CCM Axis A1.9 Intermediate Goalie Equipment Combo [Special Edition]

CCM Axis A1.9 Intermediate Goalie Leg Pads – Special Edition Single Break

All new for 2020 is the CCM Axis equipment line.  Since we all know goalies are the center of the hockey world, what better name for a new line then the Axis.  The Axis brings CCM into the newer generation of goaltending equipment with a much more modern style that is becoming increasingly popular with younger goalies. We will take a detailed look on this page at the Axis leg pads explain in detail the different specs and new features of the CCM Axis.

Special Edition Single Break: Some customers may be confused by our Special Edition Single Break description.  The Special Edition is our way of giving customers better spec options that are not normally available.  When we initially saw the the CCM Axis pads, the stock version has an inner break but not a break on the outer roll.  In our opinion, we feel this stiffens the pad in an unbalanced way and takes away from the natural flex of the pad.  With an inner break and not outer break, the inside half of the pad wants to flex but the outer half of the pad wants to stay stiff.  This makes for an unbalanced vertical flex in our opinion.  With an unbalanced vertical flex, the pad will not seal properly because the pad will now have a twisting effect on the lateral flex.  By adding the break in the outer roll, the natural flex is restored and butterfly coverage creates a better pad to ice seal.  In generic terms, unless you have a super wide butterfly and do not need any flex, you will need the pad to flex and seal the five hole in the the butterfly position. By adding this break, we feel it greatly helps with this in many ways.

Unique Custom Colors: Goalies Plus will be offering five unique color selections to go along with the Special Edition Single Break series.

New LiteXCore Technology: A recent trend in the goalie world is for the goalie pad to have extremely active rebounds.  The CCM Axis A1.9 pad utilizes the LiteXCore Technology.  The LiteXCore is an extremely lightweight yet durable pre-curved core.  This core along with specific layers of HD and LD foams gives the Axis goalie pads the most explosive rebounds of any CCM goalie pad to date.

Speedskin: The CCM Axis goalie pads will continue to use the popular CCM Speedskin for the outer material. This material is quicker and more explosive  when sliding side to side in the butterfly movements. Speed Skin reduces friction between the pad and the ice and there gives the goalie a better glide.  This is very important late in games when the ice conditions are at there worst.  In testing, Speed Skin performs better than Clarino and is just as durable.

Knee Riser: The knee riser on the Axis pad will feature the 3D Grip with PE Foam.  In the past some companies used very stiff landing blocks for the “butterfly” style pads to increase the speed of sliding side to side.  With the Speedskin technology, the side to side speed is no longer an issue so CCM could concentrate on a more forgiving knee block. The 3D Grip material in the knee block helps keep the from sliding out of the cradle and the PE foam gives the knee block a very comfortable landing area.  This is particularly important as is takes pressure off the goalies joints and back. Also a new feature on the CCM Axis knee blocks is the addition of the length of the knee blocks.  Compared to past CCM models, the knee blocks are about one inch longer.  This helps seal the internal five hole for shots that squeak through the thigh rise in the butterfly technique.

Strapping System: The Axis gear will use an all elastic/velcro strapping system (which has become the industry standard). The quick motion strap along the back calf area helps keep the pad snug to the goalies leg while allowing for proper rotation.  This is very important as it help keep the pad properly positioned on the goalies leg.  Without the quick motion strap, pads will shift downward and actually start to fall down and over the front of the goalies skate creating a very sloppy fit.

Bungee Toe Tie:  The CCM Axis A1.9 goalie pad comes stock with a bungee toe tie system. For years manufactures have used a skate lace to connect the toe of the pad to the toe of the skate.  In recent years, after market bungee toe tie products have become very popular because they allow the toe of the pad to stretch from the toe of the skate with an elastic type effect.  This stretching and recoiling improves the recovery process and creates more power pushes for the goalie. This toe system also takes pressure off the goalies ankles, knees and hips because it eliminates the quick stop and jerk process that skate lace has when it runs out of slack.

