CCM E-Flex E5.9 and E5.5 Catcher/Blocker Review
One area where CCM has always stood above the rest is in their gloves. The E5.9 and E5.5 catcher and blocker feature a couple notable upgrades over their predecessors giving them an improved feel, protection and some weight reduction.
Catchers
One area where CCM has always stood out among the rest of their competition is in the popularity of their catchers. Since its inception, the E-Flex line has given goalies a comfortable, protective glove that effortlessly snaps closed and the newest iteration follows that same basic recipe with a few new tweaks and features.
FlexMotion Technology
One noticeable area of improvement is on the backhand and cuff of the E5.9 and E5.5 catch gloves. A new segmented backhand adds greater flexibility allowing the glove to feel snappier right out of the box while new quick release strapping makes for a more customizable fit and feel. The FlexMotion technology also extends to the cuff which features an elastic attachment allowing for a full range of motion when making saves and playing the puck.
Palm Protection
The palms on the E5.9 and E5.5 catchers feature a game-ready fit making them easy to close right off the shelf with less break-in time. The palm in our Source Exclusive E5.9 Senior and Intermediate as well as the Senior E5.5 catchers gets a D3O upgrade similar to that in the Pro glove making for an ultra protective glove at an affordable price.
Catch Angle
The E5.9 and E5.5 come standard with the 600 degree break. Developed and popularized in collaboration with Carey Price, the 600 break is designed to be used in a more “fingers up” catching style where the fingertips close towards the middle of the palm in a sort of rolling motion.
Blockers
FlexMotion Cuff
>Just like the glove, the E5.9 and E5.5 blockers feature a more flexible cuff with CCM’s new FlexMotion design. The blocker cuff is fully adjustable with velcro allowing goalies to dial in their preferred fit without sacrificing any range of motion. CCM kept the ratchet style quick release wrist strap that makes quick in game adjustments easy.
Thinned Out Profile
CCM looked to save weight while improving the balance by thinning out the blocker board on the E5.5 and E5.9. This was achieved by using a laminated, dual density foam board allowing for a thinner board and improved rebound control.
Palm and Finger Protection
The E5.9 and E5.5 both use a reinforced nash palm which is a durable construction that gives great stick feel and control. The E5.9 blocker uses a high-density foam wrap around the index finger to give good impact protection against those shots that ride up the stick. The E5.5 blocker on the other hand uses a low-density foam wrap which works to dampen the blow from pucks that ride up the paddle. The Source exclusive Versions of the Senior and Intermediate E5.9 as well as the Senior E5.5 blocker features an HD foam and D3O finger wrap to give pro quality protection.
Final Thoughts
All in all, these gloves stay familiar to their predecessors while making minor adjustments that go a long way in making a more comfortable, protective catcher and blocker. The thinned out blocker profile makes for a lighter feel and better controlled rebounds while the redesigned cuffs allow for better wrist mobility. Overall CCM looked to bring a quality option to their price-point lineup this year and they have made impressive strides to do that.
Reviewed By: Cedric Hastings
Check out the E-Flex E5.9 & E5.5 Leg Pad Review
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