GGN Gear Hacks
Goalies love to tinker with their gear so in this section we thoughts we’d bring you some Goalie DIYs on small tweaks you can make to your equipment using household tools. Obviously please be careful and follow the steps very closely. And if be sure to send us an email if you have your own gear hack.
Glove Break-In
One of the questions we most often receive is “how do I break in my glove?” Over our decades of breaking in trappers, we have developed a unique process (#GGNHacks) to ensure easy closure. We know other methods call for pouring hot water into the glove, but there exists a risk of damaging the foam or plastic inside the glove. Instead our method focuses less on moisture but more on heat and compression.
Tools Needed: wash cloth, full sized oven, bar clamp, tin foil and quick handi clamp (optional)
Step 1: Run washcloth under hot water until saturated.
Step 2: Squeeze out excess water so the wash cloth is very damp but not dripping. Insert washcloth into the glove.
Step 3: Place glove on tin foil within oven set at 190° being careful that the glove does NOT touch any of the heating elements within the oven.
Step 4: Keep in oven for 18 minutes
Step 5: Carefully remove glove from oven, remove the washcloth and place hand within the glove
Step 6: Close glove to desired position, hold with opposite hand and remove hand within the glove
Step 7: Add clamps to backside of the glove, closing over thumb stall. Apply pressure just enough for full closure. Do NOT apply too much pressure or plastic could break.
Step 8 (optional): Add handi clamp to T
Step 9: Let glove cool for at least 6 hours or preferably until next skate.
Steps 6-9 can be repeated after each skate until the glove closure reaches the desired level of ease.
See the video of the final result on our Instagram by searching #GGNHacks Please be careful with each of these steps so they executed exactly as listed. If you use this method, please send us before and after videos!!
Foam Core Stick Custom Grip
Many goalies prefer a custom grip on the paddle of their sticks. And there are many options; from Lundqvist’s square design, to Stalock’s trigger, the point of custom grips is to allow for goalies to get better control over their paddle. Unfortunately there isn’t a way to cut custom grips in the paddles of composites sticks without risking the integrity, but cutting foam core paddles is easy and can be done with basic tools. Just see below.
Tools Needed: saw (either traditional or jig), 2 clamps, a sharpie, 2 washcloths, safety glasses, wash cloth, sawhorses (or something you can clamp the stick to) and fine sandpaper
1) On the paddle, black out the area you want to cut. Make all the edges round.
2) Wrap the middle parts of the shaft and paddle with the washcloth and clamp. Make sure the clamp is firm but fasten too tightly. You want the stick not to move when you start cutting, but don't crack the stick.
3) Cut using the saw.
4) Unclamp the stick and sand the cut area to remove any splinters and any rough edges.
We recommend trying this on an old stick first to make sure you find a pattern (e.g. round shoulder, square shoulder, trigger, etc) that you like.
Internal Suspender Attachment
Want to rock the jersey backtuck AND still use suspenders? There’s a easy way to do it with a small mod to your pants.
Tools Needed: A awl, skate lace and rubber washers.
1) Punch two holes (approx 3.5” part) and, after tying a knot and placing 2 rubber washers, push the lace through the pant from the outside.
2) Loop the lace through the bottom elastic is the suspenders (remove the piece that fastens to the buttons) and then push the lace back out of the pants through the opposite hole.
3) Add another set of rubber washers, tie another knot and clip off the excess lace (last pic).
Boom - all done! Since there’s not medal or hard pieces, you won’t feel the strap inside your pants. And the small holes don’t affect the integrity of the pants. If you try it, take a pic and send it to us!!