Goalie Masks and you, what does it all mean?

Originally Posted by EVL WAGN

Dude...use the 2500 for now. It will be more than sufficient for pick-up or rec hockey. I see lots of goalies around here using them and they take shots to the melon a lot. You'll be fine to use it for now.

Good to hear, i've suspected it would be good enough for now...but when you hear tons of "no its not" you start to think it too if you have nothing else to judge by.

Depends on what pick-up and rec hockey are to you. To me, and John can reaffirm this, it was playing against NCAA, ECHL, OHL, WHL, QMJHL, Jr. B and beer leaguers thrown in just to screw with my head. So no, a 2500 wouldn't be sufficient. But I played with a 1201 so I was even worse off than you. It's all relative whether or not the 2500 will be ok, but I'm assuming you'll be just fine.

I'll still respectively disagree with that. Unless you have guys winding up in the slot with 90mph slapshots aimed at your head...the 2500 will be more than safe. It is not the be all end all of masks by any means, but it is still not a pure **** mask. It will get you by until you can afford more serious protection.

Also...based on the fact you are just starting out too...I hardly think that you will be facing many top level players. Maybe the odd one, but once again...it will be very seldom.

As I said earlier too...the other goalie that plays on Monday nights with me wears a 2500 and I have seen him get hit in the head numerous times by all degrees of shots and he is still kicking. I always tease him about switching to the NV7/NME7, but for him too....it's all about cost right now.

Disagree all you'd like, it was still pick up hockey and even semi or jr. pros can have shots get away from them. Like I also said, I wear the 1201 which is far lower on the list than the 2500 and I've been hit by just about every odd shot and head on collision you can imagine and I'm still alive too. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

And, as I also said earlier, unless you're facing a lot of high caliber shooters at pick up, I wouldn't really be concerned with replacing your helmet right away.

You can always try to play old-fashioned with your trapper and blocker. Try to trap everything coming towards your head.

Or, like I do now, just move your head. Goals hurt a lot less than concussions.

well, if your're looking to save $, you could borrow mine on p.7 of this thread. an antique like mine will sure make your game exciting.


I've never had the model you guys are discussing but using anything less than top level headgear is a major risk. If the mask is too expensive right now, get a cage and a helmet until you can afford the top level mask. You dont want to risk losing an eye, getting a concussion, or breaking a face bone using something less than a top level one especially if you're playing with guys just starting out. usually, they are the most dangerous. they are practicing their slap shots only working on hitting the water bottle because it looks "cool" when it flies off the net.

blotter, cool gear.

You're over exaggerating. Concussions aren't that bad.