InGoal Magazine April 2012 - Summer Camp Edition : Page 46
Reebok Chest and Arm Protect P4 The new P4 I goaltending, the balance between size and agility has never been more important, or more goalie specific . Most puck stoppers today recognize it’s probably not enough to rely on just one or the other, that blocking in the butterfly has its place as a save selection but can’t be relied on exclusively in a game that continues to create more grade-A scoring chances to pick corners, and more east-west playmaking. Yet most also rely on varying levels of both elements, with more moving towards a mobility preference, and others still relying more heavily on their ability to get into position, close the holes, and make themselves as big as possible. n the constan t evolution of • • • • • • • • More mobile out of the box New soft-foam “Joint Discharge Principle” elbows Hinged elbow blocks Arms 1.5 inches shorter than 11K Shoulder wings sit higher Wings narrower lower down but remain fixed in place Larger chest plate No breaks in wings, less contoured -distinct edge above shoulder top 2 of 6 staps on back velcro adjustable It’s important then that their equipment offers the same options, which is exactly what Reebok has achieved with it’s new P4 upper body armor. With an emphasis on mobility, the recently launched P4 was designed as both a compliment and alternative to the existing – and bulkier –11K chest-and-arm protector, which follows the lines of Reebok’s original Premier Series, that can still be seen in locker rooms throughout the National Hockey League. InGoal Magazine got a chance to test both – the 11K since early in the season, and the new P4 for the last few months – and the differences were clear. The key now is picking one that suits your game. The first important thing to note when comparing the two chest-and-arm units is that neither goes too far to one extreme at the expense of the other features. In other words, the more mobile P4 remains completely • 46 InGoal Magazine April 2012
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