CCM Premier R1.9 Senior Goalie Blocker

CCM Premier R1.9 Senior Goalie Blocker

New for 2016 is the CCM Premier Pro Goalie Blocker.  The Premier series has been around for over a decade.  Some people may not realize that CCM and Reebok were/are the same company.  The Premier series has always been made under the Reebok name however starting in 2016, the Premier series will be under the CCM name.  The CCM Premier is the dominant name for the coverage style goalie and the Premier blocker has been a favorite for over a decade.  This blocker has a center placement on the palm which gives this a very balanced feel.  The reinforced palm gives the feel and durability that a high level goalie needs for feel and stick handling.

The Premier Pro blocker also uses added HD foam to the first finger.  This is the finger that seems to take the most abuse as a goalie.  The palm fit on this blocker is snug, this allows the blocker to retain the stiff feeling that coverage style goalies like.  The blocker board has a nice contour to help with rebounds and increases mobility when stick handling.

CCM Premier R1.9 Senior Goalie Blocker

• Front Face: Binding less for increased durability
• Cuff: Adjustable fit allows you to easily stick handle any puck
• Palm Position: Centered palm position helps with the overall balance of the blocking board
• Palm: Suregrip and Nash suede hand grips helps to maintain a firm hold on the stick
• Palm Guard: Reinforced hand for added durability
• Palm Gusset: Ventilated mesh maximizes air-flow to promote freshness
• Lock Thumb Protector: Injection molded thumb helps to better protect you from those pesky puck bounces and opponents’ stick blades
• Finger protectors: HD foam wrap around the first finger with D3O smart foam for added protection
• Blocking board: Laminated dual density foam with PE to help direct rebounds

Is A Blocker Just A Blocker?

A blocker is not just “a blocker.”  Otherwise, the quality of workmanship in the goalie blockers wouldn’t vary significantly.   Hybrid goalies wouldn’t demand a wide open cuff, with more contour on the blocker board and a palm to maximize mobility and agility.  By contrast, a coverage style goalie wouldn’t insist on a flatter board with a tighter palm for a more secure and stiff feel.

The blocker’s weight is another key aspect to its performance.  The stick and blocker side of the goalie’s body carries more weight than the glove side.  As a result, goalies can find themselves “off-centered.”  A quality blocker reduces weight and works to equalize the goalie’s center of gravity and ease the ability to reach a “natural balance.”

The goalie’s ability to maneuver the blocker is critical to performance.  In recent years, a goalie must possess quality stick handling skills in order to meet the demands of the position.  Since the blocker hand is the dominant hand while stick handling, owning the right blocker is extremely important.

Buying a Pro Blocker Vs. Mid Level Blocker

As we compare differences in gear levels, we explain whether you need to spend a little more or where you can save a few dollars.  A pro blocker is built with the highest level of material and developed with the utmost care in construction.  The palm is the one area that you generally see wear issues with a blocker.  For any goalies that use a lot of tape, particularly where the goalie holds the stick in their ready position, they are likely to see a lot of palm issues.  In contrast, goalies that do not use tape in this location do not see significant palm issues.

In addition, the materials used in the pro palm prevent premature wear in the binding area.  There are no added safety concerns between a pro level blocker and a high mid-level blocker.  If you need to spend your money wisely, the blocker is where we recommended going down a level to do so.  Even with a little extra wear, the price of a high mid-level blocker is almost half of a pro level blocker.