Jan. 27, 2024

Secrets Of Working For A Hockey Retailer With Chase Barud of Ice Warehouse

Chase Barud from Ice Warehouse joins Mike, Christie and Lee this week on Our Kids Play Hockey to arm you with the insider knowledge you need for your next hockey gear shopping adventure. Chase is here as our guide, drawing back the curtain on what it truly means to select equipment that amplifies your game without succumbing to the hype of the latest and greatest.

As we navigate the realm of hockey equipment choices, we delve into the nuances of balancing cost with performance. The heart of our conversation shares practical wisdom, such as understanding when a mid-range piece of gear might serve you better than the new, flashy, top-tier options. We share personal anecdotes and tackle the real quandaries that face players at every level – from those stepping onto the ice for the first time to seasoned vets.

As always, your questions and insights are the fuel for our discussions, and we can't wait to bring you more content that helps you navigate the hockey world with confidence. Whether you're here for the stories, the strategies, or the sheer love of the game, know that this is the place where your passion for hockey finds its voice.

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00:52 - Shopping for Hockey Gear

03:51 - Hockey Equipment and Finding the Right Gear

13:05 - Insights on Equipment and Consumer Perspectives

20:40 - Women's Hockey Equipment

35:27 - Considerations When Choosing Hockey Equipment

44:58 - Choose Right Equipment for Hockey Players

52:52 - Anonymous Questions and Community Engagement

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You know, shopping for hockey gear can be really fun or it can be a real pain in the you know what.

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So what we decided to do today was bring on Chase Baroo, who works for Ice Warehouse.

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We just wanted to bring on a major retailer in the space to ask some questions that we all want to ask as parents, as coaches, maybe even as players, kind of in a generic way.

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Chase really didn't disappoint, gave some great answers, really some great insight about how to approach getting your gear.

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So you're going to really enjoy this episode with Mike Christie, myself and Chase Also.

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As you may know, our show has once again been nominated and shortlisted for the Hockey Podcast of the Year via the Sports Podcast Awards and we need your help.

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We need your help to win this thing two years running.

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So here's what we need you to do Head over to ourkidsplayhockeycom or there might be a link in the description for this podcast.

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If you're listening on Apple Podcasts, click that, follow the instructions and vote for us and you can help us be the two time our Kids Play Hockey Hockey Podcast of the Year, which is we love that they have the fan base votes because we know last year you're the ones who put us to the top, and we would love for that honor again to be a shared honor amongst all of us.

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So again, ourkidsplayhockeycom, look for the shortlist Hockey Podcast of the Year link on there.

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You can vote for us, you can help send us to the top and together we can make it.

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You should become the Hockey Podcast of the Year.

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But without further ado, let's get you into the episode with Chase Barude of Ice Warehouse.

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As we talk about hockey stores here on our Kids Play Hockey, hello hockey friends and families around the world, and welcome to another edition of our Kids Play Hockey.

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I'm Leo Elias, with Mike Minnelli and Christy Casciano Burns.

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And whether it's the holidays, the start of the season or a random trip where your kid forgets an important piece of equipment on the road when you really could not forget that piece of equipment, shopping for hockey gear can be a year round process for those of us in the game, and for that reason, we thought it would be a great idea to bring in a representative from a major hockey chain, and that's why we invited our guest, chase Barude of Ice Warehouse, to join us today.

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Chase found his love for hockey early in life, while growing up in Bakersfield, california, and his journey led him to San Luis Obispo.

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Am I saying that right, chase?

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San Luis Obispo.

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It's close, it's close.

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Say it one more time, san Luis.

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Obispo, you said it for college where he also started his career with Ice Warehouse in 2010.

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So that means he's been there for 13 years and he has ridden the ranks into the role of marketing supervisor and project manager, bringing his expertise as a product specialist to hockey players across the globe through hundreds of product reviews and product insight interviews.

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It's been really great to know him over the last few months, especially as I have talked to him as a business owner as well.

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It's our turn to interview you now, though, chase.

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So welcome to our kids play hockey.

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Hey, thanks so much for having me Lane.

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It is odd to be on the other side of the interview seat here, so I'm really looking forward to it, and thanks again for having me.

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I told you when you interviewed me I'm going to get you back and this is how we get you back by putting you on the hot seat Chase.

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First question I want to get right into it because it's probably the burning question for everybody.

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You know, hockey is an expensive sport and I'm sure the families out there listening want to know how aware is a company like Ice Warehouse of this and what do you do to curtail it?

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I think for us personally, we pride ourselves on providing a pro shop experience for players that don't have access to a pro shop and when it comes to shopping, price is always number one.

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So the way that we set up our website is you know, for that entry level player, they don't need to look at that $350 stick.

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They should be looking at the recreational level and while the high end price point models they have absolutely gone through the roof.

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They still offer some great value at that recreational or performance level.

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So we're definitely very aware of it.

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I'm a hockey player myself, shopping for a Christmas presents for my little niece right now some new skates and some shoulder pads.

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So definitely aware of it.

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But I think just helping customers find the right gear for their game is the most important thing that we try and do here.

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My kids have always been particular to brands, like my daughter loves CCM and you know, warrior.

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Are all brands created equal?

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That's a question.

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Well, that's a very good question, a great question.

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I would say they're all created equal, but they go through different phases.

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You know, sometimes a company might not be innovating as much as they should, and then you have other companies that are just absolutely taking off the lead here.

