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.
Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena!
NHL Sense Arena, is a virtual reality training game designed specifically to improve hockey sense and IQ for both players and goalies. Experience the next generation of off-ice training in VR with over 100+ drills and training plans curated from top coaches and players.
Use Code "HockeyNeverStops" at Hockey.SenseArena.com to score $50 off an annual plan!
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.
Our Kids Play Hockey is powered by NHL Sense Arena!
NHL Sense Arena, is a virtual reality training game designed specifically to improve hockey sense and IQ for both players and goalies. Experience the next generation of off-ice training in VR with over 100+ drills and training plans curated from top coaches and players.
Use Code "HockeyNeverStops" at Hockey.SenseArena.com to score $50 off an annual plan!
You know, shopping for hockey gear can be really fun or it can be a real pain in the you know what. So what we decided to do today was bring on Chase Baroo, who works for Ice Warehouse. 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. Chase really didn't disappoint, gave some great answers, really some great insight about how to approach getting your gear. So you're going to really enjoy this episode with Mike Christie, myself and Chase Also. 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. We need your help to win this thing two years running. 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. 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. So again, ourkidsplayhockeycom, look for the shortlist Hockey Podcast of the Year link on there. You can vote for us, you can help send us to the top and together we can make it. You should become the Hockey Podcast of the Year. But without further ado, let's get you into the episode with Chase Barude of Ice Warehouse. 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. I'm Leo Elias, with Mike Minnelli and Christy Casciano Burns. 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. Chase found his love for hockey early in life, while growing up in Bakersfield, california, and his journey led him to San Luis Obispo. Am I saying that right, chase?
Speaker 2:San Luis Obispo. It's close, it's close. Say it one more time, san Luis.
Speaker 1:Obispo, you said it for college where he also started his career with Ice Warehouse in 2010. 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. 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. It's our turn to interview you now, though, chase. So welcome to our kids play hockey.
Speaker 2:Hey, thanks so much for having me Lane. 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.
Speaker 1: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. First question I want to get right into it because it's probably the burning question for everybody. 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?
Speaker 2: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. 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. They should be looking at the recreational level and while the high end price point models they have absolutely gone through the roof. They still offer some great value at that recreational or performance level. So we're definitely very aware of it. I'm a hockey player myself, shopping for a Christmas presents for my little niece right now some new skates and some shoulder pads. So definitely aware of it. But I think just helping customers find the right gear for their game is the most important thing that we try and do here.
Speaker 3:My kids have always been particular to brands, like my daughter loves CCM and you know, warrior. Are all brands created equal? That's a question.
Speaker 1:Well, that's a very good question, a great question.
Speaker 2:I would say they're all created equal, but they go through different phases. 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. So just to kind of point you in an example here, I thought I lost you. Ccm with their one piece boots, true hockey with their one piece boots. You just see companies really find their stride and it's really exciting to see that, especially in those two right now.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and is it okay for kids to just kind of try out different brands? You know, say they need a certain, you know set of knee pads, right, but some feel better than others, right? Isn't that true? I always had my kids try different kinds and different brands because sometimes the fits a little bit different.
Speaker 2:Absolutely Another brand. 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. 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. And then there's another category of low profile, super lightweight shin pads too. 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.
Speaker 3:That's a great tip. That's a really good tip.
Speaker 1:Yeah, chase, I'll add on to that. 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? 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. 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? 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. Not everybody does that, right? So I want to ask you in kind of in the vein of what Christie asked you've done hundreds of videos now, right? 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. 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.
Speaker 2: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. 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. Scary, yeah, scary light, and that's always so exciting to see. But kind of bringing it back here, hockey is so expensive. 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. So that's, I don't know. 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.
Speaker 1: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. 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. 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. But I think it's also good to give your kids perspective of hey, use a wooden stick for a practice. I'm not going to say it through in the game, just to have an understanding. 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. 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. And I always say too. You look at skates. I love your insight on this. 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. 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. I think that you really do care about fit and feel, and it's about finding what's right for you and your family. Would you like to expunge on that a little bit? Because, again, look, we all know it's expensive and it's a business. Right, people got to make money, but I don't think it's evil. It's not as grinchy about that for this time of year as people think.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's perfect timing, and it really is. We don't make up the prices. There are set standards across the industry that we're supposed to price the products at Great point. And, like you said too, when you come to our site, the way we really really do operate is we want to find you. We want to find you the best gear for your price and your style of play. 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. So we're not trying to push you one way or another based on brand or price. 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. We just want to make sure players find the right gear and then allow you to choose the price at that. And we carry everything we possibly can. So again, we don't just stock the elite skates just to make sure you buy a thousand dollar skate. We carry everything.
