Bauer Supreme M40 Intermediate Hockey Skates

I bought these for my 9 yea old son to replace the Bauer Supreme Elite's he's had for about a year and a half. They were a purchase from a well known franchise other than Sport Chek and are an exclusive item to them. They served a new hockey player well but after a couple hundred skates they were mangled. In addition to having outgrown them physically he had outgrown them in ability. I only add this because it is common for parents to get their child a first pair of hockey skates that are beyond their ability and it can greatly hinder their experience and learning curve. We all want the best for our kids but in the world of hockey skates more expensive is not always better, at least early on. The higher up you go the stiffer the boots get. Developed players can transfer for power to the ice via a stiff boot. New or undeveloped players will find them very hard to master and end up frustrated. For anyone with a second or third year kiddo where they have seen significant strength and technique improvements this would be a perfect skate for them. The stiffness rises significantly and they will be able to use them well. One last piece of advice which no one has asked for, make sure you get some help sizing their skates if you're not well versed or have played yourself. The nature of skates means that they do not stretch like a shoe. Yes they can and must be baked and molded but the key here beyond the length is the width. The human foot can vary greatly in width and a kid in skates too narrow will be in tears while one swimming in a boot too wide will struggle to improve. Despite what many people will say about skates being uncomfortable or even painful. A proper fitting quality skate will feel fantastic. Anyway these are a very solid choice for a mid-level developing player. Have fun!