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So just to kind of point you in an example here, I thought I lost you.

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Ccm with their one piece boots, true hockey with their one piece boots.

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You just see companies really find their stride and it's really exciting to see that, especially in those two right now.

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Yeah, and is it okay for kids to just kind of try out different brands?

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You know, say they need a certain, you know set of knee pads, right, but some feel better than others, right?

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Isn't that true?

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I always had my kids try different kinds and different brands because sometimes the fits a little bit different.

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Absolutely Another brand.

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The way I like to help people strap online, it's not so much the brand you should be looking at, but maybe the type of player and what sort of performance benefits you're looking to get out of a certain product.

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So, just to use your example there, you know there's a hundred chin guards on the marketplace, but there are some that are a little bit heavier, but they offer more coverage for more protection, maybe for more of a defensive type player.

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And then there's another category of low profile, super lightweight shin pads too.

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So, even within brands, I would say, find the style of player that you're shopping for and then check out a couple of brands too.

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That's a great tip.

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That's a really good tip.

00:06:08.949 --> 00:06:10.333
Yeah, chase, I'll add on to that.

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You know, one of the things we talk about a lot in this show and Mike actually says at Adnauseum, and the best way possible is like the questions your pro shop or hockey store or online person should be asking you, right?

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Because, again, kids, as Christie said, you know that, hey, I'm, I love this brand, but it's like the whole, like you've only ever had vanilla ice cream, you've never had chocolate ice cream.

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You know, and one of the things I love that you do for Ice Warehouse is that you really take the time to make these videos and explain them, right?

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So, from an online digital purpose point of view, it's a real asset to Ice Warehouse that you bring those videos to the table.

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Not everybody does that, right?

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So I want to ask you in kind of in the vein of what Christie asked you've done hundreds of videos now, right?

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So what are some of the congruencies you've seen of things that work or don't work and I'm not asking you to throw anybody under the bus in any way, but I was.

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You know, of all the videos you've done, you must see some things that are like okay, that's going to be a winner because of X, y and Z.

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For the longest time, especially when I first got into making videos, it was always the top-end product that caught my eye, and for good reason too.

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You know, just a couple years ago top-end sticks were 420 grams, and now we're looking at some sticks that are 325 grams.

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Scary, yeah, scary light, and that's always so exciting to see.

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But kind of bringing it back here, hockey is so expensive.

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So when I find a mid-price point stick that weighs 410 grams at $125 in Senior Flex, I get excited about that Because it makes hockey not just accessible for people maybe shopping a little bit more on the tighter budget, but it allows them to have high performance gear for a cheap price too.

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So that's, I don't know.

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I really like seeing the value in those middle price point offerings, not just the elite models, but that middle price point, because that's where most people are shopping.

00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:26.242
Yeah, and I always say too that I understand lighter being better, I understand certain protective gear getting better, but at the end of the day this is true, right, the player makes the skates, the player makes the stick right, the brain inside the helmet makes the helmet worthwhile, for lack of a better word, you know.

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So I'm not saying that performance cannot be improved by better equipment, but performance is performance right Now, what I think we should do with all youth players.

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I grew up with wooden sticks and then the two-piece sticks and I remember when the synergy the Eastern synergy became really the first prominent one-piece stick and we thought that was insanely light at the time and I mean that would be heavy now by statistics.

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But I think it's also good to give your kids perspective of hey, use a wooden stick for a practice.

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I'm not going to say it through in the game, just to have an understanding.

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When you use a wooden stick you're going to realize, as you said, that middle-tier stick that is fairly priced is fine, it's absolutely fine.

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So I think that that's really great insight because, as you said and you know you're with good company here there is great equipment for an affordable price.

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And I always say too.

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You look at skates.

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I love your insight on this.

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The higher-priced skates do have some benefits, but I always tell my players you should look for something that's protective but fits really, really well, what feels the best right Now.

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The way I'm going to twist this into a question here is that I think it's a common misnomer that people will look at your business and say, well, you just want me to buy the most expensive pair of skates, and I actually don't find that to be true.

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I think that you really do care about fit and feel, and it's about finding what's right for you and your family.

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Would you like to expunge on that a little bit?

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Because, again, look, we all know it's expensive and it's a business.

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Right, people got to make money, but I don't think it's evil.

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It's not as grinchy about that for this time of year as people think.

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Yeah, that's perfect timing, and it really is.

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We don't make up the prices.

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There are set standards across the industry that we're supposed to price the products at Great point.

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And, like you said too, when you come to our site, the way we really really do operate is we want to find you.

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We want to find you the best gear for your price and your style of play.

00:10:28.580 --> 00:10:36.600
So if you go look at our ice hockey skate page, it's not brand first, it's fit profile first, so you have a low, medium and high fit.

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So we're not trying to push you one way or another based on brand or price.

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We want to make sure you're in the right skate, the right glove, the helmet, whatever it is, and then, once you land on what type of skate you're looking for, then you see the whole spread of price points.

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We just want to make sure players find the right gear and then allow you to choose the price at that.

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And we carry everything we possibly can.

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So again, we don't just stock the elite skates just to make sure you buy a thousand dollar skate.

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We carry everything.

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Yeah, I mean one of the things I like too and you mentioned a little earlier about you know you're the pro sharp shop for the people that maybe don't have access to pro shops.

