T-Blades The Way To Go

I'm amazed still that the mention of "T-Blades" draws many a quizzical look when talking shop with other hockey parents. About a year ago I switched my high school aged hockey playing son to these and have never looked back. For those who don't know, the T-Blade system is based on an inter-changeable blade made of surgical steel that does not require sharpening. No more last minute trips to the pro shop minutes before the game and the ability to change (in minutes) your hollow and or rocker style to suit different situations.
Basically the T-Blade is compromised of a blade, a rocker and holder that can be changed in an instant with an allen screw type fastener as opposed to having a fixed blade that needs to be sharpened every few weeks. The blade and rocker can literally be changed in minutes to suit your performance need or skating style. Different lengths on the rockers are available (to suit different skating styles / needs) and different hollows on the blades are available too. There are different styles and designs available for the blade holders that give the player a way to alter the look of the skates too.
Since changing to T-Blades over the past year, I've found the money savings to be pretty substantial. before the T-Blades we were sharpening my son's skates on average every 2 to 3 weeks depending on his schedule of games. At an average of $7.00 per sharpening plus the trip there it was a decent chunk of change over a season. With the T-Blades, his blades tend to last between 2 to 3 months provided he doesn't take a hard slapper directly on an edge. This has been the only thing that has proven to ding an edge quickly since we have changed to this style of skate / blade.
These are well worth looking into for any serious / semi serious hockey player and or parent. The flexibility provided be being able to switch on the fly has been great and these blades really do last as the literature on the T-Blade systems says. If you give them a try I'm sure you will agree. A number of skate makers offer T-Blade style skates nowadays...my son's first were CCM Vectors. Graf, CCM and most other makers offer them. Check them out.

Toews and Kane...Tough Enough

For a die hard Blackhawks fan like myself, the coming of Johnathan Toews and Patrick Kane is akin to the day Jeremey Roenick first stepped on the ice with the club so many MANY years ago. As spring training opened, there was actually interest in the Hawks. It was mixed interest though. There was obvious talent in the two rookies. Everybody knew that. Could they take the rigors of the NHL? Survive a grueling 82 game schedule? In short, many immediately accepted their talent no questions asked, but they wondered aloud and often; Were they tough enough to make it in the NHL?

The Hawks are now just about at the quarter mark of the season and not only are Toews and Kane still in the mix, but night after night they have become the focal point of the team's long awaited revival. Toews is sitting with 8 goals, 8 assists, 3 of his goals power play tallies and also having one game winning goal to boot. Kane has shown himself to be, not only a gifted scorer, but is also well on the way to making his name as a premier playmaker too. Kane has 7 goals to go along with a whopping 15 assists just 20 games into the season. He also has racked up 3 power play goals so far.

Kane and Toews are both playing well over 18 minutes a game most nights and are showing most nights that they are not only here to stay, but show no signs of slowing down the breakneck pace with which both started the season. Project out the pace they are on now and the duo would end the year with point totals in the high 60's to the mid 80's. Factor in that the team's best forward, injured winger Martin Havlat, has yet to step on the ice with these guys and the numbers for Kane and Toews have the potential to be even higher...especially on the power play.
Blackhawk coach Denis Savard must be grinning from ear to ear in private moments when considering that mix as a possible power play unit.

It IS a long season...and we ARE only 20 games in, but, watching these two young forwards so far has given NO reason that they will somehow bow under the rigors of playing in the NHL As it stands right now, the pair have begun the already daunting task of filling the United Center... with HOCKEY fans. This feat alone, it could be argued, already shows Toews and Kane to be tough enough to play in the NHL.

Brute Force and Ignorance / Yes, That's the Name...
--Rory Gallagher

The above title / line, from the Rory Gallagher song, sums it up. As we move on with this, we'll be all about those things "tough" and or "ignorant". You'll laugh, you'll get ticked off and if you're not careful, might learn or discover something new and cool in the process. Welcome to BFAI and check back often..You know you want to.