[Coach]

Originally Posted by Envitro

OK

So the blocker hasn't really changed that much in size over the past 50 years, maybe 10% in overall blocking area. Sure, it could maybe be slimmed down a tad. That's not that big of a deal. But making it the size of a normal glove??? The C&A has no protection past a certain point so how do you protect the goalies wrist and 2" of forearm?? I'm not sure if you've ever worn this gear but it all kind of fits together nicely and provides some overlapping protection areas.

I've worn the gear yes, and yes it all overlaps nicely, but that's why I think the whole kit can be re-done to reduce the size without giving up protection, purely because of how the technology has progress. The protection on the arms can change to be a harder, more-contoured material that does a better job of staying in place, is thinner and can cover pretty much the whole body so there doesn't necessarily need to be as much of an overlap.

Something like this, with some obvious modifications:



The blocker size hasn't changed much, you're right. But the reason is for what you're saying, to cover those gaps on the wrists and protect the fingers, and if the wrists can be better covered by the torso piece, the blocker doesn't need to be so big.

The catcher and the "cheater" cuff as they sometimes call it is another candidate, sure. But one quick question, how many saves do you actually see per game hitting the "cheater" as opposed to going straight into the glove? There is an element of protection in that cuff but it could be changed if we really wanted to.

If even one goal is stopped by that cheater, its too much. The equipment shouldn't be making the saves.

As for shot-blocking, that's kind of a ridiculous argument. A player might block a shot with his shin pads once or twice in a game. Sometimes they get hit high, but that's not as often as you'd think. Goalies face 30-40 shots every game. Then ask some pros who've had broken shin pads from blocking a shot if they felt anything.

I'm not saying the goalies should be wearing player shin-pads, just that the goalie pads don't need to really be much bigger than them. You can keep the thickness of the pad, why do they have to be 10 inches wide when their legs are only like 5 max?

Just to clarify one point, the kevlar in the C&A provides protection from piercing and penetration, it doesn't actually absorb any significant energy from the force of the puck. The High Density Foam that is in the leg pads is also in the chest protectors along with plastics to give it some rigidity.

I'm not arguing for much change to the C&A really. I do think the arms can be more contoured while being better protected, but yeah the parts protecting vitals can be as thick as they want (not as wide as they want).

I am starting to believe that that stupid Corey Hirsch video has influenced people's opinions way more than I could I have imagined

Never seen the video, I've held these opinions for a long time.