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But that's what I always loved about pro shops you feel like you're getting, like, if you're going to go there and you're going to buy from them, then you want that to be your educational resource, Right, and I think good pro shops don't push you to the most expensive brand.

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They push you to the brand that fits your needs.

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And I think you know, because I've used your videos a million times.

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Like I said, you're like your blade profiling, explain video, Like I think I've sent that to like 25, 30 people already, you know, just because it's like, I'm like, well, why should I try to explain this?

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This is crazy, this guy is the expert and he's and you're doing the research.

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But I think also what happens is it gives people a baseline to say, okay, well, you know, I don't like exactly how he explained that, but this is how I like the equipment or this is how I like profiling, this is what I like about skates.

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And then it's a matter of like that, building that trust, and I think what you guys have done is, you know, honestly, it's like kind of built that trust to people that say, well, they're putting all this effort into educating the customer.

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And then you know, you, you find you have loyalty there and I still think there's more.

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I think most people you know me growing up.

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I always had loyalty to a brand, for no other reason.

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But I was like, oh, that's what I, that's what I wear.

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You know, I wear Bauer skates my whole life and all of a sudden, you know, I throw on a pair of trues and I'm like, oh, I'll never go back.

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I'll never go back to.

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So, so, so to me it was like you know what I think.

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But but again, I'm in the hockey world every day, like.

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So I get to talk to you know, 400 players, and go what do you like, what do you like, like.

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So if I'm a new parent and I can come to you, I can say, well, what do you like?

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And he can say, well, this is what, this is what you could like, I don't particularly need to like it, you need to like it.

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So here are all the different aspects of what this equipment has to offer, which I think is a great resource for anybody.

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And I think what kind of brings it full circle for me is when I was playing youth hockey growing up, I didn't have a pro shop in my town and we would practice on the double A I think it was an ECHL team at the time.

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We just had a big arena that we'd practice on.

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So we didn't have a local rink in my city and then we're driving an hour and a half, two hours to play other clubs.

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So I never had that experience growing up and and I know there's so many players out there that don't have access to, you know, maybe even not just a pro shop but a big retail store within their city or within an hour of driving distance.

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So you know, I don't want them to be left out on.

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You know, gear is exciting and it can be expensive, but it's also exciting.

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There's a lot of gear nerds out there, like myself, that they want to see and feel the product but they might not have access to it.

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So I always like to think that our videos they're educating and it's really for that player that doesn't have access to the product and I'm trying to recreate that product in their living room or on their phone when they're, you know, hanging out or whatever it might be, you know.

00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:13.764
Right, okay, gear nerd, I got a question for you.

00:14:13.764 --> 00:14:17.990
How do you know when your kids really need new skates?

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Because my kids, around this time of year, would develop new skate disease, so oh my gosh.

00:14:24.503 --> 00:14:33.515
And because everybody else in the locker room has these new skates they get them for Christmas presents and now, all of a sudden, their skates don't feel right.

00:14:33.515 --> 00:14:36.985
Oh, they're too tight, they're too small, they're broken out.

00:14:36.985 --> 00:14:43.095
So what are the telltale signs that your kids really need new skates?

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I mean, how do you look at a skate and say, okay, it's time.

00:14:45.883 --> 00:14:53.474
And how do you size them up so that you know that they're telling the truth and it's just not because it's whatever the other kid has and wants?

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Well, I hope my niece doesn't see this video, but you can take the footbed out of the skate and you'll actually see sweat marks from the toes.

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You'll see all five toes in there.

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I would say if you can see the tip of the toe within a quarter of an inch, it's probably going to be time real soon.

00:15:12.869 --> 00:15:18.135
They might not be too small yet, but that would be a very telltale sign that they're getting ready.

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But if you see the stains at the end of the footbed, they're not lying.

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They're ready for some new skates, or blood or skates themselves?

00:15:28.662 --> 00:15:32.326
Yeah, because they don't break down like they used to, right?

00:15:32.326 --> 00:15:40.258
I mean you could have a pair of skates for years, yeah, unless your kid's out there every day, and it's a high level skate, you know.

00:15:40.900 --> 00:15:42.243
Yeah, or they outgrow them.

00:15:42.243 --> 00:15:52.967
I mean, one of the two things is they do make quite durable skates, yeah, a lot stiffer than they used to be, and that stiffness provides a lot of performance.

00:15:52.967 --> 00:15:56.313
But it also prevents that premature breakdown and wear.

00:15:56.313 --> 00:16:03.033
So I would say, most of the time, at least in youth hockey, they're just outgrowing them, they're not overusing them.

00:16:03.033 --> 00:16:10.153
And then most of the time in adult leagues, that's when you maybe start to see some breakdown over a couple years.

00:16:10.841 --> 00:16:12.975
Okay, great, another great tip for parents.

00:16:12.975 --> 00:16:15.303
There you go, I would agree with them too, kristi.

00:16:15.344 --> 00:16:17.447
As an adult player like you know for what I pay for them.

00:16:17.447 --> 00:16:18.770
They better last a few years.

00:16:19.091 --> 00:16:19.533
Yeah, yeah.

00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:21.503
That's like getting new tires on your car.

00:16:21.503 --> 00:16:26.570
Also, kristi inadvertently pointed NSD is a real problem.

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New skate disease If you're children are getting NSD.

00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:32.408
It's always this time of year.

00:16:32.408 --> 00:16:37.205
It is, they've been cold sniffles If you're at home with an ax on taking the tending guard off.