Speaker 4: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. 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. They push you to the brand that fits your needs. And I think you know, because I've used your videos a million times. 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? This is crazy, this guy is the expert and he's and you're doing the research. 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. 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. And then you know, you, you find you have loyalty there and I still think there's more. I think most people you know me growing up. I always had loyalty to a brand, for no other reason. But I was like, oh, that's what I, that's what I wear. 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.
Speaker 3:I'll never go back to.
Speaker 4:So, so, so to me it was like you know what I think. But but again, I'm in the hockey world every day, like. So I get to talk to you know, 400 players, and go what do you like, what do you like, like. So if I'm a new parent and I can come to you, I can say, well, what do you like? 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. So here are all the different aspects of what this equipment has to offer, which I think is a great resource for anybody.
Speaker 2: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. We just had a big arena that we'd practice on. 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. 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. So you know, I don't want them to be left out on. You know, gear is exciting and it can be expensive, but it's also exciting. 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. 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.
Speaker 3:Right, okay, gear nerd, I got a question for you. How do you know when your kids really need new skates? Because my kids, around this time of year, would develop new skate disease, so oh my gosh. 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. Oh, they're too tight, they're too small, they're broken out. So what are the telltale signs that your kids really need new skates? I mean, how do you look at a skate and say, okay, it's time. 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?
Speaker 2: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. You'll see all five toes in there. 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. They might not be too small yet, but that would be a very telltale sign that they're getting ready. But if you see the stains at the end of the footbed, they're not lying. They're ready for some new skates, or blood or skates themselves?
Speaker 3:Yeah, because they don't break down like they used to, right? 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.
Speaker 2:Yeah, or they outgrow them. 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. But it also prevents that premature breakdown and wear. So I would say, most of the time, at least in youth hockey, they're just outgrowing them, they're not overusing them. And then most of the time in adult leagues, that's when you maybe start to see some breakdown over a couple years.
Speaker 3:Okay, great, another great tip for parents. There you go, I would agree with them too, kristi.
Speaker 1:As an adult player like you know for what I pay for them. They better last a few years.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:That's like getting new tires on your car. Also, kristi inadvertently pointed NSD is a real problem. New skate disease If you're children are getting NSD.
Speaker 3:It's always this time of year. It is, they've been cold sniffles If you're at home with an ax on taking the tending guard off.
Speaker 4:You know it's time for a new pair of skates.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, and then they're all skier eggs and new skate disease.
Speaker 3:We're always on the.
Speaker 1:NSD. What's going around illnesses? It's a serious problem, Chase. I just wrote this question really simply. What is something that no one knows about working with a major retailer?
Speaker 2:Hmm, from like a consumer standpoint, or From your standpoint?
Speaker 3:Yeah, you can do both.
Speaker 1:Every angry consumer you've ever encountered that just doesn't has no patience. What's the thing that you wish they knew? Because, look, I'll say this, I'll preface it too. 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. Our job is to deliver a great product to them. But I do love perspective, right? So what is? Do you work 90 hours a week? Is it a small team and you guys take care of each other? What is something that no one knows about? Working kind of for a hockey company like this?
Speaker 2: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. I just I've got that. I just want them to know that we're hockey players. We're just trying to get you the best gear, like the gear that you need. 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. 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. But I don't know. The hockey community is great. If that's the only thing I have to say, I bet it's important.
Speaker 1:I'll say this too, mike Christie, you'll laugh at this. 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. We will send you another one if we have to. But you know, if it's whatever it is, whatever the postal service is, it's usually one. But whatever the postal service is in question, you know I don't control that. We do pack it and most people I'd say Chase are pretty amical about that. I've had a few. You've ruined Christmas a few times.
