I Thought Something Looked Strange
by Joe Dunman on Jan 7, 2008 11:22 AM MST
in NHL News
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PrintIf you look at the photo posted in the previous entry, you'll notice Rick DiPietro, the Islanders Goalie For Life, wearing all-white Itech goalie pads.
When I noticed this, I thought to myself, "that's strange, he's wearing all-white goalie pads." Not something you see very often. In fact, it's pretty rare that goalies wear all-white anything, let alone leg pads. Sometimes a quick change of teams will force them to wear a white mask for a while until their new paint job is finished, but overall it's pretty rare.
Well, that's not the only thing about DiPietro's pads that were noteworthy. The NHL went so far as to check to see if they were even legal to wear at all. When Ricky first wore them on January 3rd against the Panthers, everybody freaked out and the officials made him take them off. Then, after being thoroughly inspected by whoever it is that ensures the legality of goalie leg pads (they obviously aren't keeping an eye on Roberto Luongo), DiPietro's pads were cleared. His first full-game use of them was against the Avs.
Unfortunately for him, in both of the games in which he's worn those new Itechs, his team has lost in overtime.
Just thought I'd mention all this because I'm a uniform nerd. Please go about your business.
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Totally off subject...
but there's nowhere else to say this.
Theo gets the start on Tuesday against the Wings, which leaves no doubt about the fact that Quennville is certifiably insane.
You are kidding, right?
Omg. So Theo has one game where he only lets in one horrible goal and is otherwise sound, now he's starting against the best team in hockey? Doesn't Q know that he always follows up any good performance with at least 2 crappy ones? And what will this do to Budaj's confidence? How about this for a new nick for our coach: Q-less.
by Bob in Boulder on Jan 7, 2008 12:48 PM MST up reply actions
how useless am I?
I didn't even notice the white pads.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 7, 2008 12:29 PM MST reply actions
Pads
I think it's DiPietro's way of saying he doesn't need no stinkin black pads to hide the puck. He'll just keep it out naturally.
Of course he doesn't do much of it anyways. That's why he, and the Islanders, are always good for a laugh.
White as Ice
Ok, don't laugh... I may be totally off base here but... as a player, wouldn't it be more difficult (than black or colored pads) to see where a goalies all white pads are positioned against white ice?
The prevailing thought
amongst people who spend time thinking about these things (ie beer-league goalies such as myself), is that white pads don't blend into the ice so much as they just make the goalie's legs look larger and thus make the shooter think twice. Goalies also like white pads cuz it's easier to find a puck in your feet/legs when there's traffic in the crease. Conversely, black pads may make you look slimmer and can hinder finding loose pucks.
Of course, that's just a load of BS, cuz common sense tells you that the color of the pad will not stop more pucks. Still, us rec-league hacks need all the help we can get since we often don't have the skills or talent to stop ankle-benders and pylons from causing a severe sunburn on the back of our necks.
For the record, my pads are MOSTLY white, with asymmetrical black swooshes (different direction on the left vs. right pad). Sound odd? That's cuz it is. That's just how I roll.
Fur Shizzle...More technical goalie questions.
- Is a "swoosh" the same as a "whorl"?
- Since it appears that goalies are a picky bunch, do they clean the scuff marks off their pads or are they left on to serve as battle scars?
Inquiring Rookie minds want to know.
Technical questions
- Yes. Nike invented the "swoosh." Hairdressers in New Jersey invented the "whorl."
- Only punks clean the puck marks (or as I like to call them, "Inept forwards' lackluster spendings") off of the gear. That being said, I do break out the Magic Eraser at the beginning of the season. Don't wanna carry any karma forward that might bite me in the behind.
Here's my pads, BTW:
Don't you know
netmiders weren't originally called "goaltenders," they were called "Crazy f*ckers", but due to FCC regulations and common decency, everybody just called them "quirky." The french word for "quirky" is "goultenue" which, when given and anglo spin, is easily "goaltender."
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.
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.
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Yeah, I made all that up, but that doesn't mean I'm not a crazy f*cker.
Dipietro needs to ditch the pads...
He just lost tonight to the Oilers 0-4. Granted it doesn't matter what he stop is his team can't find the net...but giving up 4 goals to the Oil?
He is now 0-1-2 when starting a game with these pads.
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