00:16:37.264 --> 00:16:39.308
You know it's time for a new pair of skates.

00:16:39.649 --> 00:16:44.206
Okay, yeah, and then they're all skier eggs and new skate disease.

00:16:44.245 --> 00:16:45.168
We're always on the.

00:16:45.469 --> 00:16:45.609
NSD.

00:16:45.609 --> 00:16:46.932
What's going around illnesses?

00:16:46.932 --> 00:16:50.940
It's a serious problem, Chase.

00:16:50.940 --> 00:16:52.520
I just wrote this question really simply.

00:16:52.520 --> 00:16:57.563
What is something that no one knows about working with a major retailer?

00:16:59.126 --> 00:17:03.730
Hmm, from like a consumer standpoint, or From your standpoint?

00:17:04.265 --> 00:17:05.088
Yeah, you can do both.

00:17:05.365 --> 00:17:08.934
Every angry consumer you've ever encountered that just doesn't has no patience.

00:17:08.934 --> 00:17:10.631
What's the thing that you wish they knew?

00:17:10.631 --> 00:17:12.632
Because, look, I'll say this, I'll preface it too.

00:17:12.632 --> 00:17:22.932
As a business owner, I'm well aware that the consumer does not care about any of the issues we're dealing with as a business, and nor should they have to right, that's not their job.

00:17:22.932 --> 00:17:24.550
Our job is to deliver a great product to them.

00:17:24.550 --> 00:17:26.992
But I do love perspective, right?

00:17:26.992 --> 00:17:28.269
So what is?

00:17:28.269 --> 00:17:29.993
Do you work 90 hours a week?

00:17:29.993 --> 00:17:32.834
Is it a small team and you guys take care of each other?

00:17:32.834 --> 00:17:35.549
What is something that no one knows about?

00:17:35.549 --> 00:17:37.513
Working kind of for a hockey company like this?

00:17:39.884 --> 00:17:48.031
Even if you get upset at an issue that we didn't directly deal with, you know whether it's UPS not delivering the package.

00:17:48.031 --> 00:17:49.866
I just I've got that.

00:17:49.866 --> 00:17:52.732
I just want them to know that we're hockey players.

00:17:52.732 --> 00:17:55.713
We're just trying to get you the best gear, like the gear that you need.

00:17:55.713 --> 00:18:10.009
So you know, I've been in the industry for a long time You've definitely and I've been on YouTube for a long time, so I've had my share of comments and it's like I just want people to remember, at the end of the day, we're hockey players and we're just trying to help you.

00:18:10.009 --> 00:18:18.549
You know, I feel like if that was a little bit more reminded during some of the interactions, you might approach it a little bit differently.

00:18:18.549 --> 00:18:19.573
But I don't know.

00:18:19.573 --> 00:18:20.809
The hockey community is great.

00:18:20.809 --> 00:18:23.814
If that's the only thing I have to say, I bet it's important.

00:18:24.767 --> 00:18:27.193
I'll say this too, mike Christie, you'll laugh at this.

00:18:27.193 --> 00:18:40.450
The amount of times, especially at the holidays, I have to very respectfully and nicely say to people I am not the postal service and that we have put this in the mail on time, I understand it's not there.

00:18:40.450 --> 00:18:42.332
We will send you another one if we have to.

00:18:42.332 --> 00:18:46.955
But you know, if it's whatever it is, whatever the postal service is, it's usually one.

00:18:46.955 --> 00:18:51.596
But whatever the postal service is in question, you know I don't control that.

00:18:51.596 --> 00:18:57.497
We do pack it and most people I'd say Chase are pretty amical about that.

00:18:57.497 --> 00:18:58.549
I've had a few.

00:18:58.549 --> 00:19:00.219
You've ruined Christmas a few times.

00:19:00.863 --> 00:19:01.244
Oh sure.

00:19:01.506 --> 00:19:03.965
You know which I feel bad about, but it's, you know.

00:19:03.965 --> 00:19:06.595
The point is we're doing the best we can, right?

00:19:06.595 --> 00:19:14.710
I'm not just talking about me here, chase, and broadly most of these companies are doing the best they can to get you what you want, and I love that.

00:19:14.710 --> 00:19:17.529
All right, Chase, question from the audience here.

00:19:17.529 --> 00:19:23.648
Okay, we asked our audience, we told them hey, we have someone coming on for a major retailer, what question do you have?

00:19:23.648 --> 00:19:26.531
And I was actually pleasantly surprised.

00:19:26.531 --> 00:19:48.390
We had several questions come in about girls hockey and women's hockey and the equipment in that side of the sport, and the tone of the questions I'm kind of putting them all together was a little bit of concern that there, hey, there's not enough, but we see that it's growing right, and that what are companies like Ice House sorry, ice Warehouse doing to understand that that's something that's in need right now?

00:19:50.047 --> 00:19:54.796
And we talked about this a little bit off air and I'm sure I'll get fired up here again.

00:19:54.796 --> 00:20:00.952
So my sister's four years younger than me so she started playing the same time I started playing.

00:20:00.952 --> 00:20:08.231
She ended up winning a national championship for her women's team at like 12 years old and then just kind of retired for a while.

00:20:08.231 --> 00:20:14.592
And that was always a little flabbergasted at that because she reached the mountaintop and then retired fast forward.