Boot Flex: One of the first things we noticed on the CCM Axis pads was the very soft and flexible boot of the pad.  This has become an extremely popular feature in recent years because it greatly increases flexibility in the butterfly recovery process.  The boot is built on a 90 degree angle with a flat (table top) foot channel.

Intermediate Sizing: For  2020, the Axis intermediate pads are built on a height to width proportion.  In years past, all intermediate pads would all be ten inches wide or wider.  This was fine for the 31 and 32 sizes but for the 30 inch size and lower, it was too wide.  Therefore a young goalie wearing a pad that was too wide looked bow legged and that generally meant they were not very mobile.  With the Axis line, the 32 and 31 inch intermediate pads will remain at ten inches wide and the 30 inch intermediate pad will go to nine and three quarters inches wide.  It may not seem like much but it really makes a big difference.  With younger goalies, a properly proportioned pad is essential for player development.

CCM Axis A1.9 Intermediate Goalie Leg Pads are recommended for Travel A thru AAA levels.

CCM Axis A1.9 Goalie Leg Pad Features:

• Model Year: 2020
• Outer Flex – Single break for maximum coverage.
• Inner Flex – Pre-curved with single break in the core.
• Outer Material – Speedskin for increase ease and speed in the butterfly slide technique.
• Boot Angle – 90 Degree angle creates flexibility for power pushes.
• Boot Channel – Deep Ultra Soft for comfort and increased pad rotation.
• Leg Channel / Calf Strap Option – Shallow Loose fit
• Knee Strap Option – Removable 2″ elastic knee for a custom fit.
• Knee Cradle – Recessed foam with removable knee cradle wrap. Deeper knee cradle for 2020
• Knee Raiser – 3D Grip / PE foam helps to seal the pad to the ice
• Core – LiteXCore Technology. – Most active rebound core in CCM’s history
• Proportionate height to width sizing

CCM Axis A1.9 Intermediate Goalie Catch Glove – Special Edition

Now available at Goalies Plus is the CCM Axis A1.9 goalie catch glove.  Unlike the Axis pads which are an all together new design, CCM choose to stay with their 590 styled glove.  The Axis Glove is a continuation of the Premier line that has been one of the best selling gloves for almost twenty years.  That is not to say that the Axis glove does not have any new features – because it does,  However the base design is still the classic Premier 590 glove.  Starting with the traditional features, the Axis A1.9 glove keeps its traditional 60 degree break.  This break goes back the mid 2000’s starting with Koho 590 model, then transitioning to the RBK Premier, then on to the Reebok & CCM Premiers and now into the CCM Axis series..  This Axis A1.9 still uses the one piece cuff that has been used for the past four generations of Premier gloves.  The one piece cuff maximizes the surface area of the glove and is perfect for the blocking style or butterfly style goalie.

As for the changes to the new Axis A1.9 catch glove, we will take a deeper look into these:

Speedskin: The outer material of the Axis A1.9 glove will use the Speedskin material.  Although the Speedskin is most noticeable on the leg pads because it reduces friction between the pads and the ice, it is also a very durable material,  By using the Speedskin on the Axis catch glove, it helps promote overall durability to the glove.

Palm:  This area of the Axis glove is an upgrade over previous generation CCM 590 break gloves. A new layered felt and foam technique used in the Axis glove gives it a natural feel and closure.  A common misconception of goalie gloves is that they are like baseball gloves and the outer material is how you break the glove in.  This is not true with a goalie glove as there is felt internally that protect the hand.  The thicker the felt, the harder to open and close the glove.  The thinner the glove, the easier to open and close the glove but shots will hurt – commonly called stingers.  The palm area of the new Axis glove is very protective but also with the ability to open and close easily off the shelf.