Speaker 3:Oh sure.
Speaker 1:You know which I feel bad about, but it's, you know. The point is we're doing the best we can, right? 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. All right, Chase, question from the audience here. Okay, we asked our audience, we told them hey, we have someone coming on for a major retailer, what question do you have? And I was actually pleasantly surprised. 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?
Speaker 2:And we talked about this a little bit off air and I'm sure I'll get fired up here again. So my sister's four years younger than me so she started playing the same time I started playing. 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. And that was always a little flabbergasted at that because she reached the mountaintop and then retired fast forward. She now has my amazing niece and she's coaching a co-ed ice hockey team right now too. So I just want to kind of give a little bit of backstory. That women's hockey has always been very important to me. 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. But we actually brought her in because she plays, she coaches that's actually how she met. 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. So I think that just kind of kicks it off on where women's hockey means to me. But I'm excited that CCM hockey is coming out with a full run of women's protective gear. 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. Last year, sherwood hockey came out with a secondary price point in their protective line, which includes shoulder pads as well as ice pants. So making hockey more affordable for women as well, I think, is so exciting. 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.
Speaker 3:Long overdue. I have to say there are a lot of struggles over the year. My daughter played right up until college. 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. So of course there's going to be a difference. So I'm really, really excited that you're sharing this news with us, because it is long overdue. 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. A lot of kids are still resistant to wearing them and hopefully it'll become mandatory next year. And then there's no choice you have to. You can't play unless you wear one. I'm a huge advocate for neck guards. What are you seeing as far as making them more comfortable? Perhaps and I think that's the biggest complaint I've heard from kids is they just? They just don't feel comfortable? And what advice would you share for parents when you get a kid who's so resistant to wearing one?
Speaker 2: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. But I am hoping. I haven't heard anything yet, but I really am hoping. 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. The sooner the better, obviously. So until then, I would recommend one of the bib style neck guards. The traditional ones that are a little bit thicker around the neck tend to spin. 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. 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. 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. That's his company. 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.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I'll add on to it to chase. 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. They use a chase duster armor. So the neck, the neck guards built into their under armor Right, and the way that I love. 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. But, like you said, I like the stuff that's built into the stuff that you're already wearing. Again, not for everybody. There's a lot of different options out there. And look, I remember hating Christie, you're by hated wearing a neck guard.
Speaker 3:I mean they were on my daughter's couch team. None of the women right. Neck guards? None of them, Not a single one.
Speaker 4:I think that's, and this is a great conversation. 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. And and you know, I mean I've literally seen kids, you know, like use socks and make them look like neck guards. So unless it's enforced and let you know, and then you know it's great breakthrough. My kids use War Road and a cane and those are really comfortable, you know, cut resistant under layers, no doubt about it. 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. 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. But until it's, until it's seen. Same thing with kids, like with earpieces. All these kids get their helmets. I'm sure you don't send the earpiece or a helmet outchase without the ear protection attached to it. And all these kids take the earpieces off. And my question is always like, well, why would you go through the effort to take the earpieces off when some? And then, you know, then it comes down to some ref. 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. You're never going to stem the tide, people altering that equipment.
Speaker 3:Mike, let's hope that happens in 2024.
Speaker 1:I got to say this real quick about earpieces for everyone listening. There's a lot of pain you can experience in hockey through injury. Getting hit in the ear with a puck is not something you want to endure.
Speaker 4:Or my butt end.
Speaker 1:Or my butt end, yes, or a stick. This is one of those injuries I don't think people know how painful it is. Or again, look, look. Obviously you could lose your hearing, which is a big problem. 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. Do you know what I'm trying to say? So, everybody listening, parents, encourage your kids, do not take those off. It is not something you're going to want to deal with. And kids, I promise you it does not look as cool as you think. Nobody notices.
Speaker 4:Nobody notices that they're Except the good officials Right. That's their job, though.
Speaker 1:Right, but yeah, chase, just get it back. I think I merged this into a question. 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. 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. 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. It's like, ok, now everyone's got to do that. A great one would be CCMs like 3DO material inside their pads, like that was a game changer, right, the way it absorbs everything. So how do you keep your ear we just talked about that close to the ice, if you will, with these updates. 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. It's really innovative. What's the process for ice warehouse in that situation?