00:20:14.592 --> 00:20:21.919
She now has my amazing niece and she's coaching a co-ed ice hockey team right now too.

00:20:21.919 --> 00:20:25.238
So I just want to kind of give a little bit of backstory.

00:20:25.238 --> 00:20:28.209
That women's hockey has always been very important to me.

00:20:28.209 --> 00:20:38.273
If you type in like a CCM women's protective review, you'll actually see my sister in those videos and I joined her for one of them.

00:20:38.273 --> 00:20:43.767
But we actually brought her in because she plays, she coaches that's actually how she met.

00:20:43.767 --> 00:20:59.635
Her husband was on a beer league team, so we brought her in to give her insight into what this women's gear needs or how it feels and how it compares to just that standard traditional men's shoulder pad.

00:20:59.635 --> 00:21:05.195
So I think that just kind of kicks it off on where women's hockey means to me.

00:21:05.195 --> 00:21:12.396
But I'm excited that CCM hockey is coming out with a full run of women's protective gear.

00:21:12.396 --> 00:21:24.374
So, whether it's gloves, shin guards, shoulder pads which they already have, but an updated version a stick, it's going to be a very, very exciting 2024 for women's hockey.

00:21:24.374 --> 00:21:32.834
Last year, sherwood hockey came out with a secondary price point in their protective line, which includes shoulder pads as well as ice pants.

00:21:32.834 --> 00:21:37.497
So making hockey more affordable for women as well, I think, is so exciting.

00:21:37.497 --> 00:21:53.332
So, across the board, the manufacturers definitely recognize this huge growing segment in North America and across the world and I think they're really doing a good job of reacting to it and the girls and the women out there are really going to benefit from it.

00:21:54.164 --> 00:21:54.867
Long overdue.

00:21:54.867 --> 00:21:57.451
I have to say there are a lot of struggles over the year.

00:21:57.451 --> 00:22:00.413
My daughter played right up until college.

00:22:00.413 --> 00:22:19.698
She just graduated in the spring playing college hockey and there were struggles every age with finding a right fit, especially with pants Just really struggled with it because they just don't feel like they're built for women, they're built for men.

00:22:19.698 --> 00:22:21.430
So of course there's going to be a difference.

00:22:21.430 --> 00:22:28.446
So I'm really, really excited that you're sharing this news with us, because it is long overdue.

00:22:28.446 --> 00:22:38.133
Neck guards I want to get into that, if we could, you know again makes the news because of the tragedy that just recently happened.

00:22:38.133 --> 00:22:44.017
A lot of kids are still resistant to wearing them and hopefully it'll become mandatory next year.

00:22:44.017 --> 00:22:46.086
And then there's no choice you have to.

00:22:46.086 --> 00:22:47.511
You can't play unless you wear one.

00:22:47.511 --> 00:22:49.891
I'm a huge advocate for neck guards.

00:22:49.891 --> 00:22:55.535
What are you seeing as far as making them more comfortable?

00:22:55.535 --> 00:22:59.902
Perhaps and I think that's the biggest complaint I've heard from kids is they just?

00:22:59.902 --> 00:23:02.371
They just don't feel comfortable?

00:23:02.371 --> 00:23:08.496
And what advice would you share for parents when you get a kid who's so resistant to wearing one?

00:23:09.987 --> 00:23:23.355
And that's a great question because, similar to women's hockey gear, there has not been a lot of innovation in this particular field and unfortunately there was a very bad tragedy that happened earlier this year.

00:23:23.355 --> 00:23:24.967
But I am hoping.

00:23:24.967 --> 00:23:27.292
I haven't heard anything yet, but I really am hoping.

00:23:27.292 --> 00:23:41.471
On the manufacturer's side, you know, the technology is so much more advanced compared to those traditional foam Kevlar neck guards that are quite uncomfortable until you get used to them, that hopefully we see some innovation in this field in the next coming years.

00:23:41.471 --> 00:23:43.797
The sooner the better, obviously.

00:23:43.797 --> 00:23:49.796
So until then, I would recommend one of the bib style neck guards.

00:23:49.796 --> 00:23:54.634
The traditional ones that are a little bit thicker around the neck tend to spin.

00:23:54.634 --> 00:24:10.257
I sweat a lot, so that definitely is not conducive to comfort, at least for me as a player, and the thin bib style ones, especially if it's just integrated into the neck shirt as well, just seems to be, across the board, the most comfortable one.

00:24:10.257 --> 00:24:26.829
So I would recommend parents demand is still very high right now and I think it's still going to take a couple more months for that part of the market to settle and I would say, you know, purchase two or three of these neck shirts, the ones that have it integrated, whether it's.

00:24:26.829 --> 00:24:42.950
There's a really great war road shirt that has an integrated neck guard and it has cut resistant sleeves, so it's it's absolutely the most comprehensive coverage that we find out there and it's also very comfortable and it's made by TJ Oshie.

00:24:42.950 --> 00:24:43.712
That's his company.

00:24:43.712 --> 00:24:51.592
So I would say, just find one of those integrated neck shirts by two or three of them, so you could swap them out and always have a fresher.

00:24:52.585 --> 00:24:53.046
Yeah.

00:24:53.688 --> 00:24:55.073
I'll add on to it to chase.

00:24:55.073 --> 00:25:07.067
One of the things I've done with my kids and Christie this is also one for you and all the parents listening is I kind of grandfathered it in, so they've never not worn something with neck protection and it's it's.

