Stick taps and snapshots: meet Ace & Matt

Some kids are just born to play hockey. Others live it – morning to night, off the walls, on the floor, and even inside the house. Ace, a wildly energetic young forward from California, falls squarely into the second camp. When we hopped on Zoom to talk neck protection with Ace and his dad, Matt, Ace immediately stole the show – grinning ear to ear, waving his stick (taped to his own precise specifications), and delivering what might just be the most enthusiastic Titan testimonial we’ve ever received.

“I don’t want that happening to me.”

Ace’s reason for loving his Titan BattleGear shirt is clear and wise beyond his years: “I don’t want to get cut like that guy who died,” he said, referring to Adam Johnson’s tragic death that shook the hockey world. Ace made it very clear – he doesn’t want to end up hurt, and Titan gives him a new level of confidence.

This was one of the most powerful and honest reasons we’ve heard from a young player, and exactly why Titan exists.

“I got a broken wrist two years ago,” he told us. “So it’s nice to have something that protects my wrists and my neck.” He called out the American flag design on the shirt’s sleeves as one of his favorite parts. “I really like the flag,” he said proudly.

As for those old-school neck guards? “They choked me,” Ace said, mimicking the feeling of the traditional strap-on style. “This one’s way better. It’s kinda like those dry-fit socks from Nike – it doesn’t get all sweaty.”

Matt may have said it best: “This is easily the best product on the market for motion, dexterity, protection, and feel that I have seen.”

Built-in protection for the whole family

Ace isn’t the only one rocking Titan BattleGear. His dad, Matt, is a beer league player who got back into hockey after nearly two decades – thanks to his son.

“Once Ace started playing, I thought, ‘I’ve gotta get back out there,’” Matt said. “So I did.”

As a parent and a player, Matt did his research before choosing Titan. “What sold me was the fact that it was tested to an actual standard. I saw the box cutter video. I saw the wrist guards. I knew this wasn’t just marketing – it was real.”

Matt pointed out that the price difference between Titan and other options wasn’t worth compromising on safety or quality: “For $30 more than the other guys, I got something I knew was built better. Comfortable. Easy to wash. No velcro. Just smart design.”

And how’s it holding up?

“I’ve had mine for two years. No signs of wear. Still great shape. I wear it weekly – sometimes twice a week – and it still feels like new.”

Ace, who skates five to six times per week, has two shirts he rotates. “We had to, or you know… hockey smell,” Matt joked.

Ace’s favorite shot? The Snapshot.

Ace’s favorite thing about hockey? “The goalies are really hard to beat,” he said, before listing off “like 28 different kinds of shots,” including slappers and wristers. His favorite, though? The snapshot. He’s working on his toe-drag into a wrist shot too, and we got a full in-house demo.

As for how he tapes his stick? “I do it myself,” he grinned. “I use white tape at the bottom so I can see where my hand goes, then all black except for a big white strip in the middle.”

It’s clear Ace isn’t just a hockey player. He’s a student of the game.

From Dad to Team Dad

Matt doesn’t just protect his son. He’s helping spread the word to other families, too. “When one of the kids in Ace’s league got his wrist cut open, we knew we had to find something better. Titan gave us that peace of mind.”

And when asked what he’d say to other parents?

“Do your research,” Matt said. “There are cheaper products out there, but none of them have the same testing or durability. You’re not just buying a shirt – you’re buying peace of mind.”