Speaker 2: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. So for the past 10 years we've been traveling up to Montreal to go visit CCM. We shoot videos within their performance lab, which is where the one-piece boot has been basically engineered and tested and confirmed. That's where we see them just make huge strides on their overall stick technology. That we see year in and year out. So when it comes to innovation, we're right in the middle of it. 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? And sometimes I get a couple of cool little tips and I can't always disclose that and it always stays off a camera. 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. That ties really to your question here. Last year I guess this earlier this year we visited CCM. 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. 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. So you could really get an idea of the actual engineering going on behind the stick. So we're actually going to drop that video next week I think it is, which would be the early, early 2020 for actually.
Speaker 1:It'll be out by the time this is out, so you can go watch it now. That's what I would say Perfect, okay.
Speaker 2:I wish for it. Yeah, so just having those relationships with the engineers, the developers of the gear, not just the top level, that's awesome.
Speaker 1: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. And the fact that you want to know. I think that's really important, Right, and I think that's the sign of you know, telltale sign or something good. Here's one for you too, Chase. I was thinking about this. In your intro I said you've been with Ice Warehouse for 13 years. That's rare to be with one place for 13 years, especially in this game. You know I can count really on one hand how many people I know have been with the same company for that long. So what separates Ice Warehouse for you? 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. So just tell me a little bit about the culture there and why you've decided to be there for over a decade.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's a. I've said it a couple of times this video we're hockey players. I play pickup hockey with my coworkers on Thursdays. It's a small group just within our company. 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. And I'm a hockey player. I get to review products on YouTube. I get to travel the CCM and ask questions. Hockey players are going to ask if those product developers are the product managers. So I don't know. I feel like I got really lucky and it helps that we're here in San Luis Obispo, california. We do have another location at an, alfreda, georgia, but I don't know, I feel like I just got too lucky.
Speaker 1:This is some unique locations, by the way. Yeah, it's not the first two locations I think of when I think hockey.
Speaker 3:You are living the dream. I love it.
Speaker 2:Thank you. Well, I'll say Go ahead.
Speaker 3: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?
Speaker 1:That's a great question.
Speaker 3: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. So what's the prime time to shop?
Speaker 2:I would say there's two. There's two great prime times to shop. 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. 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. 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. 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. So those would be the two times of the year that I would definitely look around for. You know, whether it's a new pair of skates or sticks, I would say those would be the two to go Okay.
Speaker 3:Follow up question for you. You mentioned that time of year in February when the manufacturers want to get rid of stuff. They want to dump stuff, so they're slashing the prices. Is this stuff that they want to get rid of just as good as the new stuff that's coming out?
Speaker 2:Very close. I get this question a lot on YouTube as well. 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. So a lot of people are saying, hey, should I get the 2022 model or 2023 model?
Speaker 3:Right.
Speaker 2: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. 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. I would go with that, you know, unless you're an absolute elite level player that needs every little pinch of performance. But realistically I would just kind of compare the prices.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so for the average kid, you know I mean the latest and greatest, go for the price, yeah, cool.
Speaker 4:Very cool. I do a lot of work with true and I try to use the same thing for the kids. Like they want the hazardous 9x and I'm like, well, why don't you get the 3x? See how you like it. 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. 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? So if you have a shitty shot, you have a shitty shot. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Speaker 1:They have no idea. And then there's some people.
Speaker 4:There's some people that will you'll just change anything and they're like what are you doing with my skates? Why they? You know I can't skate like this, so it depends, I think, on that level of player. And then, but I think it's just, and then listen, if you have the ability to go in and get the I see all the adult guys right If you have the ability, like you know, like I go hunting all the time I get the best gear it is. I can't hit a bird, I can't hit a shot. It's my life dependent on I look good, though I really look like a hunter.
Speaker 1:You do look good as a hunter.
