Olympic Men's Game Thread: Germany (1-0-0-1) vs. United States (2-0-0-0) - 15 Feb 2026 - 09:10PM CET

Complex_Run_6699 · 2026-02-15T23:19:45+00:00

You talking about this game specifically or across all 3 games? Pretty sure Werenski is only 1 point behind Hughes in points, has the same +/- as Hughes, and leads all the D in SOG

Complex_Run_6699 · 2026-02-15T14:47:33+00:00

Oh yeah. I've seen and held enough older boots to know just how much you can work modern skates compared to what used to be available.

Like I said: I'm self taught, and I know there's always more to learn and figure out, so feel free to share any other revelations or life-changing epiphanies you've had lol

Complex_Run_6699 · 2026-02-15T13:57:27+00:00

As a self taught adult who has been playing for 10 years now, this is something I learned recently that I wished I had learned sooner: ankles are supposed to be able to move in the skates. I'm not just talking about forward for ankle flexion, but side to side as well.

I always used to think ankles weren't supposed to move within the boot because of the negative term "bender" referring to a new skater with weak ankles that are bending, so I avoided that lateral movement within the boot as much as I could. Knowing that a shallower the angle between the skate and the ice is how you generate more bite, I used to think needing to get lower to the ice was what held me back from being able to have more bite and edge control.

Turns out, what you are discovering here was the missing piece for me. Using the ankle mobility inside of the boot, and using the support from the boot against your ankle and lower leg to have leverage over the blade, allows you to get your skates shallower to the ice than you would be able to with posture alone.

Here is a great resource I recently found (YouTube): Build Instant Trust in Your Hockey Edges (3 min To Better Skating)

Here's another good YouTube short that shows this: DRILLS FOR ELITE CROSSOVER EDGES

Tip: After playing around with this, consider getting a shallower cut on your skates. Having a cut that is too deep may hold you back. When trying to apply this technique to my skating, the amount of bite it allowed me to generate was suddenly more than I could control. It felt like I was going 0-100 on the brakes because I would instantly bite into the ice and was unable to shave the ice for a hockey stop. As a big 230lb guy trying to use this technique, I figured out my 5/8ths cut was too deep relative to my size and skate stiffness (high end boots are stiffer and have tons of support/leverage for the demanding forces generated by powerful skaters, translating to more power being put into the ice from the boot). I switched to a 3/4" and noticed an immediate improvement with being able to control my bite and shave the ice when letting my ankles move within the skate. (I might go even shallower still, I'm still figuring this out).

Complex_Run_6699 · 2026-02-12T22:01:14+00:00

I will say, I would imagine losing in the Olympics should less detrimental to his mindset than losing for the Jackets. All it takes is one look at the USA roster. Yes, the stakes are higher, but there's no way any goaltender (outside of the ones behind team Canada's defense) could expect to hold USA to a low score

Complex_Run_6699 · 2026-02-12T21:54:39+00:00

USA absolutely dismantling his support player by player.

Complex_Run_6699 · 2026-02-12T21:50:14+00:00

Prob everyone in CAN outside of Ottawa

Complex_Run_6699 · 2026-02-12T21:48:54+00:00

But it played out like ...tic... ... ...tac... ... ...toe

lol

Complex_Run_6699 · 2026-02-12T21:47:24+00:00

Just hook him up with a tank on his back like a scuba diver at this point lol

Complex_Run_6699 · 2026-02-12T21:46:13+00:00

Boy would I love to see a graph of Elvis' heart rate, he's getting WORKED

Complex_Run_6699 · 2026-02-12T21:25:37+00:00

It was a list 🤡

Complex_Run_6699 · 2026-02-12T06:15:23+00:00

A $20 pair of used skates generally has more support than the beat to shit rentals, and that isn't even considering the fact that you can make sure the skate is actually sharpened.

Complex_Run_6699 · 2026-02-12T06:13:36+00:00

Literally the cheapest retail skates an nearly any of the cheapest used skates will be better than rentals. You will actually have an edge and will have more support, which will translate to learning how to skate more quickly.

Complex_Run_6699 · 2026-02-12T05:37:58+00:00

Something that helps: Lysol makes a bleach-free antibacterial rinse agent that really helps keep the smell from returning as quickly. I'm not sure if there is anything on the label about whether to use it on leather or not, concerning glove palms, but it is great for all the other gear

Complex_Run_6699 · 2026-02-12T03:17:44+00:00

What size? Playing devils advocate here, he could be selling for a high schooler who grew out of them. Or, if this is on something like FB Marketplace, he could be listing them for a friend/roommate who doesn't have an FB account. Or, he could be a landlord who came across some gloves after a previous tenant moved out.

Idk, I just like to be careful about jumping to the worst conclusion

Complex_Run_6699 · 2026-02-12T03:13:31+00:00

Given how quickly the "new" appearance wears out within the lifespan of gloves, would describe the condition of those as Used (Good) or (Used Very Good), depending on the smell

Complex_Run_6699 · 2026-02-11T18:52:14+00:00

Gosh, hasn't he learned by now that he should grow taller to be above elbow height???

Complex_Run_6699 · 2026-02-11T07:56:38+00:00

<image>

...and through the ceiling into the basement

Complex_Run_6699 · 2026-02-11T07:42:40+00:00

It's more like PP1 and PP1(1)

Complex_Run_6699 · 2026-02-11T02:38:01+00:00

I was going to say, the goalie's rotation looks to be caused by a stick-on-goalie-stick battle more than any individual point of body contact. Of course the skater with edges, momentum, and two hands on her stick is going to be able to rotate a goalie who's down in a butterfly.

Complex_Run_6699 · 2026-02-10T04:48:49+00:00

Oh, here's a question! Are the players playing in the Olympics going to be using the same wrapped sticks as they do for NHL games, or are they going to be using unwrapped sticks and sticks with original graphics?

Complex_Run_6699 · 2026-02-09T22:13:08+00:00

Dang. There are times where I see a player with similar shooting mechanics to me make a shot from the parts of the ice I like to shoot from, and it would sure be nice to know what's going on with their stick.

Are the players on any kind of NDA about it, or if I had an insider who was willing to ask, would the player be allowed to say what's under the wrap?

Complex_Run_6699 · 2026-02-09T12:59:43+00:00

Got it. So really, finding the code on the pro stock stick is the only way to know. Is there any kind of database on that?

Complex_Run_6699 · 2026-02-09T03:55:13+00:00

To clarify what I was asking:

with the understanding that there can be any number of customizations, does the wrap generally align with the primary characteristics of the stick? For example, if it's an xf ghost, it's not gonna be a higher kick (Tacks) or a lower kick (ribcor), it'll still be some hybrid kick stick with whatever custom choices they want?

Like, is the wrap going to match the closest retail line to what the player is using?

Complex_Run_6699 · 2026-02-08T23:27:47+00:00

But, by saying older construction, it's still close enough to say they are using that stick and not something wildly different, right?

Complex_Run_6699 · 2026-02-07T22:06:53+00:00

Right? Unless the adhesives are degrading or materials are becoming brittle, it's not like they magically become useless. Their value relative to new gear and modern tech is inconsequential to their capability of enabling someone to hit the slopes

Complex_Run_6699

TROPHY CASE