of the season now that the clock is going to run down until the climax of the national league run down to the close season, given that both are pushing each other for the title, was a close run affair. And even though Holcombe keep opening up the purse strings, rather than the press's endorsed 'Pellegrini approach' and yet Southgate with their Premier league experience, veteran players and calm heads, seem to be outdoing the pricey talents of some high scoring players and internationals.

Goalkeeping wise though and equipment specifically, the former South African international has gone back to Obo. Not sure if it was kept at the club (would assume so!), but it's exactly the same colours as when he was using the set-up a couple of seasons back in the Premier league. Interesting why he has made the switch halfway through the season, after trying out the Merican foam for more than a season, but he is obviously more comfortable in it and therefore going to put in more productive performances as a result.

http://adykerry.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/140301-Holcombe-v-Southgate/G0000q_rGCYgrDyc/I0000jmuyavrRFlg/C0000vfRMqGDLxow

Allan changes headgear!

Not the most exciting of gear sightings (I really should probably write something about the new TK isoblox design at some point!), but interesting to note that Holcombe's starter Allan Dick has finally made the changeover from the ice hockey player's helmet and cage set-up to a mask. The mask is one of Obo's ones with a Grim Reaper paint job (enough to make me jealous!). Good to see him making the change to a more solid ridged design to protect the grey matter needed to help with decision making (and to separate ourselves from the rest of the team, as goalies, obviously!), but on a serious note, would be interested to take note of how much he has found the change to peripheral vision and sight lines as a result! 

Pictures here:

http://lsp.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/2013-09-21-Oxted-v-Holcombe/G0000_no6it.UrzM/I0000No.5DfXfmlc/C0000jydqNB3rVhQ

Butturini using Obo hi rebound rhp

With the Junior World Cup under way at the moment, it's been interesting (well, for a kit obsessive anyway!) to observe the goalkeepers in action. And one thing that stood out in the trending switch to using the Obo hi rebound rhp for a larger blocking surface when making saves to the right, Australia's starting goalkeeper is Andrew Butturini moving away from using the new Mazon rhp over to the aforementioned Obo hi rebound rhp. Making a few standing saves with said glove on drag flicks, demonstrating the proper way to use the glove and execute said technique of covering more shooting space, was a good illustration of how it is possible to stay standing up against corners, using the time to react and block from an upright position. In terms of the switch, I'm not sure if Australia's other goalkeeping choice Eddie Chittleborough had a part to play in influencing it, seeing as he made the switch himself a while ago, akin to the Blaak/Stockmann/Jenniskens scenario for using the same glove over in Holland.

Anyhoo picographic evidence here!

http://events.fih.ch/new/match/5161#photos

Cachia wearing new Obo rhp design

With Obo's new rhp design, an improvement on the existing version of the Obo hi rebound rhp on its way into shops in the not-so-distant-future, Sheffield Hallam's starter Jamie Cachia has been spotted wearing the glove in the NOW Pension's premier league division. Scottish international Cachia who has experimented with using the TK rhp design previously, and making the switch over to the Obo design more recently, making good use of it in Sheffield's promotion winning season, he's giving the new version a run out having tried the new Monarch D3O design (made in conjunction with George Pinner's input) early on this season, as blogged about previously. Obo has been testing the design of late with Kyle Pontifex giving it a run out at the London Olympics before going into production stages. With the chance for more movement and wrist turning/rotation to angle rebounds up and away when saving to the right, the glove has been redesigned to allow this, going along the lines of Jimi Lewis and Tommy Alexander's mods that gave the same results.

You can see Cachia here with the glove in use against Surbiton recently:

http://adykerry.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/EHB-Picture-service-2013-2014/G0000WDa_LRS.izM/I0000H7RLrkBDJm4

Smith has definitely made the switch to Mercian rhp!

Having seen Smith star for Cannock in a recent game away against East Grinstead (which I should probably do a write-up on at some point!), it's safe to say he has made the switch to Mercian's new rhp design in the trivial pursuits of keeping track of gear worn by the elite level goalies in our beloved game! Having switched from the Obo larger profile hi rebound rhp to thinner hi control to Mercian tube style rhp, he has since made the recent switch back to a more blocking style rhp. Showing signs of interest in developing his technique and evolving and growing it (which is key to staying at the top!), it's interesting to see him go back to a more blocking style of rhp that also offers key ground work skills for a hybrid style (which is definitely important at this standard of competitive play). And you can see him using it here, pointing away at his defence!

Harris still using current style Mercian lhp

I managed to catch (well, watch!) the HWHC versus Fareham game yesterday (match report to follow at some point when I have some more time spare) and one thing kit wise, whilst novel, was noticing that Harris was still wearing the current Mercian LHP. I'm not sure if he was experimenting with using the prototype that Mason has been wearing since last season (with a more square and thinner profile), going on action photos, but all the same has a different look to it than the one that he was pictured in early on this season. The other glove pictured before had the red 'M' lettering, which isn't present on the standard LHP. Not groundbreaking (as usual!), but I guess if this was football or ice hockey, goalie fans would be making note! Interesting to know the reasons if he was using the prototype, and why he made the switch back to the glove he's used to wearing.