Speaker 4:And the guy that's out there with, like you know, a plastic bag as waiters on his legs, you know, and tying his pants up with a rope is just a better hunter than me, because he's better. So I think it's just the same thing. When you look at this equipment, you look at some of the guys and girls that are out there. They got all the great gear and I'm like, yeah, but even though like do, you know how to use, so I think for the, for the youngest kids. It's just like figure out, like, if you like a brand or and it is my question on all this would be you know, do you find like one of the questions you get, or the the comments you get when somebody says, oh well, I love, I want a Mitch Marner stick. Well, you're not a Mitch Marner player. Or or you know, you know that's not the right lie for you or the right curve for you or the right flex for you. I mean, what kind of advice would you give when kids and parents are researching equipment and for they go by the Austin Matthews first before they go by what's right for their kid?
Speaker 3:Great question.
Speaker 2:That's a great question and the way that I would follow that up, because it is a good entry point, I would say well, what is it about Mitch Marner that you want his stick? Not just because he scores goals, but how does he score goals? Or, talking about awesome Matthews, is it because you feel like you have a similar shooting technique as him? Like, obviously it's not, you're not going to shoot as hard, but is that something you're trying to emulate? And and there there could be different sticks that are more conducive to different style shots as well. We have three different kick points, so I like to take that Well, I want this player stick and I like to kind of open it up and say, well, why is it? Is it because where they're shooting from or how they're shooting? And then we could find them the right, you know, type of stick to get into? And then we've talked price at a different point, but I'd like to try and find what they mean by I want his stick.
Speaker 4:Have you done any videos? Or I now got to look you up with more now. So if you've done any videos Like Mike, like, like, like, yeah, now I got to spend time on this so have you done any? Have you done any videos on on like hockey live, listen, when I grew up, right, you literally could go in and there was a lie five, a lie for a lie six. You would see it and you would physically see it. You would see that, that, that the shape of the, you know, the shaft to the blade ratio, and now, like it's just, it's just, I don't know, crosby stick, what the hell? No, I don't know what he does, what his lie is right. So is there any? What's your recommendation there? Or have you? Have you, you know, kind of researched that and posted about that?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I believe warrior hockey was the most predominant lie option offer there was because, like you said, there would be one curve available in three different lies and left and right hand, which is from a skew management standpoint. That's so many different sticks that those manufacturers are carrying, and kind of similar to what we talked about before too. It's. I don't know, I feel like the lie isn't that important, like when we're talking about changing from a lie five and a half to a six. That's maybe you know, like two or three inches of a higher raise on your stick. So I don't know, you could give McDavid a lie zero or lie 42 and dude would still be unreal. So I I mean, I love micro tuning equipment to to fit a player's needs, but when it comes to lie, I don't think it's as important as having the right flex rating or flex profile compared to what the lie is.
Speaker 1:Well, I'll follow that up to chase with something I noticed amongst professional players. They all have a preference and no, you're wrong, they want their preference. They want, like you said, the fine tuning the equipment. But you said it, you could hand an NHL player any stick and they're going to figure it out. And that's the key term I tell young people is like look, you got to know how to use all sticks. You can figure it out if you have enough muscle memory built up. It might not be tuned to your game, but you'll be able to use it. You know, I also wrote down here a few things. One is that you don't remember Al McKinnis who's again? No, anybody young here is not going to know who that is. He was shooting over 100 miles per hour nightly with a wooden stick. Right, so it's the mechanics. And this is what I wrote down here with my kids. What I did was you know if they wanted better gear, the condition was, when you get the mechanics of your wrist shot down or your snapshot or your toe, drag was whatever. When you get the correct mechanics down of the shot, I will improve your stick. Right, and when they got to that point, we did improve their stick and it was a noticeable jump in their ability to shoot. Now someone might say, well, it's the stick, yet they have a better stick. No, they learned the mechanics correctly. Now the stick is corresponding to what they have learned. If I gave them that stick early, sure there would have been a little more flex, maybe a little more whip on the shot, but I mean, we've all seen it's going to be wobbling right to the net or over the net or you know, or just because the mechanics aren't there. So, as part of development, you need to develop your kid into the equipment that they're going to be using. It's the same things with skates. That's why we tell kids do not get skates that are too big. It is a bad thing. Now again, that's the eye of every parent alive, because when your kid grows three foot sizes in one year, you're spending quite a bit of money. But you know, developing the great mechanics, the right ability to do these things right, that's when the equipment starts to correspond to you, thus bringing this full circle the player makes the equipment. It's not the other way around. Does not matter how much you spend, if you don't add a skate, there's no pair of skates that's going to make you a great skater. It just doesn't work that way, and to piggyback on that.
