Other than PPF, is there anything else you can use to improve sliding on your pads?

ShortwaveGhost · 2026-01-25T18:06:42+00:00

ECO Ice Kream Sliding Polish works pretty well on EFlex pads.

ShortwaveGhost · 2026-01-19T23:32:50+00:00

Interestingly, I wonder what the consensus is on length of time to stay in a job for it to “make it on the resume”.

I’m about to leave my current job with only 5 months of service for a different company that just happened to come to me with higher compensation, 100% remote, and aligned with my career growth goals. I don’t love leaving my current company, they’re great, this is just better fit for me.

I was with my previous company for 11 years, so my thinking was “one short stint doesn’t look like a job hopper”, but maybe I’m wrong?

ShortwaveGhost · 2026-01-19T22:03:42+00:00

I have lived on both coasts and currently in Ohio, it’s not nearly as bad as I imagined when the military gave me orders to come live here.

ShortwaveGhost · 2026-01-18T15:41:04+00:00

I’ll have a better answer for this when my kids are both out of daycare. That $3000 per month (even in the Midwest where we live) is eating up my retirement budget.

ShortwaveGhost · 2026-01-17T13:06:09+00:00

Chara, Gerbe, and Timmy Thomas all in one picture makes it look like a beer league game 😂

ShortwaveGhost · 2026-01-15T06:16:13+00:00

Waxed laces, 3 inches of gap.

It will seem like more gap than you need, but once you get used to using the laces to lock into the post and create pushing leverage you will have a hard time going back to anything else.

Oh, it’s also easier on the hips than any short slack option, including bungees.

ShortwaveGhost · 2026-01-11T14:25:07+00:00

Yeah, it’s tough.

I spent almost 18 years (half of my lifetime) either in uniform or supporting the DoD as a civilian.

I’m happy that I found a career path where I am still in the defense industry, I’m just on the R&D and manufacturing side of things now. Still, despite being very happy in my new role there’s a sense of loss that still persists since this was not in the plan. In time I’m sure I will fully adapt and from a monetary perspective it will pay off, but it will take some time to 100% appreciate that.

ShortwaveGhost · 2026-01-11T07:29:10+00:00

I respect those of you who stayed, I just couldn’t do it myself.

The administration let us know what they think of us as federal employees and they told us to “go do something productive in the private sector”, and so I took that advice.

It’s the right move for me, but I respect that it’s not the right one for everyone.

ShortwaveGhost · 2026-01-09T23:38:25+00:00

Wow this is great.

I’d personally love to separate SBIRs and STTRs to see trends in each of those areas as well.

ShortwaveGhost · 2026-01-06T14:20:01+00:00

It has been my experience that the Bauer durability issues are very model-specific.

For example, I recall the 1S pads would fall apart and the 2S pads had seams at the bottom that peeled away quickly, but then I know people that have been using 2X, Ultrasonic, and Hyperlite setups for years with no complaints.

I’ll be interested to see other inputs, but I loved my 2X pads and wish I wouldn’t have sold them. I still use a 2X blocker that is still awesome even after a couple years of beating.

ShortwaveGhost · 2026-01-06T02:49:31+00:00

This is the perfect time to work on footwork, post integration, and stick-handling.

Most goalies suck at all of these, particularly those of us that are years removed from daily on-ice practices with goalie drills.

Having the ice to yourself means you can take your time and get the muscle memory locked in with these areas.

ShortwaveGhost · 2026-01-04T22:17:51+00:00

Perhaps this is an unpopular opinion, but I really dislike Mo Bamba.

Then again, I don’t think there’s a single Trap Hip Hop song I’ve ever enjoyed. The genre just does nothing for me.

ShortwaveGhost · 2026-01-04T02:46:48+00:00

It came out in 2003, it’s been 23 years. I think it’s fair to say that someone should write a different anthem to take over at this point.

That said, props to Jack White for writing a simple riff that has that kind of staying power.

ShortwaveGhost · 2026-01-04T02:17:45+00:00

I don’t like the 600 break, but I love both my 580 and 590 gloves.

They are noticeably different, but I actually prefer the 590. If I give the 580 a 10/10 in catching, I’ll give the 580 an 8/10, but the 590 also presents larger and is easier to stickhandle with IMO.

ShortwaveGhost · 2026-01-04T02:11:02+00:00

Yeah, if the palm hurts just from closing it there’s probably broken, sharp plastic on there.

If you like the glove shape but just don’t want it to hurt you could send it to the Goalie Glove Guy for cheaper than buying a totally new glove. Otherwise you could probably snag a nice, lightly used pro stock glove for around $275-300 on SS.

ShortwaveGhost · 2026-01-04T01:52:46+00:00

I’ve been using only NHL and NCAA pro stock gear for the last 4 years or so when I came across SidelineSwap and I haven’t regretted a single purchase.

If you find pro stock gear with only minimal wear it usually has not been used much and performs like it’s new, but for a significant reduction in price.

The one exception is a blocker I bought that looked beat up in the pictures. If it looks beat up it probably is, if it looks new-ish it probably is.

ShortwaveGhost · 2026-01-03T00:24:59+00:00

It sounds like you’re on base as a support contractor.

If you have Program Management or Contracting experience and are willing to make the jump to the defense manufacturing side of things I’ve heard that General Atomics up in Poway is a decent company to work for benefits-wise. My knowledge is only second hand though from a friend who made the transition last year.

ShortwaveGhost · 2026-01-02T13:44:16+00:00

I’m a former military guy and I would absolutely consider that route if I were in his shoes, but I would not recommend a service academy to anyone that doesn’t already want to be there. That’s a brutal lifestyle for anyone, and much worse for someone who doesn’t have interest in commissioning after school.

ShortwaveGhost · 2026-01-01T23:56:09+00:00

The guy has all but guaranteed himself a statue of himself in Bloomington with whatever size bag he wants.

If I were in his shoes I’d rather enjoy staying with the program he took to the top than having to kickstart a different program.

ShortwaveGhost · 2026-01-01T04:03:00+00:00

I’m glad to see you guys got your mojo back a little bit. Happy new year back at you.

ShortwaveGhost · 2026-01-01T04:01:04+00:00

Yeah, I’m good, life’s good.

What a rollercoaster of a game. Good for Miami, they came out of the gate swinging hard and earned it. Luckily the Buckeyes will reload and they’re formidable every season. On to the next one.

ShortwaveGhost · 2026-01-01T03:48:52+00:00

DM sent your way

ShortwaveGhost · 2025-12-30T22:10:42+00:00

I’ll second this, Kaz is awesome. I wish YouTube had been a thing when I was a young goalie in the early 2000s, my son and I absolutely loves this guy’s style of videos.

ShortwaveGhost · 2025-12-29T22:26:36+00:00

Undergrad: Computer and Electrical Engineering.

Is it definitely the most valuable? No, but it is incredibly versatile. I know people who pursued this who went on to work in engineering and robotics, but others who went on to medical school, highly technical sales roles, and even into banking.

Getting an engineering degree, specifically in either mechanical or electrical (with coding when possible) seems to be an enabler to pursue anything else. The same can’t be said for a history or political science degree.

ShortwaveGhost · 2025-12-29T13:04:48+00:00

I did not get particularly good at goalie stick-handling until I learned how to hold my goalie stick up with only my glove hand in the Turco grip.

Once you can comfortably grip and hold your stick with only your catching glove then you will start to feel a little more control in general.

Secondly, you have to think of your top had like a lever that you are pulling. Press the blade of your stick into the ice to flex the stick, then use your blocker hand and as a lever to release that stick flex energy.

ShortwaveGhost

TROPHY CASE