YOUR TAKE
How important is his gear to a hockey player?
BILL VANDERMEER
Mavericks forward
“It’s pretty important. A lot of the guys are very picky about their gear. Just look at the guys’ sticks on the team. They have a different lie, different knobs – it’s just what you feel comfortable with. I know I take the time to tape my handle so it feels just the way I want it. You can pick out a guy’s stick by looking at the way it’s taped on the handle.”
SCOTT HILLMAN
Mavericks head coach/former player
“The two most important things to a hockey player are his stick and his skates. The guys like to tape the handle of their sticks a certain way and make sure their skates are sharpened. Other things, they aren’t as particular about. I played with the same shin and shoulder pads for 11 years. I just liked the way they felt – although they got pretty disgusting.”
MIKE GORMAN
Mavericks goaltender
“Most goalies like older gear, gear that’s really broken in. Being with a new team, I have to break in my pads. My 4-year-old son Riley is helping me do that by jumping up and down on them. (Teammate) Tyler Fleck designs facemasks and he’s working on one with a Maverick logo on one side and stampede on the other. Then, a local guy is going to paint it for me. I like my pads to be comfortable. Some guys wear them forever, but in goal, you pretty much wear your equipment like your shin pads and gloves out each season.”
– Bill Althaus