Speaker 2:the player can't make the skates, but the skates can prevent the player from finding those proper mechanics. So what? I see a lot, but more so in adult league, where it's a new to hockey recreational player that has a big budget. You know they're. Hey, I'm getting into hockey for the first time, I want to look good, I want to feel good, I want to have that $300.
Speaker 1:You want to look like Mike Benelli the Hunter.
Speaker 2:Yeah, mike Benelli, the Hunter, exactly.
Speaker 3:He's all about the looks, babe, my armor scare is good. It's good stuff.
Speaker 2:Look good, play good and hunt good sometimes.
Speaker 3:But they go for sticker.
Speaker 2:But those recreational players will pick up a pair of thousand dollar skates when they don't know how to do a crossover and then that it hurts their feet, it prevents them from actually learning how to flex the skate. And so I mean even, especially when it comes to skates, you really have to buy for your skill level, because you're only going to cause pain for yourself and you can prevent that education of learning the proper skating stride.
Speaker 1:That's a great point. Mike, you look to get a question there. Yeah, I know.
Speaker 4:Well, that's the whole point is that you find equipment that fits your needs. Like I go insane when I watch goaltenders working on hours and hours and hours of instruction. And then you go to sharpen their skates and they're not even level One edge is here and one edge is here and you're like, well, you'll never learn, you're never going to be able to learn, they're using the wrong equipment. Because the dad's like I need that extra two and a half inches because later on they're going to need that, so I don't have to buy another set of pads yet, but they'll never learn in the pads they're in or whatever it is, whatever the equipment is, and we talk about all the time. Just about oversized in your player, you're going to oversized your kid's helmet, it's flopping around. The chin guards stick it out, like Logan Koolie or whatever. Who was that kid? The one kid has a chin guard. So I'm like, well, you're not protecting yourself though. So great, you want it so much. And this is not for a chess company, you don't want to hear it. But you could buy used equipment up to a point where you like the equipment. Then go out and buy it, buy some good gear, but you don't have to get the top gear. Just get that piece. Like listen my kids with sticks. I will never buy the top branded stick because they break too. I mean I have a 16U team and I think every kid on that team has broken like seven sticks this year and they're paying $280 a stick. It's more money in the hockey season. So it's just find a stick that fits your needs or whatever equipment. Like me, I've had the same elbow pads since I was a high school senior and I played all through college. I played all my hockey and that was like a one-time purchase, I mean, but because I was grown and everything. But I do like to experiment with other gear. You want to experiment with different face masks and different gloves and just other pieces of equipment that you want to fit into. So I think the chasest point find the equipment that fits the level of your play first and the comfort level and don't put yourself in a place where you're uncomfortable because then you're not going to like the sport anyway and it's going to really not give you an opportunity to learn the sport. But I guess it's one of those things where just get good gear, research it. I mean, your videos are great. It's a really educational piece to watch all the effort you put in to your reviews and then really go off of that and then, if you're a kid listening to this, sit down and watch the reviews first before asking mom and dad for what you want. Like know what you want first. Like don't just get it because Mitch Marner's got it. Get it because you want it and need it. And then, I don't know, I would show that video. That would be my supporting deposition. I'd be like this is what I need you to get me, because here's the expert telling me what I need.
Speaker 3:Also hang on to your receipts Now. I bought my kid. Yeah, I wanted $289 stick 30-day guarantee. Of course he breaks it on day 29. Thank goodness I kept the receipt, Although the manufacturer was really great. They said don't worry about it, If it was a week later, we'd still give it to you, but hang on to your receipts.
Speaker 1:I wish that 30-day guarantee.
Speaker 3:On day 29, if it's a 30-day guarantee.
Speaker 1:I understand this from a product company, but I wish those guarantees would go beyond 30 days.
Speaker 3:I know I do too.
Speaker 1:It was $100 stick, I'd say, all right, I get it.
Speaker 3:Four years.
Speaker 1:Four years, that's a lot, that's a little too long.
Speaker 3:At least 90. You're pushing the days 90. I'm with you on that.