Pocket:  For 2020, CCM has changed from a traditional cord string pocket to a skate lace pocket.  Skate lace pockets are very common on custom orders and now it will come standard on the Axis gloves.  The general opinion on skate lace pockets is that they are softer and therefore help reduce the amount of pop outs or drops while a goalie is in the catching technique.  The Axis glove will still have the Double T with the U shape anchor.  The perimeter of the t-pocket has been stiffened on the new Axis gloves to reduce collapsing at the top of of the pocket.

Internal Strapping:  The Axis internal strapping system will remain the same as previous generations.  Although we have seen other retailers claiming there is a new strap in the Axis backhand, we have not found that to be the case.

Intermediate Sizing: The perimeter of the Axis Intermediate A1.9 goalie catch glove is 42 inches.

Custom Colors: Goalies Plus will be offering five custom colors in our Special Edition Axis A1.9 series.

CCM Axis A1.9 Goalie Catch Glove Features:

• Model Year: 2020
• Cuff/Thumb – One-piece to maximize coverage
• Break angle – 590 – closer to the thumb’s break angle.
• Palm Stiffness – Game-ready fit with layered felt and foam for puck absorption.
• Hand Adjustment – Webbing strap through the cuff for a quick easy adjustment.
• Pocket – Double straight-tee with skate lace.
• Finger guard – Raised foam finger padding for added protection.
• Cuff/Thumb composition – Injection molded PE foam for impact absorption.
• Finger stalls – Nash material for a quick release.
• Regular – Glove goes on the left hand.
• Full Right – Glove goes on the right hand.

CCM Axis A1.9 Intermediate Goalie Blocker – Special Edition

New for 2020 is the CCM Axis A1.9 goalie blocker.  Unlike the Axis leg pads which are an all together new design, CCM choose to stay with their Premier styled blocker. Here we will take a deeper look in to the features of the new CCM Axis A1.9 Blocker.

Speedskin: The outer material of the Axis A1.9 blocker will use the Speedskin material. Although the Speedskin is most noticeable on the leg pads because it reduces friction between the pads and the ice, it is also a very durable material, By using the Speedskin on the Axis blocker on the bottom edge, it has been shown to be very effective on the paddle down technique (just like the pads, it reduces friction between the blocker edge and the ice). An overall advantage is the Speedskin has been proven as a very durable material.

Blocker Face:  Just like the leg pads, CCM is looking for an extremely active rebound off the face of the blocker.  A laminated dual density foam with a PE insert provides a much more active rebound off the face of the blocker compared to past Premier generations.

Palm: CCM will use a reinforced Nash material in the palm of the blocker.  Not only is this material very durable, it is also super comfortable.

Cuff Design: A new three piece  adjustable cuff will come standard on the Axis blockers.  This new three piece cuff creates better movement and better overall protection.  Stick handling has become a huge part of today’s goaltending and wrist movement and flexibility are key in performing this task.

Sidewall:  The Axis blocker will come with a very stiff sidewall.  Since the Axis line is considered a “butterfly” style line, a stiff side wall is very important.  The reason this is important is because a goalie in the butterfly technique has a tendency to turn their wrist open to the shot, exposing the sidewall.  With the stiff sidewall, a save in this area will be successful.  With a soft sidewall, a shot can push right through the blocker and end up being a bad goal let in.

Finger Protection:  The Axis blocker will continue to have the full wrap around finger protection that has been stock on all current CCM E-flex and Premier blockers,

Intermediate Sizing: The CCM Axis A1.9 Intermediate blocker has a 42 inch perimeter.

CCM Axis A1.9 Intermediate Goalie Blocker Features:

• Model Year: 2020
• Front Face: Binding less for increased durability.
• Material: Speedskin.
• Cuff: New three piece adjustable cuff design.
• Palm Position: Centered palm position helps with the overall balance.
• Palm: Reinforced nash palm.
• Sidewall: Stiff sidewall with curved finger protection.
• Lock Thumb Protector: Molded thumb for enhanced protection.
• Finger protectors: High density foam wrap designed for increased protection.
• Blocking board: Laminated dual density foam with PE insert.
• Regular: Blocker goes on the right hand.
• Full Right: Blocker goes on the left hand.