00:25:07.067 --> 00:25:08.732
They use a chase duster armor.

00:25:08.732 --> 00:25:14.952
So the neck, the neck guards built into their under armor Right, and the way that I love.

00:25:14.952 --> 00:25:25.477
What I love about this is if they're not wearing that, like in a public session, they'll come up to me and say, well, my neck's cold, so now it's become a I want the turtle neck, if you will, aspect of this.

00:25:25.477 --> 00:25:29.395
But, like you said, I like the stuff that's built into the stuff that you're already wearing.

00:25:29.395 --> 00:25:31.010
Again, not for everybody.

00:25:31.010 --> 00:25:32.691
There's a lot of different options out there.

00:25:32.691 --> 00:25:36.915
And look, I remember hating Christie, you're by hated wearing a neck guard.

00:25:38.127 --> 00:25:40.132
I mean they were on my daughter's couch team.

00:25:40.132 --> 00:25:42.036
None of the women right.

00:25:42.036 --> 00:25:42.517
Neck guards?

00:25:42.517 --> 00:25:44.490
None of them, Not a single one.

00:25:45.345 --> 00:25:47.604
I think that's, and this is a great conversation.

00:25:47.604 --> 00:25:53.748
You know we have a whole separate conversation right on neck guards, because it's really like any equipment chase that you sell If you're going to alter it.

00:25:53.748 --> 00:26:00.134
And and you know, I mean I've literally seen kids, you know, like use socks and make them look like neck guards.

00:26:00.134 --> 00:26:03.694
So unless it's enforced and let you know, and then you know it's great breakthrough.

00:26:03.694 --> 00:26:10.528
My kids use War Road and a cane and those are really comfortable, you know, cut resistant under layers, no doubt about it.

00:26:10.528 --> 00:26:17.990
They look cool, they feel great, they feel like all of you know all the fancy rubber pieces on there to hold elbow guards together and all that kind of stuff.

00:26:17.990 --> 00:26:25.132
But you know, all of a sudden people thought, oh well, tj Osh is going to wear this in an XL game and that might, that might really stem the tide.

00:26:25.132 --> 00:26:27.169
But until it's, until it's seen.

00:26:27.169 --> 00:26:29.012
Same thing with kids, like with earpieces.

00:26:29.012 --> 00:26:30.557
All these kids get their helmets.

00:26:30.557 --> 00:26:34.895
I'm sure you don't send the earpiece or a helmet outchase without the ear protection attached to it.

00:26:34.895 --> 00:26:36.891
And all these kids take the earpieces off.

00:26:36.891 --> 00:26:42.868
And my question is always like, well, why would you go through the effort to take the earpieces off when some?

00:26:42.868 --> 00:26:44.753
And then, you know, then it comes down to some ref.

00:26:44.753 --> 00:26:55.753
Some officials demand that they're in, some don't, and so until we all, as as coaches and and officials, demand that the proper equipment is worn, you know you'll never get it.

00:26:55.753 --> 00:26:58.693
You're never going to stem the tide, people altering that equipment.

00:26:59.065 --> 00:27:01.573
Mike, let's hope that happens in 2024.

00:27:02.424 --> 00:27:05.777
I got to say this real quick about earpieces for everyone listening.

00:27:05.777 --> 00:27:10.289
There's a lot of pain you can experience in hockey through injury.

00:27:10.289 --> 00:27:15.089
Getting hit in the ear with a puck is not something you want to endure.

00:27:16.280 --> 00:27:17.064
Or my butt end.

00:27:17.224 --> 00:27:19.023
Or my butt end, yes, or a stick.

00:27:19.023 --> 00:27:23.246
This is one of those injuries I don't think people know how painful it is.

00:27:23.246 --> 00:27:25.281
Or again, look, look.

00:27:25.281 --> 00:27:28.990
Obviously you could lose your hearing, which is a big problem.

00:27:28.990 --> 00:27:38.599
All right, like, just like sight and everything else, but it's one of the most painful things that can happen to you is getting hit in the ear, outside of massive injury.

00:27:38.599 --> 00:27:39.744
Do you know what I'm trying to say?

00:27:39.744 --> 00:27:44.769
So, everybody listening, parents, encourage your kids, do not take those off.

00:27:44.769 --> 00:27:47.445
It is not something you're going to want to deal with.

00:27:47.445 --> 00:27:51.208
And kids, I promise you it does not look as cool as you think.

00:27:51.208 --> 00:27:52.471
Nobody notices.

00:27:53.161 --> 00:27:57.025
Nobody notices that they're Except the good officials Right.

00:27:57.025 --> 00:27:58.167
That's their job, though.

00:27:58.630 --> 00:28:01.448
Right, but yeah, chase, just get it back.

00:28:01.448 --> 00:28:02.564
I think I merged this into a question.

00:28:02.564 --> 00:28:12.750
It's about innovating, right, and one of the things we're seeing you actually alluded to this earlier in the show is that we're kind of in this period here where equipment companies, there's new stuff every year.

00:28:12.750 --> 00:28:22.352
But what I find and this is not a shot at anybody, really mean that is that the innovative side of hockey doesn't happen every year on a massive scale.

00:28:22.352 --> 00:28:29.352
I know there's always changes, but it's like every five or six years something will really change in the way a stick is made or a skate is made.

00:28:29.352 --> 00:28:30.805
It's like, ok, now everyone's got to do that.