Speaker 1:Come on, and boy do I love poking Mike on a Monday morning. It makes for a good episode.
Speaker 3:He's all riled up. He's probably going to go hunting right after this.
Speaker 1:He's going to look great when he does it. That's the key point, mike, just in closing, one of the things you made me think of when you were talking there is just if I was coaching a kid right now based on this conversation, I would say just become so great that it doesn't matter what stick you use. Just that kind of attitude. If I should be able to hand you a stick and you can play hockey and again, you might not like it, it might not feel right, but you can play because you've built up those skill sets. Mike's got something. Mike's poking me now.
Speaker 4:A couple of years ago NBC did this big hockey day in America and I was one of the USA hockey guys in charge of the on ice. Jeremy Ronick shows up right off the plane, shows up at the rink. There's a brand new box of I think there were CCM skates I mean out of the box like plastic on the skate still and a set of gloves brand new and a stick not taped right off the head, stickers still on it. And talk about blaming a crappy carpenter, blaming their tools, right. Ronick gets out there, throws the skates on gloves and he looked like an NHL hockey player. I don't even think the skates were sharpened Like. I was like how are you doing this and doing all the drills, doing everything there is live on NBC and but that just goes to show you like here's a guy who just he's going to be great, no matter what he's not going to be like. Oh, you know, these skates don't really fit and I got to get him baked and I don't have the right profile and I don't like the laces. I need wax, whatever it's all this stuff. Throw them on and play and I think that's the first level right, find out, be great, compete for greatness, and then fine tune your equipment and find out what you like and what you like and I'll just say this too I haven't dabbled enough in the other sports, but I see some pretty good kid soccer players who can't even afford shoes.
Speaker 1:You know what I mean Around the world. So it's on you just to develop your game, and companies like Ice Warehouse are there for you, right? And it's kind of turning this back towards you, chase, and the idea of what I've always appreciated and Mike has alluded to this many times you go out of your way to make those videos For everybody listening. It's not cheap to have a production arm for your company to create videos, to distribute those videos, to edit those videos, excuse me, to have a host for those videos. Production is not like. I know we all have cameras on our phones, but it's not that simple as we're trying to say, right?
Speaker 4:But Chase probably does it first take. Though he probably does the first take.
Speaker 1:One take Chase Once in a while. Yeah, my point is that even this podcast in the video it takes work, it takes editors. So the fact that Ice Warehouse takes the time, a lot of time, to dedicate to making sure that you can be informed, on whatever page you go to, you're going to have a video, most likely. If here's what we think, I think that's really great, and I'm out of questions. Kristi and Mike. I don't know if you have Mike. Should I poke you again? Do you have any more?
Speaker 3:I think we covered a lot of ground. And I think any parent that listens to this podcast is going to be ready to handle what's next when it comes to here. So this is great information. We gave you the tools parents.
Speaker 1:There you go. That's the goal for the podcast. Chase Barude, stand your name correctly. Appreciate you being here today. Man, this was a fantastic episode, yeah thank you so much again, thank you Chase Good stuff.
Speaker 2:It was fun having you on any time.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so make sure to check out Ice Warehouse. We've been talking to Chase again, bringing the information to you about the hidden journeys of being part of a major hockey store there. But, joking aside, I want to thank all you for listening to this episode. Remember, all the episodes can be found at ourkidsplayhockeycom. Make sure to join our Facebook group, our Kids Play Hockey. It's always going to be our kids play hockey. The conversations continue there. You can ask questions. You can ask them anonymously. We get a lot of great content from you on there, because our community as we talked about Chase, for you too is really everything to us. So thank you so much for listening to this episode. We'll see you on the next edition of Our Kids Play Hockey. Take care, everybody. We hope you enjoyed this edition of Our Kids Play Hockey. Make sure to like and subscribe right now if you found value. Wherever you're listening, whether it's a podcast network, a social media network or our website, ourkidsplayhockeycom. Also, make sure to check out our children's book when Hockey Stops at whenhockeystopscom. It's a book that helps children deal with adversity in the game and in life. We're very proud of it. But thanks so much for listening to this edition of Our Kids Play Hockey and we'll see you on the next episode. Come on in.