The Vaughn VE8 goalie blocker is the newest release in Vaughn's Velocity line. By focusing on feel, Vaughn continues the legacy that they have created and continues to improve the build year by year.
Feel isnt the only important part of a blocker's construction however, protection is just as important. For this reason Vaughn has beefed up both the fingers and the sideboard with HD foams to ensure that a puck doesn't slip through and get to where it shouldn't be going.
One of the biggest factors in the feel of the blocker, is the material that the palm is made of. In the VE8 intermediate blocker's case this is a material called VX suede. It is a very soft comfortable material that features a built in grip zone that both beefs up the palm of the blocker as well as providing a much more secure grip on the goaltenders stick.
Finally, the VE8 intermediate goalie blocker also features a thumb peice that is designed to be a narrower profile than most. This design decision helps with potential wear that the stick creates on the side of the thumb, especially with the grip that appears on many composite sticks these days.
With a focus on feel and protection, the VE8 intermediate blocker will be a hit for those goalies that are looking for a protective and extremely comfortable blocker.
Sorry this products blade pattern chart is still being updated. If you would like to inquire directly, click here here to request the size guide on this product.
Goalie Blockers Sizing
More times than not, blockers are often overlooked compared to other pieces of gear where fit is concerned. Perhaps this is a result of the limited sizes available compared to other pieces of equipment: youth, junior, intermediate and senior. The first step to finding the correct blocker is to approximate your size by following the estimated age range and “heel-of-palm-to-tip-of-middle-finger” measurement:
- Youth (age 5 – 8): 4.5” – 5.75” / 119 – 143 mm
- Junior (age 8 – 11): 6.35” – 5.75” / 144 – 160 mm
- Intermediate (age 11 – 13): 6.35” – 7” / 161 – 178 mm
- Senior (age 14 and up): 7” – 8.5”* / 179 – 216 mm
*8” – 8.5” would constitute an XL palm on a senior blocker
Once a size has been approximated it is important to ensure that the fingers tips lie close to the seam at the fingertips or within 0.5” if the goaltender is growing. This is important to ensure that the goalie can maintain control of the stick while making saves in addition to being able to maneuver the blocker when playing the puck.
Another thing to look for is that the wrist strap goes directly across the wrist bone and has little to no interference with the chest/arm. The wearer should be able to swivel their wrist to accommodate a range of save selections without any restrictions from the chest protector.