00:28:30.805 --> 00:28:37.005
A great one would be CCMs like 3DO material inside their pads, like that was a game changer, right, the way it absorbs everything.

00:28:37.005 --> 00:28:44.894
So how do you keep your ear we just talked about that close to the ice, if you will, with these updates.

00:28:44.894 --> 00:28:57.365
I know you get it in, you test it out, but when you see something really innovative, what is the process of getting that out, especially for a store like yours where it's like you got to move the gear, the stuff that you have, so you see something come in.

00:28:57.365 --> 00:28:58.304
It's really innovative.

00:28:58.304 --> 00:29:00.826
What's the process for ice warehouse in that situation?

00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:09.190
I think that one of the other great things we pride ourselves are just having such a great relationship with the big manufacturers out there.

00:29:09.190 --> 00:29:14.852
So for the past 10 years we've been traveling up to Montreal to go visit CCM.

00:29:14.852 --> 00:29:25.949
We shoot videos within their performance lab, which is where the one-piece boot has been basically engineered and tested and confirmed.

00:29:25.949 --> 00:29:31.286
That's where we see them just make huge strides on their overall stick technology.

00:29:31.286 --> 00:29:33.105
That we see year in and year out.

00:29:33.105 --> 00:29:38.211
So when it comes to innovation, we're right in the middle of it.

00:29:38.211 --> 00:29:49.892
I feel like we've built up some great relationships with the product managers, the product developers, that when I'm out at CCM in Montreal I could say what are we going to see in two years?

00:29:49.892 --> 00:29:56.425
And sometimes I get a couple of cool little tips and I can't always disclose that and it always stays off a camera.

00:29:56.425 --> 00:30:08.144
But just continuing to have that relationship with the actual people that are developing the product we have a very cool video coming out to.

00:30:08.144 --> 00:30:11.010
That ties really to your question here.

00:30:11.010 --> 00:30:16.089
Last year I guess this earlier this year we visited CCM.

00:30:16.089 --> 00:30:24.769
We got to shoot a video in their performance lab about the new rib core trigger rate that just came out and we sat down with their stick development team.

00:30:24.769 --> 00:30:37.913
So this isn't the product manager who handles the top level development of sticks, but these are the engineers that hook up the stick to all the crazy stuff that you see in like NHL 24.

00:30:37.913 --> 00:30:43.893
So you could really get an idea of the actual engineering going on behind the stick.

00:30:43.893 --> 00:30:51.720
So we're actually going to drop that video next week I think it is, which would be the early, early 2020 for actually.

00:30:51.720 --> 00:30:54.422
It'll be out by the time this is out, so you can go watch it now.

00:30:54.422 --> 00:30:56.026
That's what I would say Perfect, okay.

00:30:56.086 --> 00:30:56.626
I wish for it.

00:30:56.626 --> 00:31:07.869
Yeah, so just having those relationships with the engineers, the developers of the gear, not just the top level, that's awesome.

00:31:08.781 --> 00:31:21.925
And look, to be fair, that's something I don't think a lot of people realize that you travel there, you take a look and you have, like I said, you have your ear to the ground on what's coming, Right, Because I think it's easy to look at a store and say, okay, they're just bringing in whatever they bring in and they got to move it.

00:31:21.925 --> 00:31:23.904
And the fact that you want to know.

00:31:23.904 --> 00:31:29.347
I think that's really important, Right, and I think that's the sign of you know, telltale sign or something good.

00:31:29.347 --> 00:31:32.347
Here's one for you too, Chase.

00:31:32.347 --> 00:31:33.143
I was thinking about this.

00:31:33.143 --> 00:31:36.346
In your intro I said you've been with Ice Warehouse for 13 years.

00:31:36.346 --> 00:31:42.010
That's rare to be with one place for 13 years, especially in this game.

00:31:42.010 --> 00:31:46.544
You know I can count really on one hand how many people I know have been with the same company for that long.

00:31:46.544 --> 00:31:49.868
So what separates Ice Warehouse for you?

00:31:49.868 --> 00:31:56.530
Why have you decided to kind of make a home there and I know the work is extensive, but to stay there, something must be going right.

00:31:56.530 --> 00:32:00.851
So just tell me a little bit about the culture there and why you've decided to be there for over a decade.

00:32:01.500 --> 00:32:02.202
Yeah, it's a.

00:32:02.202 --> 00:32:05.522
I've said it a couple of times this video we're hockey players.

00:32:05.522 --> 00:32:09.368
I play pickup hockey with my coworkers on Thursdays.

00:32:09.368 --> 00:32:12.769
It's a small group just within our company.

00:32:12.769 --> 00:32:30.924
We're a part of a bigger corporation and even my video team we hang out outside of work and everyone in every department here just has that that it factor, whether it's you know the great work that they do or just the relationships you build within the company.

00:32:30.924 --> 00:32:33.832
And I'm a hockey player.

00:32:33.832 --> 00:32:37.230
I get to review products on YouTube.

00:32:37.230 --> 00:32:40.210
I get to travel the CCM and ask questions.

00:32:40.210 --> 00:32:43.630
Hockey players are going to ask if those product developers are the product managers.

00:32:43.630 --> 00:32:45.483
So I don't know.

00:32:45.483 --> 00:32:50.025
I feel like I got really lucky and it helps that we're here in San Luis Obispo, california.

