JMS Hockey

We just had an e-mail from someone whose gear was "ruined by mice, in storage between moving." Oh boy. I have also heard stories of jealous cats doing anger-pee on goalie pads. Phew, that was nasty. Anyone else had to deal with ruined hockey gear? I'm guessing puppies make their mark, any non-animal gear destruction stories?

I've heard of ants nesting in an old pair of goalie pads. This is 20 + years ago so materials have changed and i don't think this would happen again (hopefully). I keep stuff off the ground just in case.

I skated in a tournament in Phoenix and we thought it would be a good idea to leave the gear outside in the sunshine after an early afternoon game while we hit the pool. Some skaters who had the baked skates with the moldable inserts hung their skates upside down (so bugs wouldnt get in them) and the heat from the sunshine remolded and flattened out their footbeds in the skates. They all had blisters and hot spots on their feet after the evening games. The next day, they hung the skates out again but made sure they laced them up while they were hot from the sun to fix it.

...And I'll be hanging my gear up when I get home

I hang my stuff up to dry on a drying rack with a fan and keep my gear off the floor. That seems to be working for me so far.

Yeah, I guess all my gear itself is hung, but my bag sits on the ground. Better get that up.

MIce nesting inside old skates. They make perfect little dens.

Greg E....thanks for your note...I didn't put it together that leaving my skates to dry in the sun had that loosening effect, but I think it did!