Do you have small junior sized feet like I do? If you don't you are lucky in many ways. The only good thing for people with junior sized feet is the smaller price tag.
Lots of us fall into the junior size category. I wear a size 5.0 junior skate. The biggest problem for me is finding a skate with enough ankle support for a 165 pound body. I doubt a lot of 12 year olds weigh this much, so how do I find a junior skate that is built with amble support?
A lot of manufacturers make a junior skate with the thought that a child will just out grow it.I have found a lot of junior skates were lacking in support around the ankle and the materials were not so sturdy. This is important to a goalie because we are out on the ice for the entire game and sore feet is not a fun experience. We also need support for strong lateral movements in the crease and a sturdy cowling.
The best advice i can offer an adult with small feet is to buy the top of the line junior model which is often labeled "Pro" or has the highest manufacturer number (usually the most expensive).
Here are some models making my list for top Quality:
Bauer 7000 Supremes (if you can still find them because they are discontinued)
Graf 750 Pro Goaler (TOP NOTCH but not for all feet)
Bauer Vapor XXX (warning Cowling is not very strong and will crack)
CCM Super Tacks 852 (discontinued model)
Bauer- seems to offer a pro level choice in their junior models. The problem is these skates run narrow and the Vapor model is a skate that is not going to last as long as the old Supreme models. If you can find the Bauer Supreme 7000s in your size anywhere snatch them up! They are built to last and are a great skate! I hear the Bauer 3000 are not bad but lack the pro comfort foams in the ankle and you might pick up a pair of these on clearance as a backup pair.
Graf- is a Pro level skate and I love the construction of the boot. The problem is not every foot will love Graf. The toe box area is pretty small and I could not get a proper fitting in these skates, but I have weird feet. They do have wider sizes and I hear they have custom offerings as well. My problem with their junior sizes is the amount of blade on the ice. If you are an adult you will have less blade on the ice and it will be rockered. I am used to wearing goalie skates with less rocker and more blade touching the ice and find it more stable. Its all personal preference and some may embrace the mobility of a rockered blade. These skates will last you forever and they are a bit expensive but worth it as they are Canadian and not full of corporate gimmicks.
CCM Super Tacks 852
-I do not know much about these other then they are a high level skate in the Junior category. The current models offered by CCM is the Vector 6.0 model and I am not sure how much support is offered in this skate either. The Senior model goes up to 10.0 style. I wish they offered this in the junior line. CCM skates
fit wide in the forefoot area and snug in the heel. I wear their player skates in junior Vector Pro model and love them and wish they had this style in goalie skates.
The best advice is to buy what is comfortable and what will last. If you don't have a good hockey store in your area then pick the online company with the best return policy and plan to order several brands and sizes to see what will suit you. Just do not sharpen them until you are sure they are the correct fit you need.
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