00:32:50.025 --> 00:32:56.486
We do have another location at an, alfreda, georgia, but I don't know, I feel like I just got too lucky.

00:32:57.319 --> 00:32:58.785
This is some unique locations, by the way.

00:32:58.785 --> 00:33:02.243
Yeah, it's not the first two locations I think of when I think hockey.

00:33:03.246 --> 00:33:04.287
You are living the dream.

00:33:04.287 --> 00:33:04.788
I love it.

00:33:05.529 --> 00:33:05.829
Thank you.

00:33:05.829 --> 00:33:07.713
Well, I'll say Go ahead.

00:33:09.481 --> 00:33:21.131
I mean, is there a certain time of year that's best to shop for hockey gear, or where you get, where there's a lot of merchandise out there at good prices?

00:33:21.511 --> 00:33:22.134
That's a great question.

00:33:22.200 --> 00:33:28.890
Because there's certain times of year, obviously, when everything's kind of picked over and there's not a lot out there, but the price might be good.

00:33:28.890 --> 00:33:32.067
So what's the prime time to shop?

00:33:33.500 --> 00:33:35.006
I would say there's two.

00:33:35.006 --> 00:33:38.086
There's two great prime times to shop.

00:33:38.086 --> 00:33:48.011
Anywhere between February and March is when manufacturers typically want to discount the previous year's product to make way for the new year product.

00:33:48.011 --> 00:34:01.642
So that's when you're going to have the widest selection of sizing, whether it's a skate or a stick, and you're going to get that anywhere between 15 to 20% off, depending on what the manufacturers kind of mandate.

00:34:01.642 --> 00:34:17.289
And then I would say and I'm being honest here anywhere from Black November, which is November 1st, up until really the end of the year, at least through our website where we do unique weekly deals.

00:34:17.289 --> 00:34:31.710
There's new deals every Monday until the end of the year and that's when we look at our inventory and see where we can really cut some prices and move some units and really get ready for 2024.

00:34:31.710 --> 00:34:36.831
So those would be the two times of the year that I would definitely look around for.

00:34:36.831 --> 00:34:42.067
You know, whether it's a new pair of skates or sticks, I would say those would be the two to go Okay.

00:34:43.300 --> 00:34:44.003
Follow up question for you.

00:34:44.003 --> 00:34:49.791
You mentioned that time of year in February when the manufacturers want to get rid of stuff.

00:34:49.791 --> 00:34:52.907
They want to dump stuff, so they're slashing the prices.

00:34:52.907 --> 00:34:57.947
Is this stuff that they want to get rid of just as good as the new stuff that's coming out?

00:34:59.090 --> 00:34:59.751
Very close.

00:34:59.751 --> 00:35:03.427
I get this question a lot on YouTube as well.

00:35:03.427 --> 00:35:14.050
You know that 2023, the CCM Trigger 8 Pro stick came out and then the year before the Trigger 7 Pro came out in 2022.

00:35:14.050 --> 00:35:20.291
So a lot of people are saying, hey, should I get the 2022 model or 2023 model?

00:35:21.012 --> 00:35:21.253
Right.

00:35:21.840 --> 00:35:34.907
The 2023, the newest model will be better in some sort of aspect, whether it's lighter, it's more durable, has more feel pick the marketing buzzword but there will be some sort of improvement on the next generation.

00:35:34.907 --> 00:35:42.902
But if I'm comparing these to price for price, when the previous model's 15 to 20% discounted or you know, it's on clearance.

00:35:42.902 --> 00:35:52.572
I would go with that, you know, unless you're an absolute elite level player that needs every little pinch of performance.

00:35:52.572 --> 00:35:56.106
But realistically I would just kind of compare the prices.

00:35:58.072 --> 00:36:03.050
Yeah, so for the average kid, you know I mean the latest and greatest, go for the price, yeah, cool.

00:36:03.130 --> 00:36:04.233
Very cool.

00:36:04.233 --> 00:36:07.858
I do a lot of work with true and I try to use the same thing for the kids.

00:36:07.858 --> 00:36:12.603
Like they want the hazardous 9x and I'm like, well, why don't you get the 3x?

00:36:12.603 --> 00:36:14.065
See how you like it.

00:36:14.065 --> 00:36:22.123
If you like it and the price point is good, then maybe get the 5x, then the 7x, and if you want to spend the extra you know $280 get the 9x.

00:36:22.123 --> 00:36:35.172
But I just don't think there's enough kids out there that really can tell the difference between grains of weight and the performance piece, right?

00:36:35.172 --> 00:36:36.938
So if you have a shitty shot, you have a shitty shot.

00:36:36.938 --> 00:36:46.420
I mean that extra performance isn't helping you, but I mean a company like yours allows you to look and say, okay, well, here's the line, the product line.

00:36:46.420 --> 00:36:52.864
Let me start with something I want to feel comfortable with first and if I feel like oh, like, I do this with skating all the time.

00:36:52.864 --> 00:37:06.210
I do a lot of profiling for kids and it's one of those things where I don't think young kids know a good like a profile skate until they know Like they, just like they don't realize they need it or want it or think it's better until they do it.

00:37:06.210 --> 00:37:17.460
But some kids, just like I love testing kids out Like they're like oh, I'm a 5x, I go, okay, 5x, no problem, and I'll put them in a half inch sharpening and they won't even know the difference.

00:37:19.911 --> 00:37:20.592