Gucasoff switches to Obo elbow pad

Not exactly another groundbreaking (or not as the case may be!) equipment sighting, but it's noticable that Belgian goalkeeper Gucasoff has changed up his arm padding again, moving to the current Obo elbow pad design.

Gucasoff has gone from a "Dutch" approach (with no arm padding at all for maximum movement at the arms possible for those reflex glove saves etc.) playing for Brucelles, as seen here:

And played like this as he was involved in the international set-up in the build-up to the London Olympic games:

And then moved to an elbow pad on the right arm only, which he moved to in the latter point of last season, wearing a Mazon elbow pad (which seem quite popular in Belgium interestingly, though they're made by an Australian company!):

And is now wearing the Obo elbow pad, again, still just on the right, with the left unpadded for more freedom getting across uninhibited by padding, as seems to be the most popular kit style in Belgium:

The Obo pad gives more padding at the inner and outer elbow, with more padding at the elbow joint, giving more substantial protection, which is important, from protecting against shots to these areas, which could be disastrous for the goalkeeper in question.

Birmingham's starter also now in Monarch

With Monarch upping their business profile and the opportunities provided for players with their new D30 innovations, there seem to be a few goalkeepers around the English national league wearing their foam. Along with long time Monarch wearer Giles Rooke and Ben Dudley, others are joining Monarch's team. One of these new sponsees includes the University of Birmingham's starter, prefering the plain black/white edge colour combo as Tom Millington at Wimbledon has been seen wearing.

As you can see it here in all its glory:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=571883539528099&set=a.556182081098245.1073741868.143037619079362&type=1&theater

Stockmann using Obo arm guards?

Having been able to find some better photos of Holland's current number one, Jaap Stockmann, in action, I think it's safe to say that he is also now wearing Obo arm pads. His compatriot, he was the travelling reserve for the London Olympics, Pirmin Blaak has worn them (on both arms versus the "traditional" no arms/only right padded) since he took over for Rotterdam as first choice there. Stockmann previously wore just an elbow pad on his right, but it appears he's made the switch to covering more of the bare arm to protect when making a barrier block with the body (sliding, "logging" etc.). Not sure how long ago this was, so probably not the most up-to-date gear sighting! But still interesting to make a note of considering the more general slimmed down equipment approach in Holland and Belgium and Spain as well.

Here you can see him warming up with both arms (like Scanlon at HWHC does, although he removes both arm pads for games!) before removing the left arm to play, whilst in the HIL league in India last year:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/92093651@N07/8401620920/

And here, wearing both arms for a shoot at a goalie clinic, akin to Blaak's set-up:

http://oranjekeepers.nl/?attachment_id=428#main

Versus in his days wearing only a right elbow pad, it's interesting to make note of the switch and also in relation to the more pro-active, reaction, athletic style seen in Holland versus the blocking, percentage based approach of other countries, like Australia, potentially.

You can also see him here in his days playing for Holland U21's at the 2005 Junior World Cup, wearing Obo's prototype (their now current elbow design) at the time:

http://www.raboworldcupjunior.com/Fotos+dag+3+1.aspx.htm

 And here for Bloemendaal:

http://koensuyk.fotofiler.net/beeldbank/start/koensuyk/HOCKEY/Competitie%20heren/2012-2013%20Bl%27daal-OZ?view=preview&fuid=Jaap%20Stockmann%203.jpg

With Obo arm pads proving popular in Germany as well, with Reuss using them and other Bundesliga goalkeepers too, it's interesting to consider current trends in the modern game in terms of thinking about more/less padding for the goalkeeper. Germany seems to mix it up with a more blocking style, but Holland have always seemed to encourage active hands and a reactive mindset with their save making, so on a wider level, interesting to think about these things that might seem trifle, but have a big impact on the way a goalkeeper plays. Not sure if trends will swing back to a more protective style or a mash up hybrid of blocking and actively responding to shots, but interesting to consider either way!

Gucasoff switches to TK Plus LHP too?

Another goalkeeper that seems to have made the switch to the TK1 Plus left hand glove (based on the old vision glove and often refered to as the "soft" version like the Softs pads and kickers range), is Jeremy Gucasoff. Belgium's second choice, who has been playing in the Euro Hockey League of late, this weekend gone, was previously using the standard TK lhp. I think it is the Plus version, as currently used by Pirmin Blaak, as blogged about previously, otherwise it looks to be a Rags glove, as the noticeable target symbol is missing, as can be seen from playing footage. Interesting to know whether it is due to weight of glove or saving properties etc.

You can see Gucasoff in action in the clip below, with the equipment change, he is in the green jersey and white helmet: